Back in Houston...U.S. Population increases by 1!

Hi Everyone,

We made it back safely to Houston...AND...the U.S. population has increased by 1 person...Mr. Jakob Paul Turpin...as he is officially a U.S. Citizen!

We had a long and grueling 10 hour flight. Our kid was definitely the loudest on the plane and was not very happy with the whole thing. I don't think it was the loud engines or even the crappy airplane food, but more that he was not happy being confined to a small area.

He did not want his shoes off and kept pointing to them on the floor as he knows if he has his shoes on, that means he can go out (i.e. he thought he could get off the plane...and he could...but it would be a long, hard ride down).

There were a few fellow Russian passengers trying to analyze why he was upset and what could be done better. It was not rocket science to us...he was tired! We left right at his nap time, he could not get comfortable, and it just kept getting compounded from there. After giving me a flew slaps and nearly gouging me in the eye with a plastic spoon, Jakob finally slept for 1 hour about 3 hours into the beginning of the flight. This was a "happy hour" for us! He then slept about another hour towards the very end of the 10 hour flight and also the last 2 minutes of the flight when we were landing.

When in Atlanta, he was on fire. He loved walking around and was going up to total strangers and smiling. He saw his first guy with a cowboy hat and also a person in a wheelchair...very intrigued by both as it was all new for him.

We called my mom first thing in the airport and we put the phone up to Jakob's ear to see what he thought. We realized he had not actually ever had someone talking back to him on the phone (as he will pretend he is talking on it, but no one ever actually responds). He had the biggest smile on his face while talking to Nana and actually said her name (which my mom LOVED). We also spoke with Stephanie and Ben.

When we had to board the next flight and he was getting on the plane, he had this look on his face like...you've got to be kidding! It is hard to explain to a 2 year old (especially one where English is not their first language) that this next flight from Atlanta to Houston was only a 2.5 hour flight and not a 10 hour one. He was SO tired, his eyes were all red and he was practically limp. We were the first ones on the plane, so we just let him stand on the floor in front of his middle seat and he just stood up, hunched over, with his little head asleep on the chair. It was so pitiful looking. Just before we took off, 2 ladies in the seats across the aisle gave him some chocolate that seemed to satisfy him and actually put him to sleep! So, he slept the entire 2.5 hour flight! Wayne slept most of it as well and I did for maybe an hour or so.

My sister Stephanie was there to greet us at the Houston airport which was just wonderful! Jakob was a bit shy (but more so sleepy) when he first met her, but by the time we got to the house, he looked around a bit, and saw his bath toys come out of the suitcase, he was on fire and ready to go. We gave him a bath, put him to bed, and all went to bed!

The next morning when he woke up, we took him up to meet his cousin Ben for the first time (as we went in to wake up Ben before school). Jakob was very intrigued by him and all of the toys in his room. We can't wait for Ben to come home today so they can play.

Wayne, Steph, Jakob and I spent the morning doing errands...passport photos, Social Security Card, and passport. All went VERY smoothly (surprisingly)! We then met Ed for lunch at Jason's Deli. Jakob seems to like American food so far and absolutely loved his massive pickle that he ate! We then came back to the Mazzoni house and put Jakob in his bed for a nap (as he was SO tired). So - we are now here blogging!

Tonight we will just stay in for dinner as Ed is making beef stew (looking forward to a home cooked meal). Tomorrow, we will take Jakob to his doctor's appointment and give him the day to play with Ben and just "be." Saturday will be filled with family visits and then we are heading to Calgary on Sunday morning!

I'll try to upload more videos and photos when we can.

Pleasantly happy in Houston,

Courtney, Wayne and Jakob!

Jakob SO tired on the Moscow to Atlanta flight

The Turpin's Arriving in Houston with Stephanie greeting us

Jakob on the swing at the park

Jakob "driving" at the park