Less than 2 weeks

We will be leaving on another amazing journey in the quest to complete our family. Preparing for this trip, has had me thinking back to the first time we did this. So many emotions, so many memories.
I was reading the journal I kept while traveling for Alek, it was fun to read what I was feeling as we sat in the business class lounge (enjoying those perks) and waiting to board our flight. I remember meeting Alek for the first time, they walked into the room with this little chubby faced (yes Alek had full cheeks!) and they said his last name, which we didn't realize, so we stood there for a second until we realized it was our little man!
I think about how it was like then, and wonder how will Maks be when we first meet him. Will he be scared and cry, will he be tentative or will he be social? I think of how different it will be, Alek was only 4 1/2 months when we met him, Maks will be one.
It makes me sad to think of how he may feel, after all his whole world will be turned upside down, once we are able to bring him home on our second trip. So it is a battle of emotions, on one hand you are so happy, this little person is coming home with you, to a new life with a loving and caring family who cannot wait to welcome him with open arms, yet the first thing we do is take him from all he has ever known. Sights, sounds, smells, language will all be different for him. I just can't imagine how he will react to that.
We were watching some of the video of Alek on our first day with him. How much he has changed!! It seems like he went from a pale white peanut, to this thriving bundle of non stop energy in no time!!
I remember arriving with him in Moscow, meeting Joanne in the hotel. As tired as we all were, we had such fun sightseeing and walking around Moscow, with the little man in tow!
I remember getting to the hotel in Heathrow seeing Granny anxiously waiting outside for us to arrive and the smile on her face when we stepped off the bus and then rushing inside to meet up with Pop Pop.
I remember sitting for what seemed like forever in immigration in Philly, knowing our family was out there just waiting for us, thank God for Diane who came in and whispered something to the immigration worker and next thing we know our name was called!
I remember Pop's face and Grammom and Poppy's expression when they all got to hold Alek for the first time. I remember LaLa, and the kids and Joe and Niki all being there smiling and sharing in our moment and welcoming home this little guy with open arms. I love the pictures from that moment!!
Such great and wonderful memories and I can't wait to build more with more Maks.
We are truly blessed to not only have gone through this journey not once but twice and we are so lucky to have such wonderful family and friends surrounding us and supporting us thru it all!!
Sorry, got carried away a little bit with the mushy stuff!!

Well the paperwork is done, every requested document is in our hands, so all that is left is the packing!