Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Reflections......The First Year Home
It's hard to believe that we've had Molly Kate home with us for a year!! I've done a TERRIBLE job of keeping this blog updated. I've decided, though that it might be really special to do a month by month reflection of some of Molly Kate's "firsts" and highlights from her first year home.
SOOOO, here goes........this is the sharing of our MOST UNBELIEVABLY WONDERFUL first year with our precious Molly Kate.
SOOOO, here goes........this is the sharing of our MOST UNBELIEVABLY WONDERFUL first year with our precious Molly Kate.
MARCH 2011
Snug as a bug in a rug in my bed
I LOVE my new home!!!!
Bubba drove 200 miles to come and see me for the first time!!!
Gran Gran's first time to hold me.
I'm not too sure about Uncle Steve.....
BUT, Aunt Phyllis is cool!
My first time in Sunday School......
I LOVE IT!!!!!
MOM'S FAVORITE MARCH PICTURES OF ME
Monday, February 27, 2012
HAPPY 1ST ANNIVERSARY OF GOTCHA DAY!!!!!
It's SO hard to believe that it has been a WHOLE YEAR since Molly Kate was placed in our arms for the first time. The old saying, "Time flies when you're having fun," has proved to be true in our lives. Molly Kate is such a joy---a true beam of sunshine each and every day. None of us can remember what we did without her.
I wrote a poem for Molly Kate today. It doesn't adequately express my true feelings for her. I don't think it's possible to express, with words, how deeply I love her. As wonderful as I thought it was going to be to be a mother again, and a mother to my first daughter, it is a ZILLION times better than I could have ever dreamed. We are ALL so truly blessed by her presence in our lives. Throughout this year many people have said to us that Molly Kate is a very lucky girl to have had us to adopt her. The truth of the matter is, WE are truly the lucky ones......
I love you to the moon and back,
I love you to the depths of the sea.
There are no words that could ever express
How much you mean to me.
God chose you from the beginning
To be our special girl,
And even though the wait was long,
You were the MOST PERFECT in the world!
I love when you say, "MAMA!"
A million times a day.
I love your creativity and imagination
You use each time you play.
I love your sweet, sweet smile
That makes dimples all over your face,
And the love you stir inside my heart
That nothing could ever replace.
You are my China Doll,
My blessing from above.
The BEST first daughter that could ever be,
My precious bundle of love!!!!
HAPPY GOTCHA DAY, Molly Kate
I LOVE YOU!!!!!
Mama
2/27/12
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Happy 5th Anniversary of our LID!!!!
I have been very negligent about writing since we got home from China. I have SO many things to share, but I devote every spare minute I have to Molly Kate, and I must say, I am LOVING it!!!!
Today is a special day for us, though, because it was five years ago on May 29, 2006 that we were officially logged in to adopt. May 29 has been special for us each year since then, but we are so thankful to have the Molly Katherine Pierce we waited for in our arms this year as we celebrate!!! We actually waited a little over five years for her from the time we began the adoption process, but we know with all our hearts and souls that she was DEFINITELY worth the wait!!!! That's what I keep telling my friends who are still waiting for their precious China doll. I may have mentioned this before, but I truly think we appreciate her more because we DID have to wait so long for her!!! God had everything under control all along, and I'm so glad we were able to trust Him and truly believe that.
I hope to get caught up soon on entries I would like to add to this blog. I also want to add pictures so you can all see how Molly Kate has truly bloomed in the three months we have had her. Yesterday was our three month anniversary of her adoption. It is unbelievable how much she has changed in those three months. She doesn't even look the same---not that her physical features have changed that much. She just has just come out of her shell!!! She wakes up with a big smile on her face, and that smile is the last thing I see when I put her to bed every night. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU, DEAR LORD for blessing us with this child!!!!!
Today is a special day for us, though, because it was five years ago on May 29, 2006 that we were officially logged in to adopt. May 29 has been special for us each year since then, but we are so thankful to have the Molly Katherine Pierce we waited for in our arms this year as we celebrate!!! We actually waited a little over five years for her from the time we began the adoption process, but we know with all our hearts and souls that she was DEFINITELY worth the wait!!!! That's what I keep telling my friends who are still waiting for their precious China doll. I may have mentioned this before, but I truly think we appreciate her more because we DID have to wait so long for her!!! God had everything under control all along, and I'm so glad we were able to trust Him and truly believe that.
I hope to get caught up soon on entries I would like to add to this blog. I also want to add pictures so you can all see how Molly Kate has truly bloomed in the three months we have had her. Yesterday was our three month anniversary of her adoption. It is unbelievable how much she has changed in those three months. She doesn't even look the same---not that her physical features have changed that much. She just has just come out of her shell!!! She wakes up with a big smile on her face, and that smile is the last thing I see when I put her to bed every night. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU, DEAR LORD for blessing us with this child!!!!!
Sunday, March 27, 2011
ONE MONTH LATER......
One month ago today, February 27, 2011, our lives changed forever. It was on that day, that a crying baby was placed in my arms. It was the day that she left the only life she had ever known----life in an orphanage. She was not only handed over forever to people she had never seen before, but also to people who looked nothing like her. I will never forget holding her in my arms as she cried her little heart out, but as I held her close and told her, "Mama loves you SO much!" she slowly stopped crying. She allowed me to hold her close and she laid her little head on my shoulder. I truly think at that early moment, God bonded our hearts forever. My love for her could not have been any stronger. She may not have been conceived within me, but the truth of the matter is that I had carried her in my heart from the beginning. I thought she was the most beautiful baby girl I had ever seen----just like I had thought my boys were the most beautiful boys ever when I gave birth to them.
I don't think any of us truly realized what an impact Molly Kate would have on our lives. I knew things would change for us, and I truly felt like I was ready for that change. Okay, I have to confess that I wondered if we would bond, or if I would think she was cute. I even allowed myself, one brief moment, to wonder if I was REALLY up to being a mother again----could I really handle it? On the Saturday night before we left for China, I made a trip to Walmart---my "get ready for the baby" trip. It took me almost two hours to get everything I thought we would need for our soon to be Molly Kate, and as I was standing in the check out line with my shopping cart overflowing with diapers, baby wipes, bibs, baby powder, baby lotion, butt cream, etc., and as others were looking my way and probably thinking, "She must be getting ready for a grandchild!" I looked up and said to myself, "WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE WE DOING?!?!?!" The day before we left I was SO stressed from having to get everything packed for our trip for everyone....I just looked forward to the moment we were finally on the plane!!! Once I reached that point, though, I knew we were doing exactly what God wanted us to do, and what we had been waiting over FIVE LONG YEARS for. The wee trace of doubt I had allowed to enter my mind (never my heart) disappeared. WE WERE ON OUR WAY TO GET OUR BABY GIRL!!!!
Oh, how our lives have changed!!!!! If life was any better, I don't think I could stand it!!!! I can't explain what it's like to wake up each morning and look over in the Pack 'n Play next to our bed and see the sweetest little face looking up at me with the brightest of smiles, dimples showing all over her face. And when she says to me, "MY MAMA," my heart melts. Molly Kate is the sweetest, happiest baby! She smiles and giggles.....she LOVES to cuddle and snuggle. We don't share her to be held by a lot of people yet, because we want her to be totally bonded to us and know that we aren't going to leave her, but she sure has a lot of those sweet smiles to share with others----smiles so big that her eyes almost disappear.
SO, what does everyone else in our family think about Molly? All three of her brothers are absolutely CRAZY about her!!!! Evan gave up a trip to Florida for spring break (his senior year) to come home to spend the week with her. He's already planning to come home again this weekend, and I don't think it's to see Roger and me! The minute Keaton hits the door each day, he heads her way to do "the tickle monster" with her. Even though I really don't like the phrase, I had to laugh the other day when Keaton had gone in to check on her as she was sleeping. When he came back out, he said, "Mom, she's just so FREAKIN' cute!" Shea was crazy about her from the first moment she was placed in our arms. He was the best help while we were in China, and even though he's gone a lot from home, he heads her way as soon as he comes in the door. I saw an entry on his Facebook a couple of days ago that said, "Things are on the up and up, and I love my sister!" You know, I think we ALL agree that she's a keeper!!!! Even B.B. and Sophie Grace (our precious pups) and Allie (our cat) love her!!!! She was terrified of them at first, but now she accepts their licks of love with giggles and squeals. Well, SOMETIMES she still lets us know that she's had enough!!!
We have had so many people tell us that Molly Kate is such a lucky little girl. I know I've said this before, but WE are truly the lucky ones. Roger and I have been blessed with a precious daughter....a life that has already SO enriched our lives. God is SO good!!!!!!
 |
| February 27, 2011 |
I don't think any of us truly realized what an impact Molly Kate would have on our lives. I knew things would change for us, and I truly felt like I was ready for that change. Okay, I have to confess that I wondered if we would bond, or if I would think she was cute. I even allowed myself, one brief moment, to wonder if I was REALLY up to being a mother again----could I really handle it? On the Saturday night before we left for China, I made a trip to Walmart---my "get ready for the baby" trip. It took me almost two hours to get everything I thought we would need for our soon to be Molly Kate, and as I was standing in the check out line with my shopping cart overflowing with diapers, baby wipes, bibs, baby powder, baby lotion, butt cream, etc., and as others were looking my way and probably thinking, "She must be getting ready for a grandchild!" I looked up and said to myself, "WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE WE DOING?!?!?!" The day before we left I was SO stressed from having to get everything packed for our trip for everyone....I just looked forward to the moment we were finally on the plane!!! Once I reached that point, though, I knew we were doing exactly what God wanted us to do, and what we had been waiting over FIVE LONG YEARS for. The wee trace of doubt I had allowed to enter my mind (never my heart) disappeared. WE WERE ON OUR WAY TO GET OUR BABY GIRL!!!!
Oh, how our lives have changed!!!!! If life was any better, I don't think I could stand it!!!! I can't explain what it's like to wake up each morning and look over in the Pack 'n Play next to our bed and see the sweetest little face looking up at me with the brightest of smiles, dimples showing all over her face. And when she says to me, "MY MAMA," my heart melts. Molly Kate is the sweetest, happiest baby! She smiles and giggles.....she LOVES to cuddle and snuggle. We don't share her to be held by a lot of people yet, because we want her to be totally bonded to us and know that we aren't going to leave her, but she sure has a lot of those sweet smiles to share with others----smiles so big that her eyes almost disappear.
 |
| March 27, 2011 |
SO, what does everyone else in our family think about Molly? All three of her brothers are absolutely CRAZY about her!!!! Evan gave up a trip to Florida for spring break (his senior year) to come home to spend the week with her. He's already planning to come home again this weekend, and I don't think it's to see Roger and me! The minute Keaton hits the door each day, he heads her way to do "the tickle monster" with her. Even though I really don't like the phrase, I had to laugh the other day when Keaton had gone in to check on her as she was sleeping. When he came back out, he said, "Mom, she's just so FREAKIN' cute!" Shea was crazy about her from the first moment she was placed in our arms. He was the best help while we were in China, and even though he's gone a lot from home, he heads her way as soon as he comes in the door. I saw an entry on his Facebook a couple of days ago that said, "Things are on the up and up, and I love my sister!" You know, I think we ALL agree that she's a keeper!!!! Even B.B. and Sophie Grace (our precious pups) and Allie (our cat) love her!!!! She was terrified of them at first, but now she accepts their licks of love with giggles and squeals. Well, SOMETIMES she still lets us know that she's had enough!!!
We have had so many people tell us that Molly Kate is such a lucky little girl. I know I've said this before, but WE are truly the lucky ones. Roger and I have been blessed with a precious daughter....a life that has already SO enriched our lives. God is SO good!!!!!!
Thursday, March 17, 2011
WE ARE HOME!!!!!---AND THE PARTY HAS JUST BEGUN!!!!!
I realize that I'm writing this almost a week after we actually arrived home from China. The delay isn't because we have needed time to adapt and adjust to our new life----it's because I've just been having TOO MUCH FUN playing with our sweet baby girl, that I really haven't thought a lot about posting a message!!!
I guess since it's 2:00 A.M., and I'm having to pull the graveyard shift to do laundry, AND our baby girl is sound asleep, I can take a little time to tell you about our trip home.
We left Guangzhou at 10:30 on Thursday morning, March 10. Even though I was VERY ready to see my family, friends, and pets, it was rather bittersweet to leave China. I realized that we were taking our precious daughter away from her homeland---her heritage, but at the same time, I knew, without a doubt, that we were taking her to a NEW country---a NEW home where life could offer her SO much more than she could have ever dreamed of in China.
Needless to say, I dreaded the LONG flight home, with Molly Kate who absolutely hated riding on the bus every time we had an outing. I figured if she didn't like bus rides, she probably wouldn't like plane rides, either. I prayed A LOT about our trip home. I just wanted Molly Kate to be able to rest, and not be miserable for so many hours. My prayers were answered. Even though she did fuss some, we really had a good trip---LONG, but managable. We DID have one episode, though, that I MUST share.
Let me start out by saying, that we made a mistake by not buying a seat on the plane for Molly Kate. I LOVED the closeness of holding her, but even had we not used the extra seat for her, had we had one, it would have been nice to set the diaper bag in to give more leg room. We opted, though for the lap seat, so we had to make the best of it. (The NEXT time I WILL buy a seat for the baby!!!!---the NEXT TIME?????!!!!!!!) ANYWAY, I had held Molly Kate for quite some time, and she had taken a nap. She woke up, though, and it was obvious that she was tired of being held, so I sat her on the floor right in front of my seat, by the diaper bag. She was happy. She laid her head over on the diaper bag, so I figured she was still sleepy. She was hot when she woke up, and I had stripped her down to her shirt and diaper. I put a blanket and my jacket on the floor, and had her lie back on it. She immediately stretched out and fell back asleep. I had a little problem. She kept stretching her legs out, and her tiny feet would stick out in the aisle, so I had to stay awake and keep my foot at the end of her feet to keep them pushed in so they wouldn't get stepped on or run over by a food or drink cart going down the aisle. WELL, our little angel slept for FIVE STRAIGHT hours!!!! It was GREAT!!!! When she awoke, she was in the BEST mood, BUT there was a SERIOUS problem!!!!
Let me back up a little and tell you that Roger and I had done some problem solving before we ever started our flight home. Molly Kate came to us potty trained---that is, she is potty trained, as long as she has her potty chair. SO, we got the smart idea that we could remove the SEAT of the potty chair and I could take it to the bathroom on the plane, and set it on the commode seat, and Molly Kate could use the bathroom as normal. Let me tell you, that may SOUND easy, but on my first AND last attempt to do this, I found out that it was quite a difficult task. Those bathrooms just aren't BIG enough to hold a baby, put at potty chair seat on the commode, take the diaper off the baby, and stand and say "Ba Ba'" for 30 minutes. The noise in the bathroom from the engine of the plane, and the potty seat's instability on the commode were enough to convince Molly Kate that Daddy's and Mommy's idea just wasn't going to work. That meant we had to rely totally on diapers for the bathroom jobs. Since we discovered from the beginning that Molly Kate could probably win any POOPING CONTEST against any other child OR adult, we were a little concerned about what might happen.
Back to the five hour nap......As I think I've already said, Molly Kate woke up in a GREAT mood, but when I got ready to pick her up, it was obvious that she felt MUCH better, not simply because of the long nap. She had pooped SO much, that it had OOZED out of the top of her diaper, all the way up her back, and UNDER her on the plane floor, SO much that there was a nice BIG pile of POOP!!!! Needless to say, I couldn't just pick her up and carry her to the bathroom, because we would have left a poop trail all the way. I did what any good mother would do. I proceeded to sit down in the middle of the aisle on the plane and start cleaning her up. Well, it didn't take long for the stewardess to approach with a can of spray deoderant and tell me that I couldn't sit there and change her---that I had to take her to the bathroom. I tried to explain that I couldn't pick her up in the condition she was in---she insisted that I couldn't change her there. I was rather ticked....I mean, what was she going to DO about me sitting there????---kick me off the plane?!?! I continued to clean as quickly as I could, and then when I felt I got her to the point she wouldn't drip down the aisle, AND I had also cleaned up the floor as best as I could, I wrapped her in the blanket and proceeded to head to the bathroom---you, know, the bathroom that isn't big enough to turn around in while ALONE, much less with a child who has POOP all over her. I got the changing table down from the wall, though, and eventually, I had a spotless Molly Kate. I washed out her clothes, and I gave the poopy blanket to a stewardess and asked for clean one, which I took back to my seat, and then folded and put it on the floor over where Molly Kate had leaked (I did clean it as well as I could before I did that, so don't say, "Yuck!!") And, where was Roger during all of this? I don't exactly remember, but I'm quite sure he was either, playing games on the screen in front of him, listening to music, or snoring, which he did a lot of on the trip home. Oh, well......
LUCKILY, Molly Kate didn't have another dirty diaper until we got to Atlanta, and was waiting in immigration. We actually had to wait in immigration long enough for her to have had TEN dirty diapers. Let me say that the evening shift gets in NO hurry there. In fact, it took them SO long for them to open our "MYSTERIOUS SEALED BROWN ENVELOPE" that we missed our flight to Nashville. By the time immigration got to us, and said their few words and sent us on our way, with our little girl made in China, who was now OFFICIALLY a U.S citizen, it was ten minutes before our flight was supposed to leave, and we hadn't even been through customs. We were advised to rebook our flight. Luckily, there was a flight leaving about three hours later, and we were lucky enough---no, BLESSED enough----to get the last three available seats on the plane. In everything bad, there's something good (my favorite saying). After we rebooked, we went to customs. We were a little concerned about having trouble there, because of stories we had heard. Roger had bought a set of golf clubs in Guangzhou, and I had 18 birthday candles that were actually a form of fireworks, spread out in our five suitcases....we weren't sure that they wouldn't be confiscated there. I think, though, we looked a little ragged and worn to the main officer working customs, and I think, too, when he asked if there was anything else in Roger's golf bag, and Roger replied, "Only dirty underwear," he had mercy on us and just let everything pass through. I honestly don't think any of our suitcases were even opened!
We arrived in Nashville sometime around midnight, and my mother and Phyllis, my sister-in-law, were waiting for us to drive us home!!! It was SO nice to be able to ride and not have to drive ourselves. I was concerned how Molly Kate would react to riding in a carseat for the first time. She was as snug as a bug in a rug in it, and went to sleep. She never fussed all the way home.
When we pulled in the driveway, there were pink balloons tied to the mailbox, and a cute sign taped to our door welcoming Molly Kate home. Our sweet neighbor next door had done the decorating. Molly Kate is blessed to have a playmate who is only three days older than her. His name is Tate. The sign was from hiim!!
Once we got everything unloaded, we decided we were hungry. We had food on the plane---YUCK---and we really needed some nourishment. Roger and Shea went to Waffle House and ate breakfast, and then brought food back for me. I got Molly Kate settled in the Pack 'n Play in our room, and by the time Roger and I got in bed, it was getting daylight outside. We slept until almost noon on Friday.
Roger is still suffering from jet lag. I haven't had time to have it yet, since we now have a little sweetheart to take care of!!!! I'm glad to be home, and have that LONG plane ride behind me, but I DO hope to go back to China some day!!!!
I have new pictures of Molly Kate, but I will post those later. I will add another entry soon, and tell you all about her!!!
I guess since it's 2:00 A.M., and I'm having to pull the graveyard shift to do laundry, AND our baby girl is sound asleep, I can take a little time to tell you about our trip home.
We left Guangzhou at 10:30 on Thursday morning, March 10. Even though I was VERY ready to see my family, friends, and pets, it was rather bittersweet to leave China. I realized that we were taking our precious daughter away from her homeland---her heritage, but at the same time, I knew, without a doubt, that we were taking her to a NEW country---a NEW home where life could offer her SO much more than she could have ever dreamed of in China.
Needless to say, I dreaded the LONG flight home, with Molly Kate who absolutely hated riding on the bus every time we had an outing. I figured if she didn't like bus rides, she probably wouldn't like plane rides, either. I prayed A LOT about our trip home. I just wanted Molly Kate to be able to rest, and not be miserable for so many hours. My prayers were answered. Even though she did fuss some, we really had a good trip---LONG, but managable. We DID have one episode, though, that I MUST share.
Let me start out by saying, that we made a mistake by not buying a seat on the plane for Molly Kate. I LOVED the closeness of holding her, but even had we not used the extra seat for her, had we had one, it would have been nice to set the diaper bag in to give more leg room. We opted, though for the lap seat, so we had to make the best of it. (The NEXT time I WILL buy a seat for the baby!!!!---the NEXT TIME?????!!!!!!!) ANYWAY, I had held Molly Kate for quite some time, and she had taken a nap. She woke up, though, and it was obvious that she was tired of being held, so I sat her on the floor right in front of my seat, by the diaper bag. She was happy. She laid her head over on the diaper bag, so I figured she was still sleepy. She was hot when she woke up, and I had stripped her down to her shirt and diaper. I put a blanket and my jacket on the floor, and had her lie back on it. She immediately stretched out and fell back asleep. I had a little problem. She kept stretching her legs out, and her tiny feet would stick out in the aisle, so I had to stay awake and keep my foot at the end of her feet to keep them pushed in so they wouldn't get stepped on or run over by a food or drink cart going down the aisle. WELL, our little angel slept for FIVE STRAIGHT hours!!!! It was GREAT!!!! When she awoke, she was in the BEST mood, BUT there was a SERIOUS problem!!!!
Let me back up a little and tell you that Roger and I had done some problem solving before we ever started our flight home. Molly Kate came to us potty trained---that is, she is potty trained, as long as she has her potty chair. SO, we got the smart idea that we could remove the SEAT of the potty chair and I could take it to the bathroom on the plane, and set it on the commode seat, and Molly Kate could use the bathroom as normal. Let me tell you, that may SOUND easy, but on my first AND last attempt to do this, I found out that it was quite a difficult task. Those bathrooms just aren't BIG enough to hold a baby, put at potty chair seat on the commode, take the diaper off the baby, and stand and say "Ba Ba'" for 30 minutes. The noise in the bathroom from the engine of the plane, and the potty seat's instability on the commode were enough to convince Molly Kate that Daddy's and Mommy's idea just wasn't going to work. That meant we had to rely totally on diapers for the bathroom jobs. Since we discovered from the beginning that Molly Kate could probably win any POOPING CONTEST against any other child OR adult, we were a little concerned about what might happen.
Back to the five hour nap......As I think I've already said, Molly Kate woke up in a GREAT mood, but when I got ready to pick her up, it was obvious that she felt MUCH better, not simply because of the long nap. She had pooped SO much, that it had OOZED out of the top of her diaper, all the way up her back, and UNDER her on the plane floor, SO much that there was a nice BIG pile of POOP!!!! Needless to say, I couldn't just pick her up and carry her to the bathroom, because we would have left a poop trail all the way. I did what any good mother would do. I proceeded to sit down in the middle of the aisle on the plane and start cleaning her up. Well, it didn't take long for the stewardess to approach with a can of spray deoderant and tell me that I couldn't sit there and change her---that I had to take her to the bathroom. I tried to explain that I couldn't pick her up in the condition she was in---she insisted that I couldn't change her there. I was rather ticked....I mean, what was she going to DO about me sitting there????---kick me off the plane?!?! I continued to clean as quickly as I could, and then when I felt I got her to the point she wouldn't drip down the aisle, AND I had also cleaned up the floor as best as I could, I wrapped her in the blanket and proceeded to head to the bathroom---you, know, the bathroom that isn't big enough to turn around in while ALONE, much less with a child who has POOP all over her. I got the changing table down from the wall, though, and eventually, I had a spotless Molly Kate. I washed out her clothes, and I gave the poopy blanket to a stewardess and asked for clean one, which I took back to my seat, and then folded and put it on the floor over where Molly Kate had leaked (I did clean it as well as I could before I did that, so don't say, "Yuck!!") And, where was Roger during all of this? I don't exactly remember, but I'm quite sure he was either, playing games on the screen in front of him, listening to music, or snoring, which he did a lot of on the trip home. Oh, well......
LUCKILY, Molly Kate didn't have another dirty diaper until we got to Atlanta, and was waiting in immigration. We actually had to wait in immigration long enough for her to have had TEN dirty diapers. Let me say that the evening shift gets in NO hurry there. In fact, it took them SO long for them to open our "MYSTERIOUS SEALED BROWN ENVELOPE" that we missed our flight to Nashville. By the time immigration got to us, and said their few words and sent us on our way, with our little girl made in China, who was now OFFICIALLY a U.S citizen, it was ten minutes before our flight was supposed to leave, and we hadn't even been through customs. We were advised to rebook our flight. Luckily, there was a flight leaving about three hours later, and we were lucky enough---no, BLESSED enough----to get the last three available seats on the plane. In everything bad, there's something good (my favorite saying). After we rebooked, we went to customs. We were a little concerned about having trouble there, because of stories we had heard. Roger had bought a set of golf clubs in Guangzhou, and I had 18 birthday candles that were actually a form of fireworks, spread out in our five suitcases....we weren't sure that they wouldn't be confiscated there. I think, though, we looked a little ragged and worn to the main officer working customs, and I think, too, when he asked if there was anything else in Roger's golf bag, and Roger replied, "Only dirty underwear," he had mercy on us and just let everything pass through. I honestly don't think any of our suitcases were even opened!
We arrived in Nashville sometime around midnight, and my mother and Phyllis, my sister-in-law, were waiting for us to drive us home!!! It was SO nice to be able to ride and not have to drive ourselves. I was concerned how Molly Kate would react to riding in a carseat for the first time. She was as snug as a bug in a rug in it, and went to sleep. She never fussed all the way home.
When we pulled in the driveway, there were pink balloons tied to the mailbox, and a cute sign taped to our door welcoming Molly Kate home. Our sweet neighbor next door had done the decorating. Molly Kate is blessed to have a playmate who is only three days older than her. His name is Tate. The sign was from hiim!!
Once we got everything unloaded, we decided we were hungry. We had food on the plane---YUCK---and we really needed some nourishment. Roger and Shea went to Waffle House and ate breakfast, and then brought food back for me. I got Molly Kate settled in the Pack 'n Play in our room, and by the time Roger and I got in bed, it was getting daylight outside. We slept until almost noon on Friday.
Roger is still suffering from jet lag. I haven't had time to have it yet, since we now have a little sweetheart to take care of!!!! I'm glad to be home, and have that LONG plane ride behind me, but I DO hope to go back to China some day!!!!
I have new pictures of Molly Kate, but I will post those later. I will add another entry soon, and tell you all about her!!!
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