Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Daniel Simon Hoang Xuan

First Family Photograph

Father & Son

Nou nou and Daniel



Yesterday we received our son, Daniel Simon Hoang Xuan. A big name for a big fella. We left for Tra Vinh at 4:30 am and 5 hours later we were at the the Tra Vinh Social Centre for Social Assistance. We travelled through the country side and small towns of the Mekong Delta but more on that later.
We got to the orphanage and met very quickly with the Director and Vice Director then were asked to wait outside. We saw a van pulling up and there they were - our babies! There was another couple from Montreal with us. We were supposed to travel separately to the government building where the official ceremony took place but we when we saw them we just had to meet them right there and then. To heck with official rules.
Wow - what can I say. He's a beautiful baby and Dave and I are fully, completely in love with him. He's a very active little guy that does not want to miss a thing. He really needs to see everything all around him. His eyes and head are constantly moving and he fights to keep himself from falling asleep. He's a 20 lb hefty fellow and pretty strong. He smiles very readily and likes to babble. When we were waiting for the official signing of papers the other family pulled out some teething rings for their son. I forgot to bring such things - being a new mother so was searching for something I could give to him. It took him about 20 seconds to grab those rings from the other baby. The nou nous were just laughing. Thankfully he didn't cry when I took the rings from him to give back to the other a baby.
After the official signing of the papers we headed back to the Tra Vinh Social Centre for Social Assistance. It's hard to call it an orphanage because it's really a centre for seniors that have no one to care for them and our agency, Terre des Hommes (TDH) built a baby house there. The building had about 4-5 rooms including a kitchen/bathroom/laundry area, a dining room with a long table and two rooms that had about 5 cribs in each room. There are just babies - no older children. There weren't very many babies there. It was very clean. A few special needs babies with disabilities, which was really sad and a few very young babies including one that was just a few days old. The nou nous (caregivers) gave the babies a bottle and told us about their feeding schedules, disposition, sleeping habits and answered any questions that we had. Then they changed them into the clothing we had brought. They really liked the outfit for Daniel that Shanta gave him at the baby shower. You could see how loving these women where towards all of the children and how attached they were as well. Some of them were crying when we were about to leave. We all said our thank-you's and goodbyes and then we carried our babies down the courtyard to the van. One of the seniors came out to say good bye to Daniel.
Then we went for lunch. Daniel showed us how to bang the table like he's playing a bongo drum. We learned quite quickly to keep things out of reach and out of his mouth. I'm not sure it that means he's getting ready to cut teeth? Afterwards we went past the hospital where he was born and then made the 5 hour journey back to our hotel. He didn't sleep much but also did not cry either. He was just content to lie on his Daddy's and Mommy's lap and soak up the attention.
We took hundreds of pictures and I'll post more of them later. Right now, I think someone's hungry.

7 comments:

  1. Dear Lill and Dave,
    Congratulations on being a new Mom and Dad. We are very proud to be Oma and Grandpa to such a beautiful and precious boy. Can't wait to hold him in our arms.
    With all our Love
    Mom and Dad

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  2. Congratulations!!! We are so happy that you are finally all together.
    Nate is really looking forward to meeting his new friend Daniel.

    Brian, Nicole & Nate

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  3. Congrats Guys!
    We are all so happy for you. Zach and Maya are looking forward to playing with their new cousin. He looks so cuddly...You must be on cloud 9 (or 10).
    Elana, Rich, Zach and Maya

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  4. Hi Dave and Lillian...

    Just talked to mom and dad...they are thrilled...the baby is so adorable. Mom is going to try to phone you...it is 10am here so should be about 9pm there.

    Congratulations and we all can't wait to see Daniel in person....

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  5. Just looked at the pics again...he is so cute.

    We're all so happy for you...

    Mark, Marsha, Ryan & Kali

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  6. Hi Again,
    Glad Mom and Dad spoke to you. I gave them your number at the hotel...they couldn't find the number you left them. The hotel gave them your new hotel #.
    Anyway, hope you have a wonderful night...enjoy it, savour it..... take a million pictures....I should have given you some SD cards.
    Give Daniel a kiss for me...
    Speak to you soon
    Rich
    Rich

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  7. How wonderful, congratulations.
    Welcome Daniel!

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