A few of his favourite things...

• Christian's Jolly Jumper...my boy loves loves loves the jolly jumper. After one 10 minute session on Tuesday he was a master and could take air like no body's business. 15 minutes in the jumper (located in the kitchen on a big freaking "hog the kitchen" frame) and mommy can wash some dishes, prep some bottles, sit and stare in wonder at his joy, video tape said joy for your future enjoyment, or any other of many available kitchen tasks...oh yeah, make a bit of dinner for myself...when I remember to eat
• The Hellmuth's exersaucer...much like the Jolly Jumper little man likes to be moving. Up and down over and over again. He is also fond of banging plastic rings into the tray and fussing with the attached toys (though this is not the exersaucer of today my friends, a bit more basic in toy attachments). His favourite game is called mommy fetch my toy. Over and over again. While jumping enthusiastically, over and over again.
• Colin's play mat...little guy likes to hang out on the play mat without the toys hanging over his head. He would rather have a view of the room and a few of his favourite toys close by. Someone gifted me with a set of chimes that he loves to push around as he practices rolling over. Back to front only. Then he screams because playing on his belly is not one of his favourite things (though on the mat he will play on his belly for a very few minutes before calling for assistance).
• TV...I know I said I wouldn't let the little guy watch alot of TV but I have quickly discovered that he forgets about his oral aversion issues briefly while watching the tube. This morning the evil show of all time, which I hate with a passion, the Comfy Couch, allowed me to shovel nearly a quarter cup of rice cereal and bananas into the prince's mouth. I'm hoping he was simply in awe of how very irritating the show is and wasn't actually becoming a Couch Junkie.
• The Peg Uno...little man comfortable spent nearly 3 hours touring the mall with mommy today in princely fashion in his UNO. Momma loved that he was facing her and could engage in chat sessions and he loved that momma was at his constant beck and call. It worked out for both of us. He was content. I was out of my snow enforced solitude. He came home tired and had a 2 hour afternoon nap which was followed by a much later and more appropriate 7:30 bed time. There is a God.
• Toys that make noise. Preferably alot of noise. The quacking duck chosen by Amy and the electronic stacking rings that used to Be Christians. Loves them both so much. Smashing plastic rings into hard surfaces will do if there are no electronics available.
• Benjaminh's Monkey Blanket...he loves that soft little blanket with the monkey pocket. The monkey is living somewhere in the toy box but blankey goes to bed with us for all of the naps...short and long.
  

So he has favourites. It is not ALL about the piping hot bottle (though that still ranks as number one on his list).

Today little man got his first haircut in preparation for a BIG party this weekend (that actually occurs after his bedtime but we have that fancy UNO as backup). He is looking as sweet as ever with the locks trimmed.

The doctor went well yesterday with Benjaminh declared bronchitis free. He is 20 pounds (8.2 kg) and 69 cm. We head back to the clinic Tuesday for his complete well baby checkup and his first 2 shots. Luckily his doctor and I agree that he will never receive more than 2 shots at a time...otherwise it may have gotten ugly.

Until tomorrow...
B

Benjaminh and I are alive and well.

It is snowing like crazy here today but we headed out early to do a few errands (including photocopying adoption documents in an effort to get the little guy on my benefits). Did you know A FEW errands means the baby has to placed in the torture device called a CAR SEAT over and over and over again. The prince was not pleased.

I am still missing my camera cord and battery charger. They reside at Kristen's house right now. I hear they are being returned with my lost piece of luggage on Saturday morning. In the meantime I will use all of my spare time tomorrow to try uploading pictures using my dad's cord. Today I had no luck but my spare time only lasted 11 and 1/2 minutes.

About that 11 1/2 minutes. This is the chosen time line for a princely nap. Twice per day for 2 days Benjaminh has had 2 very short naps. The good news is he has successfully flipped his day and night. The bad news is I have 23 minutes total each day to keep the house in some semblance of order and blog...

I'll be back full time to blogging once he goes to university...maybe...

This mommy stuff is exactly what I expected it to be and I'm loving every minute of it.

I'd love to document every minute for you in pictures but my camera cord and my rechargeable batteries are in one of our 2 pieces of lost luggage. The good news is the lost luggage is found but the bad news is that the airport would only deliver both pieces to one address even though one was mine and one was Kristen's and we aren't exactly neighbours.

The big event of the day was getting Benjaminh's OHIP card.

More details tomorrow after our trip to the doctor.

Sleep...

So, as I said earlier, we slept through the night last night after arriving late yesterday afternoon.
I thought that we were going to trick this thing called "jet lag".

Um, no.
Apparently not.

Today's nap schedule went like this...
12:30-almost 5
6:00- nearly 9
presently asleep in the exersaucer

I've gotta get some sleep soon because I'm sure the day is about to start any minute.

Word from the now wiser me...
even if you feel great, and rested, and ready to go...
Stop and sleep if the baby stops and sleeps
because tonight is going to be a L.O.N.G night I'm thinking.

Home

We are home and feeling exceptionally well.
The trip was fantastic, from beginning to end with a baby who slept, ate, and played at reasonable intervals. The adults even got a bit of shut eye. Thankyou to our airport greeters (please email me a few photos when you get a minute so I can post them).

My sweet son slept most of the night last night, from 8pm to 8am Canadian time with an hour or so of play time at 3am which was so much better than I anticipated (and allowed me to sleep from 8 pm to 8 am with a little playtime at 3 am as well!).
He is now napping the never-ending nap peacefully in the middle of my beautiful shiny new hardwood livingroom floor. We are presently at the 2 1/2 hour mark. ( I do have pictures of this but can't find my camera cord which may be in one of the 2 lost pieces of luggage).

What a joy it was coming home to lovely new flooring installed by a great guy and a flooring job that involved the the repair of bathroom plumbing including a new sink facet that I love (because the toilet and sink had to be removed to put in the ceramic and Jack isn't one to re-install the crap that was already there) as well as plaster repair in places I should have repaired long ago.

The flooring work was completed Friday and my home was lovingly cleaned and tidied and put back together by a crew of my very favourite people. Benjaminh says thank you for the nice clean sleeping surface.

Benjaminh and I are open to visitors. Knock instead of ringing the doorbell please.

My back to work date is Sept.28th. Thank you Canadian Government. So on that note, Benjaminh and I are also open to invites out...so we don't go stir crazy.

This week so far...
Doctor Monday at 11:40 then out to the hardware to get a clip for the carseat installation, dinner at Auntie Carol's (where we hear there may be a special city visitor...is it true W?)
Tuesday out to pay for car repair, get a few groceries. Meet Auntie Barb at Auntie Carol's for dinnner
Baby haircut at some point.
Inaugural visit to Tim Hortons for morning tea
Saturday- Auntie Julia and Uncle Danny are getting married! Hopefully baby boy will fit into his size one Ao dai for the event...

I have to sign off now so I can so and stare at my beautiful baby.

Seoul, and Snow and Starbucks Oh My

We arrived in to Seoul a bit late, arriving at 6:11 am Friday local time (rather than 5:50), 4:11 am Friday Vietnam Time and 4:11 Friday afternoon Toronto time.

The first leg of the journey went exceptionally well with the wee one having a bottle as we left the hotel, another as we took off and then another here in the free internet lounge. He kindly waited until after our starbucks visit to become demanding. He had gone only 4 hours or so without his favourite drink where I had gone 3 weeks. Such a kind boy. Both of the adults in our little group became much happier individuals after Chai Tea Lattes.

In between sips of formula little man mostly slept. Some of the time in the bassinet and some of the time in my arms. The 4 hours was over well before I expected it to be over so I'm guessing I got a touch of shut eye as well.

Kristen and I got to chatting (very briefly, it was the middle of the night after all) about our favourite part of the trip and we both decided that we loved every second. We were busy virtually every day but feel like we can come again for 3 weeks a few years from now and not repeat any activities...our only regret being that we only finished up about half of our to-do list (well that and the whole pick pocket thing...but we won't go there). The good news is that I know families that are traveling soon and I hope they will let me send a wee shopping list.

I did have a treasure created while I was in Vietnam. A charcoal drawing of my wee boy. Tears came to my eyes when I opened that mailing tube to take a peek. So very precious. A priceless piece of artwork for a mere $30 American.

Right now the little Prince slumbers on the Internet Lounge ottoman beside me. He has slept relatively well tonight and both Kristen and I are hoping for a day full of smiles and giggles as we wing our way over Russia, Alaska the western provinces and finally land in Chicago. We are also hoping for seats beside one another in the bulkhead (with a bassinet). Right now we don't have that seating arrangement and sitting 4 rows away from each other trapped in a window seat is not going to work for any of us. Praying for kind boarding agents and/or kind seat neighbours.

Til later, in Toronto,
Bev, Benjaminh and Auntie Kristen

Checking Out

Our little party of 3 checks out of the Hilton in about 2 hours. After that internet will be spotty so you may get an update in seoul but that would be it until the real thing arrives at pearson international.

Flights as follows (always in local time)

hanoi-seoul

leaving 23:50 arriving 5:50

Seoul- Chicago

leaving 11:40 arriving 9:10 (like the way we arrive before we leave???)

Chicago-Toronto

leaving 13:15 arriving 1553 (United airlines AC5144)

See you on the other side!

Love this Kid

I am seriously in love with this little person.

Just looking at his wee face makes me break out into a silly grin. Sleeping, eating, playing , screaming I love every single face.

I don't want to give the impression that it is all roses though.

We moved to the Hilton last night and the night did not go well. Neither of us slept because Prince Benjaminh didn't sleep. I was writing emails at 3am...this is NOT like me but the prince wouldn't sleep unless he was being held upright and I might as well one-hand email if I have to be upright.

He developed a very runny nose through the night (first time in air conditioning???) and was not a fan of the very cozy soft feather topped bed after months on plywood followed by a couple of weeks on a rock hard hotel sleeping surface. Tonight he is asleep on the ottoman...nice and hard....here's hoping it works.

The bath. Not a favourite activity. He hates the sink and would rather be skinned alive than submerged in the bath basin I bought for him. Today we had a bath together in the Hilton tub and he was miserable but Kristen claims it was the first time he didn't sound like the pig being slaughtered in the orphanage courtyard.

Nose wiping...yikes...period.

Eating solids of any sort that have not been incorporated into a bottle with a gigantic hole...getting better but still a big issue over here in Hanoi. 5 bites isn't quite a meal.

And

The bottle...oy..the bottle MUST BE JUST RIGHT. It must be piping hot but not even a bit too hot and certainly not even a bit too cool or screams will ensue. For a 180 ml bottle, 120 mls must be freshly boiled and the other 60 mls room temp. Do not try to use water boiled 2 hours ago and kept in the thermos unless you plan to up the hot water and lower the cold water in the ratio. And NEVER EVER put in 60 mls of water from the fridge. Special...very special.

So we have our difficult times but a little grin from the prince and they are all wiped away in a second.

I am so thrilled to be his momma and he seems to like me too. A good sign of our developing bond is hes growing dislike of being swept away by Vietnamese waitresses. It is common in Viet Nam for the wait staff to take the baby for you so you can eat in relative peace (all the while compiling a list of reminders on child raising for when they return the child...one waitress actually took B into the kitchen to warm him up on a 75 degree day because I didn't have his neck covered). He went to strangers readily and happily throughout much of the first 10 or so days but in the last couple of days he will not have anything to do with the wait staff and reaches out for me while wailing in their arms. Nothing quite like wanting to jump for joy at the sight of your child screaming.

Just a wee warning. I won't be passing him about to all of his adoring fans at the airport or anywhere else in the first while ("while" is yet to be defined). Come up close, give him some loving (if you are a fan of snot and drool), play with him on the floor if that is where he happens to be hanging out but you start grabbing and I might kick you in the knee. The changes coming for this little guy are more than a move down the street to the Hilton and the last 24 hours indicates he needs space and time to adjust to change.

You have his whole life to love on him...please be patient.

Leaving on a jet plane

Seems we have confirmed seats on Kristen's original flight this Friday at nearly Midnight our time arriving Saturday your time shortly before 4pm (details to follow)

Hanoi>>Seoul>>Chicago>>Toronto

All is well in the world.

We are enjoying two nights at the Hilton, and by ENJOYING I mean there really are no words to describe it. Here is a message from Benjaminh...I'm celebrating coming home while simultaneously feeling terrible for my travel mates who seem to be stuck in some sort of immigration hell. There are apparently missing documents residing somewhere other than Singapore where they are supposed to be. As of 8pm they still had no answers. The difference between them and me is I chose to fork out a bit of extra cash to switch from having Benjaminh enter Canada as a landed immigrant to having him gain immediate citizenship (this option came into existence after I started the adoption process in May 2006). In retrospect I'll end up saving a wad of cash in the long run (even counting in the wad I lost on the streets of Hanoi today...a big wad...don't ask how big just know that I hope a very deserving person found it and has the TET of their lives).

In other news we saw a wonderful traditional water puppet show today, shopped a bit (Yes, she bought another purse), moved from the Army Hotel to the Hilton and had a lovely dinner out.

Til tomorrow...

What-da-ya-mean they're changing my tickets???

I'm going where???

I get hot and sweaty in a onesie,

what is this snowsuit thing

I keep hearing about?

It all makes me kind of reflective...

Wow...

So , Kristen and Benjaminh are down for their respective afternoon naps. I thought I would take a moment to blog in relative peace about plans for the next few days.

Tomorrow at noon (Wednesday our time) we will check out of the Army Hotel in preparation for a move to the Hilton just down the road. We will be at the Hilton for two nights courtesy of Kristen's dad Bob. We will pack the smaller of our luggage to take to the Hilton and put our bigger pieces in the corner of a friend's room here at the army in preparation for Kristen leaving without me on Friday....

Excuse me...big breaking news...I just got the call ... 2:52, 4 business days after sending our package to Singapore by courier, the passport is ready...READY...holy crap it is ready....

We are going to the embassy to get it right this minute. Bye...

Okay, it is now 5pm and we are back with the little white passport in hand. We made it to the embassy with 11 minutes to spare and then back again for the basement bargain price of 72,000dong. Now sweet Benjaminh is a Canadian Citizen. Wow. All of this is such a miracle. I look at his little face while he is sleeping and ask myself how I got so very lucky.

So, I've emailed Brenda, the Children's Bridge travel guru, about changing all of our tickets. Benjaminh and I can't just simply join Kristen on her flight. Something about the wee one not being able to land in Chicago on a temporary Canadian passport. So I'm guessing here but I'm thinking we will leave at Kristen's original time but Kristen will skip the Chicago portion of the flight and thereby have to join us for a lovely 15 hour Korean layover.

I will let the world know when we anticipate arriving home with specific flight info the very moment I have it to share. I may even call Brenda at Children's Bridge before I head off to bed.

Could any of this have to do with Benjaminh's wardrobe choice for the day? Roots Canada red sweater with matching grey pants and LOBSTER slippers??? How Canadian can a guy get?

Photos later. We are now fully engaged in packing Kristen's purses into luggage while deciding not whether we need another piece of luggage but rather how BIG it needs to be?

B, b and K

WOW

The overnight stay in Halong Bay is not to be missed. We were picked up at the hotel at 8:30 am yesterday and travelled in a private car to Halong Bay (with a wee stop at a tourist trap souvenir place where we spent way to much money). We arrived in Halong in time for lunch (see the woman cracking open our crab for us in the previous post...) and then it was 24 hours of beauty and quiet. The trip was worth every single penny.



A floating Village, they even have a school and a bank.

A local Halong family fishing for dinner

Kristen catching some sun, it was a bit windy on the ship deck but

not near as windy as Ontario.The view from 500 step climb up a mountain to a pagoda, Kristen made it to the top, Bev & Ben.....not so much.

Benjaminh enjoying the sand at Halong Bay

Bev & Ben with our ship the Annam Junk, there were only 4 patrons on board including us! (8 staff on board, you do the math)

A Bamboo Boat ride to a lagoon

Tunnel into the lagoon

Ben flying in the Lagoon, one of the only flying pictures without drool.

Where's Waldo what do you see in the tree, post your comment. Ben sleeping at dinner AGAIN!

We walk through the 3 "caves suprise" as the French named them

Ben in aww of the caves.... enjoying....not so much.

Enjoying a meal on the ships deck

Kristen with a view of Halong city

The baby whisperer, our tour guide who could put cranky Ben to sleep in 84 seconds singing Vietnamese lullabies, then refused to give him back in fear we would wake him.

We had a plan

People told of how they have lost weight while in Hanoi adopting...
Kristen had a specific plan...
A pound a day...

Living in Karaoke Hell

Presently I am enjoying an evening of very bad Karaoke, Vietnamese Style.
Really bad.
Really really bad.
Words fail me.
Oh, wait, we are morphing into a North American Dance Club as we speak.
Did I mention that this is all happening in the courtyard below my balcony?
Or wait, is it happening in the middle of the bedroom?
There is no way in hell that I will sleep a wink until this all ends.
Let's pray it is soon.

Looking at the positive side of things forces me to mention the 12 midnight curfew in Hanoi...
so I'm hoping this will all end with lots of time for the party goers to make it home safely.

On to other bits of news...
Mira, the wee one journeying to her new home in BC has Chicken Pox.
Pray we don't follow her path if you are a praying type.
Can't travel with Chicken pox don't think...
and I really hope to get B's travel papers by late next week and jump on a flight with Kristen on Friday night. I think there is about a 50-50 chance of this happening.

We had a lovely lunch at the Hilton today...and we are looking forward to a two night stay in paradise next Wednesday and Thursday night...courtesy of Bob, Kristen's dad and his generosity with his Hilton points.

We also ordered Benjaminh's charcoal sketch today, used a cash machine to withdraw 2 million dong each and enjoyed a wonderful dinner at a quiet restaurant in a back alley...called Hoa Sua. Unbelievably good, difficult to find even for the cab driver and inexpensive to boot. We will be going back for sure.

Tomorrow morning at 8:30 am we are off to Ha Long Bay for an overnight tour on a Junk boat called the Annam. It sleeps 12, so small and intimate.

There will be no blog posting for a day or 2... don't get all worked up. Just wait patiently. LOTS of pictures once we get back.


Bev, Benjaminh and Auntie Kristen.

Shop til you drop...

Today the shopping started...

L's special ordered earrings from PhucTin

Ao Dai's for Benjaminh (in blue size 2 and red size 4 or 5) and Owen (his mommy can pick the 4 or 5)

Orders for 3 charcoal sketches...by the way, special order makers it is $30/ person in the drawing...just so you know.

A couple of really cool VN style bibs for the drool maker (yes, Kimley, he is a wet one)

A little cotton hat to please the VN grandmas on the street when it is 22 degrees Celsius and little guy's head must be covered

hmmmmm...what else....oh yeah.....Kristen went insane. See picture below....

Benjaminh enjoyed Kristen's shopping spree too

We headed out for dinner at KOTO...Know One Teach One...a not for profit restaurant that takes classes of 30 street kids and disadvantaged youth, teaches them service skills, culinary arts and English. They participate in classes and practice skills in the restaurant. KOTO has a 100% success rate finding employment opportunities for graduate and it was 100% delicious.

We enjoyed our meal with baby E and her parents from New York state...Liz's favorite from Hai Duong.

In other great news Benjaminh is finally letting mommy shovel solids into his mouth as long as he is laying flat on his back with his arms pined to his side.

Tomorrow, take in my photo of Benjaminh to the sketch guy, buy tickets for the afternoon show of the water puppets, have a little lunch at Little Hanoi, wee nap, puppets and an early evening in eating a yummy salad from the Hilton.

All is well in our world.

Hoping to do an overnight trip to Halong Bay Sunday to Monday.

Picture diary of the day

A neighbourhood walk to the Vietcom bank brought us upon this lovely fellow. Kristen wants to adopt him...

Next we decided to spend the afternoon at the Temple of Literature and thoroughly enjoyed the gardens

We finished our day with another nap during our meal at Jaspas