GOTCHA!!!

how do i even begin to gather my thoughts from today? let me start with the facts. we met Rebecca down in the lobby at 2 pm. waiting for the clock turn 2 was the longest ever. it felt like time wasn't moving. but once we met up with Rebecca she took us to the van and we drove about 20 minutes to get to the building where we would meet echo. rebecca is the best. there was a whole group of soon to be parents getting out of other vans and she just whisked us in the building and up the elevator without even looking at anyone else. we went right up the elevator and into a room that was bright and sweet and very child friendly. we were the first ones in the door. rebecca went behind a curtain and came back to say that echo was already in the building and we had to sign a paper or two and then we could meet her. i was shaking. i'm not trying to be dramatic but i seriously thought i was either going to pass out or throw up. either way, it was not going to be a good thing to do before i was introduced to my daughter for the first time. luckily, the paper signing went very quickly and rebecca told us to follow her to the curtain. before we knew it, before we could think about it, before we could even fill up with too many emotions....out she came. the nannies handed her over quickly and she cried for just a second and then wanted to check us out. i sat down with her. i looked at her. her face. her hair.
her skin, her eyes. hello little one. i'm your mommy. i'm the one who's been waiting for you. now we are together. finally, we are together.

i wasn't able to relish the moment too long before i had to go to another room to fill out some paperwork. i handed echo to heath, she cried for a second and then she seemed fine as i walked away. i was able to ask the nanny and her nurse some questions and find out a bit about echo. we exchanged some laughs about her, rebecca interpreting the whole time, and then we went back out to where echo and heath were sitting.....and it happened. she was smiling ear to ear. the biggest smile was on her face, looking right at her daddy!! she loves heath.
loves him. they bonded immediately. she's daddy's girl already. and what was so funny is that they were sitting there chilling together and chaos was all around them. mommies crying, babies crying, daddys holding cameras. it was quite the scene. i sat down to give her some puffs. she loved them. and as quickly as i sat down, rebecca came to tell us that we should go. echo was doing so well and bonded right away. she said that it would be best to get her out before she looks around and sees other children crying. so we jumped up, grabbed our stuff and headed out the door. we made it to the elevator just as her nannies were coming around and rebecca told us to quickly go around the corner so echo would not see them. i'm telling you, heath and i cracked up. it was like we were stealing her! the nannies were kind enough to dart out of our way and we jumped in the elevator. and that's when it hit little echo. she realized we were leaving. and she cried. she wanted nothing to do with us. she wanted to go back up. we were so impressed with her thought process. when we left the building and got in the van, she cried more. she KNEW we were leaving without her nannies and she didn't like it one bit.

once in the van. we found her some toys and some puffs. she was asleep in my arms before too long for a little cat nap. it was quite a day for her already and there was still more to come. heath and i just kept looking at her and smiling at her while she slept. we couldn't believe what a beautiful and sweet little girl she is. she is the bravest and strongest little girl ive ever known. and i get to be her mother. i get to watch her grow. i get to see so many of her "firsts". i get to call her mine. she is mine. she's always been mine, i'm just now getting to enjoy it.

later we went to the grocery to pick out a few things, baby formula, water, juice. we came back to the hotel, did more paperwork....and when rebecca left.....we gave her a BATH!!!!! she loves the bath water. she sat in it for a long time. then, we had dinner at an italian restaurant and she is a good eater. the servers adored her and were so kind to her. she stared at them. she's either shy or has an attitude. haahaha, we can't tell which it is yet. haahaha

we came home and were able to skype with reese, maddox and zane. they were laughing and so excited to see echo. she really liked seeing them too. she was pointing and making kissing noises at them. it was too cute! i wish that i could have reached through the screen and pulled all 3 of them over to my side of the screen. i'm dying to have them all together. i know that these two weeks are important for us to be and bond with echo so we are going to take full advantage of it but wow, will i be so glad to hold all of them together at last.

i gave her a little bit of a bottle before bed. we changed her and put her in the crib and walked away. she didn't even wimper. what a sweet baby girl. that sweet baby girl is ours. and we are hers.
it's just as it should be.