The American Tourists in Seoul

We have 3 full days to explore the sight, tastes, and sounds of Seoul. I'm grateful for this time. I'm trying to build all these memories so I can share stories with Nash of his beautiful birth country. I'm taking an obscene amount of photos but wanted to share some of my favorites. So far we have, toured the Demilitarized zone between North and South Korea, toured the National Folk museum, hit the Insa-dong markets for some shopping, Changdeokgung palace, and took a walking food tour with O'ngo Foods. The people here are beautiful and ridiculously fashionable! I'll do my best to dress Nash in accordance with the unwritten Korean dress code! After a few mishaps the subway subway figured it out and you can get to anywhere in the city. The city is very clean! This might be my last post until we arrive home. Thanks to all of you for your well wishes and thoughts. I'm tearing up just thinking about all the emotions over this past week. Our journey is just beginning but I could not imagine how it could have started out any better or different. The city of Seoul and the people will always be close to our hearts. We are so blessed.

 

 

Look! You can see North Korea in the background!

 

Insa-dong Market

Food tour with Daniel and O'ngo Foods! It was amazing. Here we are having traditional Korean BBQ. At some back ally local spot we would have never found on our own.

 

I can't remember the name of this braised chicken dish but it was delish and spicy!

I could have this everyday! Korean berry drink. It was located on the menu under "healthy". I went with it, who cares about the scoop of ice cream.

Yep. Drank it all and did not share.

More pics of first meeting

I just had to dedicate more than one blog entry to our first meeting!!! Here are some additional photos. I'm so grateful that Grandma Sandy was with because she spent the hour capturing all the memories.

I used these finger puppets to try to break the ice. This was about 2 minutes into the meeting. If Nash could talk he would say " mom, these are lame". He quickly didn't think the we're fun and moved onto a bigger toy.

Did I mention he was obsessed with this car? Mom- can you run out to toys r us and get one?????

Photos! First meeting

 

 

 

First meeting on Good Friday

Today has been a busy day! Before our meeting with Nash we got the chance to have lunch with the President of our Korean adoption agency, Dr. Jin Sook Kim. We meet other families who are here to bring home their children. After lunch we finally got the chance to meet Nash and his foster mom. I was so nervous and already feeling emotional. When we walked in the room it felt like a dream. I started to cry which started the chain, foster mom also shed some tears. But quickly got it together because I only knew we had an hour and I didn't want to alarm Nash. There was our little guy, in the flesh! Even more adorable in person! We spent the next hour playing with him and following him as he moved from toy to toy. Boy, he.is.busy!!! He loved the toy car and the slide. We managed to get some giggles, waves and a bow (which was the most adorable thing). The hour went by WAY too fast and soon enough it was time to leave. I got the chance to hold him on the way out and steal some kisses. Tuesday will be the day we get him. We will have another play session then a prayer ceremony and off we will go to start our life as a family of 3! So we will see the sights of Seoul for the next 3 days!!!

Don't kill me but I'm having issues figuring out how to post pictures!!!! Argh!!!! Check back later.

We Arrived! First meeting with Nash on Friday!

We made it! All three of us (Bret's mom Sandy is with us too). The flight was long but Korean Air was amazing. The customer service top-notch. Bret and I were joking that we felt we were transported back to the Pan Am days. All the flight attendants were adorable with their matching outfits and hair. Tomorrow, we get to meet Nash and his foster mom. I'm so deliriously tired so I'm hoping we all can get a good nights rest. I hope to get some nice photo ops of the first meeting so check back.

TRAVEL CALL!!!!!!!

This a.m., we got THE CALL!  Tomorrow, we will leave for Seoul!  Sandy, Bret's mom is coming with on this amazing adventure!  Please check back because I'll update as we can!!!  OMG, so crazy!

Ready For the Call!

Getting ready for the final call! We are all done shopping for gifts for foster family and our Korean social worker. My favorite was this tree necklace for foster mom. I meant it to symbolize how ones family tree can grow. I decided to start a private blog for her and her family. My heart weighs heavy when I think of her and how her new life will start without Nash.

EP Approval! One step left......

Today we got the amazing call that Nash's emigration permissions have been issued!  I was told to expect to travel in 2-4 weeks.  I'm hoping it's closer to two but really its hard to guess right now.  So, next steps? Really there is just ONE STEP LEFT.  We will receive the final call, the call I've been dreaming about since the first time I saw our baby's face.  The TRAVEL CALL!  We don't make any of our arrangements until after we get this call but once we get the word....we will most likely be a plane 48 hours later.  Crazy huh?  Stay tuned!  It's really happening, the end is in sight.  I can hold on....deep breathe.