Home Sweet Home

It's so good to be home!  Ahhh...American soil and southern accents!  We had a good trip home.  I didn't know what to expect from Kell on the trip but he did great!  He got upset for the first time the morning we were leaving.  He thought the plane would explode...he saw it on the news!  He was assured in every language that it would be fine and he never seemed worried again.  He didn't sleep much at all on the 13 hour leg of the trip.  He was just so excited!  He was so good, though!  Watched a little TV, colored, but mostly was just another patient passenger.  I will say, though, that Korean Air is all about customer service and goes out of their way for kids...had to get that plug in!  Oh and they have way more leg room!

Our arrival at the airport and home was made SO special by friends!  I will post about that when I have pics to post....it just needs its own post!

Kell has been a dream!  He goes with the flow.  We had lots of visitors welcoming him home the first few days...which we absolutely LOVE!  I say it all the time...our joy is multiplied by so many joining the journey!  And Kell brings his own joy to the mix!  If you visit, he will proudly show you the room he shares with Burke (after being greeted in English!).  He includes the closet and shower (with demonstration...clothed, of course!) in the tour.  He's so proud of his new home! 

Kell is such a little love!  He has the cutest personality.  We laugh so much with him!  OK, sometimes when we really shouldn't.  Be careful what you say...he WILL say it!  He's picking up English quickly.  True Chinglish!  It's so cute (can you tell I'm smitten...we all are).  When he speaks English he still has the Chinese voice inflections. 

We are all in adjustment mode right now.  Another person in the house, at the table, at bed time, loading the car to go somewhere (the Berrys are back to booster seats).  We'll very soon be in our new groove.  Oh, wait, then school will be out...and then it will go back.  Hmmm...

Big brothers=adoration!  Kell loves his brothers and they love him!  I am touched seeing how our older boys have opened their hearts.  They are patient and kind and absolutely changed forever.  Mills and Burke have both say they're adopting.  They saw for themselves the need...and that was just one orphanage.  Burke says he will get me a girl!  Pink bows may be in my future afterall! 

This boy has brought SO much joy already.  Can't wait until he speaks really good English and can tell us what he has been thinking about all of this.  Probably that white women are way too huggy and kissy!  Kidding...but he is so precious that I cannot help myself!  There's lots of mommy time to make up for!

Kell has been practicing writing the alphabet.  He is a sponge!  Can't wait to see how he soars when he goes to school.  That will be after the Christmas break.  Our sweet friend, Jilly, sat patiently with him the second day he was home and had him writing his name.  He is good about sitiing and working on his "school work" ....plus, he's a genious!  Bias....

The only thing Kell hasn't adjusted to well is Raz, our dog ("gogo" in Chinese).  Surely he will get used to him and they will be big buds.  Kell drops food on the floor for Raz and then doesn't like that Raz follows him around.  I think we need a lesson in cause and effect!

Thanks for all the prayers, cards, emails, texts!  Our new boy is doing SO good!  He's a good eater ( I have never cooked such healthy tasteless foods) and I try to have Chinese food prepared for him...not Panda Express!  And, yes, chopsticks! 

Oops!  The Christmas PJs pic made it twice and I can't get it off!  Mixed messages...I tell him he's a big boy and then go buy him Santa jammies and slippers!!  He's just so darn cute!