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!!!

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!