Oh What a Relief it is...

She is in our arms. Safe and sound and as good as we could have hoped for. After the longest 3 hours we've ever tried to waste (without drinks), we went to the Social Affairs Office at 3pm to pick up the babies. We walked into the building rode the elevator up a level and when it opened there was a room of waiting caregivers and babies. All the adoptive parents looked like deers in headlights as we tried to guess if those babies were ours or not. We were ushered into a meeting room and as we went by I saw our Hope sitting on an older woman's lap looking around. Our guide, Kathy kind of pushed us into the meeting room because after all, there was a "protocol" (yeah, right!), and we had to wait for our names to be called. Once again, just like when we got Claire, Hope was first! This time I tried not to rip the baby out of the caregivers arms, and I was very careful to look them in the eyes and as sincere as I could thank them for caring for this beautiful, innocent baby for the last 17 months. The caregiver gave me a smile and a tear as she walked away.

All in all, Hope's been such a great baby. She cried a little, ate a little, laughed a little, and is now sleeping peacefully in her crib. She can sit up, but she can't walk and she's about 16 - 18 lbs, has gorgeous eyes, and is quick with a laugh - to light up your heart.

We'll post more but for now, we are still taking it all in. Although this has been exhilirating, part of our hearts are so, so, SO sad Claire is not here to meet her. Many blessings to her and all of you - Very Proud Parents,
Julie & David