The Trip Home--Noah's Adoption Story Part 6

As I've mentioned in a previous post, Noah and I had to wait to leave Utah until all of the legal paperwork cleared.  Our caseworker said it could take anywhere from four days to four weeks.  I prepared myself for the worst and brought everything Noah would need for the first month of his life with me when Ryan and I road tripped to Utah.  In the end though, we got clearance to leave the state only four days after the adoption papers were signed!  Hallelujah!

My little sister had come to Utah to spend the weekend with me and Noah, so she made the drive home to Colorado with me.  It was way too much fun.  I adore my little sis.  We decided to do the trip in two days--to give Noah a little break halfway through and also to see our cousins in Grand Junction.

On our way out of town, we stopped in Provo so that my good friend Molly (who is about to graduate from BYU's photography program) could take Noah's pictures.  The photos are amazing, and I will post them soon.  Laura and I grabbed a J-Dawg on the way out if town (yummmmmm) and then started the trek east to Colorado.

Both days of the trip, Noah slept most of the way, but we did have to occasionally stop to change his diaper and give him a bottle.  Is he precious or what??

"Mom, this is embarrassing."  I may see this face for the rest of my life when I kiss him in public! :)

When my sisters and I were in college, whenever we drove to or from BYU for holiday breaks, we would stop and spend the night in Grand Junction with our LaBonde cousins.  I have the most vivid memories of arriving to their house very late at night, only to be greeted by the entire family including the little kids.  We'd stay up until all hours of the night, talking and laughing.  Then Uncle Steve would suggest that we run into town to get Jack-N-The-Box tacos--so we'd all load up into his truck at 1 a.m.   The LaBondes are always up for a party.   On our way out to Utah to visit Katie in late July, Ryan and I stopped there, and they suggested we go swimming...at midnight.  So we swam under the stars against the backdrop of the Colorado National Monument and had a cannon ball contest and sat in the hot tub until about 2 a.m.  Perfect.

Two weeks later, when Laura and I arrived with Noah, we were greeted by an excited entourage:

Aunt Beth and Marcus

Jordan

Lauren

Uncle Steve

The next day, we intended to leave bright and early, but after a typical late night with the LaBos, we got going around noon. :)

Noah was tired from partying hard the night before

Stopping in Vail for dinner
I thought Noah's outfit was appropriate for a car trip (it had a car on it)

When we arrived home in Denver, we were greeted by this sight:

Sarah was just a little bit excited to meet her first nephew.

Aunt Sarah and Noah

Yes, my sister is insane.  I love her.

Uncle Logan was pretty excited too.

Their son Callum was so excited to meet "Baby Noah" and share his toys.  This is good practice for when he will have to start sharing with his own little brother or sister...in April!  Yup, Sarah found out she is pregant the week that we adopted Noah.  So exciting!

And Great Grammy and Grampy were waiting to welcome Noah to the family too!

They love their great grandsons!

"Oh woe is me...everyone stop giving me so much attention!"

Who do you think was most excited for Baby Noah to be home?

Ryan made Noah a sign for his bedroom door.  He was so excited to have him home that he couldn't put him down, even when he was studying.

So there you have it.  Noah's adoption story from start to finish--or is it from start to new beginning?  Noah is now 38 days old and getting cuter and plumper and more alert by the minute.  We love him more than words can say.  I can't wait to see him smile...and then sit up...and then crawl...and then walk..and then get on the school bus to kindergarten...and then play on his first sports team...and then have his first crush...and then go to high school...and then graduate and go to college...and then meet the woman of his dreams...and then have his own children...I'm sure it will feel like he grew up that quickly when I look back in thirty years.  

Noah--two weeks old
This boy will never grow up, right??

Life is so so good, and we are so so lucky to be Noah's parents.