Owen gets into the holiday spirit

More recent photos, these from my family's holiday party.

Owen and his big brother, Red:

Owen LOVES candy canes!

Did I mention how much he loves them?

While I wasn't blogging -- Jacksonville edition

Here are some photos from our trip to Jacksonville, FL, in early December.

Owen finally meets Grandpa Ray:

Owen with Grandpa Ray and Grandma Beth:

We feed a giraffe at the excellent zoo in Jax:

Owen meets Santa -- and while he wasn't quite sure what was going on, he did not freak out. This was taken at a Breakfast with Santa event at the preschool our friends own:

More Photos and Rotating Black Outs

Because of the fuel crisis there are rotating black outs in Vietnam. As you might image, this causes havoc with internet connects. So for the past two days the uploading of photos has gone very, very slowly - if at all.

But if you'd like to see some more photos, there are some additional ones on Flickr tagged with loc. As requested, I'm trying to get one of myself up as well.

Thanks for all the comments keep them coming.

The week that was

Talk about a roller coaster.

Over the last few days:

• I learned that my I-600 isn't going to be filed till the end of the month, pushing me into late July/August for traveling , best-case scenario. That's if the embassy continues its average 45-day turnaround.
  
  I'm so disappointed. I cried on the phone with my agency. That's more time in the orphanage for Loc, and every day it's so hard to think of what we're both missing out on. When I got my referral, the timeline was late May/early June for travel; it's brutal to see it lenghten.

• I got new photos and new videos. As you can see, he's getting to be a little boy. He still has his bracelet, but he is rapidly leaving babyhood behind. He looks so sad in the videos, but maybe that's just me projecting. I'm happy to have new photos, but they just make me miss him that much more.

• I watched the story on Vietnam adoptions on CNN's "American Morning." Tough to watch.
  

• I had an excellent shower with my wonderful family. My mom outdid herself with great food and planning. My niece hooked us up with a animal-themed cake made by a woman she works with. Absolutely amazing -- fondant giraffes, monkeys, and elephants. I'll post pictures soon.
  
  Great turnout and the most imaginative and thoughtful gifts. Loc is so set with toys and clothes now. Aunt Gail gave him three UNC shirts, which I can't wait to see him in. Really cool presents from my aunts, cousins, family friends, sisters, nieces, nephew, and parents. The welcome that they're giving Loc overwhelms me sometimes.
  

• I got my second year's worth of Happy Mother's Day to the Mother-to-Be cards. When I got these cards last year, I was bursting with happiness and anticipation. Now...the sentiment is appreciated, but a second year? Sigh...
  

New photo!

This was taken at the end of March.

He's still wearing his little bracelet, and I'm glad to see he has a Lego to play with.

Yes, the metal slats in the crib don't look comfortable. But I'm going to believe, because it makes me feel better, that they put him in an empty crib to take the photo, since last month he refused to stand still and pose.

(This will be a skill we will have to work on immediately, or teach Grandma about the "action" setting on her camera!)