Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Monday, May 9, 2011
1st Birthday!!!
Today is Griffin’s first birthday, and despite being sleep deprived we had a wonderful day. I feel so blessed to be able to celebrate Griffin’s first birthday with him. There were times I didn’t think he would be home in time. But he’s here and we definitely celebrated!
We didn’t have a great night last night so little man wasn’t his usual, happy self this morning. I knew I had to let him sleep today. So I did. And he did. Poor guy took a five hour nap. I know I’ll probably regret it tonight at 3 am, but I just couldn’t wake him on his birthday. Actually, I did have to wake him up but it was after he had slept 5 hours and I was starting to miss him.
When he woke up we all got ready and ran to the grocery store. We decided last minute to cook some steaks and mashed potatoes. So we grabbed everything we needed at the store, including cupcakes and heading home. Blake grilled, I cooked, and we all ate. It was delish. Griffin was starting to melt time and was falling asleep at the table so we decided it was time for his cupcake. We lit the candle and sang happy birthday as Griffin tried to grab the flame. Such a boy!
And then the fun began! That boy loved him some chocolate cupcake. He was so tired he whined through most of it but never stopped eating. It was hysterical!
We got him cleaned up and went outside to play for a while. I wasn’t quite ready for him to go to bed. It was still a little early. So we had some fun playing in the grass and taking some pictures. He started letting us know it was time for bed but I had one more thing I wanted to do. He had to try on his hanbok! He didn’t like it. Or maybe it was just the exhaustion. Either way, it made for some cute photos. Enjoy!
Griffin, we love you so much and are beyond happy to finally have you home. You fit right in with us and are such a sweet joy in our lives. Here’s to many more wonderful birthdays! Love you, buddy!
We didn’t have a great night last night so little man wasn’t his usual, happy self this morning. I knew I had to let him sleep today. So I did. And he did. Poor guy took a five hour nap. I know I’ll probably regret it tonight at 3 am, but I just couldn’t wake him on his birthday. Actually, I did have to wake him up but it was after he had slept 5 hours and I was starting to miss him.
When he woke up we all got ready and ran to the grocery store. We decided last minute to cook some steaks and mashed potatoes. So we grabbed everything we needed at the store, including cupcakes and heading home. Blake grilled, I cooked, and we all ate. It was delish. Griffin was starting to melt time and was falling asleep at the table so we decided it was time for his cupcake. We lit the candle and sang happy birthday as Griffin tried to grab the flame. Such a boy!
And then the fun began! That boy loved him some chocolate cupcake. He was so tired he whined through most of it but never stopped eating. It was hysterical!
We got him cleaned up and went outside to play for a while. I wasn’t quite ready for him to go to bed. It was still a little early. So we had some fun playing in the grass and taking some pictures. He started letting us know it was time for bed but I had one more thing I wanted to do. He had to try on his hanbok! He didn’t like it. Or maybe it was just the exhaustion. Either way, it made for some cute photos. Enjoy!
Griffin, we love you so much and are beyond happy to finally have you home. You fit right in with us and are such a sweet joy in our lives. Here’s to many more wonderful birthdays! Love you, buddy!
Korea {Days 3 through 97, it was starting to feel that way}
I have started this post two other times but couldn't finish because I couldn't find the appropriate words to describe the day we got Griffin. Our meeting with Griffin and his foster family was incredible. Better than I ever imagined. Our first surprise was that even though we were early, the foster family beat us there. I expected to be waiting in the meeting room and in would walk my boy but it was the other way around. We walked in and I almost lost it. I know my face contorted in an almost ugly cry but I kept it together. The second (and best) surprise was that Griffin's two foster sisters took off work to be there. I was floored! And so happy that we got to meet them. I could tell they love Griffin so much.
We talked a bit and Griffin was such a little ham the entire time. Laughing and smiling at all of us. He really put on a show. Actually, we've discovered that's just his personality. So sweet and funny. Then we exchanged gifts, and I think they really loved theirs. It didn't feel like enough. Nothing I said or could give them felt like enough. They were so wonderful. And DJ, the social worker! Probably the coolest chick, EVER! I love her! She matched us with Griffin and I believe it's a perfect match.
Griffin got a quick check from the doctor downstairs then it was time to say goodbye to the foster family. Wow. That was definitely one of the most difficult things I've ever done. The foster mother and both sisters were crying and saying goodbye to Griffin. I put him in the carrier and stood to leave and they began sobbing. I know they loved him so much. I asked if I could hug them and then didn't really wait for an answer. I had to put my arms around the three women who had taken care of my boy the first year of his life. And then we walked out the door. My heart hurts just thinking about it.
Griffin didn't cry and then fell asleep in the cab. He slept about an hour and then woke up and cried the rest of the night. He slept through the night and was good the next morning but every night after dinner the grieving would start and he'd cry until bedtime. He was a great sleeper in Seoul. So cuddly and sweet. And wild! He flips and flops and spins in bed all. night. long. I love it though.
The rest of the week is a blur. We met up with new friends at Seoul Tower, shopped, played at the hotel, visited the Korean War Museum with the same new friends, shopped, visited another palace, and shopped again. I'm serious about the shopping. Just ask Blake. He loved it. NOT! But really, I did more shopping than buying. I loved walking the streets of Insadong and wondering in and out of the tiny little shops. Pure bliss.
We left Seoul Friday evening. It was sad. Griffin was losing/is losing so much. A loving foster family, a beautiful city, a magical culture. I felt the loss for him.
Griffin slept 9 of the 12 hours on the flight from Seoul to Chicago. He played and ate the rest of the time. This guy was AWESOME! I was dreading the long day of travel but it was so much better than the travel day to Seoul. He then slept the two hours from Chicago to OKC. He was perfect!
OK!!! Here's what you came for. Lots and lots and lots of pictures. Enjoy!
We talked a bit and Griffin was such a little ham the entire time. Laughing and smiling at all of us. He really put on a show. Actually, we've discovered that's just his personality. So sweet and funny. Then we exchanged gifts, and I think they really loved theirs. It didn't feel like enough. Nothing I said or could give them felt like enough. They were so wonderful. And DJ, the social worker! Probably the coolest chick, EVER! I love her! She matched us with Griffin and I believe it's a perfect match.
Griffin got a quick check from the doctor downstairs then it was time to say goodbye to the foster family. Wow. That was definitely one of the most difficult things I've ever done. The foster mother and both sisters were crying and saying goodbye to Griffin. I put him in the carrier and stood to leave and they began sobbing. I know they loved him so much. I asked if I could hug them and then didn't really wait for an answer. I had to put my arms around the three women who had taken care of my boy the first year of his life. And then we walked out the door. My heart hurts just thinking about it.
Griffin didn't cry and then fell asleep in the cab. He slept about an hour and then woke up and cried the rest of the night. He slept through the night and was good the next morning but every night after dinner the grieving would start and he'd cry until bedtime. He was a great sleeper in Seoul. So cuddly and sweet. And wild! He flips and flops and spins in bed all. night. long. I love it though.
The rest of the week is a blur. We met up with new friends at Seoul Tower, shopped, played at the hotel, visited the Korean War Museum with the same new friends, shopped, visited another palace, and shopped again. I'm serious about the shopping. Just ask Blake. He loved it. NOT! But really, I did more shopping than buying. I loved walking the streets of Insadong and wondering in and out of the tiny little shops. Pure bliss.
We left Seoul Friday evening. It was sad. Griffin was losing/is losing so much. A loving foster family, a beautiful city, a magical culture. I felt the loss for him.
Griffin slept 9 of the 12 hours on the flight from Seoul to Chicago. He played and ate the rest of the time. This guy was AWESOME! I was dreading the long day of travel but it was so much better than the travel day to Seoul. He then slept the two hours from Chicago to OKC. He was perfect!
OK!!! Here's what you came for. Lots and lots and lots of pictures. Enjoy!
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Monday, May 2, 2011
Go Time!
We're about to walk out the door and head to Holt to meet and get Griffin! I'm pacing the floor, trying to remember what I've forgotten. I'm excited and nervous. Blake is laying on the bed, reading a book, acting like it's just another day. I could puke.
Thoughts....
I just want him to like me. He doesn't have to love me, yet. Just like me. A little.
We took a cab ride from hell this morning and it's got me all wound up. Still. It ended with an argument with the cab driver and us refusing to pay him what he was asking. Lovely.
Please like me, Griffin.
I'm so thankful for all my new adoption friends and my old friends. I've received so many sweet messages on Facebook, and I just chatted with two adoption friends that have played an enormous role in my life the past nine months. Whether they know it or not. Hi Rachel and Mary Leigh!
I hope the baby carrier doesn't make my dress ride up.
I hope everyone likes their gifts! I stressed so much about those darn gifts!
The yellow dust from China is worse today than it was yesterday.
Even though he probably won't like me, I still love him. And I can be patient. He's worth it.
Ok, here we go! Say a prayer for us!
Thoughts....
I just want him to like me. He doesn't have to love me, yet. Just like me. A little.
We took a cab ride from hell this morning and it's got me all wound up. Still. It ended with an argument with the cab driver and us refusing to pay him what he was asking. Lovely.
Please like me, Griffin.
I'm so thankful for all my new adoption friends and my old friends. I've received so many sweet messages on Facebook, and I just chatted with two adoption friends that have played an enormous role in my life the past nine months. Whether they know it or not. Hi Rachel and Mary Leigh!
I hope the baby carrier doesn't make my dress ride up.
I hope everyone likes their gifts! I stressed so much about those darn gifts!
The yellow dust from China is worse today than it was yesterday.
Even though he probably won't like me, I still love him. And I can be patient. He's worth it.
Ok, here we go! Say a prayer for us!
Korea Day 2 {Yellow Dust and Babies}
It's a little after 5 AM in Seoul and I can't sleep. We get Griffin in 8 hours and the butterflies won't stop fluttering, so I'm here with pictures of day 2 in Seoul.
We had our city tour today and it was a beautiful day! The temperature was just perfect and we were out and about all day. Apparently, the people of Seoul didn't think it was such a great day. Our guide informed us that yellow dust from China had blown in and was in the air and all over everything in the city. Blake and I noticed it was hazy but thought that it was just fog. Our guide said that lots of Koreans will wear masks when the dust blows in because it's really bad for your throat. We could see the dust settling on the palace that we visited but noon the air had cleared considerably and it was a perfect day.
Our guide took us to Gyeongbokgung Palace first and it was beautiful! And huge! The actual buildings were enormous and the grounds went on forever. Amazing history!
After our shopping fun we went back to hotel and grabbed our donations for the babies at the reception center and jumped on the subway again. This was a longer, more confusing subway experience and finding the Holt reception center was even more difficult. I new we were close to Holt but couldn't figure out which tiny alley way to turn down so I walked into a little store and asked a nice Korean man. He nodded, said "Holt," and then proceeded to walk us all the way to Holt. It wasn't that far but it was so kind of him. I guess it's easier to just walk us there rather than try to communicate verbally.
We visited with the babies for about 30 minutes and gave them our donations. There are five little boys in care at the RC right now, and one of them really took to Blake. They were big buddies! Blake hasn't stopped talking about how our confusing, long trip to the RC was so well worth it.
After we left the babies we headed to Itaewon and found the Outback. Poor Blake was in serious need of some American food. Outback was delicious but we were exhausted and ready to head back to the hotel. We took our subway ride back, Skyped with Kinley at 10:00 PM (8:00 AM Oklahoma time), and crashed into bed. Awesome day!
We had our city tour today and it was a beautiful day! The temperature was just perfect and we were out and about all day. Apparently, the people of Seoul didn't think it was such a great day. Our guide informed us that yellow dust from China had blown in and was in the air and all over everything in the city. Blake and I noticed it was hazy but thought that it was just fog. Our guide said that lots of Koreans will wear masks when the dust blows in because it's really bad for your throat. We could see the dust settling on the palace that we visited but noon the air had cleared considerably and it was a perfect day.
Our guide took us to Gyeongbokgung Palace first and it was beautiful! And huge! The actual buildings were enormous and the grounds went on forever. Amazing history!
After visiting the palace our guide took us over to Insadong for lunch. Unfortunately, I don't have any good pictures from lunch. We were sitting on the floor (uncomfortable) and honestly, didn't really enjoy our meal. It was a fun experience, but I don't think I've acquired the taste for Korean food just yet. =)
And I also forgot to get a picture with our guide! I'm really upset with myselft about this.
After lunch our guide wanted to help us do some shopping. Blake was so excited! Haha! My favorite part of our shopping trip was getting our name chops made in Insadong. Name chops are stamps. I'll get a picture of our stamps later but for now, here is the famous chop shop and the man who makes the chops.
After our shopping fun we went back to hotel and grabbed our donations for the babies at the reception center and jumped on the subway again. This was a longer, more confusing subway experience and finding the Holt reception center was even more difficult. I new we were close to Holt but couldn't figure out which tiny alley way to turn down so I walked into a little store and asked a nice Korean man. He nodded, said "Holt," and then proceeded to walk us all the way to Holt. It wasn't that far but it was so kind of him. I guess it's easier to just walk us there rather than try to communicate verbally.
We visited with the babies for about 30 minutes and gave them our donations. There are five little boys in care at the RC right now, and one of them really took to Blake. They were big buddies! Blake hasn't stopped talking about how our confusing, long trip to the RC was so well worth it.
After we left the babies we headed to Itaewon and found the Outback. Poor Blake was in serious need of some American food. Outback was delicious but we were exhausted and ready to head back to the hotel. We took our subway ride back, Skyped with Kinley at 10:00 PM (8:00 AM Oklahoma time), and crashed into bed. Awesome day!
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