Welcome...

Hello... Welcome family and friends. This blog was started so you could follow our adoption journey to our daughter in China...Crystina Luz ChenLi. Now, it's to follow our everyday adventures with 2 active young children, who are growing SO fast, Crystina & Ethan and 2 playful Yorkies, Lola and Bertha.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

This year we have LOTS to be thankful for......

First, we are so very thankful for our beautiful, precious daughter...Crystina! And also, for the little boy that GOD created growing in my tummy. Being able to experience the miracle of adoption and the miracle of (not yet) birth is just amazing. With these 2 miracles, we have MUCH to be thankful for.

We are also much thankful for...our family! All of them have been very supportive of Crystina and LOVE her to pieces! The love everyone has for her, is just amazing! And for that, we are VERY thankful!

The opportunity that we had to go to the other side of the world was just amazing! Once there and noticing that we take so many things for granted and being thankful for the freedom that we have...well, there are no words for that......but we are most thankful for the trip of a lifetime and that both of us were able to go and pick up our daughter.

There is SO much more that we are thankful for...and we thank GOD for it all!!

This year we are doing things a little different. Today, we are going to be with Edgar's family and then on Saturday, we will be celebrating Thanksgiving with my family. And on Friday, of course we are going SHOPPING!!! I hope to have pictures of both days up soon.

Ready to go eat some turkey...
So beautiful!!!Being silly...
Santa is coming when????

We hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving and that you have many reasons to be "Thankful" for!!!! GOD bless!

Friday, November 21, 2008

Blog face lift...

Hello...yes, you have the correct blog! We just changed the background, we needed it to be more unisex, not all pink. ; (

I'm not big on what I picked but with small pickings, I don't have much of a choice. The website address will NOT change just the appearance of the blog. It might be changing again...but we'll see.

Well, I hope to post updated pictures of Crystina soon. And if you are wondering...YES, I am showing. My mom has been wondering where I hid this belly for so many months. Who knows?!??? I guess once we were told we were pregnant, the baby decided not to hide anymore. ; )

Check back soon for pictures. God bless!!

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Some VERY exciting news!!!!

Well, yesterday we found out some VERY exciting, blessed news......we are pregnant!!! Yes, you read that right! We are, very, pregnant. I'm 18 weeks along and the baby's due date is for April 14th...Crystina's birthday is April 19th! So, within less than a year, we will have 2 Blessed miracles!!!!!! Oh....by the way, we are having a BOY!!! Crystina is having a baby brother!

Crystina holding a picture (sonogram) of her baby brother.
These 2 children are such a blessing for us! They are truly MIRACLES!!! 2 children of our VERY own and more LOVE to share!! Thank you LORD!!!

Well, this is all for now...check back again for more updates on our babies. God bless!!!

Friday, November 7, 2008

October in review...

I know, I know...I've been really bad at blogging.........but Crystina has sure kept me busy! So, I'm going to try and make up for it. Here are a bunch of pictures for the month of October. Crystina has been a little busy body...she went to the doctor to get some vaccinations, she got her blood drawn and her ears pierced, all within one week. She also went to the Central Florida Zoo in Sanford and Sea World! She has meet more family members and friends, and does so well every time!

Enjoy all the pictures!!!!!!!!!! ; )

Dinner with my cousins...

At Sea World...they were having their annual "Spooktacular" and it was FUN!

Waiting to see Shamu!!!!!!

Waiting to get on a ride...
Checking things out.
Having fun!!!!
Wasn't too thrilled about the ride.
Angelica liked it!
**see my hand holding hers ; )**
Crystina and Bertha...how cute!!
Looking cute as ever!!!
At the Central Florida Zoo...
Crystina and Titi Shirly
Crystina and Grandma
Check out Crystina's ears!!! Yep, she got her ears pierced.
"Mommy, smell my feet!"
How cute!!!!!!!
Hanging out with daddy!!!!!
Alvani & Joshua with their Chinese outfits.
Crystina is not very happy...
So peaceful!!!!
Having fun with Ayden at Home Depot!!
Putting on lipstick...
Having fun on Grandma's rocking chair...
"Cheese!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Ahhh....too cute!!!!
Your juice sure looks good!! Checking out her goodie bag that Grandma Violeta made for her...
Crystina & Grandma Violeta Our sweet, beautiful FLOWER!!!
My 1st time Trick-or-Treating... Crystina & Angelica
Angelica, the Butterfly & Ayden, as Spiderman
Having fun Trick-or-treating...
Having more fun in the wagon...
**check out Ayden playing with Crystina's bellybutton** ; )
Tia Annabel pulling us around the house...
playing with cousin Angelica...
Grandma trying to rock all 3 of her babies...
Well, I hope you have enjoyed all the pictures!! I will TRY my best to update more often...but sometimes the time just gets away from me. Well, this is all for now.

Thanks again for checking up on us! God Bless!!!!!!!

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Two months ago...

Two months ago today, Crystina was placed in our arms. We can't believe it's been only 2 months...it feels like she's been with us, forever! And she has changed so much! She is still active as ever and jabbers so much. She has definitely been SO much fun and we sure LOVE her to pieces!! She fits us perfectly!

Another "anniversary"...3 years ago today we sent our application to the adoption agency. And waited almost 2 years for "The Call." How time sure flies.........even though it didn't feel like that back then. But NOW........whole different story. I've read many journals/blogs that have stated what I just wrote and I always thought "How can you just forget the time that was spent waiting??" NOW I understand. You really do forget how long you waited for "The Call" or the day you meet your child. Once your child is placed in your arms, and you get to feel, touch, hug and kiss her...that wait time just disappears! It's crazy, I know...but SO true.

2 months ago today...
Today..........
Our little girl has learned SO much. She learns different words everyday and mimics us ALOT!!! She has been such a blessing!! GOD truly blessed us with our "perfect" little angel, to call our very own!

I will soon be doing a post for all the things that happened in the month of October...with lots of pictures. Many of you have asked me to update the blog...and I'm going to, very soon. So please, check back!

Much love to all and GOD bless!!!