Jet Lag and Frogger

Does anyone remember playing the video game Frogger? Think Frogger and you will have a fair idea of the traffic in Hanoi. Cars, motorcyles, bicycles and pedestrians all fighting for road space and right of way. And yet, in the midst of it all, there is this beautiful park. So far, everyone has been very friendly and gracious. We just need to get used to all the beeping and honking!

We are in a jet lag delirium so don't expect this post to be too coherent, but I wanted to get some photos posted, so here it goes..........

The Vietnamese people seem to love children and everyone is eager to talk to and touch Sophia. She has been a good sport about it although she has been in a semi stupor for the better part of the day. Many people assume that she is Vietnamese and express surprise and disbelief when we tell them she is Chinese. It helps to remember that the city Sophia is from, Zhanjiang, is close to the Viet Nam border and reportedly has a lot ties to Viet Nam. I have long suspected that Sophia might be part Vietnamese, so it is interesting hearing it from folks who are from Viet Nam.

We are all about to take a nap, so I will sign off for now. It looks like our Greeting and Receiving ceremony will be scheduled tomorrow but we will get confirmation on that later in the day. It feels a little surreal that in less than 24 hours we will probably be holding Keenan for the first time.

Oh, and on the humorous front, Sophia got her first kiss today! A little boy was being held by his father and he was trying to get the boy to say hi to Sophia. The boy apparently decided that there are better ways to greet a fair maiden and promptly leaned over and gave her a kiss on the cheek. When Sophia didn't object, he decided to give her a quick kiss right on the lips! If this is the kind of attention she is getting at 18 months, God help us when she turns 18 years old!



View from our small balcony






Although it is balmy 68 degrees in Hanoi, the locals are great believers in keeping their young charges warm. This means hats...hats that cover the ears! We have been told that if they see a child without a hat, for them, it is the equivalent of child neglect. It is a good thing that she finally keeps hats on. Sophia was sweating like crazy, but when in Rome, or in this case, when in Hanoi.............


What portable crib? I have dubbed this Sophia's bed!