Home

3:00am watching Yo Gabba Gabba with Amelia and already missing Vietnam. It's nice to be home and I loved the welcome at the airport from Derek, Clay, Jen and Scarlett, you guys are amazing. The flight was long but Amelia did excellent. She was a little overwhelmed with all the changes and was starting to have that distant gaze she had when I first got her from the orphanage. This morning she already seems more like herself as we had breakfast and play time at 2:00 am. Finally got to have the pancakes i was craving!! Now to switch our schedule around. It's kinda peaceful at this hour and Amelia seems content to play with all her toys that were waiting for her. She is pretty shy so I am trying not to overwhelm her with too many new faces. Excited for everyone to meet her tho, she is such a sweetheart.

Amelia got her Canadian and vietnamese passports this morning. We were able to move the flight and will be flying out tomorrow night for the long flight home. I am a little nervous about the flight since Amelia hates to he held while I sit. She doesn't mind if I am walking or standing but as soon as I sit down she becomes restless and cries. It could make for a very long flight. Praying that she will sleep most of the flight. I can't wait to see Derek when we finally get through customs and Jen, Scarlett, and Clay when I get home. Can't wait for Amelia to finally meet her auntie, uncles, and cousin.

Today after getting the passports we went to see the Vietnamese water puppet show. Amelia liked it and actually sat to watch the whole thing on my lap.

I am kinda sad to be leaving. I can't believe it has been 3 weeks that we have been here. Canadian traffic is going to be so boring now, lol. Life it Vietnam was a great experience. The only thing I found hard was that everywhere you go people look and point (and the smells were hard to handle too). The vietnamese are very friendly people, eager to please. The kids are exited to practice their English with us, at the zoo and in the stores kids would ask questions about Amelia and about Canada. People really encourage their kids to learn English. We noticed that it is the men here that pay more attention to babies. Whether it was taxi drivers, door men, or restaurant staff the men always tried to talk to Amelia and made a big deal about her. I was a little disappointed with the food. I was told about how great it is. I never had anything I didn't like but was excited the few times we splurged on North American food. I have had enough of Pho, rice, and noodles and can't wait to have some blueberry pancakes. I don't find it as hot as when we were in Vung Tau and actually I find that it isn't as polluted here as it is at home. Even on the hot days the sky is blue, no grey haze. Almost everyone here wears masks all the time tho, not sure if it is for the pollution or germs due to the population and dirtiness. I hope that one day Amelia will be interested in coming back to experience where she came from.

For someone who hates to travel, I really enjoyed the trip. The first few days with Amelia were really tough but we settled into life here. I am so thankful that God brought Amelia Nghi and I together and that He gave me the strength and patience to travel around the world to get her and that He has made the transition flow smoothly her and for all the support back at home. This has been an amazing blessing. Thank you for all the thoughts and prays, they were appreciated beyond belief!!!

Evan is going to post some more pictures. Pictures of the zoo as well as some older picturers from our first days together in Vung Tau at the orpahanage. Looking at them I realize how much Amelia has changed since we first met her. Her eyes are brighter, she smiles more, and seems much more comfortable with her new mom and grandparents. Today is just a lazy day by the pool, tomorrow we will hear how paperwork to going and when we will be heading home.

NotHing too exciting here in Vietnam. I am actually kinda getting use to life here. I am going to miss the afternoon swims with Amelia and breakfast everyday. We didn't do too much today. Amelia was up most of the night and really wasn't herself today we we just relaxed in the air conditioned room watching Vietnamese cartoons and the fox and the hound. She enjoyed just playing quietly by herself with her toys and snuggling on the couch. Monday I will find out what is going on with her canadian passport and I am hoping and praying that it will be ready on Tuesday and I can move the flight up to Tuesday night.

She speaks

Today Amelia said two words, Ma (Vietnamese for mom) and ball. She is learning so much and changing so fast. She is becoming very independent, wanting to do everything by herself.

We went to the Vietnamese quilt store today, after a 20 min taxi ride in the wrong direction we finally made it, Amelia does not like car rides and gets bored very quickly when having to sit still, it should make for a very interesting plane ride home for 20+ hours. We also went to the Siagon zoo. Amelia loved the animals but due to the heat she only lasted about an hour before she got fussy and we returned to the hotel for a swim. She loves the water.

6 more sleeps to go before heading home.

Missing everyone and my comfy bed

1 week to go (hopefully)

Went for dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe last night, it was great to have some North American food and atmosphere for a bit. Amelia seemed to love it too.

Went to the Canadian consulate today to apply for Amelia's Canadian passport. Hoping and praying it will be ready by next Wednesday so we can catch our flight home. Paperwork is all done, now we just wait.

Went to the market today, it was very hot so only got a few things that I wanted and coffee for Johanne :) before heading back to the hotel for lunch, Now it's nap time before an afternoon swim in the pool. Amelia loves the water now she even stands on the edge and jumps in the water so I can catch her. The one thing I am going to miss here is the pool.