Pictures and Update!

Yea! We finally figured out the problem with our phone and now we have everything working. Rick was also able to send a few pictures but then the computer jammed up on him again. He said he will try again tomorrow. I am thrilled with what I get! (You should be able to click on each image in the blog and they will individually enlarge).

They enjoyed the Mekong Delta and on the way home mom (matter of factly) mentioned how she would love to see the inside of one of the houses. Thuy said....lets pull over and go through this one! Mom and Rick were telling her that they didn't mean "literally" and felt it would be so imposing on the family. She explained to them that the people there are very friendly and would love for them to come to their home. They got to go through their home and they said it was amazing. They said they slept on wooden boards and there were two inch cracks in the walls and floors. They were very welcoming and so happy to have them in their house. Thuy and her husband have been so amazing on their trip. They have taken them wherever they wanted to go and are so efficient. CHI has taken such good care of them on their trip and the staff in the US and Vietnam should be commended. Rick said he was talking to some people in their hotel from another agency and they asked Rick ..."how do you all get to all of these places and how do you know where to go, etc"? Rick told them it was just part of the adoption process through CHI. They were shocked and said they had nothing like that provided for them. We appreciate it so much because it gives us such a great appreciation and love for the culture and country our child is from. Mom and Rick have fallen in love with Vietnam and we all plan to go there as a family when Jake gets old enough that he will remember the trip. Thank you CHI for everything you have done for us!

Yesterday they took Jake to the zoo. They rode an elephant and Jake fed it peanuts and sugar cane....he had no fear at all. He now loves his stroller....at first they couldn't get him to stay in it. When they were in the park, they saw what they "thought" were bunny rabbits....then Rick said, "oh, wait...Jake that isn't a bunny...they are Rats!"....wow!

Rick said Jake is absolutely unbelievable. He said he is very very busy but it is in the typical 18 month way. He is very curious and full of life. One story I forgot to mention is that Rick has been trying to brush Jake's teeth...and he can't stand it! Mom keeps telling Rick..."come on, he hasn't brushed his teeth this far so don't push it now...we will work him in to that at home!"....well, Mr Persistent tried again after breakfast and Jake threw up all over Rick! Mom couldn't help but get a chuckle out of it. The funny part of it now is that every time Rick brushes his own teeth...Jake sees him and runs and hides behind the bed or runs to Ma (his protector of the toothbrush!).

Mom and Rick said he is absolutely the sweetest and happiest guy you could meet. He never cries at all. He can't communicate with them very well verbally (but great at signing to them) but he understands everything they tell him. Thuy said he is speaking single Vietnamese words but Rick and mom just don't know what he is saying. They called the other night and the only English word he knows is "HI" and just as we got all the kids on the phone Jake said, "HI HI HI!" . Nadia, Mia and Luke all started giggling and jumping up and down. He has told dad and I hi and we can hear him belly laughing as he plays ball with Rick. He has the greatest laugh! Rick called this morning and feels sure Jake looked at him and said, "Daddy!". Mom said Jake has really taken to Rick. I love it!

We prayed for this child for two years and God has truly answered our prayers. Our family already feels blessed to have him and most of us haven't even met him. He was loved and cared for in the orphanage, healthy and happy....God is so good. Have a great Sunday. Natalie


Rick and Jake at the Delta
Jake after the G&R Ceremony
Jake loves to drink water from a straw!
Vietnam Staff member
G&R Ceremony

A couple of new photos

Well, I don't have a lot of new news because now we are having phone trouble! The phone worked great but now Rick can't get it to recharge. I called the hotel directly but Rick said he only catches about every 3rd word I say. I am working hard to see what I can get done to fix our problem. Computer is officially a problem I think can't be fixed. He was able to send two more pictures but it won't let him send any more. I think some other families are having the same problem too.

They went to the Mekong Delta and really enjoyed it. Didn't get all the details but he said it was really neat and he said they stopped at some really great place to eat. They keep going on and on about the food! He said Jake slept the whole way there and the whole way back but was awake at the Delta. Before Rick could even get him in bed last night, he turned around and Jake was laying on the floor half asleep....it was only 7:30! He isn't used to going all the time and is staying worn out. ( I think Rick is too...mom is doing the best!!!!)

Rick said the lady from the orphanage that cares so much for Jake is really having a hard time. He said when they went to the G&R ceremony she was waiting there for them. She asked if she could play with Jake outside and he agreed. After the ceremony they went back to the hotel and she was there too. She asked if she could take him to the park but Rick and mom thought it was best if they "all" went to the park. It was making Jake upset to see her and Rick felt like it was very confusing for Jake. Jake had not cried at all since they got him and the only time he has ever cried is when he was first taken away from her or when he saw her again. They stayed with Rick, mom and Jake for a while and then followed them through the markets as well. She came back to the hotel because she was afraid she had forgotten to tell Rick about his favorite snack and had brought it to him. She also said she decided to give them something that she thought we would cherish that few families ever have....she had taken pictures of Jake since he was a baby at the orphanage and decided to part with them so we could have them. This is amazing ....I would venture to guess that few people have as many pictures as we have received of our son at an early age. What an amazing, thoughtful and generous woman she is....she was thinking of us during her time of grief. Their guide over there said she had even called her the night before worried about him and wanted to know if he was eating okay or upset so she called Rick to check on Jake and reported back to his orphanage "mommy". Rick was a little hesitant to tell me all of this and at first I didn't quite know what to think. My heart truly aches for this woman. I know she loves him so much and I can not imagine what she is going through. My mother hugged her the last time she was there and told her that our family thanks her and loves her for taking care and loving Jake during the first 18 months of his life. She told her what a great gift she gave Jake and how it has helped him adjust so easily to his new family. She told her how much our family already loves him. Mom and Rick said it broke their heart when she left because they knew how hard it was for her to hold back her tears. She is such an amazing woman and our family will always be grateful for the love she has shown our son and we will always tell him about her. We are so blessed to have her pictures with Jake and a few things she sent with him. Although he was an orphan, he was truly blessed to be loved by so many and we will always be able to tell him from birth how special he was. Please pray for this woman so that she may be comforted in her time of loss and pray for her to have peace with Jake's new family.

Our precious son in his crib at Tam Bihn 1 orphanage.
Jake meeting Rick and Mom and saying goodbye to the orphanage director.

Hey...2 pictures are better than none!

Rick just called and they are heading out to the Mekong Delta. They are really excited. He said he has lots and lots of pictures but is still have trouble with the computer but he was able to send two to me today....better than nothing! They said Jake has completely come out of his shell. He is very silly and tries to make them laugh all the time. Rick said he is going to give Luke a run for his money! Rick said he plays lots of games with them too. He loves all the toys we took over there and won't leave the room without one in each hand. They said he is so incredibly happy and smiles often....doesn't shed a tear! Rick said he goes to bed perfectly and slept all night last night. We are all so anxious for them to come home. Rick will try to send more photos tomorrow. I have so much to tell but I promised the kids and dad for a ride to look at Christmas lights so we are heading out right now. I knew I would be getting more phone calls if I didn't get at least one picture posted! Have a great Friday night and I will post more soon. Natalie


Jake with his caregivers...the lady holding him is who he called "mommy"...she loves him dearly and please pray for her as she is having a very difficult time away from him. She is the lady who wanted to adopt him.

Jake a little concerned after they handed him to mom and Rick.

Getting Ready for the G & R Ceremony

We have spoken with Rick and mom several times this evening. They said Jake did great last night and got up only once for a feeding and then again at 6 am but cuddled up next to Rick in bed after his 6 am feeding. Rick said he is very affectionate and cuddly. Mom was thrilled because today he bonded with my mom. She has been carrying him through the markets today and when the people on the streets come up to them to say "lucky baby" or try to hold him (I have been told that the Vietnamese people love children and try to hold babies they don't even know often) he would turn his back to the strangers and wrap his arms around the neck of the person who was holding (either mom or Rick) and bury his head in their chest. Mom said it would just melt her when he would do that. She told me on the phone today "I am totally in love with this little guy!". He doesn't really talk yet (he makes sounds but they don't know what he is saying...but he does say "Hi Hi Hi Hi Hi") but communicates by pulling them by their hands and directing them to what he wants. Mom said she will do certain things with his toys and he watches her and will do the exact same thing when she is done...she said he is a "genious".. :) !!!! Rick has played an Elmo dvd on the laptop and said he is completely mesmerized by it and he loves books. We sent him a stuffed puppy and they said he absolutely will not part with it other than bathtime. He sat the puppy in a chair next to himself at breakfast today(apparently they don't have high chairs) When they tried to leave for breakfast and didn't have it he pulled mom over by her hand and tried to let her know "I am not leaving this room without my puppy in that crib!". A friend sent a sweet soft blanket with us and they said he won't part with it either. They said he is just doing great.....very easy going and sweet....oh and very smart :)!

Oh yea...back to the main topic...sorry I am getting carried away as a proud mommy...but the G&R Ceremony will take place Vietnam time today at 3 pm (2 am here). We will officially be ours as far as the Vietnamese government is concerned. I think they still have to get a medical exam and passports for him while in HCMC. They are planning on taking a trip down the Mekong Delta tomorrow. I just got off the phone and he was heading down to the lobby to see if someone could come up and help him with the laptop. He has downloaded all the pictures but he just can't get them to email....he is officially very frustrated right now! I had a sweet family member of one of the people traveling at the same time email me and let me know that they had a photo of Jake that her niece had taken so she forwarded it to me. I will post them now. It is of Jake in the little suit and bow tie they put him in when he met Rick and mom for the first time. Well, I will post more as I receive it and hopefully Rick can get the pictures sent soon. Natalie

A quick update from the last post

I spoke with Rick just now before they went to sleep. He said they got back to the hotel room and gave Jake a bath, "tried" to brush his teeth....had never had it done before and didn't like it, and met the other families out for dinner. They said the food was incredible and that Jake is being SOOOOO good. He won't go to mom yet and only wants Rick. Our agency told us this would be important so we are very grateful for this. He sat in Rick's lap and then they took a walk by the water and he didn't make a sound. They got back to the room tonight and he fell asleep in Rick's arms. Once Rick laid him in the crib he sat up to make sure he was still there and laid back down to go to sleep. Rick is having trouble with the computer and can't email or download pictures at this time but will send them as soon as he figures out the problem. He said they were too tired to even try tonight.

Rick gave me more details from the orphanage. We had been told that Son (Jake) was the assistant director's favorite...and Rick said it was true. He said actually he seemed to be the favorite of many. Many of the caregivers had a hard time seeing him leave. Rick said most of the kids are in old clothing that is too big etc and they had dressed him up in a suit with a bow tie for him to meet his new forever family. I can not wait to see this picture! She told Rick she wanted to adopt him and Son called her "mommy". She said he was "very very smart! and a "very lucky baby"". Rick said she may just be biased because she loved him so much but would like to believe he is going to be smart! We prayed for the entire wait that whoever God placed in in our family would feel loved while he waited on us and it has truly been an answer to our prayers. We are so grateful to her for loving our son and showing him how to bond with people. She has given him such a great gift.

I am going to call them tonight before we go to bed and when they are getting up and I will update more. They have the Giving and Receiving Ceremony tomorrow afternoon and as far as the Vietnamese government is concerned he will be officially ours. It will then be up to the US. I hope I will have some pictures to share with you. Have a great day. Natalie

They have Jake!

I know it is in the middle of the night but I just got off the phone with Rick and mom again and yes, I spoke to Jake! He didn't like the phone at all....he had never seen a cell phone before and he couldn't figure out what the sound was coming out of it saying, "Hi Son (his Vietnamese name)...it is Mommy!"....he pushed it away and wanted to look out the window. I will update more tomorrow on the events that took place when Rick took him from the assistant director...who loved him so much (he even called her momma). It was very emotional for everyone involved. They told Rick that she was actually in the process of trying to adopt him but then our paperwork came through and he was matched up with us and she decided to give him to us. I had written her a letter and given her a gift and the translator read it to her as Rick gave her the necklace. Needless to say, it was very emotional for her and mom and Rick tried to console her with hugs and words of comfort and thankfulness. I will tell you now that Jake is crying in the van and was a little distressed. Rick was trying to console him and tell me everything at the same time so I am going to call early in the morning(our time) and get more details. They are with a group of 4 other families and their children were with them too.

I found out that he doesn't like monkeys...they scare him! I had sent a toy monkey over to him but he doesn't like it at all! I don't even think they sent it with him. Good thing I decided against the monkey backpack and got one with airplanes! I put a puppy dog inside and Rick said he was holding on pretty tight to it. He had a bag of animal crackers and Rick said there was not a chance of him parting with those either! Oh..one other note....they said "rest up Nat"....he is BUSY...as I had been warned by others over there...they said when they got there he was running all over the place half dressed under tables and chairs etc. They got him all "fancy" and he came out with a bow tie on....I can't wait to get the pictures of him. I am tired and rambling but will update more as I hear from Rick. Please pray for Jake's comfort during this huge adjustment period. I know he must be so scared and confused right now and I desperately wish I was there to hold him. I just want his transition to be as easy as it can be. More later I promise. Natalie

THEY MADE IT!!!!

I just got off the phone with Rick and mom. They were in the car with their guide/translator pulling up the hotel. They said they were actually pretty rested and were going to make themselves stay up all day to get on "Vietnam" time. All they kept saying was it was so amazing. They said you would have to see it all to believe it. They said the flight was wonderful and that everyone on the plane was so polite, efficient and the food was excellent. Mom was so proud of herself because she was able to eat her entire meal in Hong Kong with chopsticks! The only bump was that Rick's luggage was torn up and the strap to pull it was torn off so he is having to carry it and Jake's luggage was ripped up too. Mom was so worried her luggage didn't make it because it was the last one unloaded. I am going to call them back in 30 minutes because they are unpacking and meeting down in the lobby to go to the orphanage at 2 pm (1 am our time). Rick was a little concerned because most families go to the orphanage and "receive" their child but he was told they were going to the orphanage to "meet" their child. He was going to check in to this after they got unpacked and showered. I am so much more relaxed now that I know they arrived safely, seem well rested and very excited. I will update more as I talk to them. I can't believe we will be parents of 4 very very soon. Natalie