About Airport Day (and the Pediatrician)

Hi! Thanks for checking in. Now that Max is asleep on the couch, I can finally write about Airport Day.

Everyone arrived in plenty of time which was great it was nice to experience the anticipation with all! We quickly located his flight on the arrival board and he was scheduled to land at 7:36 PM. All eyes were fixed on the arrival screen and when I saw the status of Max's flight begin to change I yelled, "He just landed!" It was a false alarm; the flight was delayed until 8:15 :)

A greeter met us at the airport. She has adopted three children through our agency and was a pro! Our friends and family had to stay off to the side but David and I were permitted to stand just outside of the security gate with others who were waiting for the flight.

As our crowd grew larger and larger (we ended up with 25-30!) and my cousin Sharon and her family arrived with a wonderful large sign that said "Welcome Max" in Korean, other people who were waiting for the flight to arrive became curious. One man asked me, "Who is this Max that everyone's waiting for?" We have pictures with him in them taking his own pictures of the event with his camera phone.

The plane finally landed and David and I waited anxiously with the other friends and family of passengers. It was so exciting and I felt so loved and blessed in the final moments before Max arrived.

When I saw a woman walking out with a baby in a carrier, I screamed to our group, "He's here!" And as I finished my sentence I began to worry that maybe that was just another passenger from the plane who also had a baby. But nope, it was our adorable, loveable, wonderful, Maxwell Shumer Hyman.

David and I began to cry, we were so completely overcome with joy and love. We had been anticipating this moment and it was finally here. Finally ours to feel and live.

We walked over to the where the greeter met the escort and saw our baby for the first time. David and I continued to cry our happy tears (this after I said on the ride to the airport that I don't cry when I'm happy). And then the escort handed Maxwell to me and I held him. For the first time I felt the soft, silky baby skin that I had dreamed of. And I made eye contact with my new son and felt his warm baby breath. My life changed instantly.

I didn't know where to turn first, to the escort to thank her or to our friends and family. I don't know what I decided, but I did eventually let everyone see Max and flashbulbs went off – his first exposure to the paparazzi! Maxwell was PERFECT the entire evening, he never cried (until his first exposure to the car seat) and just looked around and smiled at everyone. He was incredibly calm and perfect.

The escort spoke English and told me that she sang to him during the flight and it soothed him to sleep. She was crying as she had been with him for nearly 24 hours and formed a bond. She held him again and posed for pictures. We brought a Polaroid with us so that she could have some photos to remember Maxwell.

As mentioned, Max didn't like the car seat at all. But what I've learned in my short time with him is that he voices his disdain for things but quickly adapts and stops crying. For instance, his first couple of times in the highchair he'd whine for 30 seconds or so and then he was fine. This is how he seems to be with everything.

When we got home we put him on the floor to crawl around and he immediately crawled after the dog. He is VERY interested in the dog and often follows him around. We have some great photos of him hugging, Gauss.

I know that his first visit to the pediatrician doesn't count towards the Airport Day entry, but I thought I'd post it here anyway. We had to sit in the waiting room for about half an hour and Maxwell handled it so much better than I did. I was antsy and irritated while he just sat and looked around the room. Amazing! When it was time to undress him for his weigh-in, he cooperated, sat in the baby scale and GIGGLED. The nurses couldn't believe how well-behaved he was. The only time he wasn't giggling or at least smiling was when the doctor looked into his ears with her otoscope. Other than that, he was fabulous. He weighs 18 lbs and is 28 1/8 inches long. Developmentally he's right on target (although my mother-in-law thinks he's ahead and who am I to argue?) – I think he'll probably take his SATs soon (not to set up unreasonable expectations or anything!).

He is a true joy. He's full of delicious personality and a wonderful temperament. He simply radiates and is a blessing in its truest sense.