Fun with Oma & Opa!

Henry has seen his grandparents four of the six days he's been home but today was the most fun yet...lunch at Mimi's Cafe followed by his first trip to TARGET!! He recognizes them now and is much more rested and relaxed with every visit. Of course he got lots of love and attention and everything he did was deemed either brilliant or hilarious or both by his doting Oma and Opa. He also got very cool sneakers and sunglasses - thanks Oma/Opa!

Fun with my Oma & Opa

(video clip - a little dark but super cute!)

"Of course I love Target - I'm a Jones."

"Krista I can't wait to shop here for toys with you!! (bring your pin card)"

Yes, we are home!!

I just logged in for the first time since we got home and saw that my last post from Hanoi wasn't on here. I must have hit save instead of post....oops, sorry. It's there now. And though I wasn't really planning to keep posting after we returned, I will try to keep adding pics for a little while, at least till the end of Berlin (thanks for the conference call today!!)

.

Our trip was very smooth and Henry was a great little traveler! He didn't sleep much but was still happy and playful most of the way. Much better than Julie and I who were a tiny bit tired and cranky (ergo, no travel pictures at all). We went through the special line for first-time immigrants and Henry became a U.S. citizen! He was sound asleep by that time so the nice agents expedited our papers ahead of all the tired grown-ups so we could go home...yay!

.

Opa was waiting in the airport when we got out with a darling welcome sign - thanks mom! Henry woke up to meet his grandparents with quiet curiosity ('hmmm, more gushing Joneses!') but batted his eye lashes and squeezed their fingers as a sign of his deep love and affection. Special thanks to Diane for joining in the welcome party to drive our luggage and Tante Julie home too!

.
As soon as we arrived I realized that my pathetic ideas of "baby-proofing" were completely inadequate and that there was not one safe place in the apartment to set him....not one. Just for that one moment I longed to be back in our secure little Hanoi home and routine. But in the days since we arrived, Julie and I have made Henry feel safe and happy here too. By the way, the name Henry means "Ruler Of The Home." Of course he is.

.

Krista, THANK YOU....Henry LOVES your "car" package, from the wrapping to the toys and clothes. So thoughtful and so cute. What a great shopper you are!! Janna and Krista, thanks so much for the 2nd package too. The shirts are darling and the balloons and frame and placemat are perfect. (And I love all the pictures of you Krista!)

For me??

YAY!!

"My very own dashboard...with honking horn! This is my loudest toy yet!!

Anna and Ewa, Henry loves his bunny and I love his navy pants and jacket...his first Cannes outfit! (Team Dennis?) Should fit him perfectly all summer...thanks!!

Bunny on my head...hilarious!

Cast aside for Cheerios...how sad.

Smug little chipmunk.

Let's go home!!

Our last day...a few snaps from around Hanoi...

Kumquat tree....these were on scooters everywhere.

A traditional TET decoration for families and businesses.

Just like Paris...no wonder I felt so at home!

Chaos and madness in the streets pretty much 24/7...1000s of scooters everywhere!

Just a typical bicycle meat vendor.

Official gridlock...stuck 15 minutes before we got out and walked.

Well I can't believe it but we are finally flying home tomorrow. I got our new itinerary including Henry's one way booking and saw that he was reserved in Business Class and Julie and I were flying Coach on the first flight....nothing but the best for my boy!!! (he's agreed to sit with us in the back!)

We are madly packing while Henry sleeps and trying to figure out what we will need for almost 24 hours of travel. A lot. Henry has clothes for six wardrobe changes, a treasure trove of toys and an unbelievable pile of feeding and diapering supplies. I'm hoping since we bought him a seat he'll be allowed to have his own carry-on bag!!

Our final day in Hanoi was spent playing, shopping and eating - pretty much the same as the rest of our days, at least since we've been well. We had a delicious lunch at Bobby Chinn's. Yes, Dawn I had the steak and mashed potatoes. YUM! Then we went up to Hang Gai Street to try one more time to get a good price on a painting I wanted to buy for Henry - 'Boy Dancing With Buffalo'. I ended up buying the painting and also a little sculpture called 'School Boy' - had to have it. Neither looks as good in these pictures as they do in person but they are really cute!

"I'd rather have a cookie."

The little sculpture can light up from inside...so cute!

And finally, Henry is ready to go.

pants? no thanks, too busy. I'm going home just like this!!

Super Bowl Monday....Fun Day!

How exciting, Henry's first Super Bowl!


It was broadcast live here in Hanoi at 6am this morning (Monday) in our hotel restaurant. Since we are up at 5 everyday anyway we decided it would be super fun...it was! Henry was the only baby in the room of 40 fans and whenever they clapped for the Giants he clapped too. He seemed unimpressed by the Patriots.

Go Giants!!!

(Okay, he was really entertaining mama by putting a spoon on his head.

Still funny after 3 days!)

Move your head please mama...I can't see the big screen!

But even bigger news than the Super Bowl is that WE GOT HENRY'S U.S. VISA! Hooray! We are cleared to come home! Big thanks to our agency PLAN, Huong who stayed in Hanoi to finish our Visa processing and to Scott Smith for collecting it and bringing it to us today!! A huge relief to have it in hand.

Naturally, we had lunch with the Smiths to celebrate....thanks to Scott again for wrangling the boys so the girls could eat!

Travel safely!! We'll miss you! (Who is going to tell us what sights we are missing here in Hanoi??)

And finally, after a long nap, more fun with food.

Our Big Day Out - Take Two

Well we finally made it to Hoan Kiem Lake today - very cold and windy but no rain!

Henry's ready to go - full Zonkey regalia!

On the famous Sunbeam Bridge (The Huc)

Thap Rua (Turtle Tower) in distance - a city icon for Hanoi.

A Happy 2008 New Year message spelled out in potted flowers...Opa, don't feel you have to do a Welcome Home message like this in the front yard!!

Yesterday, Henry took his sock off his foot and put it on his head. He and his Tante laughed and laughed and clapped and clapped. Today, Henry decided if a sock was funny then EVERYTHING should go on his head for the same hilarious reaction (which he got).

I laugh and laugh...

Good news, bad news, great news!

We had our US visa interview at the Embassy this morning and it went just fine. Henry was charming as ever and his visa will be approved. Unfortunately, they would not give it to us today but said it could be collected on Monday afternoon. We are trying to get our flights moved to Tuesday but with Tet (Chinese New Year celebrated all over Asia) we are finding flights are very full. We are wait-listed for Tuesday but have confirmed flights for Wednesday. We are fine and we are coming home, but just a little later than planned. More time for museums....yay.

The GREAT news is that the two families from our agency who had been fighting to get their baby's visas since OCTOBER got them today!! They have been here 17 weeks - if we have to wait until Monday so they could get their visas processed today I am happy to do it. So thrilled they are going home - WITH their babies!!!

Baby Henry was unfazed by the events of the day....he just loves to play! And he was talking up a storm today too! His sweet nature and bright curiosity make every game fun to play and watch...at least I think so! Thanks for all the nice notes!! jjx

Poor, unsuspecting Mickey...

"Be gentle Henry..."

Whap!

Henry's got a lot to say!