Almost on our way

Well, we will be on our way to the airport in 48 hours. I'm enjoying reading the blogs of others who are over in Vietnam and we are getting really excited to finally go and meet our little guy.

I'm also planning some fun things to do during our brief layover in Bangkok. We'll have only a few days to check it out so we will have to be efficient. Anyone who has every been to Disney World with me (where I really kick it into high gear) knows my motto that vacations are for the mind, not the body. Santosh may mock my drill sergeant act, but he's very good at going along with it. (Kieran, on the other hand, may not appreciate it so we'll have to tone it down once we get to Vietnam. We won't get to see as much as we'd like but that's not the point of the trip anyway.)

Santosh and Durban spent the weekend getting the toys ready for Kieran - particularly the inflatable toys like the bathtub duck and the baby pool. We needed to use the pool to give Durban a bath outside after he jumped in the bay on Sunday. This morning, Durban had some choice words (non dog owners call these barks) for the pool. Though Durban seems to love water, bath time is definitely not his favorite activity. I'm glad to see that he's only holding a grudge against the pool and not me.

Santosh also installed the car seat Saturday. Durban, of course, was of no help. He occasionally jumped up to see what was going on since he considers the car (and especially the back seat) to be his. He stretched out across the entire back seat on the drive up to New York so I think he's going to be a little frustrated that he has to share on the way back.

Durban is not yet grasping that the baby toys aren't for him. I showed him a toy last week that had a large mirror on it. Once he positioned himself in front of the mirror, his tail started to wag like crazy. I guess he considers himself to be rather handsome. Durban also watched where we put the toys and goes back to get them later when we are distracted. He almost destroyed Kieran's boo boo bunny ice pack just moments after it was put away.

I spent the weekend trying to figure out what to pack for Kieran. Luckily I can only select from the clothes that I brought to New York so my options are limited. It's so hard to tell what size he will be. Kieran was 7 months old yesterday but many of the babies from his orphanage are his age or older and still wearing 3-6 month size clothing. We hear he is fairly chubby but it doesn't really seem that way in his photos. (By the way, we will be posting lots of photos of Kieran after the Giving and Receiving (G&R) ceremony on July 23rd or 24th.)

As far as packing for us, Santosh and I have acquired new wardrobes for the trip - none of it coming close to stylish. (Much of it ironically with "Made in Vietnam" tags.) We needed clothes that were light weight and washable in the hotel sinks. Footwear is limited to what is comfortable to wear when we go out and walk all day. Therefore, I'm formally requesting that photos of me only start from the ankles up. All other shots are at risk of being confiscated (pay attention Molly and Brenda.) Everyone should pretend I'm wearing something cute on my feet until maybe I can Photoshop a nice sandal onto the photo later on and erase all visual evidence that there were ever Tevas on my feet.

Well, back to packing. Santosh is making one last minute trip to Detroit before we leave - he arrives back in NY about 14 hours before we head back to the airport and start our adventure!