My mother sent me some photos she had on her camera from when we were in Vietnam. Looking at them I remember the anticipation of finally going to pick up Henry. After having been over there so long it seemed unreal that it was finally happening.
We sat downstairs for a few minutes in a large room with a big portrait of Ho Chi Minh at the front. Then we were ushered upstairs, down an outside walkway leading to the nursery at the end of the building. I remember well how I felt as we approached the door--a second or two after this photo was taken I saw Henry for the first time as he spidered his way around the room on a walker. He seemed much smaller than I imagined he would be. I had blown the periodic update photos up to get closeup looks at his fingernails, nose, ears, eyes--until I guess I had the impression that he was larger than life. Then I saw him for real, as a very small baby. It really was an incredible day.
Here is a photo in the ground floor room, before we entered the nursery. I was looking with amazement at the so-called "Third Letter" from the DIA to the province that gives final authorization for me to adopt. Loc was translating for me, but all that mattered was that the end of the road (as far as Vietnam was concerned) was finally here.
Henry was very fussy. Here I give him to my mother for the first time. He was frightened, in contrast to how he was this past weekend. He was so happy to see my mother and held to her tightly. It is really good to know that he has attached so well to us.
I was in a daze as I sat on the floor and quieted Henry with a bottle. Hoi looks on--we have just heard from Loc that he and Hoi are expecting a baby in six months time. They were just as anxious as my mother and me were in finally getting to see Henry.
We sat downstairs for a few minutes in a large room with a big portrait of Ho Chi Minh at the front. Then we were ushered upstairs, down an outside walkway leading to the nursery at the end of the building. I remember well how I felt as we approached the door--a second or two after this photo was taken I saw Henry for the first time as he spidered his way around the room on a walker. He seemed much smaller than I imagined he would be. I had blown the periodic update photos up to get closeup looks at his fingernails, nose, ears, eyes--until I guess I had the impression that he was larger than life. Then I saw him for real, as a very small baby. It really was an incredible day.
Here is a photo in the ground floor room, before we entered the nursery. I was looking with amazement at the so-called "Third Letter" from the DIA to the province that gives final authorization for me to adopt. Loc was translating for me, but all that mattered was that the end of the road (as far as Vietnam was concerned) was finally here.
Henry was very fussy. Here I give him to my mother for the first time. He was frightened, in contrast to how he was this past weekend. He was so happy to see my mother and held to her tightly. It is really good to know that he has attached so well to us.
I was in a daze as I sat on the floor and quieted Henry with a bottle. Hoi looks on--we have just heard from Loc that he and Hoi are expecting a baby in six months time. They were just as anxious as my mother and me were in finally getting to see Henry.
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