Crystina's birthday party...

Crystina turned 2 on Sunday...and we celebrated with lots of family and friends! We held it at Blanchard Park and had such an awesome time...we also had very good weather.

Tinkerbell even made a special appearance and she did so much with all the kids...and some "big" kids too. ; ) She face painted, played games, sang some nursery rhymes and even did some balloon animals. She did such a wonderful job! Oh, and the Easter bunny stopped by for a few minutes to say "Hello." That was FUNNY!!

Overall, I think Crystina and ALL the kids really enjoyed her party...I know we did. And we had such a great turnout! I want to THANK everyone that was there...THANK YOU!!!

Enjoy ALL the pictures...lots of them!!

The cooks!!

Crystina getting her face painted.

Angelica RobianaAydenTaylor

Alexa Samantha JeovaniLuis

Yashila

Diana

my mom, Carmen

Angelica

Melissa

Jessica

Crystina...love this picture!

So many bubbles!

Enjoying the bubbles! Crystina & Angelica Playing a toss game with Tinkerbell

Go Taylor!

Go Ayden!

Oops! ; )

wings!!

The Easter bunny!!

Getting ready!

There they go!

Singing nursery rhymes

Having fun with the animal puppets

Crystina's ladybug

WOW!!

decorating her own cake

Jesiah & Ayden...being silly!

the yummy cake that my mom made

mommy, Ethan, Crystina & daddy

Crystina & daddy

Singing "Happy Birthday!!"

blowing out the candles!

just doing a "taste check"

Our family

Having fun at the playground...

Crystina

Nayaliz

Taylor

Ayden

Ethan...sleeping

Beautiful birthday girl!
They did it!!

Checking her dirty feet... ; )

The birthday girl with all her gifts.

Happy 2nd Birthday Crystina!! May GOD always bless you and protect you!! We love you more than you'll ever know!! Hugs & lots of kisses!

Mommy, Daddy & Ethan

Happy Birthday Crystina!!

Today our baby girl is 2! She is such a big girl but yet such a baby. We will be celebrating with lots of family and friends at a nearby park this afternoon and we are so excited! We have been singing "Happy Birthday" to her during the week, so she won't get shy when the times comes, and she loves it...she even pretends to blow out the candle when we are done singing.....TOO CUTE!!

Today is bittersweet, in the sense that...WE are here celebrating Crystina's birthday and enjoying EVERY minute of it but yet there is this beautiful woman on the other side of the world probably wondering how her little girl is doing on this special day. 2 years ago today this woman gave birth to OUR (hers and ours) daughter and then she gave the ultimate sacrifice. I have been thinking alot of Crystina's birthmother recently...I don't know if it's because Crystina's birthday was quickly approaching or just recently giving birth and not knowing how she (Crystina's birthmother) did it. I know I will NEVER know why but I am SO eternally grateful!! I just hope and pray that GOD lets her heart know that our daughter is SO loved and well taken care of, that she is full of life and is SO happy, she makes us laugh every day. We will always provide for her, always! And may GOD give Crystina's birthmother the comfort she may need to get through this day.

I will post pictures of the birthday party soon. So check back. GOD bless!

Going solo...

So, this is the first time that I've been alone with the kids since Ethan was born. Yes, it's a bit scary but I'm still hanging on. I'm aware that Ethan was born over 3 weeks ago but I've had either Edgar or my mom with me...until today. Edgar had to go into the office today. : ( I've already called him and my mom several times. What can I say? This is all new to me. It was scary the first time I was alone with Crystina...and then I got used to it. So, with time (lots of it), I will get used to it...maybe Ethan will be 1 by then but...

Anyhow, I was checking up on the kids and dogs just a short while ago and this is what I found...

Crystina...

Ethan...

Lola...Bertha...

Yes, everyone is sleeping but ME! And I know as soon as I try to lay down, Ethan will wake up. Oh well, hopefully tonight I will be able to sleep for more than 3 hours.

GOD bless!

Happy Easter...

Happy Easter...from our family to yours!!

Our babies!!

Here are some recent pictures of our babies. These were taken last night, before bedtime.

Crystina checking out Ethan
So cute!!

Kissing Ethan goodnight

Goodnight...

More to come...soon!! God bless.

7 months ago today...

Seven months ago today, Crystina was placed in our arms!! We still can't believe how quickly the time as gone by. Seems like just yesterday we were in China picking her up. And how much she has grown in these months!! Unbelievable!! She is such a BIG girl...but still our baby girl!!

7 months ago...

Today...

We recently had our 6 month post placement...and it went very well. We can't imagine life without our Crystina! She has stepped into her role as "big sister" well...of course, we are dealing with "sibling jealously," which is expected. But overall, she is doing so well!! Crystina likes to "hold" her baby brother (with mommy's or daddy's arms, of course!!). And she kisses him so much.....BUT what I just love is the way she looks at him when she's "holding" him.......PRICELESS!!!!

GOD bless!!!