A Little Late Night Perspective

Okay, I've done it again..... after meeting Miles yesterday we came back to the hotel and while Dustin uploaded all of the pictures and videos, I fell asleep with all of my clothes on - around 6:30 p.m. I guess yesterday just wiped me out. It is almost midnight here now and I decided to get up for a bit in hopes of sleeping in. This was also the first chance I got to see the video of Miles since I was out like a light by the time he finished them.

Yesterday morning we got up and had an amazing breakfast at our hotel restaurant. After that we headed to Seoul Tower in Namsam park. I knew that the trek was uphill, but I didn't realize that it was REALLY uphill. I've never climbed so many stairs in my entire life. This is me when I felt like I couldn't go anymore - only to find out later that we were about 1/20 of the way up the entirety of the stairs! However, getting to the top was well worth it. Once there we saw the wall of love notes that I've read about. People lock their love notes to each up there, all along the wall. I surprised Dustin with our own little threesome of locks that had our names on them. Maybe some day when we come back, we'll be able to find them again.
Once at Seoul Tower we also went up to the observation deck and had a snack at their cafe, which was also fun and really interesting.
After that we walked around the city a bit until utter exhaustion set in. We then headed back to the hotel as we waited for a very important meeting. Dustin was so nervous - does anyone remember our wedding day?? - a very close comparison for nervousness coming from Dustin, except I don't think he actually threw up this time.
I wish I could write in this blog how meaningful and important and beautiful that one hour of my life was, but I would never do it justice. There is no way to describe meeting a person you have loved for so long for the the first time. If it is any indication how overcome we were, we really only took the photographs that you see below. You would think that we would have been shooting constantly, but I think that we were both so taken by the moment that the camera just got in our way. In fact, you'll notice that the only picture I took of Dustin and Miles is completely blurry....(I thought you'd like that Mark), so even my instincts were out of whack. What surprised me the most was that he was FAST and EVERYWHERE! At one point he was wrestling a stuffed Pooh that was bigger than him. His uncle Colling would have been so proud. :)
Afterwards we went to a street vendor for a little snack since we could finally think straight and realized we were famished. Our plans were to go back to the hotel, post pictures, and then go out to eat at this great restaurant we've heard about.....that was until I completely sabotaged our plans with my messed up sleep schedule.
Tomorrow (Wednesday) we are going to go shopping like crazy. I already told Dustin to wear his most comfortable tennis shoes because the plan is to hit up some of the local markets.
On Thursday we have a luncheon where they honor the families and then afterwards we get to see Miles again - and then take him back to the hotel from there. We are very excited and nervous all at the same time. Our first night together.......wow.

Meeting Miles!

What a great afternoon!

We had a great time meeting Miles. We hung out for about an hour or so, and he never stopped moving the entire time. Now I have two justified reasons for canceling our gym membership: 1) Miles is a very big boy and 2) Miles does not sit still and is very fast. He was in very good spirits smiled and laughed quite a bit (although mostly at the stuffed Pooh and not so much at us). As you can see, he did sit in our laps for a while, but it is obvious that he is attached to both hist foster mother and father (that won't be easy for us to take him!). He loves to eat – maybe we can use that as a bribe technique? I can't say enough about how exciting this meeting was and how he is such a curious, perfect, and healthy baby! Is our house ready? Are the pets ready? Are WE ready? Not sure, really not sure, and we're as ready as we can be...we're in charge starting Thursday afternoon!

Warning: little boys in these images are actually bigger than they appear. Please view at your own risk.

Dustin

Can't Sleep Can't Sleep Can't Sleep Can't Sleep Can't Sleep

So....I committed the cardinal sin of jet-lag travel by crashing on my bed as soon as we walked into the hotel, with all of my clothes on at 6:30 pm.  Now I've been up since 3:00 am Korean time...........Today we meet Miles at 3:00 pm and need to find some way to occupy ourselves in the meantime.  We'll keep you posted!

Tiff :)

Early morning video production

The designer in me really wants to do a better job of piecing together and editing this video (and let's face it, holding the camera steady, too). I'm not a fan of the new version of iMovie, as it's quite a bit different than the older versions where everything made sense. I have more exciting and important things to worry about today. Anywho, here's the latest from when we left to when we got into the hotel. Enjoy. 

Dustin

We've arrived!

According to the clock on my computer, it's after 4:30 at home. Here on the other side of the world, we just survived rush hour in Seoul – between the crazy traffic, up down and around all of the buildings and the driver's inconsistent foot on the pedal, we are glad to be stationary for a while. 

The plane trip was fairly uneventful. Between the two of us, we had an entire row of four seats – it was nice to be able to stretch out. When you have 12 hours to kill and are stuck on a plane, there's not much you can do, but luckily they had a great selection of movies. I watched quite a few, but of course Tiff's watching of Twilight (again) is really the only item of true interest. Neither of us slept a whole lot during the flight, and I know I should try and sleep now, but I'm not sure how successful it will be. It's also kind of a sensory overload here, what with all of the flashing signs and all. I wish I could understand at least a little of the written language – it's so different. Imagine how Miles will feel! We're not sure if we will be able to stay with us in the hotel the night before we leave...we'll have to be sure and request that in a few hours when we meet him! 

I do have some pretty sweet video footage to post, but I can't find the outlet converter, and Tiff is sleeping (riding in the back of the van from the airport made her a little carsick). So for now, I'm checking email and watching Korean baseball (I think our high school team was better than the one I'm watching).

Dustin

Is it nerves??

These last few days have been filled with constant stomach aches and absolutely no sleep. I'm not sure if it is excitement or nerves because my life is about to change dramatically. It's crazy how you wait and wait and wait until you think you can't wait anymore, and then all of the sudden you feel like it is sprung on you.....not the doubts about getting a baby....I will NEVER doubt that Miles is supposed to be ours and the fact that I have loved him for months without ever meeting him, but I'm suddenly anxious about parenting. Until now I've lived my life for me... doing all of the the selfish things that I COULD do because I didn't have kids. Nothing has ever held me back from doing exactly what I want and when I want to do it. It is not that I will miss those things....it is that I am afraid I won't know how to give them up. People say it just comes naturally, and I would assume that it would come ultra naturally to me since I have wanted to be a parent for so long, but it is still so weird to consider.
Today we are checking out some local daycares for this fall (Septemberish) since I've decided that I am definitely going back to work then. It is weird to check them out before we even have a baby, but at the same time it is so excited to plan for Miles. :)