Where do I start? I think this was the best day of my life!
We were incredibly nervous beforehand, but then as soon as we saw her little face peeping round the doorway, I knew that this is my baby and I'm her mother. She obviously knew something strange was happening and was a bit unsettled (as expected) but then relaxed and started smiling at us. We suddenly realised that the two foster carers and the social worker had snuck off into the kitchen, and we were alone with our daughter!
We carried on cooing at her, and she carried on smiling at us and showing off... She even pulled herself up and started bouncing on her gorgeous chubby legs... then slipped and banged her head on the chair leg!!!
TBH, we didn't know what to do, wanted to rush to her and pick her up, but started worrying about the etiquette, since we hadn't even touched her to that point! Then mummy instinct kicked in and I scooped her up and tried to comfort her - in vain, but that's to be expected really. So took her to foster carer to soothe. It got us all talking about how to deal with this, and how awkward this can feel.
Later on, they gave her to me in the garden, and I held her properly for the first time. Magic. She smiled, she played with my hair, she looked at me with her fantastic eyes. I am officially in love. Cannot wait to go back tomorrow - am counting the minutes. It feels like this is going to work, and we are going to be a new little family unit.
[soppy grin]