Photo shoot...

I've been wanting to get some family pictures done. So Saturday afternoon, we went and finally got some done. The pictures of the kids are just SO cute! The photographer did such an awesome job capturing their sweet smiles. Here are just a few...

Our family...

How cute is this!!?!!

Ethan is such a big boy!

Our beautiful daughter!

What a ham!Crystina is such a big girl!

The kids did such an awesome job. I was SO proud! Crystina behaved so wonderfully...and keep in mind, it was SO close to her naptime. And Ethan did so well, also...as long as we were "moving" him around. If you notice in the picture of Ethan with the blue outfit, he is all wet...well, he has become such a drooler!! I can't keep him dry, for nothing. I swear I change the kid like 5-6 times a day! YES, I have bibs but I don't like for him to wear one ALL DAY. So, I just have to do laundry a bunch of times during the week. Oh well...hopefully one day soon he will outgrow the "drooling" stage.....maybe once all his teeth are in. YIKES!! ; )

GOD bless!

Weird, sad day...

If you've been watching any t.v. today, then you already know the weird, sad news from Hollywood.

First, early this afternoon, Farrah Fawcett lost her life to cancer. She is now with the "Angels" and no longer suffering or hurting. Rest in Peace!

And then later in the afternoon...the very unexpected news of Michael Jackson. The man that made music what it is now. The singer that us "kids" grew up with. He introduced us to the "moonwalk" and so many other different (cool) moves. Even though his personal life was a bit odd and complicated...his music was something else. There will never be another singer/performer like Michael Jackson. I know his music will live on for years and years... Michael, thank you for the awesome music!! Rest in Peace!

Happy Father's Day!!

This is Edgar's very 1st Father's Day! Well, this time last year we had already received the call for Crystina but she wasn't here with us, physically. And so he celebrates this special first Father's Day, with 2 children.

Edgar...we hope you had a great 1st Father's Day! We love you more than you'll ever know!
With all of our love...Crystina, Ethan & Barbara......also Lola & Bertha ; )

Crystina and Ethan want to wish a special Happy Father's Day to...Grandpa, Tio Coco, Tio Nathan & Tio Willie and to all the men out there who are father's and to the ones that are waiting to become a dad.......HAPPY FATHER'S DAY to you, all!

Also, we want to wish our dear cousin, Jenovie...a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

GOD bless!!

The phone call that changed our lives...

One year ago today...the phone rang at 11:12am and our lives were forever changed. It was the "call" that we had been waiting for 2 years. Edgar was working from home, so he got the news first. After several text messages back and forth, I called him at home and that's when he told me the news...
"WE HAVE A DAUGHTER!!!!"

Some brief information that was given...14 month old female from Kunming, Yunnan. She is currently in Foster care. Her Chinese name is Pan Liang Chen. And then the VERY first photos that we saw of our daughter, via e-mail...talk about nerves going wild!! Tears flowing!! Hearts racing!! And then we saw these 3 beautiful pictures...
Yep...we were in LOVE! We were mommy and daddy to a little girl on the other side of the world. We couldn't wait to go and get her. All we wanted to do was just hug and kiss her and give her so much love.

One year later from that amazing phone call...

We hug and kiss our little girl and give her so much love, everyday!! We thank GOD every day for allowing us to be her parents. She was specifically chosen just for us. I now know why we had to wait so long. Crystina is such an amazing little girl. We are so proud to be her parents.

If you are reading this and are in the adoption process...Yes, the wait can be really hard...and I mean, it can get REALLY hard...BUT do know, that it will happen. And when it does, all the wait time really does disappear. I remember reading those words "the wait time just disappears" and thinking, "yeah right, whatever. How could it, it's been SO long?" But it really, truly does. The moment YOUR child is placed in your arms...all that waiting and waiting...is gone. So have faith because when your phone rings, and it's the "CALL"........your life will be changed, forever!

GOD bless!

Let's go MAGIC!!

YES, last night we went to the LA Lakers vs. Orlando Magic, game 3! And OH MY!! I mean, it was SO much FUN but oh so stressful. The Lakers are still leading the series 2-1 but we are going to cheer our Magic 'til the end. Last night the Magic won their very 1st NBA Finals game...way to go Magic. The score? 108-104...it was so intense...so nerve-wrecking...but oh so amazing!! We really had a blast. Nathan & Annabel went with us...and I think I might have lost some of my hearing on my left ear because Annabel was screaming SO much and oh so loud! ; ) My dad and my other brother, Coco, are going to Thursday's game and then Edgar and I will be going to Sunday's game. We're looking forward to tomorrow's game. Let's go MAGIC!!!!

In front of the arena...

The final score...YEAH!!!!
At the end of the game...

Let's go MAGIC!!!!!!!!!!!

All about Ethan...

Ethan is 11 weeks old today, and I can't believe it. He had his 2 month check up the other day and he weighs 13.2 lbs (75th percentile) and he's 23" long (50th percentile). He has gotten so big but yet, he's still so small. He's still NOT sleeping through the night and I can't hardly wait to sleep, at least, 4 hours in a row! He did sleep 5.5 hours straight one night...but that was only ONE night. ; )

Here are some recent pictures of Ethan...

I personally think Ethan looks like my dad, with the exception of his eyes, those are his other grandpa's. I'm still not sure what color eyes he's going to have...my mom thinks they might be light......I sure hope so! ; ) Let me know who you think he looks like...I would really love to know your opinion.

GOD bless!

9 months ago...

Nine months ago today, Crystina was placed in our arms. WOW...sometimes I still can't believe she is here with us. I just stare at her and thank GOD for my little girl. She is speaking more and more clearer and putting 2-3 words together. She often surprises us with new words that she knows. For example...the other day, this was one of our (many) conversations:

Crystina: Oh oh, I made mess.
me: You did? Where?
Crystina: Right there. (and she pointed to her mess)

She had never said "right there" before. Where does she learn this stuff? I know she mimics us ALOT and we do try to teach her new words but there are times that she just surprises us. She is really one smart cookie.

9 months ago...

Today...

She just gets more beautiful every day...not only on the outside but the inside. She will give me hugs and kisses, just out of the blue...LOVE those moments! And she just loves her baby brother...she gives him kisses all the time...just because. I can't wait until he interacts with her...that is going to be just priceless moments.

GOD bless!