A case of the sillies!

She was cracking herself UP! :) Gotta love that laugh and those dimples & smile!

Being really GOOFY!

On the run....again!

Going post crazy...

Here's a few more pictures of my princess.

She LOVES this work bench and all of the tools that Mama got (Free!) from the wonderful ladies at work! (Thanks Sue!!)

Cupcake CUTIE:
She was loving the little cupcakes on her pants and was wanting me to take her picture WITH them. :)

I have a few more pictures, I'll try to upload them this weekend or something!
I'm also going to work on spicing this blog up as much as I can (haha). I've already added the song playlist on the side. Some of those songs really bring on the tears! :*) Happy ones!

Grandparents

I wanted to take a moment to share some photos of the most precious people in our lives (in addition to my "year in review" post below These two photos are from Spring '07). The first pictures is Adriana and her "great" grandparents. (My Gramps & Gram). The bond and attachment that I share with these people is one of the most amazing in my life. I always had a great time with my Gramps and Gram growing up. I'm so thankful for them and all that they've done for me. I really hope to be 1/4 of the person that they are. (I'd still be one hell of a person! I'm telling you, they're two of the most AMAZING people you'd ever meet in your life!) We miss them like crazy right now (they're in Florida for the winter...) I'm just so thrilled that they're around to enjoy my daughter. I know that she'll cherish them as much as I do. I hope that I can live up to their expectations as a Mother. (Yes, their approval means something, a lot actually, to me.) We love you two, LOTS! Here's another set of special people to Adriana and I. My parents. Adriana's Nana & Papa. Without them, I don't know where I'd be. The love and support that they've always given me, I'm thankful beyond words. I consider my Mom to be my best friend (other than Chasity of course, haha, Love ya Mom!). We do have "issues" sometimes, but I really wouldn't trade MY Mom for anything (even her kissing and "leaching"..inside joke and for those that know my Mom, will know what I'm talking about). And My Dad? What can I say. He's done SO much for me in my life. Just taking me in and raising me as his own.....Wow! It takes a special man to be my Daddy and he's done it. He's done more than "step up to the plate". He hit a HOME RUN!! He's been there for me, thru everything! I never knew how someone could love a child so much that wasn't "biologically" theirs. (Yes, I questioned how he could love me if I "wasn't his" even though I knew he loved me!) But...after adopting, I now know. Adriana IS my daughter. Just like I am my Dad's daughter. Children are Gods gift to us, no matter how we become parents. Genetics does not create the bond. Love and happiness does. When I got married and my Dad "gave me away" (I knew I'd always be "Daddy's Girl" though, married or not!) I often dreamt of the day that I could hand them MY child, their first (or I was hoping I'd beat my brother to the punch anyway! LOL) grand child. That dream came true in June 2005. Watching them with Adriana, and seeing the way her eyes light up when she's with them, it makes my heart warm. (Yes, I know, some of you have questioned if I even HAD/HAVE a heart in there when I was growing up..but its there. My daughter has brought that joy out in me). I really hope that Adriana can develop as great of a bond with them that I had with my Grandparents growing up. She loves her Nana & Papa SO much!

Adriana has brought joy into the lives of everyone that knows her. She's such a beautiful little princess. NONE of us could imagine our lives without her in it. The smile on her face, the laughter in her belly, twinkle in her eye...right down to her "hitch hiker" toe (another inside joke!). She's perfect. I am so lucky to be called HER Mama! I love you Bean. We have many more fun years ahead of us and I look forward to our life together.

I don't say it enough but, Gramps and Gram & Mom and Dad...THANK YOU for everything!

Hugs!

WE love you ALL!

Shawna & AnaBean

2007 in review!

Laurie had a great blogger idea, so I thought I'd steal it. It's basically "2007 in review"! I've posted pictures of my little princess throught the year of 2007. It was so fun to flip back thru all of the years photos and relive those sweet memories and silly times. I did shed a few tears thinking (and seeing) about how quickly the time is passing (but they were HAPPY tears). The days FLY by....now that I'm a Mama! It's hard to believe that 2007 is behind us. Wonder what 2008 has in store?!

Anyway, Here's the photos!

January: Those silly pictures had her laughing SO hard!

The Diva in February:
March (on Easter)
She definitely is THE "Guatemalan Princess" as her shirt claims!

Mama's Princess. How could one resist those dimples?!

May: (Happy Birthday Mama!)

June:

July: Summer fun, days filled with popsicle eating at Grandpa and Grandma's house. Here, cousin Carter is sharing her flip flop :) (She didn't look as thrilled about it as he did though!)

August: Fair + PONY rides=1 VERY happy little lady!

September: So silly. Daddy's work boots are HEAVY!

October

November: The joys of a card board box. She plays in here for hours! :)

December: (Happy 3rd Birthday My Sweet Daughter)

Mama & Daddy love you, so very much!

We are so blessed to be able to call this little miracle OUR daughter. She truly is amazing (beyond words!) and we thank the Lord for letting us share our hearts and love with her, daily.

Even with all of the negative press these days, Guatemalan Adoptions can (and hopefully continue to) stay open and bless many parents with the love of a child, much like what we share with our precious Adriana.