I have had trouble getting onto my blog to update it so I will get in as much as possible…
We are doing great and we are enjoying our time in Viet Nam. It has been a combination of continuing to do all the steps of the adoption process as well as exploring some of HCMC.
Tuesday we had some time to just be around here and get a feel for Lucy Linh. She is so much fun and is doing great! She has been sleeping very well, eating well, has an easy and content disposition, a great giggle and many awesome expressions, does not like her diaper or clothes changed (except Nana seems to have some magic and doesn’t have to wrestle her like I do), is bright eyed and loves seeing the city from the Baby Bjourn, fits perfectly on my hip and is very snuggly! She gives these sweet little lovey hugs and is so darn cute when she finds her stubby thumb and falls sound asleep. We took her swimming Tuesday afternoon and she was happy and splashing around in the water. She shows signs of a little fiery spirit and as Sean says, thank goodness, she will need it in our house of girls!
Annie Allen is doing great and loves to entertain and hold Lucy Linh. She is happy to be a big sister for sure and has been very mature about it all (so far J). It is such a joy to see her little being grow into a new role and to watch her experience this new way of life. She is a BIG help!
Nana is so much fun and so great! She has met and made friends with many people in our “complex” and has been so easy going. She is an amazing soothing force for both Lucy Linh and has been a huge help and allowed Annie Allen to have lots of fun! In fact they are at a Chinese New Year party as I type. Note – the second one for the night. They had to rush through one to “make it” to the next one. Those two have so much fun together!
Wednesday was an amazing experience – I went to the medical appointment which is required by the US for our Visa appointment at the US Embassy in Hanoi. We went to a clinic which was behind a hospital which deserves a whole other blog entry – wow I am grateful for the US medical care. I walked in and rounded the corner to the waiting area and looked up to about 20 American or Canadian families with newly adopted babies. I felt like I had just walked onto a stage with a spot light on Lucy Linh in the Baby Bjourn – “How old is she?” “What orphanage is she from?” “She looks so healthy.” I found myself getting red and the tears were beginning to well up in my eyes as I looked around at their babies – they were so very small, dazed, covered in scabies. My arms wrapped around Lucy Linh tighter and the next emotion that flooded my body was gratitude – I knew she was a strong, healthy child when I first held her but I had no idea what was at the other end of the spectrum. It was a spiritual experience where I felt like there was an IV in my arms and a fluid of gratitude was being pumped into my body. I do not take for granted that it is apparent that Lucy Linh was loved and cared for in her orphanage.
The rest of the day was busy with passport pictures for Lucy Linh, the Giving and Receiving ceremony and applying for her passport. It was a crazy day and I felt like it was a whirlwind. The G&R was not very meaningful but was purposeful – Lucy Linh was officially signed over to us from the VN government. So that felt awesome but I have to say, there was not much of a ceremony to it.
Impression of Viet Nam: Loud and busy all day and night! There is a constant background noise of horns, cars and moped; Tons of mopeds; People seem to be very nice and pleasant; Big new buildings next to shacks selling a few select items cooked in the homes; Tiny little businesses stacked one next to another; Medians with lush, green plants and bushes and an irrigation system on a road with more pot holes than you can imagine; Hundreds of electricity lines loosely hung on a pole (absolutely no system or organization or safety precautions)…
Things we have seen on mopeds: Women in high heels dressed fancy; Matching face masks and aprons; Large concrete planter balanced over a man’s head; A huge door; 20 foot poles; Large plastic bag of raw meet; A plastic bin of live seafood; Huge trees with the root balls and all; 4 adults on one scooter…we could go on but it is such a different way of living.
We are doing great and making our way here…mostly just enjoying our time together and that we are finally all together.
A few pictures…
We are doing great and we are enjoying our time in Viet Nam. It has been a combination of continuing to do all the steps of the adoption process as well as exploring some of HCMC.
Tuesday we had some time to just be around here and get a feel for Lucy Linh. She is so much fun and is doing great! She has been sleeping very well, eating well, has an easy and content disposition, a great giggle and many awesome expressions, does not like her diaper or clothes changed (except Nana seems to have some magic and doesn’t have to wrestle her like I do), is bright eyed and loves seeing the city from the Baby Bjourn, fits perfectly on my hip and is very snuggly! She gives these sweet little lovey hugs and is so darn cute when she finds her stubby thumb and falls sound asleep. We took her swimming Tuesday afternoon and she was happy and splashing around in the water. She shows signs of a little fiery spirit and as Sean says, thank goodness, she will need it in our house of girls!
Annie Allen is doing great and loves to entertain and hold Lucy Linh. She is happy to be a big sister for sure and has been very mature about it all (so far J). It is such a joy to see her little being grow into a new role and to watch her experience this new way of life. She is a BIG help!
Nana is so much fun and so great! She has met and made friends with many people in our “complex” and has been so easy going. She is an amazing soothing force for both Lucy Linh and has been a huge help and allowed Annie Allen to have lots of fun! In fact they are at a Chinese New Year party as I type. Note – the second one for the night. They had to rush through one to “make it” to the next one. Those two have so much fun together!
Wednesday was an amazing experience – I went to the medical appointment which is required by the US for our Visa appointment at the US Embassy in Hanoi. We went to a clinic which was behind a hospital which deserves a whole other blog entry – wow I am grateful for the US medical care. I walked in and rounded the corner to the waiting area and looked up to about 20 American or Canadian families with newly adopted babies. I felt like I had just walked onto a stage with a spot light on Lucy Linh in the Baby Bjourn – “How old is she?” “What orphanage is she from?” “She looks so healthy.” I found myself getting red and the tears were beginning to well up in my eyes as I looked around at their babies – they were so very small, dazed, covered in scabies. My arms wrapped around Lucy Linh tighter and the next emotion that flooded my body was gratitude – I knew she was a strong, healthy child when I first held her but I had no idea what was at the other end of the spectrum. It was a spiritual experience where I felt like there was an IV in my arms and a fluid of gratitude was being pumped into my body. I do not take for granted that it is apparent that Lucy Linh was loved and cared for in her orphanage.
The rest of the day was busy with passport pictures for Lucy Linh, the Giving and Receiving ceremony and applying for her passport. It was a crazy day and I felt like it was a whirlwind. The G&R was not very meaningful but was purposeful – Lucy Linh was officially signed over to us from the VN government. So that felt awesome but I have to say, there was not much of a ceremony to it.
Impression of Viet Nam: Loud and busy all day and night! There is a constant background noise of horns, cars and moped; Tons of mopeds; People seem to be very nice and pleasant; Big new buildings next to shacks selling a few select items cooked in the homes; Tiny little businesses stacked one next to another; Medians with lush, green plants and bushes and an irrigation system on a road with more pot holes than you can imagine; Hundreds of electricity lines loosely hung on a pole (absolutely no system or organization or safety precautions)…
Things we have seen on mopeds: Women in high heels dressed fancy; Matching face masks and aprons; Large concrete planter balanced over a man’s head; A huge door; 20 foot poles; Large plastic bag of raw meet; A plastic bin of live seafood; Huge trees with the root balls and all; 4 adults on one scooter…we could go on but it is such a different way of living.
We are doing great and making our way here…mostly just enjoying our time together and that we are finally all together.
A few pictures…
4 comments:
What a blessing for all of you!
Safe travels home.
anne Woodall
Mandy,
Can't tell you how much we have appreciated your blog! Especially your pictures--fun to see where Lucy has a tooth and where AA is missing one!
Have a safe trip home! Love to all of you...
Allen
Wow, Mandy! I love reading about your experiences. Annie Allen and Lucy Linh are so very fortunate to have you! Love to your and your girls!
- Layne
Mandy,
I have absolutely loved following your journey on your blog! Glad everyone is doing well and can't wait to see Lucy. Have a safe trip home.......
m
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