We made it!

We're home!

Ok, let's see....where do I start? Oh, I know--how about the night before we left for the airport to come home? THAT WAS A FUN NIGHT! Since we had a 4:00 a.m. wake up call to get to the airport, I figured I would go to sleep at 10:00, Cody came in about 10:30 and all hell broke loose. Frankie decided to scream bloody murder (for this I blamed Cody, of course) and she was pretty thorough about making our lives miserable for the rest of the night...probably because she knew we needed to be up so early. From what Cody says, she finally went down around 2:30 and we woke her up at 4:00. Well, there's a night I hope I get to do again soon (NOT!)

When we got our act together, we schlepped over to the GZ airport with The Simpson Fam and Peter. It was raining (of course, why wouldn't it be?) and yucky out. All went well at the airport and we got on our first flight: The GZ to Tokyo flight. IT SUCKED. Frankie was in full-on Crankie Frankie form. Don't get me wrong, I didn't blame her, I just wanted her to zip it. I am pretty confident everyone on the plane hated us. We were in first class (thanks, Cody--I know we're broke) but even that wasn't enough for FJ. Thankfully that flight was only about 4 hours and we made it to Tokyo.

Tokyo airport: Beautiful...Love it. Beautiful girls and hot guys working there. (I know, I know...I usually don't go for the Asian guys, but there were some hot-tays working the Tokyo airport!) Also, I would like to add that the female airport outfits are really cute--they wore these great scarves, I wish they sold them there. Insert lots of security checks, many tedious lines, and a crying baby and you're in for a super fun day. We finally got on the plane and I knew the worst was over. Even if FJ cried for 15 hours, I didn't care. We were in FAT ASS first class. (Again, thanks Cody...YES, I KNOW WE ARE BROKE). We had a few of the same flight attendants from the trip to Tokyo and they remembered us. They were dying over Frankie. Once she figured out she was in high class, first class--she made herself REAL comfortable. We promptly started calling her "Frankie First Class."

I have to say, she did really great and that's a long flight for anyone, even for people our age who don't poop in their pants anymore. We got comfortable and the food, drinks and snacks kept coming. It was awesome. The chairs reclined all the way back so we actually got a little sleep. Cody made a little bed for Frankie on his lap and she even fell asleep a few times. The best is that each seat had its own TV and Cody found Baby Einstein for Frankie. I wish you could have seen her. It was hilarious. I thought she was going to try and GET IN the screen at times.

She had one teeny crying episode on the plane and that was it. The funny thing is, one of the guys sitting by us was sleeping and she woke him. He gave me a dirty look because, apparently, now I am "THAT mom with the annoying, crying baby," and he is "THAT guy who paid a fortune for his first class seat." Well, what he didn't realize is that I am "THAT mom with Frankie Jade Coden as my crying baby." When the flight finally landed several hours later and we were all gathering our luggage, the same guy had to get his bags which were over by us. "Frankie First Class" landed a raspberry on him that was not to believed. It was legendary. That's just how my girl rolls. Who loves her?

We finally made it to D-Town and did the immigration/customs thing (for the 100th time) and Miss Frankie Jade Coden, the Asian Sensation, got her stamp of approval and become an American Citizen. We got our stuff, found my mom and Jimmy, (who were waiting with a "Welcome Home" poster, balloons) and we got the hell out of dodge.

Could we have been more tired? I don't think so. We were, however, so happy to be home and we were very excited to see Cody's parents and my dad who were waiting at the house. Plus, I could not WAIT to see Floyd.

Now, I have been really good about not doing shout outs for people on this blog, but I must recognize a few who really went crazy for our homecoming: Michael Nagler, Nancy Clark and Debbie Michelson--we LOVE you guys. Our house was (and still is) decorated in such a way that Nate Berkus would have been proud. (I can NOT believe I just used an Oprah reference). The signage is amazing and the balloons are way fun. I still smile everytime I walk into a room that has been decorated by you guys. Thank you and we all love you.

So, what's it like being home?

It is different everyday.

We are totally winging it. I will say the jetlag is really a killer. I had no idea what we were in for. Our days are nights and our nights are days. It's bad enough for us, but trying to get FJ on a schedule is just brutal. We just recently found out that the jetlag is supposed to last 2 weeks. Well, after 4 nights of no sleep, or the nerve racking kind when you just start to drift and crying ensues, Cody let me sleep in our room while he slept in the guest room. We are now doing "nights on" and "nights off" switching every other night so at least one of us sleeps. Whoever sleeps in the guest room (by Frankie's room) is on duty. The other person is on the other side of the house in our bedroom. I hate not sleeping with my husband, but sleep is GOOD.

As for the 2 week thing-- I think we can beat it. I have no patience for that. 2 weeks with little to no sleep? Um...NO. NEGATIVO.

Some new normals for us:

Dinner is at 6:00

Bedtime is at 9:00

Should we just buy our condo at La Boca Vista and go for our early bird special now?

We are learning more and more about Frankie Jade every day. We have found that the first few times she tries something new, she is not into it and the crying is very dramatic (and sometimes quite impressive) Strollers, high chairs, rockers, car seats (especially car seats) ALL BAD. Does it matter that she has high-end EVERYTHING? No, it doesn't. Is there anything good enough for Swankie Frankie? No. Jeez....she is tough.

We are very slowly bringing in new people for her to meet. For now, we are mostly family because when it gets to be too much, the fingers go in the mouth, the smile ceases and she just shuts down. It makes me sad when that happens because she is so much fun normally.

She LOVES Floyd. I was really worried about that but she LOVES him. She had a really bad day her first full day home, uncontrollable crying for most of the day, and at one point I found Floyd running over to her and just sitting with her while she was wailing. At that point, I even broke down and started crying--it was really that cute. He is not really a barker, but when he does, she is not bothered by it. The car seat is the enemy though--go figure. Women.

We love her more everyday. She is really very cool and very funny, and it's exciting to see her becoming more and more "our kid" as the days pass. (That must be why she is so awesome, right?). Cody is the best dad ever and she goes ga-ga whenever she sees him (I do too, so I get that).

I can't wait to get into a normal routine and on a schedule but I know I have to be patient (NOT my strong point).

Let's see what else?

• Motrin is my friend
  
  
• Cloth bibs are way more comfy (and effective) than the vinyl ones



• I feel like I'm constantly "cleaning up."


• Cheerios are not for eating, but for throwing on the floor for Floyd


• Taking Frankie's hand to her foot is really funny (we're still not sure why but we love hearing her laugh)
  
  
• Sometimes poop is so powerful that it can't be contained by any one diaper. It just has to ooze out of the sides


• "Bling" rules and it's great for pulling and tugging
  
• Frankie Jade smiles could end tension in the Middle East--they are THAT cute
• Getting up at 3:00 a.m. to a kid who wants to play for 2 hours is fun ONLY for HER.
  
• Anyone who said Floyd would take a back seat was wrong. We love and need him more than ever.


• Showers that last more than 37 seconds are...well, they are pretty much non- existant


• The Laughing Learning Dog toy is the best invention, second only to disposable changing pads ("Go Green" on everything else--fine, but please don't deny me the disposable changing pads)


• Everything smells like poop. YOU will smell like poop to me


• E TV and VH1 have been replaced with Playhouse Disney. I now know some of the songs by The Wiggles. "We're doing the Flap now..." Yeah. Uh huh. ROCK ON.


• Grandparents rule--especially Frankie Jade's grandparents.
  
• Even though bath time is supposed to be "clean," it can prove to be very messy--and wet!



• Sometimes formula burps smell like they come from the back end instead of the mouth.


• Baby food sucks but paper tastes good


• White socks and shirts are stupid for an 11 mos old, but yet I keep buying them. What does that make me??


• When Fray J wakes up with a smile on her face, it makes the long nights a distant memory...almost.


• 9:00 p.m. is the new 11:00 p.m.
  
• I am STILL in desperate need of a manicure
  

Thanks again for coming along for the ride. I know the journey is just beginning and I hope you stick around even though we might not get to see you right away. We're so happy to have you in our lives and I know each and every one of you will make Frankie's life very special in your own way. As for me, I think I smell another poop...Where's Cody???

Love you all,

R, C and Fray J