The Hanoi Story - Part 2

Hope everyone enjoyed their extra hour of sleep in the US (they don't have Daylight Savings Time/time changes here). Of course, as I said in an earlier post (if E can cite, so can I...hehe), sleep is apparently overrated.

Ba just laid down to sleep (yes, before 9:30 pm, mind you - he's on baby patrol tonight).

I've discovered the wonders of hot ginger tea for an upset tummy/digestive system (although skipping dinner tonight and maintaining hydration probably also contributed to helping my fortitude). So, onward to the scoreboard...

Ba 1, Mama 1 (today is a virtual tie - CN is happy to go w/ whichever one of us is willing to carry him around). I think there will be a permanent groove in the hallway floor by the time we leave the hotel.

As E told you earlier, other guests have enjoyed coming up to him & asking about our little guy. VN people look at us any ask if he is VN. We're learning more and more about him everyday (and everyday somethings seem to get a little bit easier). He does NOT like his diaper changed, that's for sure. He likes his clothing, especially the new things we have bought for him here in VN. Last night when we came back from the mall, CN did not want to take off his new coat and hat (I have to get pictures of him in the gear...too adorable).

We're better understanding some of the words he's saying (VN for car/scooter/taxi/basically any moving vehicle, ball, and most importantly Go! - complete w/ finger pointing in the direction he wants to move). The one time he will sit still are the few minutes we turn on Disney Asia (preschool version). He's fascinated by TV (apparently already Americanizing him) - loves Mickey (yep, see a trip to Disney a few years down the road), Noddy, Little Einsteins (Grandma and Grandpa will like the fact that he has been listening to classical music), and (bleh) Barney.

I have been using a comb & water to brush his hair. So, today, CN wanted to try it himself...complete w/ him sticking the comb under the running faucet, then brushing his hair (or at least making an effort...using the wrong side of the comb). Still haven't accomplished brushing his teeth. Tonight, he held the toothbrush and started trying to brush Mama's teeth.

Bath time is more than interesting. At least tonight's entertainment was only a sobbing cry (rather than the screams of bloody murder we had the first time we tried to bathe him). When bath time was done, CN raised his arms (well, he did this the entire time during the bath but after finishing the bath was the only time I responded) and I picked him up. Immediately, crying cessation. I sat with the towel wrapped around him and told him what a good boy he was and that he did a good job w/ his bath. He was okay w/ putting the baby lotion on his skin and definately was ready for his jammies.

After jammies were on, he made is clear that Ba was to make the sleep time walk. But tonight, for the first time, he held his teddy bear when Ba was walking him (bad mama, no camera at the ready). He fell asleep w/o too much difficulty. We decided to use the pillow from EVA for him, rather than the regular adult sized ones on the bed (that little travel pillow is the perfect size for a toddler).

Oh, guess I should talk about what we actually did today, eh?

CN was a good napper, slept for about 2 hours this afternoon. After he woke up, we headed to the market. Walking in this section of Hanoi w/ a clingy baby is quite interesting - strollers down these small streets are not a good idea. The streets are named based on what items are being sold (and, like Charlotte, change names at a moments' notice for no rhyme or reason). We had lunch at a restaurant located by the lake (yay, western foods were on the menu...one of the reasons I wanted to eat there). We sat inside b/c the winds were blowing & we didn't want CN to have to eat w/ his jacket on (found out he likes tuna salad - as long as he doesn't see the green stuff).

After our late lunch, we went to the market. Not quite the Wal-Mart that we've seen in the other provinces but interesting nonetheless. The 1st floor contained groceries and the top floor, everything else (from electronics to baby products). Yes, like a good mama, I brought a grocery list. We purchased our products and headed back to hotel.

Along the way, we stopped by the lake for a camcorder opportunity for Ba (and a much needed arm rest for Mama). Found out that CN LOVES M&M's (picked up a pack for Mama when her tummy feels better & have sacrificed them to the center of our universe). CN was fascinated by being outside. When he's really excited, he makes a type of cooing/ooh noise. He made that noise numerous times today.

Returned to the hotel around 5pm. Spent the rest of the evening indoors (a lot of pollution in the city - I understand now why, when we see pictures of outdoor news footage in Asian cities, many of the people are wearing masks). We took a field trip down to visit another family who adopted 3-year-old twin girls from another provinces.

Tomorrow is another big day for us. E will be going to submit the I-600 document (this is the US form to petition to adopt an orphan). So, CN and I will be finding lots of interesting things to do in the am while Ba is away...

Oh, and the most important word I learned: How to say "kiss" in Vietnamese. Now, our little guy gives Ba and Mama kisses!