And now introducing...

Our new little bundle of joy!! Ethan Jay was born on Friday, March 20...after a minor complication. EVERYTHING is fine, no need to worry. Ethan is doing great and is perfect! Crystina is loving her baby brother and is showing signs of being overprotective. ; ) This is just a quick post to introduce our son/brother.

Born: Friday, March 20th
Time: 6:49 pm (by c-section)
Weight: 6 lbs. 15 oz.
Length: 19 inches

Getting cleaned up...

Meeting mommy face-to-face for the first time...
Proud parents...

Proud daddy with his boy

Oh my...check out my feet. ; )

Getting ready for my first pictures...

I see you...

Crystina checking out her baby brother...
Angelica wants to see his hair.

Our 2 babies!!!

I plan on posting more pictures real soon, with more details on Ethan's delivery. But it might take me a little bit...still in ALOT of pain!!

Hope you enjoyed the pictures. And thank you for checking up on us. GOD bless!!

Our Disney trip(s)

In January we took Crystina to Disney's Magic Kingdom for the 1st time. And it just happened to be the COLDEST day of the season!! Of course it didn't snow...snow?, here in Orlando...I wish!!! But it was COLD...all day! We had a great time! Crystina did really good and she got to enjoy some of the rides. Her favorite ride..........DUMBO! We didn't get to meet Mickey Mouse but Crystina got to meet her favorites...Tinkerbell and 2 Fairies!! She was NOT scared at all! She also got to meet 3 Princesses. She did so well. I can't wait until we are able to take her again...to meet Mickey, who when she sees on TV, she goes crazy!

Then...in February we all went to Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios (formerly known as MGM Studios). We had FUN! First we went to Animal Kingdom...Crystina got to enjoy the Safari ride. Edgar & I walked it...I couldn't get on it, I'm too far along. So, Crystina got on with the rest of the family. She also enjoyed some of the kiddie rides...I'm SO glad she enjoys the rides and is not scared of them. Since AK closes early, we then headed over to MGM (sorry, it will always be MGM Studios to me!) to see the Disney Clubhouse show. All I'm going to say is...Crystina had a BALL there! She really enjoyed it...she danced SO much! It was SO cute.

Enjoy all the pictures! There are 2 videos from the Disney Clubhouse show, they are a bit dark but you'll be able to see Crystina having FUN! ; )

Crystina...hoping to get lots of autographs!

Crysitna & Daddy on Main Street at Magic Kingdom
Trying to put on a pair of 3D glasses

Crystina & Mommy...waiting to get on "It's a Small World"

Crysitna enjoying the ride

Crystina & Daddy

On the Dumbo ride

Dumbo ride with Daddy

Looking cute

Crystina with Sleeping Beauty, Aurora

Crystina with Cinderella

Mommy & Crystina with Belle

Crystina shrunk? ; )

Crystina with Silvermist

Crystina with Tinkerbell

Crystina with Fawn

At the entrance of Animal Kingdom

Cousins...Angelica, Ayden & Crystina

Crystina enjoying the parade

Ayden was a bit scared with Leo & Annie (from Little Einsteins)

Crystina giving June a kiss (from Little Einsteins)

Crystina & Daddy with June & Quincy (Little Einsteins)

Ayden enjoying the Disney Clubhouse show

Enjoying the Disney Clubhouse show!

Crystina enjoying the show. (See my mom in the background? She was enjoying it too.)

Ayden & Crystina

Lots of dancing...

Crystina having a ball!!!!!

I know, I know...it took me forever to post these pictures. Lots going on right now. And it takes me quite some time to post, especially when I want to put up lots of pictures.

I plan to post a few more times before baby joins us...which will be in about 2 weeks, if not sooner. I will try my best to post pictures of Crystina with her baby brother soon after we get home, but please give me some time.

Thanks for checking up on us. Hope you enjoyed all the pictures! GOD bless!

Baby Shower

Yesterday my parents hosted (another) baby shower for us...this time, it was BLUE. ; ) We had a very nice time! Some of our guests had not seen my belly...so I got alot of belly rubs, which is nice and feels good. I'm not one of those "picky" pregnant woman that don't like to be touched or rubbed...just as long as I know you. ; )

Here are some pictures of our day yesterday...enjoy!

Me and belly...

Crystina playing one of the games

Ayden...he's SO cute!

Angelica & I sharing a "secret"

Crystina enjoying a chicken leg

Yep, that's my belly!

Crystina helping mommy open gifts
opening gifts...
Looking cute...as always!

Angelica helping me open her gift

Jaylon "feeling" the baby

Ahhhh... ; )

Being cool!!

Enjoying some ice cream after a long day

We want to say a BIG "THANK YOU" to everyone that was there! We greatly appreciate your support and love. And for all the beautiful gifts that were given for our son/brother...THANKS!!

A big "Thank you" to the following people for making it extra special...

My parents (Carmen & Ed)...for hosting the baby shower and for everything else : )

My mom...for the (once again YUMMY!) cake

Annabel...for the chocolates

Isa...for the macaroni salad and the "YUMMY!" yucca casserole

Edna...for cutting all the fruit

We've waited a VERY long time for our family...and within less than a year, GOD has truly blessed us! I've said it before and I will say it again...these 2 children are OUR miracles!

GOD bless!!

6 months ago...

6 months ago, Crystina was placed in our arms. We cannot believe it's been 6 months. To think back...of a scared little girl that had such a serious face when first placed in our arms and the way she is NOW.......it's SO unbelievable! She has blossomed in so many ways. That beautiful day in September, in that small Civil Affairs office in Kunming, Yunnan, China...is a place that we will NEVER forget. That was our "Labor & Delivery Room." ; ) And to remember what a "trooper" she was, didn't even shed a tear. Yes, we 3 have had our "moments," but it all comes along with "parenthood." She has made our lives more complete. And we wouldn't change a thing!! She is usually a happy and outgoing child but...she does have an attitude! And boy, do we see it! Maybe it's the "terrible two's," or maybe not...who knows. Either way, that's the way GOD made her and that's the way we LOVE her!!!! She was most certainly made and created for us! And we thank GOD everyday for her.

6 months ago...

Today...

Another "anniversary"...one year ago today, our "furry" daughter, Lola, came to live with us. Yes, we had a very rough start but now...she is SO loving with us and is protective of her sister, Crystina. Lola is our "guard" dog, all 8.5 pounds of her. She truly is a great dog, and she is really good with Crystina...since day one! About 3 weeks after she came home with us, we found out she was pregnant (she was preggy before we got her). And on April 24th, she had 5 puppies, she did SO good and was a very loving, protective mother. We did keep one of the pups, the biggest one...Bertha. Who is just as loving and playful!


Here are a few pictures of Lola when she came home with us. Enjoy!!!

Well, another month has passed by and we can't believe how quickly it has gone by. But then again, it feels like just yesterday that Crystina was placed in our arms. It's weird and crazy how quickly time goes by.

Thank you for checking up on us. GOD bless!!!