Happy Halloween

Stephen, Michael and Julie---have fun trick r treating tonight! I miss you guys so much. Tell MiMa to take lots of pictures for us.

Tonight we went to the hotel Halloween gathering in the lobby. It was so cute! Carol and Steve brought their little girl Samantha dressed as a lady bug and Marsha and Tom brought their daughter's Karley and Zoey as cheerleaders. Our pretty little peanut was a flower. Cutest dang flower I've ever seen! We just love her so much. I still can't believe she's finally ours.

Rain

rain go away. When we woke up this morning it was raining. Well, I say raining but that's an understatement. Pouring is more like it. It's been a constant downpour and the roads are flooded. We've been worried about losing electricity. That would really stink.

Last night we went out to dinner with Carol & Steve and Elise and her mother Ruth. Guess who's kid decided to come out of her shell? Oh yeah. We got a taste of Saige's personality last night. This kid wants what she wants when she wants it. Julie and Saige will gang up on us I just know it!

Today since it was raining and we are stuck inside I decided to take Saige to the playroom downstairs. I took her there yesterday but we didn't stay long because she wouldn't leave my arms. Today she was walking around playing. It was nice to see her interact with the other babies. I truly think she misses having all the other babies around like at the orphanage. She's starting to let us put her down. She walks around a little bit on her own and loves the blanket one of the Hens got for her.

Tonight the families are going to meet downstairs for a little Trick R Treating in the hotel. It should be cute!
We were supposed to see the puppet show but with the rain I think we'll try for another night.

Upate: Ok, so after I posted we decided to get a taxi & go to Metro (equivelant of Sam's Club in US) for more bottles, formula & diapers. HUGE mistake. Half the roads are flooded and we had to turn back. It was insane. Note to self....do not venture out when it's raining no matter how bored.

Hanging out

Today Saige was feeling better so we went out and walked around by the lake. Saige LOVES her Baby Bjorn carrier. She kicks her feet whenever I stop walking and waves to people as they go by.

Today we found Saige a couple of beautiful silk dresses. Saige loves colorful things and Carl spotted a little wooden pull along dragon. lol. Consumer safety would have a field day in Vietnam! The walker we bought would be a safety hazard on SO many levels back home but the thing took all of minutes to snap together. For 11 dollars I'm not complaining!

After walking around the lake we went for lunch at Jaspas. Saige has the bathroom timing of all my other children. The poor kid hadn't had a bowel movement since we got her but the second we sit down to eat wouldn't you know it she blew! After I changed her we sat back down and she actually ate table food! She had NO interest in anything other than formula prior to that. Now she's like a whole new kid. She loves carrots and potatoes. She's a messy eater like Michael and Julie but she eats food that's good for her like Stephen.

The pictures below are of me and Saige at Jaspas and by the lake. The other picture was taken on the way to Tuyen Quang. I swear I'll never see mountains as huge or beautiful as that as long as I live. Vietnam is absolutely beautiful.








Stephanie Master of the Chopsticks!

Some more pics

Saige and Daddy



Saige and her nanny

Saige and Lieu's sister

Saige and her nanny







As you can tell from the pictures Saige was very loved by her nanny. We will always be grateful to her for taking such wonderful care of our little girl.

Daddy & Saige

Totally in love

Mommy and daddy are completely in love with this baby. She likes both of us but LOVES her daddy. She loves to snuggle up with daddy on the couch and watch TV. We had to take her to the SOS clinic today as she was sleeping alot and running a fever. Turns out she has an upper respiratory infection and ear infection. The antibiotic we gave her made her sick. We are hoping she is able to eat some tomorrow so that the antibiotics will stay down. If not then I'm sure we will be right back at the SOS clinic.


Yesterday was a LONG day. We woke up at 5 .am. to be in the lobby by 7 a.m. We then made the 3 1/2 hour butt numbing ride to her orphanage. When we arrived the nannies were right out front waiting for us holding the babies. I recognized Saige immediately and after only a couple minutes and MANY tears the nanny let me hold her. Then it was time to quickly change her and go to the G&R ceremony. After the G&R we went to lunch. My weak stomach wouldn't allow me to eat but Carl did. After lunch we went back to the orphanage and played with all the children while our paperwork was being prepared. We were back on the bumpy ride to Hanoi by late afternoon and back at the hotel around 8:30 p.m.

. It was an amazing day. Daddy and Saige really bonded. She also loves when daddy holds her so she can rest her head on his shoulder.

It's been really nice getting to know the other families. We usually go in groups to many places and even made our SOS appointments together. I look forward to meeting the next group. To all of you at home who have been so kind to my mom....THANK YOU so much! I can't tell you how much it means to have such good friends.

Tomorrow

is the day we meet Saige. We meet in the hotel lobby at 7 a.m. to make the 3-4 hour ride to Tuyen Quang. YAY!
We have met so many families since we've been here. All very nice and very helpful. It's so nice that we are going in groups week after week because we can share information and pass things to the groups after us. Today we went to a local store a couple blocks from the hotel and stocked up on formula. We have PLENTY for the next group so don't worry about rushing out to get some when you get here. We also went to Metro (thanks Mer) and bought a walker. Boy was that an experience. We had to get a card to get in just like Sam's Club. Then they tell us no kids are allowed in so Tom and Carl stayed with Karley....boy were Tom and Carl sad that they couldn't walk around with us...NOT! They got to sit and chat the whole time which was fine by them! Then, we get up to the register and they don't take US dollar. Just my luck the ONE place I didn't bring dong is the ONE place they don't accept US dollar. So then I had to use the bank they had at the store and FINALLY I was able to check out. What a day!

Last night we ate at Bobby Chinn's with Carol and Steve. The food was really good and we had a great time. Believe it or not I have mastered using chopsticks. I was joking that I could do like karate kid and catch a fly with one!

We're here!

The last flight into Hanoi was a doozy. When we arrived we were met by Allie and Ninh. We found out that we JUST missed most of the Oct 13th group but we did meet Pat T, & the Freeman's once we got to the hotel. On the way to the hotel our van brokedown. There we were along with Allie, Ninh, Carol & Steve, Marsha, Tom, and her adorable little girl Karley standing on the side of the road watching the ugh..traffic (lol).

The traffic flow is everything you've heard about and then some. It's amazing how much stuff they get packed on the back of these mopeds. Or not. We saw one poor guy who lost his stuff all over. There's NO WAY he was going to get all that back on there by himself. We alternated between laughing hysterically at all the mopeds cutting in and out of traffic and gasping when it looked as if we may hit one of them. No rules of the road here just do what you want and blow your horn.

We had good intentions of going out to eat tonight with the other families but when we got to the hotel Carl crashed.

Taipei

We are in Taipei. We have another two hours to go before our flight to Hanoi. We looked at our tickets and noticed that we aren't in Deluxe for this flight for whatever the reason. Fortunately it's only a two hour flight.
We flew out of Newark and landed in Anchorage then to Taipei. Considering how long we've been flying we both are feeling pretty good. We both got lots of sleep on the plane and watched movies. The food was AWEFUL. I didn't eat it but Carl sure did!
I miss the kids already.
I'll try to post when we arrive in Hanoi.
Love you, miss you, mommy, Stephen, Michael and Julie!!

We met Carol and Steven at Newark airport. Very nice people! We are so happy to have finally met them. We look forward to meeting Marsha, Tom and their little girl.

Away we go!

Our flight leaves Newark tonight at 11 p.m. We should arrive in Hanoi at 10:50 a.m. Friday (Vietnam time).
We are scheduled for our G&R Monday 27th. I can't believe that in just 5 days we will be holding our little girl!