The Prize!

While we were away last weekend, Erwin received a phone call from a local kids store saying that he had won a Baby Bjorn bib. He had entered the draw at the store when we were trying on carriers. So we naturally thought that we had won the bib for the carrier. We were pleased with that because the carrier was one of the things that we had purchased and brought back from our weekend away and a bib to protect it seemed useful. Well we went to pick up our Baby Bjorn bib today and it turned out that it was not the bib for the carrier. It was just a bib.

...but it was a FREE bib!

Travel Meeting

Last night was our travel meeting. Most of the information was just going over the travel booklets that we had received with our proposal. But it was good to go through it together, get some clarification and hear about experiences that other groups have had.

It was suggested that we get the 90 day visa, rather than the 30 day visa as it gives you a bit more flexibility with dates and possible last minute changes. We had not thought of that so that was good to know. The other thing I wanted to find out about in more detail was our timeline once in Hanoi. If everything is okay with the baby once he is placed with us, Erwin and I are thinking of going to Halong Bay for 4-5 days. I wanted to know if there would be a period that long, in between paperwork that we’d be able to get away. And it looks like that would be very possible once everything is sent to the Canadian Embassy in Singapore. Of course we will not make any bookings until we are there and ensure that the baby is healthy and okay to travel.

Other than that, it was just nice to see everyone again and dream about when our travel date might be.

Our 60 days is officially up now, so we are hoping to get some updated pictures soon. However, we were reminded that although it is easy to make such a request, it is a bit more difficult to actually get the updated information so patience is required– it will get here, when it gets here.

A Few Purchases

We are back from our weekend in the US. We went camping, enjoyed tubing, biking and yummy restaurants but the real reason behind the trip was to pick up baby items that were much cheaper in the US than here. We had ordered everything ahead of time online. We had some of the items shipped to the closest store in Bellingham and other items delivered to a friend’s cabin. Everything arrived on time and was waiting for us as we went and picked it up. We were a bit concerned about whether my car would be big enough for the crib and mattress but there was absolutely no problem. With my back seats removed, they just slid right in!

Our list of purchases included a crib and mattress, a crib set (and a “few” of the accessories that went with it) and a baby bjorn carrier. We also looked around at some baby clothing but we couldn’t purchase anything else since with the baby purchases, an electronics purchase and two garage door openers that you can only buy in the States, we were already over our limit. But once Erwin saw the price difference on all of the baby clothing he got quite excited about the notion of saving more money and suggested that closer to our travel date, when we have a better idea of how old / how big the baby will be, that we spend another weekend holidaying across the line and buying more baby things! How could I possibly disagree with shopping...and to think it was all Erwin’s idea;)

Here is a little preview of a couple of the things we purchased.

A rug for the floor.

And a lamp.

Day 53 (I Think)

Good news today...well news today...I consider any updates good news as it ultimately means that we are moving forward (I’ll have to rethink that definition if we ever receive bad news – huh). Anyways, the news is that our 60 day waiting period will be up in one more week. We knew the 60 days was coming close but we were not sure of the official day 1 of the 60 days. Once that period is up, the official paperwork can begin. And a request for updated information can be made!! That is exciting because updated information means updated pictures!! What we don’t know is exactly how long it will take to complete the request... but like I said as long as we are moving forward, we are happy!

Next week we have a travel meeting with Groups 7, 8 and 9 (Group 9 got their proposals last week). No, this does not mean that we will have travel dates, those unfortunately are still months away. But we will find out more information about what to expect in the coming months. I am glad that we are doing the travel meeting all together. I always find that other people have questions that are so much better than my own. And with so many families there, there will be much less chance that I walk away saying “ohh, I wish I had asked that.” Not to say that I couldn’t phone and ask more questions the next day but it is nice to get all the information at one time.

The Move

Well the weekend was a success! Last week I was slowly going through everything in my office. I recycled two full bins of paper (how do I accumulate so much paper?) and donated a lot of things that I just didn’t need any more. I got everything done that I needed to do in preparation for the big move downstairs so that we can get the baby’s room ready upstairs. I had warned Erwin that he was MINE for all of Saturday to help move furniture and set up my computer downstairs. Well it is a good thing I stipulated ALL day because that is how long it took. We started off really well; we put up shelving to house my books, ran out to Home Depot to get one more shelf, and moved all the furniture down. Then Erwin started on the reconnecting of my computer. That is when things went wrong. Anyone who knows Erwin, knows that he is a computer genius so that fact that it took him HOURS to reconnect my computer to the network, tells you that it was a BIG wiring problem. Anyways, it all got done by about 11:00 Saturday night! And if you want any more detail than that ask Erwin!

Here are a few views of my new space:)

It is still a guest room too!

The paint colour in the baby's room will be the same as this "guilford green."  Except I am going to do accent colours of blue and brown to make it more boy friendly!

2 Months

Our little guy is two months old today. I sure wish we were there (or he was here) to celebrate together. It seems so strange to think that there is this little baby on the other side of the world, whom we have not even met, and yet is so important to us. We haven’t even seen him and he has already changed our lives... I look forward to experiencing how he’ll change our lives more in the months and years to come.

I can’t wait to meet him, get to know him, find out what he likes and what he doesn’t like. I want to be able to see his personality develop and to be able to read his moods, make him smile, and know how to comfort him just right. There is so much to look forward to, years to look forward to – but months to wait.

Happy two months little one I hope we meet soon.

Getting Organized

No new baby news...still waiting for the 60 day waiting period to be up. However, Erwin and I have been trying to get a jump start on baby’s room and all the things we will need. I have another 2 weeks before I need to focus my attention on getting ready for back to school and setting up a classroom so I want to get as much done now so that I am not overwhelmed later (there will be enough of that once baby arrives!)

We have picked out a crib, dresser, car seat, carrier and bedding set. We decided to wait on a stroller until we get back. There seems to be a lot of things you need to know about baby to pick out the right stroller...who knew?? So we thought once we get back we will continue to use the carrier (assuming baby likes it) until we can get out to purchase a stroller.

After doing a lot of price comparisons we found that most of these items are far cheaper in the U.S. Now I am a person who likes to support the Canadian economy but really the savings on just the crib, carrier and bedding set is about $400 and I can think of a lot of ways I’d rather spend that money than on bolstering the Canadian economy. So I have caved on my moral standing and opted for better prices (and more shopping!) We have ordered those three items and are going down to the U.S. for a weekend getaway so that we can pick them up and bring everything back with our 48 hour duty exemption.

Other than that I am trying to move my office to another room in the house as that will become baby’s room (and storage room for all of this stuff that we are purchasing.) Busy days!

Swiming, Swimming in the Swimming Pool...

Some of you know the rest of that song! Anyways...I am trying not to buy too many things for our baby boy too quickly. Mainly because there are so many other things I should do first. Like get his room ready. But I did allow myself to buy a few things, mostly because I didn’t know how successful I would be at finding baby swimwear in November. One of the things I really want in a hotel when we are in Vietnam is a pool. The skin to skin contact with baby that swimming provides is supposed to be really good for bonding – or so I have read! Anyways, because of this I really want to stay somewhere with a pool. And of course baby needs swimwear to go swimming – right? So here are a few things that I have picked up.

My mom bought the cute little froggy swim diaper.

And I found a froggy swim shirt to match...it looks way too big (6 month size) but it matches!!

And, well, let's face it, this is just cute!