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I love the smell of cedar. Especially in the morning. It’s sweet earthy smell permeates my nose and I’m transported for a moment into those places I used to inhabit: the northwoods, the Adirondacks, the northern climates where summer lasts about a month if you are lucky. Places where the air is fresh and smells like rain, the clouds dance in the sky and you can watch them for hours as they change shape and become boats and horses and cars racing across the sky. Home.

In China they say that you can’t leave home for a month at least after a baby is born. I unfortunately didn’t have that luxury (at least, some call it a luxury). Two days after birth I was in a taxi weaving through the hot crowded streets of Beijing finding my way to an international clinic to receive a RH shot that is illegal to give in Chinese hospitals. (I had to go to an international clinic because I gave birth in a 100% Chinese hospital). When Josie was three days old we went with her to the American Consulate to apply for her passport and social security number. At four days old we drove to Tianjin and geared up the next 3 weeks of packing. At five days we went to church and climbed the unending steps to the worship hall with baby in arms. Granted, I was totally exhausted after that. Within the first week of life Josie had more visitors and met more people who loved her than most newborns I know. And when we arrived back in Tianjin, our lives only got busier as we prepared to pack up and say goodbye to our lives of the last 8 years. Although Dave did the majority of the packing and I was mostly inside with Josie, we still made it outside a fair amount and I never heard the end of grandmothers and pretty much everyone telling me I was out of place for brining her outside before she was a month old.

Yesterday Josie celebrated being one month old. And we took her to town- Potsdam, NY, that is. But before reaching that milestone she traveled across the world with her whole life in tow. And now we’re home, in Colton NY. Last week we spent time at Cranberry lake with our entire family. Josanna met her cousin Sophia, the one who is 8 hours and 35 minutes older than she is. Even though it is July, its cold and rainy much of the time and we enjoyed celebrating the 4th of July cozied up to a fire, talking, nursing, eating. It was good to be with family, together in one place.

And at one month, we have landed in a place for a time... a short time now, but a longer time later. (We will be traveling for a month for weddings and family visits next week). And I’m really loving the slower pace of life here and now. Even though I’m up much of the night with feeding Josie, it doesn’t matter that much because her father and uncles, and grandparents can give me a break in the morning. (Dave, David and my mom are currently helping out and giving me a breather). This morning I went for a little walk and was reminded just how much I love being in outdoor beautiful places. The birds are singing like crazy, the sun is reflecting off all the trees, there are clouds in the sky, and walking up the drive this morning I picked a little bit off the cedar tree, rubbed it between my fingers and took a deep breath. Yes, I’m home.