[mommytoEli]

mine has to be update days. i still remember thinking that it had been about 30 days and any day i should have 4 new pictures in my inbox. i must've checked every hour when i was expecting updates. ahhhh...

what about you...what was your favorite adoption memory??

[carlyincali]

I think my favorite adoption memory was the first time I saw my son, on my visit trip. Of course picking him up was great, but I don't think it tops the emotion I felt when I first saw him.

[Clare'sMom]

The Day our Agency Lady called to tell me my daughter was born... I was at work and my whole office still talks about the fact that my baby was "Born" right there and they all got to see her first!

[AngelQT]

I second Clare'sMom...

The moment I was called and offered my daughter...

the 2nd most memmorable moment is when I held her for the first time...

The most funnies memmory is when she went #2 for the first time for me... I was a gagger... YUCK~ But, now... Her nick name has stayed withe her~ STINKY~

[CEB]

Absolutely the first time I ever held DS on our visit. The whole world around me just disappeared and I instantly fell in love and in semi-shock that I was holding my (hopefully, at that time) child. It was magic!

Ellie - on the opposite end of the spectrum, but my funny memory is that I have to confess that I actually was happy when DS peed on me while changing his diaper on the visit trip. I felt like I had been officially annointed as a mommy by that act! Interestingly, I dont think he ever did that again.

[akasohappy]

When I was trying to open the email from our agency with Kate's referral photo. The computer was SO SLOW and the photo started at the top of her hair and was SLOWLY working down her forehead at what seemed like a millimeter every 10 seconds.
I was jumping up screaming "THIS IS HER, MOM LOOK THIS IS OUR BABY!!!
My mom ran in and and all she could see was hair and the top of her eyebrows.
My mom thought I had lost it, but I TRULY knew that she was the baby meant for us. It then took 2 or 3 days for DH (in Iraq) to receive email and let me know he was in love with her too!!

[annaguat]

When our babies pictures came in on the computer. I was sitting at my computer desk at home surrounded by 8 of my then nine children. We all cried when the pictures came on the screen. It had been a hard week as huricane Katrina was hitting land and my mother was just diagnosed with terminal brain tumors. All the emotions and stress came loose. What a beautiful thing to see "our" babies and what a light beacon in a time of deep sorrow, fear and sadness. My mother passed away about 8 weeks later but she did get to "see" the babies pictures and referal video and knew what we would name them. This meant a lot to me and to her. Anna

[SKL]

I think it was when I got my referrals. I had to drive to the agency or wait for FedEx to deliver the next day . . . so of course I hopped in the car and drove for 45 minutes . . . and every song on the radio seemed to be for me and the baby who I hadn't seen yet . . . and then the instant I saw her picture I was in love. And then the next day it happened just the same way all over again.

Another special moment was the third night of my visit trip, the night before having to hand the girls back to their foster moms. Baby A was almost 7 months old and was so sweet and comfortable the whole time she was with me. Then that night she looked in my eyes and cried like her heart was broken. It was almost like she knew she had to go back - at least that's how I felt at the time. We snuggled and she was comforted. It was such a close and special moment.

Oh, and singing "happy birthday" to her on "embassy day." I felt so lucky to be with her on that day.

[DeeVee]

Getting out of PGN. Both times. With Carolina, it was Oct. 31, 2006. With Jesse, July 4, 2008. (I think God designed it that way so I would remember the anniversaries )

And then winding up pregnant a few days after getting out of PGN -- both times.

[hesabanana]

My favorite? It actually has to do with the adoption of my oldest from foster care. After 25 months of fighting for him, my husband called me at work to tell me we had a court date for his adoption....only then did I finally believe he would be my son forever....I knew the judge would not waste her time with a date if she did not intend to grant the adoption!

[drjeanne]

My favorite memory was from our first visit trip to see our daughter! It was my husband's birthday and we were waiting anxiously in the lobby of the Marriott. We kept looking out the front doors and looking at the clock and waiting and looking......and then they walked in BEHIND us and surprised us! Our foster mother was carrying our then 3 month old all wrapped up in several layers of blankets and clothes! Poor little thing was sweating in there! The first time I held her she took my finger and grinned up at me as if to say "here I am Mom!" It was the most wonderful moment of my life so far!!!!!!!!

Jeanne

[amylynn3]

Like many others...mine has to be seeing my children in person for the first time. Seeing my son and knowing that I was finally given the opportunity to be a mom...I will never forget the way I felt holding him for the first time. I remember asking the foster mom "Can I hold him?" duh...of course I can, he is my son! LOL

Same goes with my daughter, but I remember feeling delighted over getting the chance to be a mommy to a little girl. She was so cute and chunky and holding her was amazing as well. She fell asleep on me shortly after the foster mom left...I thought that was a great sign. She was comfortable enough to fall asleep on me...she was my daugher.

Great thread! Makes me sit and remember all those feelings and brings tears to my eyes.

[jules17]

With both of my sons, one of my favorite memories was giving them a bath, putting lotion on, putting on a fresh diaper and then holding them close and just closing my eyes and smelling them. They smell like the sweetest angels!!

I still do this routine with them almost daily...and smell them a lot. Is that weird? I love it!

[uom88]

When we got Michael's referral, we were up in Michigan where we didn't have great cell phone connections or internet access. We got a call saying we had a referral and then it dropped!! We tried calling back but the agency had turned the voice mail service on. Luckily, our case manager was able to get back to us to give us all of the details. She said she would send photos, etc to us the next day by email. The following morning my husband and I drove around trying to find an open internet connection that we could "borrow" for a short time to get the information. ( I know - I am usually against doing this but there were no wi-fi spots we could get to and we were desparate to see our son!!) We finally got a connection and open our email to see the most amazing little face. We both started crying knowing that this baby was meant to be our son. I will always be thankful for that open connection.

[ana-mom]

When we got the scanned copy of the new BCs with our last name on them.

It was then I realized that the girls were truly coming home to us forever.