Hawkins + Hawkins: There is no place like HOME!

We have been back from China for 2 days. The travel was grueling: poor sleep at an overpriced hotel by the Hong Kong Airport, waking up to a diaper catastrophe of which we shall not speak, which made us late to check in, jogging through the airport (which I hate more than just about anything), a 14 hour flight in which little Abe slept for 40 minutes, and fought with me for two hours, customs, the Chicago O'Hare airport- which is crowded and lacks sufficient air-conditioning, camping in one terminal, discovering our flight is moved to another terminal, hurrying over, finding our flight is delayed, and finally, finally arriving in Birmingham. A thirty hour day. Rough, but we made it. Melissa was awesome, and we worked as a team, and we made it.

Seeing our other kids and my mom was so great- we missed them so much. Two weeks is too long to be away from young-uns. Big thanks to Melissa's mom Vicki, my mom Brooks, the Snow family, our church and everyone else who helped Amelia and Eli while we were gone.

Back home is great. Eli and Amelia are realizing that a new brother will mean less attention for them and some challenging adjustments (selflessness is so good but so hard at every age- even my own). It is too early to report on Abe's adjustment, but the last two days have been good. Some crying at night, but not as much. Some angry tantrums, but not as intense or as long. Melissa and I are really enjoying outsmarting him. For example he is in danger of climbing/falling out of his crib by swinging a leg up (looks like a cool karate move) and pulling himself over, but won't stay in his big bed. Engineering genes from my dad kicked in and a handful of zip ties and some PVC pipe made the crib just high enough that he can't swing a leg over. Outsmarted! He is continually showing us ways we need to re-childproof the house.

Watching Abe discover his new and permanent home is wonderful. He seems amazed by his brother and sister. He is delighted with regular family mealtimes. Seeing the cat brings out very animated babbling commentary. He is being read to for the first time and beginning to show some slight interest in books. There are tons of toys to discover. The self-playing digital piano is pretty impressive, as is the family dancing that sometimes goes with it.

Soon we will get him checked over by a doctor and schedule surgery on his open palate. Once he has had that he should be able to talk- I have a feeling he will have a lot to say.

Thanks again to everyone who has read and especially to everyone who has prayed. We are blessed beyond measure.

Abe has a brother!