Getting To Know Ian.....

Hi everyone,

Well since we got Ian on Monday, we have been staying pretty close to the hotel, except for adoption appointments I mentioned in the previous post. It has been great just helping him adjust to us, making sure he has his quiet place to nap, and just playing. I know there is a lot to see, but I remember what others have said - this is not a vacation - it is an adoption trip. We are not wanting to venture out for our own fun, but so we can see more of the country he came from, experience more of his culture. We want to have many pictures and share stories with him.

Over the past two days, we have been having short shopping excursions. Of course, it takes us longer to prepare for the excursion than the outing itself! Getting bottles and diaper bag ready, etc. We have the baby carrier and he does very well in that and it is very comfortable (Baby Bjorn). I haven't gotten pictures in it yet, but tomorrow I will.

Tomorrow we might go back to Vung Tau where he is from. We won't go to the orphanage, although I would love to because he was abandoned in front of it (at the gate) and I am not sure if I have good pictures. We do have video of the orphange though. We are going to take pictures and explore (in Vung Tau) so we can share with him more about the place he came from. There is a boat called a "hydrofoil" we can take from HCMC to Vung Tau - it hydroplanes across the water - very fast and I am now getting nervous about safety for him, etc. We could also hire a car, but I have heard the boat is a great way to go. We are doing a day trip, because our first U.S. visa appointment is on Monday. After that, I am not sure when we will go to Hanoi (the second U.S. visa appointment must be done in Hanoi. If the U.S. BCIS (immigration) questions anything about his case, they will investigate further. I am not sure if they would want us in HCMC or Hanoi if they have further questions.

We needed to treat him (and us as well) for scabies (we knew that it was probable he would have it) and we did that twice so far. I had a very itchy spot on my wrist a couple of days ago, but I think it was a bug bite, because it did not do anything more. Ian's wrist where apparently the scabies were looks much better.

He has learned to love his bath! The first couple of baths made him cry (we have a great inflatable duck tub, which is great, because the hotel tub is very high and deep), but now he has come to love his bath. Last night and this morning (we had to give him another this morning to wash the scabies cream off), he spashed so hard, I was drenched. It was so funny.

We have noticed one thing he does not do is babble. I think that is so sad, but he has not had the proper attention to encourage that I think. Even in the last few days, he has really increased his babbling! He loves being sung to, knows his name and ours, and keeps checking to see if we are both there. He was not used to being kissed on the lips (reserved for mommies & daddys) and we have done squeaky kisses on his lips. Today, he kissed Sean, and later me, back. Later, he tried to chew on Sean's lips as he has his nose because he is teething and is chewing on everything!

Well, I'd better get those photos posted. I will try to write more and keep the pics coming. Each one takes forever to upload.....

Michelle

P.S. Check out the pics above. I love the one where Daddy gets one foot, Ian the other (he already shares) and the one where Ian is trying to chew Sean's nose. The poor thing is teething and is so sore...