Picture in the Old Quarter

This is a pretty common sight for me. Lee wants Trip to hold him most of the time when we are out in public. This was taken yesterday while shopping in the Old Quarter of Hanoi. It is a gorgeous area of thousands of markets. They sell almost anything you can imagine. They have one whole street dedicated to only selling fireworks and Tet decorations. This is the year of the pig so they have pictures of pigs everywhere.

Lee did much better in public yesterday and didn't seem as overwhelmed. He loved the toy markets. We will probably walk around some more today, there is so much to see. Life can get pretty boring in a hotel room. Lee prefers to be doing something! I promise I will try to force Trip to take a picture of me with Lee, so far I only have two!

Our paper work this morning

We met downstairs with Thuy this morning to complete our visa request paper work. The other couple we are traveling with were there too. We have enjoyed their company, it's nice to have another couple going through this process at the same time, we can relate to each other. They have adopted a son also, but he is 4 1/2 months old.
Our paperwork seemed like some kind of test. I felt like I kept asking Thuy for help. They asked so many questions I wasn't sure who they were asking, me, Trip, Lee? They asked for profession and I wrote Homemaker and Thuy laughed and said "No, they mean Lee!"
Once all of that was done we laughed about needing stunt doubles for things like that.
During the process one of the questions was what would his American name be? We knew his first name would be Lee (and have found out that that name has significance for him) and Trip offered that he wanted his middle name to be Peddy. I am happy with Trip's choice, he said it only feels natural to give him his name. So his name will be Lee Peddy Parker.
We went to a wonderful market section of town today. It's a sight worth seeing, the prices are very low compared to US dollars. I bought a very large Pashmina/Silk scarf for $3.00.
We bought Lee some "Chi Nung" dolls. They have kept him busy all afternoon, now he is napping.
He really seems to like pillows and our very soft blankets. I saw what he was sleeping on in the orphanage. It was a bed low to the ground about the size of a full bed and it had no mattress but only wood slats to lay on. The ladies rolled out a thin beach type mat that looks like it's made out of some kind of straw and put that on top of the slats and that's where they sleep. Five boys to a bed, no pillows. They said he always woke up at 5:30am while he was there, but so far with us he's been waking up around 7:00...must be the bed.
We are not totally satisfied with the date we have been given for our first interview, I have an email in to our agent to see if something can be done, but I am not hopeful. I will give more info in my next post.
I have a new nephew who was born yesterday I hear! His name is Owen, he is the son of John and Rachelle. I'm assuming all as well, I'm sure I will hear something more soon!
Lee is awake and Trip is back from his walk, so I will post again later,
Rhissa