We awoke bright and early at 2:00am. Vladamir was waiting in the lobby at 3:00am, and we quickly (with the help of the bell boys / doormen) were packed into the car and off we drove. Due to the time, the streets were empty, but nice. The only real activity was at the casino / slots parlors that are all over the city, with their bright lights. We made our way down Tverskaya toward the airport, past the area of the city we only saw coming and going to the airport. It was smooth sailing, with no stops by the police this time. Sam was actually awake for most of the drive (we had hoped he would simply sleep until we were on board - Oh Well!)
When we got to the airport, it took two carts to load all of our stuff, and then we said good-bye and thank you to Vladamir. We were there SO early that security had not even set up to scan the bags. We waited in the lobby area by the check-in for about 1/2 hour, and then when security opened up, we proceeded to unload all our bags onto the X-ray machines, and then back on to the carts to wheel them to the Lufthansa desk. After a quick check-in (only took a few extra minutes to change our seats for bulkhead seats for all but the first flight), the checked bags went down the shoot to be seen again in Chicago. We then proceeded to Immigration control. They asked to see the original Russian copies of the Adoption paperwork, took a look at our passports, and then stamped everything and off we went toward the gate area.
(A side note about Moscow SVO airport - While this is the primary international airport for a national capital, you would never sense it by the activity level. The "departure board" looks like one from 30th Street Station in Philadelphia. Unlike Philadelphia International (or any other major airport we have ever been in), the board had about 20 lines and that was ALL the departing flights for the entire day. There were only 2 flights leaving before 7AM, ours and one to Madrid, Spain. Also, the "business class" lounge was really inaccessible for us. The only access was down several flights of stairs (No ADA Elevator), so we opted to skip it since we did not want to fuss with the stroller and our 4 carry on bags down the stairs.)
Once we settled in near our gate, we quickly changed Sam's diaper and clothes (he had been wearing his PJ's), and gave him a little of his breakfast, along with getting Mommy and Daddy some drinks (Soda). We then quickly boarded the mostly empty flight. There were so few people in Business Class, everyone had their own row. Once we got settled in, Sam sat on Daddy's lap, while Mommy fed him. While taxing, Sam ate the rest of his breakfast. He seemed more interested in the window shade going up and down then the fact he was leaving Moscow. Sam gave Moscow a wave "bye-bye" at Daddy's suggestion, and then Daddy gave Sam a big "hug" as the plane took-off. Once we were at altitude, Sam and Daddy moved up one row, so Mommy could nap a little. Sam also slept for the bulk of the flight (even allowing Daddy to get some light sleep).
Once we arrived in Munich, we went directly to the Business Class lounge for some drinks and a little snack. Sam and Mommy pushed "Bear" around in the stroller, while Daddy got online to check e-mail. Mommy took Sam to a HUGE bathroom (you could have slept in it) for a diaper and outfit change. It was Sam's first changing table (better then the floor at the hotel). A little fussing, but then he was all "clean" and ready to run again. Sam did seem to enjoy the 4 big plasma TVs in the lounge, but he had not seen Daddy's TV yet.
About 45 minutes before our flight, we proceeded to our gate, and yet another security scanning, this time with a sleeping baby. At the first security point, then needed to enter Sam's information into the US Homeland Security Database, since his ticket was not part of the original reservation, and they needed to confirm that we had the sealed envelope from the US Embassy with Sam's immigration paperwork. We then proceeded to the end of the hall for the X-ray / carry-on screening, where we needed to load EVERYTHING onto the conveyor belt, including the stroller (did we mention that Sam was sleeping), then explain the quantity of baby food, and then pack it all back into the bags, and board the plane, without a real chance to catch our breath.
(Oh yeah, Munich airport did not have elevators at the gate. After all that with the security, we had to go down 2 steep escalators, with all the bags and the sleeping baby.)
The plane from Munich to Chicago was a Airbus 360-300, and we were in the second Business Class section. The seats in this section are almost flat recliners with individual LCD displays with Video-On-Demand, individual 110V power adaptors for a computer, a message mode for your back, and enough leg room that an NBA basketball player could be comfortable. We also had bulkhead seats so there was some extra room for Sam to move around once we took off. Our section had us and about 6 other passengers. All of Business Class was rather empty, so we had some space to spread out. Sam enjoyed all the buttons on the remote, that controlled our chairs, but he did not understand that we could not play with the chairs until we we already in the air, and he did not want to stay on our laps while the plane was taxing. Daddy had to "muscle" him on to his lap until we took off. Once we took off, the flight attendants took our food order (they did not get Daddy his kosher meal, but made sure he got the fish platter), and set up the bassinet for Sam on the bulkhead. After Daddy ate "lunch" while Mommy walked the isles with the then crying baby, since Sam would not be happy sitting on either lap, and tried to jump out of the bassinet, Sam fought sitting on Daddy's lap, so Mommy could eat. Eventually with lunch over, Sam slept for about 30 minutes on Daddy, before waking up in a screaming fit. This continued for the rest of the flight.
Sam was essentially inconsolable. He would scream if he was sitting on Daddy's lap, and if Mommy took him, he would scream on Mommy's lap. If Mommy walked with Sam, he would scream, and if we put him down, we got more screaming. When it came to the bassinet, the screaming there was twice as loud. The other passengers in our section were not to pleased, and most (all but 1) moved to the other Business Class section before we made it over the Atlantic.
We FINALLY landed in very snowy Chicago, and when the wheels hit the ground, that is when Sam officially became a US citizen. Mommy and Daddy applauded, despite their total exhaustion, while Sam continued to fuss.
Once on the ground, we proceeded to Immigration Control. The line moved fairly fast, and then when it was our turn, Mommy and Daddy's passports got stamped rather quickly, and the Immigration officer put Sam's paperwork in a folder and told us to get our bags and go to customs, where we would take care of Sam's immigration stuff, by this time, Sam had fallen asleep in his stroller. We found a very nice Skycap, who helped Daddy gather the luggage, and patiently waited with us in the New Immigrant section of customs.
There were 3 other families in this section, but no children. We were 3rd in line. It was very non-ceremonious. The officer opened our envelope, went through all the documents, and then simply put a couple stamps, and reiterated what the embassy had instructed us regarding the documentation for citizenship, and we were then on our way. We proceeded through the Customs scan of all the bags (again had to get the now sleeping baby out of the stroller to scan that).
From there we went to United's Check-In counter. When we were planning this trip this transfer in Chicago from International to Domestic was the nightmare we had been dreading. We only wish someone had told us that we could check our luggage through right at the International terminal it would have been nice. It would have been an added bonus if the check-in people in Moscow had checked the baggage through, but "That is Moscow" as the United check-in lady said. Once checked in and baggage handed over to United, we then proceeded to the Domestic terminal. (Remember this is Chicago O'hare Airport and it has been snowing all day, and we now have a sleeping baby in a stroller and we have been traveling for around 20 hours already.) Since we did not know about the ability to transfer the checked bags at the International terminal, we had arranged for a limo driver to pick us up at the International terminal and drive us to the Domestic United terminal. The driver met us and we were on our way around O'hare Airport.
When we got to the United domestic terminal we proceeded directly to security. Now we have flown via the US Air terminal in Philadelphia for years (even after 9/11) but this was a nightmare. The line was HUGE, moved very slowly, and the heat was turned up way to high. Add to that that Mommy and Daddy had not got a wink of sleep since the flight from Moscow to Munich (12 hours earlier), and had been dealing with a screaming toddler for the last 7 - 8 hours, you can imagine our patience level. When it was finally our turn to put all the carry-on bags and the stroller (after removing the NOW sleeping baby) on the X-ray machine, we had to deal with the fact that we did not remember where we had packed much of the liquids (i.e. Diaper Cream, Baby Food, Yogurt, Juice, etc.), so we were scolded by the TSA people and had to have 2 of our bags repeatedly scanned until we accounted for everything. Mommy snapped at the TSA official, when he suggested we should know where everything was. Oh Well.
We finally made it to the United Business class lounge where we had about 1 - 1 1/2 hours to kill before our flight was scheduled. We had some cool drinks, Daddy changed his now drenched shirt (Baby sweat) for a cheap Chicago T-shirt, and Sam got a clean diaper and change of clothes. Daddy went around the lounge until he could find a spot to make a cell phone call (can you hear me now), so he could confirm the arrival time in Washington with Steve and Libby, and tell Bubby & Zeyda and Sabba & Safta that we made it "across the pond".
Now did we mention that it was SNOWING in Chicago (April 11), and they had gotten about 6 inches over the last 24 hours. Fortunately the snow had stopped, so our plane landed a little delayed and even though the board said we were "on-time" our plane did not arrive to the gate (still having not deplaning the previous flight or being cleaned) until 15 minutes before our scheduled departure. Yeah right - On Time. We finally boarded and departed about 1 hour late (not bad considering Chicago's reputation and the weather).
For this flight, Sam sat on Mommy, and Daddy was asleep before we even took off. Daddy did not wake up until we were getting ready to land (since his seat had reclined a bit, and the stewardess tried to push it upright and not wake up Daddy). Sam meanwhile slept on Mommy for the flight, so we were a little better off in DC then when we landed in Chicago.
After we landed, we gathered all of our carry-ons (when someone asked if we had not checked anything, they were confused when Daddy told them we had also checked 4 suitcases). On the tram ride from the Gate area to the main terminal we met the pilot of our flight, who admitted that we were lucky to only be one hour late considering the day Chicago was having, so we counted that as a blessing. He also gave Sam a picture (business card) of the plane, and congratulated the "Newest" American.
Our luggage came out very quickly (advantage of Business Class), so we then called Steve and Libby, who were parked right outside the Airport and pulled up within a couple minutes of us walking out the door. Sam did not seem interested in saying hello, but he also did not seem to like his new car seat (something he will have to get used to). We said a quick Hello, Thank You and Good-Bye to Steve and Libby, and then went directly to the hotel. (About 2 miles from the airport.)
About 27 hours after we left our hotel in Moscow, we were settled into our room in the Fairfield Inn at Dulles Airport. All three of us had a quick bite to eat (Mommy and Daddy had Subway sandwiches, while Sam had some Baby food Fruit), and then we all passed out on the bed. Yes, Mommy and Daddy let Sam sleep in their bed, since neither had the energy to fight with getting Sam to sleep in the Pack-and-Play provided by the hotel.
The next morning (Thursday, April 12), we woke a little late (around 8:30am) and grabbed our showers and bath (Sam), and then piled back in the car for home. After about 30 minutes of squirming and complaining by Sam for being "forced" to sit in the car seat, Sam fell asleep. We made pretty good time (except for the accident / slow-down on I-95 just North of Baltimore), and we HOME by 1:00pm.
We are now settling in to a routine, so bear with us as it takes us a few days to get into our routine, before posting again. We will continue to keep you informed about our joys of being parents to the most wonderful little boy, SAMUEL JONATHAN BARANOFF.
No comments:
Post a Comment