Our first meeting

We took a cab to the agency this morning.  I made us leave 2 hours before we were supposed to be there.  I did not want to be late for this!

The drive only took a half hour so we had some time to kill.  There is a cafe inside Eastern so we got ourselves a little something and settled in for awhile.

Don't our drinks look yummy?  They were!  We talked about how crazy it would be if we saw our lil' peanut come in and how we thought our meeting would go.  But, mostly we talked about hubby's future career plans.  Weird, I know.  We needed a distraction!

About 15 minutes before we were supposed to go and meet the social worker I went upstairs to the bathroom.  It was the most divine trip to the bathroom ever. ;)  As I was coming down the stairs, a woman and child were coming through the front door.  Right in front of my eyes!  My heart jumped as I thought "that could be him!"  They came through the door and the woman looked up at me and recognition lit up her face.  She knew me!  I looked closer at the child.  I knew him!  It was my boy and his foster mom!  I wanted to scoop him up right then and there!!!!  Oh my word.  I gushed over him and said hi and waved as they went in the room to meet with the social worker.  Then I ran back to the cafe practically yelling at hubby "I saw him!  I saw him!  He's wearing the hat we sent."  The hubs was a tad bit jealous but it wasn't long before he got to see our lil' peanut for himself. 

He busted into the cafe. ;)  His foster mom told him who we were and he actually started heading right toward us.  Then our giant smiles must've scared him away because he thought better of it and ran back out.

We parted ways as it was time for us to sign some papers and go over a few things with the social worker.

She asked us when we would like to pick up our son.  I didn't even know we would get a choice.  I just assumed it wouldn't be until the day before we leave since any sooner than that would be tomorrow.  "As soon as we can" we both said!  She told us we could have him tomorrow. 

We started toward the 4th floor with the social worker and were quickly followed by two very special people.

We all waited for the elevator together and this is the look our little trouble maker gave everyone before he escaped through that open door.  (More proof of his ornery side was displayed in the photo album his foster mom gave to us where he stands next to a beautiful masterpiece he colored...on the walls!) ;)

"I'm getting out of here!"  Ha!  His foster mom told us he loves to be outside.

His foster mom filled that whole bag with things for us.  Some of his favorite toys, sentimental items from his baby days, and even a hanbok for C that matches his little brother's.  She is so, so thoughtful.

He played around the car while I asked some questions of his foster mom and while hubby snapped away with the camera.  He would walk around the car, play with the buttons, and check out the wheels but he never did try to get inside.

Finally deciding to see what is going on over on the other side of the room.

His foster mom told us that at home he will kiss our pictures.  So sweet.

Grabbing his own, and his foster mom's shoes.  He's ready to get outside again.  Ha!

After gently touching his arm and back a few times I went for his hand and he willingly held it.  He did that every time I reached for his little hand after that.  He would hold mine for a few seconds until he moved on to play.  Oh, what an amazing feeling to have his hand in mine.

Haha!  Hubby said he took this picture to prove that he was there.  I told him it's about time he was the one behind the camera. ;)

He was a sleepy boy.  Our meeting was running into his normal nap time so he started to get a little cranky. 

I busted out his new stuffed monkey to see if that would keep him happy.

I think it worked!  He loved it when I made monkey noises.

Here he is trying to do his own ooo-ooh.  Yes, that adorable child is my son.  Oh my word, this picture!  He is so precious!

We were making faces at each other in between my conversation with his foster mom and social worker.  I was touching his toes in this picture.  Touching his toes!  I know I am gushing, but this was all so surreal.  That I was finally in the same room, talking to and playing with my son.

He would open his mouth up real big like this and then wait for me to do the same thing.  Then we would do fishy faces and then open wide again.  He was so interactive!

Look at that face!

Sleepy boy.

When he'd had enough of that silly monkey his social worker busted out some youtube cartoons.

He was dancing to the music.

I love the looks he is giving hubby here!

Holding hands again. 

Going bye-bye.  We will see you again SOON!

I was on cloud nine after this.  I honestly don't think our first meeting could have gone any better.  Our little guy was so interactive and friendly.  He let me hold his hands, rub his back, stroke his hair, tickle his toes, kiss his hands/arms, and he even sat on my lap for a few seconds.  This was like heaven when you go into it knowing there's a very good chance he will want nothing to do with you and might even be downright scared of you.  And his foster mom is just so sweet.  You don't need to speak the same language to tell what kind of person some one is.  She has such a warmth about her and she is obviously so thoughtful.  All the things she brought for us.  And did you see what she dressed him in?!?  The hat we sent, but she had him all army'd up! :)  She knows that hubby is a soldier and I thought that was so neat that she chose that outfit for him.  The little shirt even said Army on it. 

Just the thought that she put into choosing his clothes for this special day warms my heart.  I know our lil' peanut has been so loved and well cared for.  Which will not make tomorrow easy at all.  Would you please join me in prayer for this sweet woman?  Even though she has known she would eventually say goodbye, I can't imagine it would make it much easier to do so after caring for our little man since he was three months old.  And pray for our sweet Keonwoo.  Today we were just friends stopping by for a playdate.  Tomorrow we will be the people taking him away from the mother he has known for almost two years.  I don't know when it will set in that he is not going back "home" but when it does he will certainly grieve.  We expect that.  We will love him through it and help him the best way we know how. 

Tomorrow at 11am we are meeting with the president of the adoption agency and then the agency is providing a lunch (which I think other adoptive families will be attending) and then at 1pm we will meet one last time with Keonwoo's foster mom and then he will be in our arms.  (Or running a few steps ahead of us...our busy little man!)

He is such a charmer and we are just smitten with him.  When we got back to the room and looked through the photos I started to cry.  I told my husband, "We have waited and waited and to finally see him and be with him today.  It's just a feeling I can't even describe."  I couldn't tell someone how it feels.  I think it's something that only another adoptive mama can truly understand. 

Today was incredible!