Meighan Beibei Smith is HOME!

More later! Real tired!

Here's 3 pictures for the non-local people.

Our First Family Photo - April 7, 2009 -- Gotcha Day!

Happy Meighan!

Homecoming at Omaha, April 17, 2009

My best intentions were to get up at 4:00 with my watch alarm (quieter than my regular alarm so as not to wake the baby) and get ready and be able to have the luggage outside our room by 5:30. Well, I was finally sleeping and didn't hear the alarm. I woke up at 4:48! Shower and hair were done but hair looked a little funky! Meighan woke up about 5:15 so we dressed her and stuffed last minute stuff wherever it would fit. I was actually setting suitcases out at 5:40 when the bellman came to get them! Whew!

We threw on our backpacks, picked up the baby and went downstairs to check out. We even beat Joyce! She came and ran to the restaurant to get our breakfast boxes and we were off to the airport!

It was about 30 minutes or so to the airport. There was some confusion when we got there. Three people came out help with our luggage while Joyce went to get a cart. Joyce got back with the cart and was a little frustrated because she said "You have to pay him." She told him something in Chinese and then took the cart herself. She led us to the proper check-in counter and we had E-tickets and our email said we'd get the child's ticket from our guide. The airline people were apparently expecting a paper ticket. She went back and forth with them a bit and finally told us all was OK. We got checked in and checked 3 bags all the way to Omaha! We'll see them briefly in Chicago for Customs.

Joyce got us to the security checkpoint and we said goodbye. Security went fine and we went through the departure area where we had to present our departure cards. Another ID check and security check and we were on the way to the gate.

The Guangzhou-Hong Kong flight was very short. We got up to altitude and started descending. We did see the very tall Hong Kong skyscrapers out the window. Once in Hong Kong airport we had to transfer terminals. We had to ask one person who said it was a long way. She was right! And the two moving sidewalks were both going the opposite direction of where we wanted to go! That didn't make sense to us. Anyway, we made it to the correct terminal, went through more security (I think -- It's kind of a blur as I'm writing now!) and found our gate. We started boarding at noon and left a bit early and were on our way to the US!

Meighan did quite well on the 14-hour flight! She did WAY better than a couple other kids (older) did! She took a short nap early because it was nap time and then probably slept 5 1/2 to 6 hours total for her nighttime sleep. We didn't sleep much. I probably dozed for a couple of hours. They played FOUR movies which I did not even try to listen to. This flight didn't go as far north as our other long flight did. We went just south of the Aleutian Islands and then over Vancouver/Seattle area and then over Montana, South Dakota and into Chicago. We were SO ready to get off that plane!

We went through Immigration and had to go through the foreigners' line for Meighan. She's not a good "waiter." She gets real antsy and squirmy. Finally, it was our turn and we gave the officers our sealed brown envelope. They checked us all out and sent us on to Customs. We got our luggage and then went to get Meighan's paperwork all submitted. She's now a US Citizen! We went quickly through Customs and re-checked our bags and continued to the train to get to the correct terminal. While we waited for the train Meighan charmed everyone with her blowing kisses and waving.

We finally got to our gate to wait for our FINAL flight! We each called our moms. Then we changed our shirts and changed clothes on Meighan.

When we got on the flight Meighan went right to sleep even before we took off. I hoped her ears would be OK since she wasn't drinking this time. She did fine. We woke her up as we taxied to the gate in Omaha. We gathered our things and our emotions and left the plane. We each made a bathroom stop and we got out the camera, camcorder, name cards and more kleenex!

Tony recorded us right before we turned the corner to meet everyone! As we turned the corner I couldn't believe there were so many people! They all clapped and cheered and then Meighan did her blowing kisses and waving and won everyone over at that moment! It was a little overwhelming having all those people taking pictures and trying to talk to us. Tony said later that he was surprised he'd lost it as much as he did but he was just so glad to be home! I was surprised I didn't cry as much as I thought I would! I hope we greeted and spoke to everyone who came! If not, we apologize. It was great to see so many people there, though! We counted 41 plus us!

We chatted and worked our way downstairs to our luggage and went HOME! Our parents followed us. My parents had brought MILK(!) and other food for us to eat on Saturday.

It's soooooo good to be home!

We would appreciate any pictures that were taken that night so we can put them in a photo album for Meighan.