Nearing our 100,000th hit!

I feel so humbled and blessed that so many of you have followed our journey with us. Who would have thought that when I started this little blog last January for a few family and friends I would have opened up a whole new world for myself. This new world is filled with wonderful friends all over the United States......people I didn't even know existed a year ago are now some of the best friends I have ever had. Natalie is my soul sista, and I would never have met her if we didn't have these blogs. I KNOW I would have never met Amy, Jami,Alisha, Karen, and Andrea in person, and we had wonderful times together. I will be friends with all these people for the rest of my life! AND so many others who I have never met but who are my friends just the same. I am honored to have all of you in my life. God does work in funny ways sometimes doesn't He? He has used this crazy internet and blogging to network us all together for our children, His children! How awesome is that??? I am just so thankful that all of you are here with us. Please check the counter over the next few days. If you notice that you are the 100,000th visitor PLEASE leave a comment!!!!

Love to you all,
lou

I had a fantastic birthday weekend....

Thanks to my dear hubby. Anne Pearce got me the sweetest camera! I LOVE IT! Of course, we've been playing with it ever since. We have a nighttime ritual, and we always read the book While You Were Sleeping. Anne Pearce loves all the baby animals in it. Andrew took some pics of us reading the other night, and I want to share. AP has not only been rolling her eyes, but making some other crazy facial expressions. I can't tell you how much we all adore this girl. She is the biggest blessing God could ever give our family! I am so thankful everytime I look at her. God is an awesome Father to us all....... So here's what you've been waiting for: new pics!

When we were waiting for Anne Pearce to come home I would go in her room and sit in her glider just DREAMING of the night she would be here, so I could read and rock her! It's such a miraculous feeling to actually DO these things with HER.

I love her more than words can say.


There's that book I love, Mommy!
You want me to read it to YOU? I'm only 9 months old for Pete's sake!
OK, I'll give it a go!
Do I have to give kisses AND read to you?

Seriously people, what ARE we gonna do with this Mommy of mine?
Oh man, I just can't get over myself!
They are STILL taking pictures of me!
Back to reading, There's that baby owl.

OK, my kid's a genius. I SWEAR that I was asking her where the moon was and she was pointing. I have more pics of proof......AP loves to read books!
Look how she's laughing counting the elephants!

Would you please get out of my face, mommy?

Amy Tennant Rocks!!!!

Edited: That is Mia crying...not AP....she loves the Baby Hawk
She rocks for many reasons, but she introduced me to my Baby Hawk baby carrier. She was sweet enough to leave it for me in GC, and I left it for Nat. We ordered my new one from GC, and I couldn't WAIT for it to get here! It is wonderful..... Today I was actually dressed with make-up and hair dried by 10:15. I assure you that is no small feat, and it was all due to the infamous Baby Hawk. This video is from when Amy and I were in GC together. She filmed me putting it on for the first time....I look like I goober, but you guys should be used to that by now. Amy, I love you, and I miss you. You gave me not only the BH but Retin-A! Have you gotten anything monogrammed for Mia yet? If not Auntie Lou will be sending something in the mail!

BTW, I have gotten better with the carrier....it doesn't take me 10 minutes to put it on anymore!

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And the winners are:

Giveaways are SO MUCH FUN!

The big pile

AP dives right in!
Keely! Donna!

I am going to email Stacy at Little Clippies and let her know who the winners are. I'll email Donna and Keely the codes for check out! CONGRATS!!!!!! Anne Pearce is still busy playing with the ballots!!!!! Who knew paper could be such fun?? ALSO, IF YOU ORDER BOWS, PLEASE TELL STACY THAT I SENT YOU.

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!

Hey everyone! This is actually Natalie leaving this post...Lou has NO idea I'm doing this...he, he! That's what she gets for trusting me with her username and password ;)

It is Lou's birthday today! Please join me in wishing her the happiest birthday ever! I know it's going to be a special one this year with Anne Pearce there to celebrate with the rest of their wonderful family!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOU!!!!
WE LOVE YOU!!!!

(She's blowing a kiss to us...if you were wondering!)

Hair Bow Giveaway!!!! and edited to add photos and video from today...

Do you ever wonder where Anne Pearce gets all her cute hair bows??? My pal, Stacy, at Little Clippies makes them..... They are beautiful, and you CAN'T BEAT Stacy's prices.... She has given me 2 $10.oo gift certificates to giveaway!!!! $10.00 goes quite far at Little Clippies. Just leave me a comment, and Anne Pearce will draw 2 names on Sunday afternoon at 6:00 pm! If you order something please tell Stacy I sent you there.

My sister, Jenny, is visiting from Orlando. She met Anne Pearce for the first time Wednesday. They have been becoming buds over the last couple of days...Today we went to (yes, Nat) one of my favorite places, Mary Ann's, to eat lunch. Yes, Nat, we DID have Mississippi Mud. Hayden and I split a piece. Anyway, everyone in the restaurant stopped to speak to Anne Pearce. MISS AMERICA!!!!

Aunt Jenny and Anne Pearce

Look how sweaty AP's hair is!

If you ever wondered what I looked like at 16 look at my niece, Olivia. What happened to me??

Anne Pearce has never been a kissy kinda baby until today! I make this kissy kissy sound, and she lays one on me....Here's proof:

Warning: Baby Slobber Ahead!

Words can't even describe how much I LOVE this girl!

Andrew and I then decided to try for a kissy self-portrait...It didn't work out so well. Logan to the rescue!

AP saw me pucker and leaned in for the sugar!

Finally, my boys will do ANYTHING to make AP laugh. In this video the boys are fake gagging, and she thinks it's hysterical:

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Here's to you, Aunt Nat!

You all probably remember Nat's reaction to sweet tea....NOT GOOD. HOWEVER, Anne Pearce had her first taste last weekend. Wait until you see her reaction!!!! It's noisy in the restaurant, so just check out her facial expressions. If you turn it up really loud you can hear her saying MMMMMMM and Mama. Edited; I just watched that video and have decided that I MUST have that mole removed from my forehead! Why didn't any of you tell me how bad it is???

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Karen and Sweet Abbie need our prayers!

I don't know all what happened, but I do know that Abbie received a kick out from the US Embassy in Guatemala. It's time to rally, guys! Karen and Abbie need us to pray them home! PRAY! PRAY! PRAY!!!!!

Cheers to Harry Potter! and edited with new news~

I just finished the last book and had tears streaming down my cheeks as I finished it. It's so sad to me knowing this is the END.......no more books.....I feel like one of my friends has gone away forever. Corny??? Yes, I know, but I have been a Harry fan since book 1. My sister, mom, Logan, and I all read and discuss for months! We love it. It's been much harder to read this one with a VERY active 9 month old, but somehow I managed it. Nat has been furious with me.......I haven't been talking on the phone or anything! Every spare second has been spent reading. Now I can re-enter the non-magical world.....ALTHOUGH it would have been fabulous to have a magic potion that would make AP sleep! Tomorrow we are going to have her pictures taken by a photographer with Celebrating Adoption. Anne Pearce is the first adoptive baby that this photographer is doing, and we're very excited! I'll let you know how it goes. I also promise to take some new AP pics this afternoon to post.......

I just got off the phone with Nat.....It's official....she, Kennedy, and Bella are coming for 10 days in October! We are going to Guatoberfest together, and then we're coming back here to hang out. They will be here for Anne Pearce's first birthday!!! We are so excited. We are going to have the girl's one year portraits done together on the beach. How perfect is that??? Bella will turn 1 the day after they leave..... I can't wait to take Kennedy to all of our favorite places. As fun as that will be, I don't know if we'll ever have a cab ride like the ones in Guatemala! I am so thrilled!!!!!

3rd time's a charm!!!!

Yep! You guessed it!!! Anne Pearce slept all night. She did wake up a few times and whimper, but she put herself back to sleep. We never even had to go in the room!!! SLEEP= PURE BLISS!!! She went down at 9:00 last night and slept until 8:00 this morning!!! WHOOO HOOO. Now mommy has to get used to sleeping again. My body seems to be on the same schedule as hers was. I couldn't fall asleep myself until after midnight. It may not have helped that I am a Harry Potter lunatic and had the last book! Don't tell me anything about it if you know what happens!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Anyway, things are better at our house this morning. You know I'll keep you updated!

Sleep???? REJECTED!!!!!

Long story short......AP slept until 11:45, then the rest of the night was horrible. She cried and cried and cried and cried. She cried when we were in there with her. She cried when we were patting her. She cried when we left the room. She would eventually fall asleep for a while, and then it would start again. SURELY last night was the worst. She woke up happy as a lark this morning and had a decent morning nap. It's almost afternoon nap time, and I still have my pajamas on!!!!!! Hopefully Miss Priss has turned a corner, and now it will only get better. I'll keep you posted. Also, SHOUT OUT to Cameo.....She met Valentina for the first time yesterday. I have been blog stalking in all my "free time" for pics. I love you, Cameo and V!!!!!

Operation Sleep: Night 2......

Edited to add: Obviously Little Princess was NOT ready for sleep at 8:30; out of crib at 9. Played with mommy and daddy until NORMAL bedtime of 9:45.......Took another bottle, and went down like a champ. Now, we'll see how long she actually stays asleep......
It's 8:30. I just rocked Anne Pearce for a while and put her in her crib awake. She was fine for a while, but then the crying started. She keeps crying Mama and whimpering. I go in every minute or so to let her know I'm still here. She is just SO tired! Pray!!!!!!!

Well, last night was better, but still far from normal.

Anne Pearce did sleep better and longer last night. She did have quite a fit around 2 am. Her daddy kept reassuring her that we were there and everything was alright. After about 45 minutes she was happy and started playing! About 45 minutes later she fell back asleep on her own and slept until 7:00. She whimpered a little then slept until 10! This schedule isn't perfect by any means, but we'll work on it after she gets used to sleeping through the night again. I am so thankful for my wonderful hubby who has let me sleep for the last 2 nights. I find it hard to sleep for worrying about her, but I am getting more than I have been.
AP had her first visit to our favorite ice cream place today: Mr. Gene's Beans. Here are a few pics:

I'll do some tricks for you if you'll give me a bite!

I'll do more tricks.............
Here is our sweet friend, Sabrina.



My toes are tasty too!
Playing with my friend, Sutton, while my mommy got her hair cut.