On our way home, Maybe?

We had our second interview today and will return to the Embassy tomorrow hopefully with a visa in hand. We are going ot try to fly out on Sunday if everything falls into place and we will be home Monday morning.

Sophie is back to being healthy, knock on wood and hoepfully her scales will stay away this time.
We are eating dinner with the other families at a Italian restaurant (hopefully Hanoi Italaian is good).

Sophie is just a wonderful little girl and she has been so happy since we got her to feeling better. She is upstairs pooting and and smiling at her daddy right now. She is just amazing. We are so very blessed to have her. All the other babies have had their bought with minor illnesses and for once Sophie is the healthy one. Everyone is ready to come home. Although I must admit Chris and I leave with a bit of sorrow. Not that we have definite plans to leave yet. The country is so beatiful and the people are so warm and wonderful. We could not have asked for a better expereince ( minus the Scarlett Fever ordeal). We are really enjoying our time in Vietnam and have tried to take opportunities to learn about the people and the culture so we can share as much as we can with Sophie as she grows. I want her to know how much we enjoyed our time in the country and that she really has roots from a very special place full of people who love her. Everyday people on the streets come up to say congrats to us and pat her on the head or kiss her hand. They really love their children in this country. I have to admit at times an appetite has been hard to come by, but losing a few punds won't kill me. The food is good just very foreign and we usually eat breakfast, snack in our room and then have dinner. The hotel Guoman has taken us in like family often holding Sophie (sometimes when I don't want them to) so we can have a meal together, they know our names and ask if one of us is alone without the baby how she is doing. Sophie is in love with one of the doormen and coos and smiles at him every chance. The house keeping staff is wonderful. In fact one of the housekeepers brought us a stroller to use while in Vietnam. If you are going to be thousands of miles away from home this is a good place to land. I cannot express in words the warm recieption we have been given in this country. Considering that we are in the Northern part of Vietnam and the history between our two countries the people are some of the most friendly I have ever come across.

Well as we prepare to wind down our trip we plan to see the Water Puppets and maybe do a day tour to area attractions, but we will see what happens with our travel plans. We are going to do the last of our shopping tomorrow morning before going back to the embassy in the afternoon to finish up there.

It is with great anticipation (and fear of the long trip with baby) that we are able to start planning to come home, but also sorrow as we have a love for this counrty that will forever be a part of our lives. We cannot wait to bring Sophie home, but we are goingto make the best of the time we have left here.

With love from VN,
Summer