We're HOME!

Finally, after eighteen days away from home...we returned!  The reason Millie Janalee and I originally traveled to my hometown was for the big game against Auburn - #2 vs #3 in the nation.  More on that later.  Then, we had a baby that following Monday.  And the rest is history.

History I promise to share here.  For those of you waiting for the rundown.

We got the official call on Monday, October 28.  We were free to leave the state with our new baby boy!  Since Russ had already returned to Missouri for work, I really needed some help loading two babies and a dog and ALL our luggage and baby things.  Plus it wouldn't all fit in my car.  So my mom was available to follow me back in her Suburban the following day.  Tuesday it was!

We drove the 5 1/2 hours home.  Without any major event.

I think he likes it here!

Since I was so nervous and unsure of how everything would play out, I had not taken tags off baby clothes.  I hadn't bought much at all or organized a closet for Smith.  I took much care to guard my heart as adoption can always go either way.  Since I was so careful before his sweet birth, there was MUCH to do!  Thankfully, Russ had assembled and set the bassinet up before we came home.  And it looked so perfectly sweet in blue!

This bassinet is a family heirloom.  It has survived 60+ years of babies.  My mom, her brother, their cousins, our cousin, my siblings and me, Millie Janalee, Hughes, Selah Grace, and now Smith!  And all our names are printed on the bottom.  Such a special treasure!

Home sweet home!

Checking in on her "baby bruvver"

Smith wasn't the only one happy to be home.  I need to make a note here to let you know how incredibly thankful I was to have my parents put us up for the two weeks!  Thankful I didn't have to spend all that time in a hotel room.  Thankful to have everything I needed for a newborn at my fingertips, because my parents always had everything we needed for Millie Janalee there.  It makes life SO MUCH EASIER!  If you are a grandparent...do that.  Even so, it is comforting to have your family under the same roof.  Your roof.

With your own toys and playland...

And your daddy's arms to hold you tight...

Even more thankful for my mom and all her hard work helping me get organized, doing our laundry, ironing, changing diapers, shopping for necessities, and SO MUCH MORE!  Thankful for my parents for way too much to list.  I wouldn't trade them for anything!  We said our final goodbyes before my mom made the long drive home on Thursday night.

Yep.  It feels good to be home in our own routine.