Get my counter offer in writing?

[Edward Debbs]

I am in the process of buying a house, submitted an offer received a counter via my realtor. The counter was in the form of email forwarded from the seller's realtor to mine. I requested that the counter be put in writing in the same format as mine through an AOE, but my realtor mentioned that is not the standard and this is typically only done when negotiations are complete. I really want something at the very least with the offer number and the contingencies the seller wants with his signature. Is it not the norm to get these things in writing? I would like a record of all this. Am I asking too much here?