The Temple of Literature and Ian Continues to Adjust Well

We have been noticing that Ian has not been crying as much as he did the first week (although that was not much anyway - he was very happy & smiley during the day and most of the night). The first week he had some "fussy" times when it would be difficult to figure out what he needed. I figured it could've been anything: gas, tummy ache, anxiety, grieving, just being scared of a new environment or us (but he never seemed afraid of us). At night it seemed like he was having something like night terrors, where his cry was a different, more distressed pitch, he didn't open his eyes (always after sleeping), he would awaken to sounds he normally would sleep through, arch his back and would not be comforted - very different than other times. The last time it happened (several days ago) instead of barely talking or talking very quietly in a comforting voice, I said a little louder. "It's o.k. Ian. We're here." I said that a couple of times, and it was like magic. He settled down and went back to sleep. He still wakes up for a bottle (he was eating cereal at the orphanage, but is not very interested now - we figure when we get home we can restablish that, right now he loves the bottle and seems to need the nurturing that goes along with that), but we are happy to oblige and know that eventually with more solids we will get him to sleep through the night. It is very easy though. After the bottle he goes right back to sleep. He also sometimes is very content in his bed even if he is not asleep yet (although we still are more than happy to rock him to sleep because he needs all of the nurturing we can give him).

Everyone says what a happy baby he is. Most of the Vietnamese people are very friendly, ask how old he is and if he is a boy (not as obvious to them given how he is dressed), and play with him. Many Vietnamese people have said that he is so lucky and several have thanked us and say we are doing a wonderful thing, that there are many children without families and that they are grateful we are doing this. Of course, it is so humbling for us, because we are obviouly the lucky ones (I know adotpive parents just feel that way - we are so blessed and this is such an amazing experience). He is so used to getting showered with attention that he will stare at people not fussing over him, just waiting in anticipation, like the games are about to begin. You can see the excitement and anticipation on his face. On the elevator yesterday, a man rode up with us. Ian just stared at him as if to say "Have you not yet noticed how cute, smiley and irresistible I am?" The guy just looked at the floor (like many of us do in elevators), Ian kept staring...

Today we went to The Temple of Literature. I need to read the brochure, but I knew it was a beautiful place to visit and it appears to be an important place of worship and study. It is truly beautiful and inspiring. A lady there told us that all school children visit there every year.

I am having a lot of trouble uploading some of the photos so will add more later....