Coming home.

I'm not even certain, now, where I should start. Everything that's happened since we pulled into our driveway on Thursday afternoon seems like it takes precedence over the events that happened after where I last left off... But I know that our first night together, Rubin's last night in Korea, is an important piece to his story. And I know that our long journey home is equally essential. And I write here to share all of these moments not only with my dear friends (new and old) and family members (near and far.) I write here for Rubin. So here goes...

After leaving SWS on Wednesday, just after noon, my moms and I took Rubin directly back to our hotel room. 

Wait. 

Actually, that isn't true. 

First we stopped at the Family Mart to see if they carried any of the green tea corn flakes that Nanny fell in love with over breakfast. 

THEN we went to our temporary "home", to inspect my baby boy. I could not wait to get him undressed (as cute as his clothes were) and see every inch of him.  I couldn't wait to check out his chunky legs, to count his fingers and his toes, to smell his hair and check his teeth and inspect his belly button (I know what my sisters are thinking...)   

I was quick to discover how absolutely perfect this child of mine is. From the tiny birthmark on his left temple to the little roll of chubbiness around his ankles... Rubin has the softest skin, the brightest eyes, and the sharpest six little teeth I have ever met. He's divine.

All of our adoration must have exhausted the little fellow, as he soon showed signs of sleepiness. It was a good excuse for me to kick my moms out of our room so that I could have some alone time with my son. I mixed my first bottle of Korean formula (6 scoops!) and snuggled him into bed... Settling him wasn't as easy as I'd anticipated, per his foster mom's instructions, and soon I packed him into the Ergo and carried him around the block. This did the trick, and my baby boy napped his first nap with me, for nearly three hours (which was how I managed to squeeze in the blog below!)

After his great nap, we headed out to enjoy our last night in Seoul.  We did a little bit of shopping close to our hotel (what an incredible city of shopping!!!) and we ate dinner down the hill and just around the corner from SWS.  My moms weren't the biggest fans of Korean food, so the spaghetti and tuna sandwiches we found were a good reminder for both of them of home. 

Rubin's palate isn't used to much besides rice porridge, applesauce, and bananas, and so mealtime with him has been a bit of an adventure.  I made all of his brothers' baby food, so I feel like an old hat at this.  For our last night together in Korea and for the trip home, I packed a few containers of organic baby food... applesauce and sweet potatoes.  He did well with and seemed to enjoy both of them, and he's been trying and enjoying all sorts of new fruits and veggies and carbs since we've been home. Last night he even had a little beef!! (More on eating in another post!)

We walked back to our hotel after dinner and began to get ready for our flight home. My moms and I packed out suitcases and rearranged our carry-ons to accommodate Rubin and the long flight.  Rubin and took a bath together and I got to experience what his foster mother told me firsthand: this kid LOVES to splash.  Again, he fits right in.

After his bedtime bottle, Rubin was still wide awake and so I fastened him into the ergo and headed down to the gym. Upon stepping off of the elevator, I was quickly intercepted by an employee who told me, "No baby in gym!" I asked him kindly if Rubin and I could make a few laps around the outdoor track, hoping that the dark night and the fresh air would call some sleep. The man was so kind and quick to help me to the door.  He even flipped a little "closed" sign and explained that I should "take the time, not be bothered."

It didn't take long. Sleep answered, and Rubin went down for the night. He slept in bed with me and Dave's mom, from about 8:30pm until just before 7am.  

We left our hotel for the Incheon International Airport via the Korean Air Limousine (Bus) just before 9am, and were all checked in and enjoying a mid-morning snack at the airport by 10:30am.  Rubin fell asleep on the trip and napped for about an hour.  He was as happy as I was to see a play structure at our gate, and quite a few other children waiting to board our plane, flight number KE037.  I had to laugh when I read Christine's account of their trip home with Spencer... I am quite certain that close to one-third of the people aboard our flight held Rubin at some point in between Seoul and Chicago O'hare.  We were in the sky for over 12 and a half hours, and Rubin slept for just about 5... The rest of the time you could have found him being passed between the aisles on our airplane, from middle-aged-women to Korean businessmen to teenaged boys.  He was a treat.  We walked up and down the aisles for miles, played peek-a-boo, and counted fingers and toes (again and again) just to pass the time. He did remarkably well, despite my anxiety about flying with a baby.  I can't look back at it with fondness, but I WILL say, "We rocked."

We landed in Chicago on the same day and two hours before we left Seoul (I love that!) We went through customs and immigration and baggage claim relatively quickly and were surprised to see Papa waiting for his boy outside of International Arrivals (as our dear friend Tom did all took care of all of the airport transportation for us, so that Dave could be home with the boys.)  

Dave's first words upon seeing our son: "He's perfect, Emily."

And, he is.

Did I already mention that?