Finally getting a chance to post something!!!
Its going to take me a while to get everything updated and add some pictures, but I'm going to try to work on this as much as I can (with a baby!!!).
To sum up......we left for Hanoi on Nov 15 and arrived Nov 17. We met our son and had our Giving and Receiving Ceremony on Nov 22. Bryan and I arrived back in the US (I wanted to kiss the ground so bad!)on Dec 9.
Since then its just been a whirlwind of activity here. Bottles, diapers, naps, playtime and giggles. Baths and songs. Its amazing how both George and I adjusted so easily into our new lives. Its like hes always been here with us. Granted, being mommy and daddy is alot of work and we're both really beat, but seeing Bryans gummy little smile, hearing his belly laugh, and feeling his breath on your cheek as he sleeps on your chest.......its magical. Beautiful. Bryan is the best thing that has ever happened to us. He has changed our lives.
For anyone who remembers, our trip had to be rescheduled due to APEC since no adoptions were being done while that was going on in Hanoi. So we wound up getting to Vietnam four days before we actually had to be there. To our surprise (and great relief), staying in our hotel were three other families from our agency who already had their babies and were navigating the Embassy process for their visas. They gave us so much great advice and showed us around the city. Turns out that one of the couples lives less than an hour from us! Anyway, since we got to Hanoi so early, we took the opportunity to go on a tour of Halong Bay, which was amazing. Anyone who has the chance to do it while in Vietnam, its a great way to spend a day. It was a four hour boat ride not only seeing the islands, but we stopped at a market on the water, took a tour of some of the caves, and has a big seafood lunch on the boat. But I will mention, that from were we were in Hanoi, it was a three hour bus ride to and from the bay. I wouldnt have done it with the baby. But if you have time to kill before G&R day, go for it!
Lets see.....so we got to Hanoi on Friday and we took the trip on Sunday.
On Monday, the another couple in our travel group arrived from Wisconsin. There was one more couple in our group as well but they stayed at another hotel. All of us were so excited because Tues was to be the day we were heading to the orphanage. Unfortunatley later that day we got a call from our facilitator telling us that the orphanage director had a meeting on Tues, meaning we couldnt go to Tuyen Quang until Wed. We tried to hold onto our stiff upper lips, and did some shopping to keep busy to make the extra day pass quickly. We were really sore about this since all of us were still coming off of the aggravation of having to reschedule all of our flights and everything else due to APEC. Even though you've made it and are finally in country, still........very few things are within your control. Our story will tell more about that later.
And one with Santa
To sum up......we left for Hanoi on Nov 15 and arrived Nov 17. We met our son and had our Giving and Receiving Ceremony on Nov 22. Bryan and I arrived back in the US (I wanted to kiss the ground so bad!)on Dec 9.
Since then its just been a whirlwind of activity here. Bottles, diapers, naps, playtime and giggles. Baths and songs. Its amazing how both George and I adjusted so easily into our new lives. Its like hes always been here with us. Granted, being mommy and daddy is alot of work and we're both really beat, but seeing Bryans gummy little smile, hearing his belly laugh, and feeling his breath on your cheek as he sleeps on your chest.......its magical. Beautiful. Bryan is the best thing that has ever happened to us. He has changed our lives.
OK, here we go.........
For anyone who remembers, our trip had to be rescheduled due to APEC since no adoptions were being done while that was going on in Hanoi. So we wound up getting to Vietnam four days before we actually had to be there. To our surprise (and great relief), staying in our hotel were three other families from our agency who already had their babies and were navigating the Embassy process for their visas. They gave us so much great advice and showed us around the city. Turns out that one of the couples lives less than an hour from us! Anyway, since we got to Hanoi so early, we took the opportunity to go on a tour of Halong Bay, which was amazing. Anyone who has the chance to do it while in Vietnam, its a great way to spend a day. It was a four hour boat ride not only seeing the islands, but we stopped at a market on the water, took a tour of some of the caves, and has a big seafood lunch on the boat. But I will mention, that from were we were in Hanoi, it was a three hour bus ride to and from the bay. I wouldnt have done it with the baby. But if you have time to kill before G&R day, go for it!
Lets see.....so we got to Hanoi on Friday and we took the trip on Sunday.
On Monday, the another couple in our travel group arrived from Wisconsin. There was one more couple in our group as well but they stayed at another hotel. All of us were so excited because Tues was to be the day we were heading to the orphanage. Unfortunatley later that day we got a call from our facilitator telling us that the orphanage director had a meeting on Tues, meaning we couldnt go to Tuyen Quang until Wed. We tried to hold onto our stiff upper lips, and did some shopping to keep busy to make the extra day pass quickly. We were really sore about this since all of us were still coming off of the aggravation of having to reschedule all of our flights and everything else due to APEC. Even though you've made it and are finally in country, still........very few things are within your control. Our story will tell more about that later.
A few pics of Bryan at the hotel
And one with Santa
posted by George and Chris | 9:08 PM
4 Comments:
Congrats I'm so happy to hear that you are home safe and sound! Those pictures are beautiful, I absolutely LOVE his little chubby legs, oh what a sweetie pie!!!
Can't wait to hear more about your trip and see more pictures!
For a unique high-end experience, book passage aboard the Emeraude -- a copy of a French steamer that once plied these waters in the early 20th century. Certainly the largest boat at 55m (180 ft.), the elegant Emeraude has 38 cabins, a fine-dining outlet, and plenty of room to stretch your legs. The luxury trip comes with a price tag, of course, but the 2-day, 1-night cruise is well worth it.
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Day 2 starts with tai chi classes on the sun deck as a brilliant sunrise paints its colors on the arching canvas of high limestone peaks jutting from the glassy waters. Blissful. After your exercise, tuck in to a hearty Western-style breakfast. The boat returns to the dock by 9:30am, and a direct transfer finds you back in Hanoi by lunchtime. The trip is quite memorable, and a ride on this retro ship, outfitted to the nines, is unique to Halong Bay. The price for the overnight cruise is $290 for a luxury cabin for two and $490 for the one-suite room, but discounts for larger groups are available. Transfer from Hanoi costs $100 for a four-seat vehicle. Check the website at www.emeraude-cruises.com or call the offices at the Press Club in Hanoi (tel. 04/934-0888; fax 04/934-0899).
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