Funny story:
In my defense, it was 70 degrees and the girls will be moving to a place that is frequently below zero and has ice storms!!!!!! Initially the day started out well, we had a wonderful breakfast . However, at breakfast our wait person told us that we should put lite coats on the girls because it was so cool. Well after a nice buffet style meal, and going back to the room and packing for the day, we forgot. Plus, it’s 70’s out. We had skorts, sandals and little swing shirts on them. When we arrived at the doctors office, I thought the receptionist was asking if one of them had a cold, and I said, “Yes, Isabelle”. She looked at Gabrielle’s outfit and said, “Need jacket, they will get a cold dressed like this”. It may have been a blessing I had to go back to the hotel for the passports so I could grab their little Columbia coats – thanks to their Aunt Kafi (Master Target and Max for the Minimum ShopperJ). Wouldn’t you know, after the post lunch time nap, we go out to Hanoi’s largest market (looking for nothing in particular, but more just to get the girls – and us – out of the hotel room). It’s packed with ‘vendors’ selling clothes in one section, knock-off bags in another, leather goods in another – and on and on, for 3 stories. This market is not very conducive to the child-carrying backpacks because it’s so crowded that we barely fit in between the isles. Usually we hear, “Madam, madam, please come take a look at my shop”. . . “Madam, need a handbag”. . . and similar pleas for business - on this trip it was a little different. People would smile and ooo and awe at the girls – like in other places, but then there was a flock of women pointing at their legs – “Too cold, need pants. They will get sick”. Their concern was mounting, and some where even following pointing to other women who would see their bare legs and (we did remember their coats this time), confirm, “Too cold!” Suzanne finally said, (after many women gave here the most disgusted looks imaginable- especially, the little elderly grandmas,) “Adam, we have to buy a pair of pants before they become hostile. So, needless to say, we found the nearest shop with pants – nice sweatpants that you’d see from the 70’s. Solid gray sweats with a strip of bright yellow, fire-engine red, deep blue, or forest green running down the side. PERFECT. The people we were buying didn’t know what to do (usually their customers were locals – so they were trying to calculate how much more they could charge these English-speaking people). 100,000 VND, was their first offer. About 6 dollars for these two 70’s looking sweats that might not ever see the light of day – when I know the locals would get it for more like 32,000 VND and probably even less (2 dollars). On principle (and being the cheap person I am) I had to say “No, too much” – and I don’t like to barter, so we were going to just move on. But after 3 more counter offers and Suzanne saying, for goodness sake, we just need to get something on them so we don’t get mobbed,” we bought them for 75,000 VND (about $4.70). They looked – well they looked like two babies whose parents couldn’t decide what to dress them in. Pink coats with gray sweats with yellow stripes – and then we found some nice multi-colored knit “pimp” hats with rhinestones embedded in them- babies were look’n precious! At least we weren’t mobbed. The ironic thing was that they kept reprimanding us and informing us about how cold it is in Vietnam! Ummmmm, I don’t think so. They need to visit the frozen Tundra once or twice. If only they knew that we would be bringing the girls back to where it’s really cold!
We have struggled with their clothes overall. . . as many of you know, we bought a lot of 12-18 month clothes not knowing what size they would really be (since their 13 months). Well, according to the SOS doctor, they use an international scale – as not to use a bias US or Vietnamese scale – to measure the percentile of weight and height. . . If I have the numbers right from Suzanne, they are 72 cm tall for each and 16 and 17 lbs (Isabelle and Gabrielle respectfully). That put them in the 15 th percentile for height/weight on the international scale. Tiny little 13 month olds, even the few 9 month outfits we brought (Suzanne had returned most of the ones we previously bought) are so big they barely stay on them. Essentially, they need size 6 month clothes, everything else falls off of them. It’s funny to me, not as funny to mama. We see a lot of diaper butt throughout the day if they’re wearing anything other than an onsie or bubble dresses (our favorites). Pants, skorts, and dresses – they all fall off at some point. On a bright note for those who love to shop (i.e. Suzanne), she’ll be able to go to Target and her favorite outlets to dress the babies, Again!
The forecast says it’s suppose to be in the 80’s for the majority of our stay – so hopefully we won’t be scorned by not dressing them warm enough (their sweats are in their backpacks permanently), or having to where the stuff that won’t even stay on them.
Live’n Juicy,
Pa and Ma’GI
In my defense, it was 70 degrees and the girls will be moving to a place that is frequently below zero and has ice storms!!!!!! Initially the day started out well, we had a wonderful breakfast . However, at breakfast our wait person told us that we should put lite coats on the girls because it was so cool. Well after a nice buffet style meal, and going back to the room and packing for the day, we forgot. Plus, it’s 70’s out. We had skorts, sandals and little swing shirts on them. When we arrived at the doctors office, I thought the receptionist was asking if one of them had a cold, and I said, “Yes, Isabelle”. She looked at Gabrielle’s outfit and said, “Need jacket, they will get a cold dressed like this”. It may have been a blessing I had to go back to the hotel for the passports so I could grab their little Columbia coats – thanks to their Aunt Kafi (Master Target and Max for the Minimum ShopperJ). Wouldn’t you know, after the post lunch time nap, we go out to Hanoi’s largest market (looking for nothing in particular, but more just to get the girls – and us – out of the hotel room). It’s packed with ‘vendors’ selling clothes in one section, knock-off bags in another, leather goods in another – and on and on, for 3 stories. This market is not very conducive to the child-carrying backpacks because it’s so crowded that we barely fit in between the isles. Usually we hear, “Madam, madam, please come take a look at my shop”. . . “Madam, need a handbag”. . . and similar pleas for business - on this trip it was a little different. People would smile and ooo and awe at the girls – like in other places, but then there was a flock of women pointing at their legs – “Too cold, need pants. They will get sick”. Their concern was mounting, and some where even following pointing to other women who would see their bare legs and (we did remember their coats this time), confirm, “Too cold!” Suzanne finally said, (after many women gave here the most disgusted looks imaginable- especially, the little elderly grandmas,) “Adam, we have to buy a pair of pants before they become hostile. So, needless to say, we found the nearest shop with pants – nice sweatpants that you’d see from the 70’s. Solid gray sweats with a strip of bright yellow, fire-engine red, deep blue, or forest green running down the side. PERFECT. The people we were buying didn’t know what to do (usually their customers were locals – so they were trying to calculate how much more they could charge these English-speaking people). 100,000 VND, was their first offer. About 6 dollars for these two 70’s looking sweats that might not ever see the light of day – when I know the locals would get it for more like 32,000 VND and probably even less (2 dollars). On principle (and being the cheap person I am) I had to say “No, too much” – and I don’t like to barter, so we were going to just move on. But after 3 more counter offers and Suzanne saying, for goodness sake, we just need to get something on them so we don’t get mobbed,” we bought them for 75,000 VND (about $4.70). They looked – well they looked like two babies whose parents couldn’t decide what to dress them in. Pink coats with gray sweats with yellow stripes – and then we found some nice multi-colored knit “pimp” hats with rhinestones embedded in them- babies were look’n precious! At least we weren’t mobbed. The ironic thing was that they kept reprimanding us and informing us about how cold it is in Vietnam! Ummmmm, I don’t think so. They need to visit the frozen Tundra once or twice. If only they knew that we would be bringing the girls back to where it’s really cold!
We have struggled with their clothes overall. . . as many of you know, we bought a lot of 12-18 month clothes not knowing what size they would really be (since their 13 months). Well, according to the SOS doctor, they use an international scale – as not to use a bias US or Vietnamese scale – to measure the percentile of weight and height. . . If I have the numbers right from Suzanne, they are 72 cm tall for each and 16 and 17 lbs (Isabelle and Gabrielle respectfully). That put them in the 15 th percentile for height/weight on the international scale. Tiny little 13 month olds, even the few 9 month outfits we brought (Suzanne had returned most of the ones we previously bought) are so big they barely stay on them. Essentially, they need size 6 month clothes, everything else falls off of them. It’s funny to me, not as funny to mama. We see a lot of diaper butt throughout the day if they’re wearing anything other than an onsie or bubble dresses (our favorites). Pants, skorts, and dresses – they all fall off at some point. On a bright note for those who love to shop (i.e. Suzanne), she’ll be able to go to Target and her favorite outlets to dress the babies, Again!
The forecast says it’s suppose to be in the 80’s for the majority of our stay – so hopefully we won’t be scorned by not dressing them warm enough (their sweats are in their backpacks permanently), or having to where the stuff that won’t even stay on them.
Live’n Juicy,
Pa and Ma’GI
