The move to Helsinki

So, I'm getting started on my documentation of the move a little late. However, I think it's excusable given the amount of work we had to do to get here and the fact that we have a six-week-old baby, which limits one's Internet time as well as focus...

Anyhoo, after a harrowing day of clearing out the remainder of our State College apartment (which we left an hour behind schedule), driving madly from PA to Linden, New Jersey to drop off my car at the auto shippers, and hiring a car service to take us, baby Leila, and our FIVE suitcases, FIVE carry-ons/personal items, a car seat and stroller base to JFK, we managed to check in for our flight on time. Whew. 

We also had brought all the remaining food and drinks from our fridge because we couldn't bear to throw everything out. So, after completing check-in and ridding ourselves of the suitcases, we sat on a bench in the terminal to eat and drink all we could of what we brought. We still had to throw some away, but we managed to take a few items with us as snacks for the plane. Because of the stupid ruling about liquids on flights and our reluctance to throw anything away, we decided to give the unopened bottles of water to the people sitting next to us and the airport staff. They were surprised but grateful (especially the ones who got a full liter bottle of San Pellegrino)!

Getting through security was a breeze, especially because we were able to use the "family line." It allowed us to take all the time we needed and not piss off the people behind us, as they were all in the same boat. Boy, is it ever complex when you have a baby. You actually have to carry the baby through the metal detectors since you have to put the stroller and all the gear through the x-ray machine. 

(Photo: See Leila on her way to the gate at JFK!)

Once we boarded the plane, we were thankful for the fact that we got Leila her own seat. The flight was full, and it was nice to have the row to ourselves for our family (and all those carry-ons and personal items). Also, it meant we could leave her in the car seat so she had a place to sleep during the trip. Lucky for us, she managed to sleep most of the way, except for diaper changes and feedings. That meant that I got to sleep some, too, and we didn't have a screaming baby to annoy our neighboring passengers! She even managed to sleep through the descent, which is better than we expected. Many of the other kids on board were screaming bloody murder at that point...

Once we arrived in Finland and collected all our luggage, we went outside the terminal to look for a taxi that would be big enough to haul all our stuff. After securing a station wagon taxi, we were on our way to Matt's sister Helena's place, where we camped out until we could check into our hotel. Matt's other sister, Paula, also met us there. I had a much needed shower, and Helena made a great brunch for all of us. Then the aunts and cousin Veronika took the remainder of the time to get to know Leila. 

The most exciting part of the interaction with her aunts and cousin was that Leila actually smiled several times! Matt and I thought that we had gotten an intentional smile out of Leila the day before, but we were unsure whether it was just a fluke. After this exchange with the aunts, we decided that she truly is learning to smile on her own. Hooray! We've been waiting for this so we could get some feedback from Leila besides crying. So it seems that maybe Leila likes it here in Finland!

Our apartment hotel is in a nice neighborhood, and the room is small but cozy. It's nice to have a kitchenette and access to a laundry, especially with a newborn. So after settling in, we went out to explore the surrounding area. We stocked up on food at the neighborhood grocery store, walked along the harbor and then had dinner at a posh hotel (The Grand Marina) restaurant. All in all, it was a great first day in our new home!!