bran and mrbran met their new DD today

[bran]

She is absolutely adorable, I am smitten. She is less smitten with us, but we'll wear her down.

It actually went better than expected - although the planning meeting was dreadful and very long with lots of waffle and needless pedantry.

When we went to meet DD she was still having a nap and I went up with the foster mum to get her up. The foster parents had warned us that she is very wary of strangers and will often cry so we gave her plenty of space and didn't try to rush her into communicating with us. She wasn't too overcome, although she didn't come over to us or smile at us she did let go of her FM after about 30 mins and roamed around the room on her little ride-on toy. FM said it usually took longer for DD to relax enough to get off her lap and go and play.

We are going back tomorrow with DS, he's really looking forward to it.

oh yes please bran piccies

Photos are up (I hope). From now until I go to bed. I might try and crop some of them so that our faces are a bit more visible.

Oh, and thanks for all the congratulations and best wishes.

Now someone tell me how gorgeous my kids are. [self-centered emoticon]

what a beautiful family you are bran! gorgeous. you look particularly fab too. (how's the bag?!). xxx

at the fulsome compliments. I agree that my kids are gorgeous though.

The bag is wonderful, it's wearing very well and it gets compliments. I may need to have a go at it with some leather cleaner at some stage though. Do you think I could use the wipes that are intended for cleaning leather car upholstery?

oh hooray. i reckon leather wipes would work well. i have some cream nourishing stuff somewhere, from the hardware shop. babywipes work for most things mind you....

bran - you all look so happy and comfortable together. Congratulations!

hey pictures back - I missed them!!!

I missed them too - please post them again sometime, bran (with advance notice if poss )

They're up now until I go to bed. Probably tomorrow too, between children's bedtime (7.15pm) and my bedtime (anytime between 7.30pm and 11.00pm).

DD's social worker came to visit today. It took her just over an hour and half to get here from Reading, presumably at least another hour and a half to get back, but only 10 mins to establish that DD was settling well with no issues. We have to be visited every week until the first review, one month after placement, when 5 or 6 social workers will visit (all of them except our SW doing the 3 hr round trip from Reading) to confirm that DD is indeed settling well with no issues. Oh joy!

Still, on the plus side, she is a total delight.

Wow I knew you were planning to adopt a second child but missed that it had already happened! Congrats - she looks adorable (as does your ds!)

What a lovely thread and your children are absolutely gorgeous.

Congratulations on your new arrival.

Yippeeee!Photos!!! You all look so delicious and happ. Those cupboards are HUGE!!!

Congratualtions

such a lovely family congrats to you Bran xxx

oh yes, the cupboards, I'm so

Beautiful pictures

Oh bran, what beautiful children & I love it that your profile already says "she has two children"

What a gorgeous family.

Congratulations to you all.

Gorgeous pictures thanks for sharing.
How happy your family looks, so lovely.

LOvely photos - am so pleased for you. YOu all look very happy.

Where's that Kewcumber? She's missed the photos again, I'm off to bed.

They'll be up tomorrow evening again, last chance Kew.

no I didn;t miss then - I snuck a look Though I think the ones of your gray hair need to be enlarged as I really couldn;t see it

Both your DC's look lovely. (As do the cupboards)

What a lovely story - this is the first time I have visited the adoption threads (cancelled lunch date leaves me MNetting! )

Congratulations on your newly extended Bran-family!