Taking A Little Break From Blogging

Look at the shirt that Doug found for Briana. It says "I'm A Social Butterfly". Ain't that the truth!

Below are some pictures that I snapped of Briana the other day. Sometimes I can't believe how much Bri smiles and laughs. When I see her smile, it makes me so happy. I guess Doug and I are doing something right! :)

Well, I have decided to take a short break from blogging. I have lots of things in my life to catch up on and lots of playing with Briana to do. I spend a lot of my time blogging, and I think it is the right time for me to go on a little hiatus. It was very important for me to chronicle on this blog as much as I could about Briana's first year with me and Doug. Now that we have hit a year, I feel now that I can slow down just a tad. And I just realized that on Briana's gotcha day anniversary that I have been blogging for two whole years. WOW. This blog certainly became much bigger than I ever dreamed it would, and I have "met" more wonderful people online than I ever imagined. I won't desert you for too long. Maybe a couple of weeks - if I can last that long! And I may still lurk at some of your blogs in the meantime!

I am leaving you with a few pictures of my beautiful, smiley girl before I go.

And before I take my break, I want to say a big THANK YOU to my bloggy gal pal from The Long Road to China. She sent Briana the most beautiful shirt and adorable beach bag for her birthday a few weeks ago. Oh, and I got a special gift too! I definitely plan on using the bath fizz while I am on a break! Thank you so much my friend!

See you all on the flip side! Be back soon!

Bullets - Catching Up & Lots Of Pics

* The above pic was taken several months ago at the mall. It's really cute, and I realized I never posted it.

* Here are a few pictures of my dad's birthday at the end of July. My parents, my sister and brother-in-law, my brother-in-law's parents and Doug, Bri and I all got together for some delicious japanese food and present opening. Oh - and I told my brother-in-law's mom that I would say hi to her on my blog - "Hi Joanne!" :)

* At my dad's birthday party, Briana enjoyed Uncle Andy throwing her in the air. She was really catching some air - and I was trying not to panic. Of course, Briana absolutely loved it and kept wanting more. She is fearless I tell ya...



* We spent a very nice morning with Doug's parents this past Saturday. We enjoyed some unusually nice weather and relaxed out on our back porch. We then all headed to an Italian restaurant where Briana feasted on pizza, linguine with clam sauce and cannoli for lunch. This kid has a hollow leg. I know it.

* And here are a few pictures of Briana's Gotcha Day anniversary. My mom, Bri and I went over to visit my grandmother and took her out to lunch. Later that afternoon, Briana sat for a few minutes and watched her gotcha video. Then Briana, Doug and I went to eat Chinese food that night to celebrate!

* Last Thursday, Briana and I were able to meet our friends Amy and Kevin's beautiful daughter Mary Lin that just came home from China. Gosh she is such a cutie! I know the girls will be playing a lot together!

* And this Friday will be Briana's second gymnastics class. Just pray for me...LOL!

Seeing A Resemblance?

I bought Season 1 of "The Muppet Show" for Briana for her birthday. Um, is there a resemblance or is it just me?

3 Words

Yesterday marked the one year anniversary of Doug and me coming home with Briana. Sometimes, I can't believe Briana has been living with us an entire year. But then when I look at the toy bomb that my house has become, I totally can! This little girl has brought so much life and happiness to our lives. I can't even imagine her not being here now. It has been a truly amazing year.

Beijing Olympics and First Gymnastics Class

Here is Briana on her way to our first Mommy and Me gymnastics class. We dressed in our Beijing Olympics t-shirts because we are so excited that the Olympics are starting tonight!

I truly believe that Briana could be an Olympian if she put her mind to it. When we entered the gym, her face lit up and with her normal Briana gusto, she tore through the gym like a tornado. Balance beams, ladders, bars - you name it, should could do it. But there is just one problem...

Briana doesn't like to do things in the order she is supposed to.

You know, like follow directions and all.

There was an obstacle course set up at the gym that she was supposed to follow. And (insert laughing here), she is actually supposed to wait her turn when someone else is using the equipment. Uh, ok, right. Surprisingly, she actually did do the course correctly a couple of times. She went through the course at lightning speed, lapping several other kids. I mean, what is the fun in doing something if you are not doing it at 150 miles per hour, right? But after about 3 times of doing it the right way, she wanted to do what she wanted to do. There were trampolines and a foam pit that she spotted about the third time around the obstacle course. Why do stupid somersaults and balance beams when you can catapult yourself into a huge foam pit? That is what she wanted to do. Finally the instructor said they could go in the pit - thank goodness. So, Briana would jump on the trampoline, thrust herself into the foam pit, then beg mommy to pull her out of the foam pit. Trampoline, foam pit, mommy pull her out of the foam pit. You get the picture. 45 minutes went like a flash. I think I lost 10 pounds in those 45 minutes. I was sweating buckets. How many "Briana no's" and "Briana wait your turn's" can someone say in 45 minutes. Not sure - I lost count...

I am really happy Angela and Laney are in the class too. It was nice seeing familiar faces when I was starting to wear out.

So, I think our Olympic dreams are on hold until Briana can follow directions and stay calm for 5 seconds. Not sure when that will happen - please let it be soon.

I am so in love with this child. Even though she is killin' me.

Bri's Birthday

As you all know by now, Tuesday was Briana's birthday. And what a great day it was! Here is a little photo recap of the day...

We opened cards in the morning and listened to Briana's new Zoom CD - compliments of Aunt Amy and Uncle Andy. (I listened to my Zoom record every year growing up as a kid!)

Daddy took the day off, so we all went to DAC kids in the morning (That's where Briana proceeded to fall off a ladder. She was fine but gave mommy a heart attack). Then we went to Zaxby's for lunch. Daddy made her glasses out of Wikki Stix that were in her kids meal.

She took a long nap after running around DAC kids, and when she woke up, Grandma and Grandpa came over to eat dinner with us. We ate at Briana's favorite Mexican restaurant. As you can see, she wasn't in the mood to take a picture - there was food to be eaten...

I LOVE tortillas!!!!

And she got a special dessert, along with a song and sombrero.

I am ready for my candles now...

Good gawd, I love opening presents!

Briana and Grandma

New presents - golf clubs and princess shoes. Nice combination!

The day was wonderful and amazing. But, I needed to do something that day. I lit a candle to remember Briana's birth parents. For without them, I would not have my precious daughter with me today. Bri's birthday is a celebration of her life, but it is a day of loss as well. The loss of her birth parents. I am sure that they were thinking about her on that day, as I was thinking of them. So, I lit a candle for the sacrifice they made - a sacrifice that I will be forever grateful for.

Happy 2nd Birthday Briana!

Happy 2nd Birthday to our sweet girl! Mommy and Daddy love you soooo much!

On Saturday, we had a birthday party for Briana. So many of Bri's friends came over to our house to have a big play date along with pizza and cupcakes. The kids partied like rock stars...

Thank you so much to everyone who came and brought her sweet gifts. Here is a special little message from Briana to you!

Lastly, here are some pics of Briana's great day!