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...CONGRATS!... This is Norah, the overserved waitress from Fitzgeralds festival. I just found the scrap of paper with this website on it under my dresser. I'm so happy for you! i'm so glad everything worked out and he is ADORABLE! Good luck with everything in the future. here's my email if you ever need a babysitter! info@sheriffpeanut.com Congratulations again!
Norah! Great to hear from you! Cathy and I are supposed to go on monthly dates, so we'll have to take you up on the offer.

Congratulations and Welcome Home!! Wow, is he a handsome little man (Nicholas that is). We look forward to meeting him at a future FCVN-Chicago outing. Cathy & Grace Nelson.

Hi Joe and Cathy! Congrats! It is great your family is finally together, and what an adorable baby! I can tell you are going to be cool parents - already referring to his food as gak - I can't imagine the projects you will come up with for his science fairs! Becky

Texas Selah's
Hi Joe and Cathy!!! I just found your web page. I love it! We miss you guys a lot. We really need to get the kiddos together- so long as Nicholas agrees to the no dating until your 30 rule. (ha ha) Jeff and I were talking the other evening and wanted you to know that of all the people we met while in Vietnam- we enjoyed our visits with ya'll the most. Thanks for eating with us and chatting with us and sharing your boy with us. He's awesome! Glad ya'll are home and things are getting back to normal. Love, Erin Lonard
Thanks! We liked meeting with you guys as well. We'll have to plan meeting up at culture camp!

The Bogue's Hi Cathy and Joe: we've been following your journey and are so happy to read that you are now home. Congrats and can't wait to see you again and meet little Nicholas! The Bogue family - Chris, Tim, Hanna, Wil, Guen, & Haelee
Thanks! I am sure we'll see you at the next family event. Make sure to call or E-mail when you know when there is one or you have time.

JOE--- Welcome home hope everything is great and you enjoyed the return flights--- See you soon in the office. George It was great George - he travelled pretty darn well. It was a very full flight, and he was able to sleep for at least 1/2 of it.

guess what, the word "gak" already exists in the early childhood world. It is a wonderfully fun to to explore home made item similar to commercial silly putty. It is made from elmer's glue and liguid starch, which is by the way, non-toxic. Another word for it is "goop". You might want to go there since knowing how smart Nicholas is, he has already learned that one eats "gook." I didn't call yesterday because I know you are beat but we have been thinking and talking about you throughout your journey home. Will call soon.

Julie Rawls Moore: I have been trying just to watch and not bother you with comments or questions...but i cant help my self.....that is the cutest baby i have ever seen. OH MY GOODNESS!!!! and what a smile..... i know you are heading home soon and i will be glad to have you back in the saddle at work but i know this haws been an adventure of a life time and what a wonderful parting gift you guys are getting!!! Can't wait to hear more and see pictures up to high school prom and college graduation!! Congrats you two!

Money in Da Bankes
Love being able to see what's happening with you! Unfortunatley, the Bankes family will be in South Haven over the Labor Day weekend so will miss your triumphant return to Oak Park. We plan to stock our fridge and do anything you'd like before you arrive. The place is looking really great...like the paint colors. The girls want to move into the attic. Jot down shopping and to-do lists, OK? Update: We should be ok with Milk and Rice Cereal. OJ, eggs and yogurt would be awesome. I don't suppose any one can find some pho.

New Friends
Hi Joe and Cathy, My name is Michele...you don't know me, but we've been home one month with our daughter, Mia from Vietnam. She's 2 yrs old and from Tam Binh #2. We also stayed at the Rex and are with CHI. I've been following your journey and am so happy to hear everything is going wonderfully...Nicholas is just adorable!!!!! Just wanted to wish you the best and say hello...Take care, Michele in AZ mehs613@yahoo.com Cool! We are almost back. Cathy will email when we get home!

Miaclay: Only a few more days! Can't wait to see you guys. And I am definitely planning a trip to Viet Nam, probably not for a baby though. LOL Maria

WHAT EVERY BABY KNOWS: Sounds like you hit on the answer by letting Nicholas tell you when he is tired and when he should go to bed. Sounds like 7 might be too early, at least on some nights. I wouldn't be surprised if Nicholas has a genuinely big appetite. He is an active kid. When I think of 1 year olds in the US, they are generally on table foods of many sorts and will eat quite a bit. He may very well be outgrowing his previous diet especially wit his new adventures burning up lots of calories. It will be a relieve when you are in Oak Park and you have access to more foods and a daily routine. It will be easier to figure him out, just before his next phase when it all changes that is.

On another note, thanks for the tribute on your other page. I was saw it and am truly honored. My friends liked their little momentos from Vietnam and everyone has checked out the webpage and they are telling me what a honey Nicholas is. Good luck in Hanoi. I wish I were still traveling with you. Kathy
Hey Truly thank you! and can you handle the 16 hour plane ride for us? We luckily hit the Red Carpet Club before his morning B.M. Same diet so far. Cathy fed him some cheese here, as usual, gobbled it down without any reaction.

Fruit of the Day:So,what's the newest fruit of the day? Did you try any Jack fruit? Karen and Jeff Jack Fruit Rocks! We figured out how to peel and eat it. We also had som epure sugar cane about an inch in diameter. Sweet.... Way to sweet.

Sister Talk: Very cute photos. Best way to get Nicholas to sleep ... put him in the crib, turn off all the lights and leave the room. Don't go back in. Don't laugh and say how cute he is. Don't let him see you peeking in on him. Now, getting him to stay in a "big boy" bed a little later on is a whole new game you can ask Kristen about. Hopefully he won't be able to climb out of the crib just yet (Kristen did at 14 months).

Kids are back at school and Greg back at work. Nice and quiet. Can't wait for my trip in September to see you all.

Beers:Perhaps I missed your posts on this subject - you aren't going without beer for this entire trip, are you? The photo of you guys in front of the giant stein seems so promising. What is the beer like in Vietnam? -Chris in the OP (by the way, our taxes have gone up about 6 times since you left - we now have special taxes for squirrel tagging, wetnaps at all public transit stops, and a town-wide PA system that pipes in classical music 24-7. What a village!) Tiger, Larue, 333, Hanoi: Just a few beers. Though I missed the Bia Hoi the fresh beer at 2000 Dong per pint. Roughly 12.5 cents. Next trip I am al over that!

Mom Here Again I'm keeping up with you every day on this site. I can't wait to get that cute little bundle of love in my arms! Any luck running down the lost camera? Could you post your flight number for the flight from China to US? I assume you'll be landing at the international terminal and we'd like to keep track of the flight so we know when to arrive at O'Hare. It's been cloudy here, but little or no rain since last Thursday...and it isn't too hot. This week should be good weather for your return. Contact Cindy for best way to get Nicholas to go to sleep at night. She's an expert. Chris could also provide some experience with that!

WOW! from marquita:

wow, yes, wow!! you truly are the happy family now! all the pic's are a joy to behold. can't wait to see y'all back home. and your house really is still standing. you have plenty of friends looking out for you.

peace, --marquita

Sister Talk: Still need to scroll down to save the comments I found out. Talked to Kathy with a "K" yesterday and she told me all about Vietnam and Nicholas. She was still pretty excited. Less than a week and you will be back home. Good thing most rennovations are completed. From the looks of it, I'd say Nicholas has you both pegged already.

FROM WISCONSIN:
I have a diagnosis for Erin re Selah's rash: Scabies. This comes from one of my adopting parent experts. She says treatment is a certain lotion. How is Nicholas doing? Hope all is well. I am experiencing culture shock as I try to re-emerge in the world of work and homelife feeling very distracted by where I've been. Friends and co-workers are asking for pictures. I should have brought my camera but since I didn't, do you think you could make me a CD when you get back from your camera. Enjoy and Love, Kathy
We miss you too! We met up with the 5 other families this AM; they are all anxious, and ready to go.

It was great "chatting" this morning. I wonder if you can get Dragon fruit around Argyle Street. Thinking of you guys. Maria
reply there or maybe China town? Maybe it does not travel well. It seems in the last few yeas more varieties of bananas have been available.

Cheers!! A big stein of beer has got to help you handle the heat and humidity. Was it a hotdog or an authentic bratwurst? The most important question: Did Nicholas like the hotdog? Karen and Jeff
We'll see, we are actually going to eat there for lunch today. Lunch was good! But it ain't a Chicago Dog.

Devin's reply: Hi there. My last posting somehow didn't make it? I replied that the cousins all have something in common (especially Fiona!). Wish I could see you all. I miss you!

From the Zorns to the Raschkes -- extreme congratulations. Exciting as that all was, I assure you, the excitement and adventure have just begun. Can't wait to see him in person.

---

Congratulations on such a beautiful boy.

Older Coments From the Journey

Kensie Rocks: OK - so I don't know if I should add to the TOP or the bottom when I Edit.....anyway - so so so wonderful to hear about how things are going and to see the amazing pictures of all of you. My biggest question is whether Nicholas is partial to zinfandel or pinot noir? :-) Have a great trip home - can't wait to see the family! kenzie
Clearly: A rice soup kinda guy! And a ton of Dragon Fruit.

Meiers We have never had Dragon Fruit....Joe this will be a good project for you when you get home.....The best place to get fresh Dragon Fruit!! Your pictures are awesome. Keep them coming!
Karen and Jeff
Fruit Finds Yes, I'll have to see if anyone imports it. The next fruit of the day is Jack Fruit.
Found Hotdog's

For Devin: Nicholas has mus__y Poo__s. You fill in the blanks.

Bankes' Questions: Is he everything you imagined he'd be like? (Julia)
Yes, he is narly awesome!
He suprises us each day with all the things he can do!
What he like to eat? Cheerios? (Will) Hopefully. We have him on little cheerio like things that he knows how to feed himself!
Did he bite you yet? I' ve gotta loose one! (Abby) Of course! 2 big upper teeth and 2 lower chompers!
When can I start being a mother's helper? (Julia) Yes, you can, see Rock, Paper, Scissors below.
Do you do rock/paper/scissors for diaper changes? (Carrie) I like to arm wrestle Cathy, she wants to have a spelling contest.
Did anyone actually eat the dragon fruit? It is great, yes, he eats a ton of it.
Can I use your smoker? (Steve) Yes, extra charcoal in the smoker helper.
The house is fine! Jeannie is doing lots of stuff in your yard. Cool, tell her thank you.
Thanks for sharing your journey. Can't wait to see you ALL. awwww see you soon.

Hi from Chicago -- We look forward to checking the current events page every day to hear how you are doing, and Isabella is always asking to see more pictures of Nicholas ... apparently she is bragging about her new cousin on the playground. We can't wait to meet Nicholas soon and our thoughts are with you -- The Nelsons

We miss Isabella! And Nicholas will have a great time meeting his cousin next week! Isabella will make him smile and laugh.

Mom Checking In Hi! I check your web site at least a couple times a day and LOVE IT when you add new pictures. The ones you put up today are winners! Do you have all the pictures in higher resolution that you can give or send us when you get home? I'm making a slide show and the ones I take off your web site are a bit small for that. It looks like he smiles more with each day. How did he like the pool? His universe is certainly widening in a hurry!

Answers: Yes, al lthe pictures are reduced so it is easy for us to post and display them. I can't get the mediawiki software to re-size on the fly. I ran out of time to do the upgrade to version 1.7 from 1.5. So we edit and resize them.
He liked teh pool amd splashing. We'll do it again in Hanoi. No smiles there, just spashing, we'll take it slow.
He is very comfortable in our room and with us. He still is a bit leary of the Box AKA tib AKA crib.
He is also getting much more verbal.
If I can find a way to ftp all the photos to a directory I will later today.

JoRene: I found a way to SCP the files to http://sparky.album.com/Nicholas ; The large scale pictures are all going to be out there. It might take an hour or so for all of them to be copied. I had to replug in a number of their accesspoint to re-enable wireless access to our room. Cathy says we know too much.
JoRene- I don't think we got them all copied up. But it is a start. I don't want to suck up all of their bandwidth. They don't have this wireless network tuned very well.

For Nicholas: I can tell we're all cousins! Can't wait to see you, Nicholas. Love, Devin

Greetings: just wanted to say hi, i'll be in on the 1st for the weekend and i'm really excited, see you then, Hilary
Thanks: We look forward to seeing you then. All is well.

Question: Has Joe ever changed a diaper? Answer: from Joe: No, Only time I have ever touched one, was to throw it out, and it was in a sealed bag!

Question: Will you get to visit Nicholas' actual orphanage or will you only travel to the provincial capital of Vinh Long? Answer: from Joe: Yes, we will be able to be at the orphanage on Tuesday afternoon, We might be able to take NDR to the hotel with us. I'll post more when we actually get there.

Question: Has Joe ever babysat without Cathy being there holding his hand? Answer: Of course, she has been around the corner fetching things for me!

Shout Out:Cathy - guess what! The rest of the Vinh Long group could be right behind you guys! All 5 of us are waiting for final travel approval and our G&R date right now. We've been told to apply for VISAs. Hope everything is wonderful for your family! Mindee M
Update: Your kids are great, alert and active. We'll post some more photos, but our photographer had some issues. The caregivers are great and love the children. The video will be great, we are going to watch it now. I was able to watch your kids for an hour! The care they get is what you wanted them to have. (Bet you're jealous -- I know the feeling) -- Joe 8/18/06

Statement:Not a question, but a statement: YEA! You guys look great as a family of three! We are so excited for you! -- Cynthia, Rich and Eleanor Retort: Thanks, you guys ain't to shabby yourselves!

Congrats:We are so happy for all three of you! Can't wait to see Nicholas in person! Sue and family. Humbly: Thanks! time for bed, he'll be up at 6AM!

Congrats:Hey Guys - it looks like you are having a ball - hopefully as Nicholas grows up his hairline will look less and less like his father's! Seriously, you make a great family! We are very excited for you and can't wait to see you back in the OP. - The Paynes Humbly: What's wrong with the hairline? Nicholas is doing great, laughing, crying, crawling, standing, pissing into the wind. Gotta remember to have a towel handy.

Sisterly Advise:Tsk, tsk, tsk...already spoiling him by not having him go to sleep in the box. What did you say about my kids? Sue Baby Brother Responce: We move him to the box each night and pull him before he is totally awake. This approach wil not work in OP.

Congrats:The pictures are awesome! Congratulations. Can't wait to see you all in Sept. Maria and Patrick Thanks: Yes, it will be fun once he can travel to meet people. He loves the stroler so far.

Congrats:The adoption is final...YEAH!!!! Congratulations, that is a great family photo. We can't wait to meet Nicholas! Karen,Jeff Lauren and Jessica Thanks: NBBow we can't wait to travel home. It is great here, and the people have been very nice. Amazing nice to us.

Cryin' in Colorado:This is Kristi just letting you know that I am sitting at my desk crying like a baby while I look at your first family photo! Have a great rest of your trip! Good Mornin' Vietnam: Thaks Kristi, we'll see you over labor day. You'll be able to pinch the chunky-monkeys cheeks! Now I am teary-eyed.

Sleeper:Greg wants to know if Nicholas sleeps through the night...no sympathy from him if he wakes up at 6 am.Like a Baby: 7-8PM till 6:00AM, lights out. We know it won't alwayts be this easy.

Web page Updates:Hope Joe and Cathy are checking the "discussion" on all the pages, 'cause I never know where to write! I put a message on the Main Page discussion! Was that a mistake? How does Nicholas sleep at night? All night? Up at dawn? Stay healthy and let us know when you travel to Hanoi. Love, Mom
Update: Thanks, I look there too. Both Cathy and Nicholas are napping now, so I have time, with my spot of Chinese Tea. He has slept all night, one night he woke up and we gave hima small bottle and he was out. Basically he sleeps soundly from 7-8pm till 6AM. We are able to get up somehow at 6am, no easy trick for Cathy. Must be her motherly insticts. The food is great and Kathy makes us stay cautious. And a little chewable peptobismol hasn't hurt.

Parent's Q It was great talking to you...and the pictures of Cathy, Joe and Nicholas are wonderful. You all look so happy and he is ADORABLE! Hopefully he won't be completely spoiled by time he gets home, because I want to have a chance to add to that spoiling. Keep in touch and know we are thinking about you! Love, Mom

Thanks! We have skype - cathy585 so we can call and talk when we have time. Joe

Sister talk: Keep up the photos - they are great. How about a photo of Kathy and Nicholas? What's the shopping like?

Hi there. Your family photos are making me cry, too. I'm so glad things are going smoothly for you. Wish my kids would sleep as well as yours! Although Nicholas's cousin Fiona can't quite understand why he wouldn't want "THE TIB"! I wish I could see you before Christmas. Any chance of a rerouting through Belgium? Or Schippol in Amsterdam????

Awww: He just doesn't get Tib yet. I think he has had a ton of tib-time.
Here is a morning photo with Mah-Mah in bed with the bottle. AKA Food is Love.

Question: So what is your return flight info? Maria
Answer: Stil scheduled for September 1. So we could be here at the Rex Hotel for a while. We'll see if the paperwork goes faster. We still need to get the big physical here in HCMC, some passport photos (10 minutes) and then fly up to Hanoi fo rthe Visa interview and travel permits.
Maria - you'd love it here if you have not already been here. There is so much to do and everything is facsinating!

Congratulations, Raschkes! We are so happy that all is going well!
Wish our kids slept as well as yours. Teething is such fun... Looking forward to seeing you all!- Witchgers
Thanks You guy are truly great friends! Teething, smeething, thursh medicine with 4 sharp teeth!

Comment: Good to see a photo of my other sister-in-law. She looks like she is getting a full nights sleep. Keep posting those cute photos of Nicholas.

Congratulations! What a great looking family! Joe and Cathy, you are naturals. Happy to hear everything is going so well. Can't wait to meet NDR. Safe travels. Jeanne, Neil and Ben
Thanks. Luckily we are still gettin ga good nights sleep each night!

Typos... Hey, you guys seem pretty rushed when you type. Do you want me to edit the typos? (English teacher coming out here!) Mom
Yes Correct the typo's and the spelling mistakes. I am very bad at editing and Cathy's keyboard is sticky at times. -- Joe

Meier's Questions
Here are our questions:
Will Nicholas be available to teach Jessica how to sleep through the night? Answer Yes if he continues like this back in Chicago.
How many teeth does he have?
4 sharp teeth, 2 upper and 2 lower. We can not get a good picture becasue when he sees the camera he gets interested in it and stops laughing and doing the full "Cathy Anderson Smile".
Joe, did you bring the backpack or jogging stroller? Answer: Hip Hammock, but have not used since it is we got here since it is so humid. The "Chunky Monkey" becomes sweaty monkey quickly next to Dad.

Joe, have you researched where you can buy the best hotdogs?
Nope, My sister in law is here and prevents me from wandering much. Actually have eaten better here, no junk food, just fresh food, Pho Bo soup for breakfast each day.

Have you started your exercises yet? Yes, I do 20 bicep lifts a day 2 times, that gets 40 big laughs. Then I get 10 airpalne spins clockwise and counter clockwise each afternoon. The beer bellie is now the parental shelf.
Karen and Jeff

Sister Talk: The photos are great. The "crashed" photo looks alot like Joe when he was little ... maybe even now. He is laughing alot too. Kathy looks simply delighted - maybe because she knows she doesn't fly back on the same flight with you! You all look great. Can't wait for you to get back home.

Sister ramblings... Bet you didn't know that "I'm too sexy for my shirt" guy (Right Said Fred) is a Belgian! Love the picture. Fiona can also posture a similar wizened questioning look - we should get them together for a photo shoot. Nicholas looks like such a happy kid! Wish I could be there to peek-a-boo with him - Christine

Neighbor Talk Wow. Fantastic pictures. Can't wait to meet our new neighbor. We will need to change the name of "Steve & Joe (and Sons!) Festival of Meat" at our next block party. By the way, your house is still standing.

Sister Talk: Emma and Kristen say to try goggles on Nicholas - that't how they did it and they made it to the swim team. Photos are fab.
Can we start with getting his hed wet?
'Sister Talk: Why couldn't his head get wet? Just splash a little water on him and make a game of it.
We DID do that. And we have squirty water totys for the bath as well. ALl is well in Saigon this Sunday Morning.