My baby girl turned FOUR on the 26th.

Here she is in November 2005 in Medellin, Colombia when we first met.

How far we've all come in the past 3 1/2 years.

She has gone from being Will's punching bag (of sorts) to a co-conspiritor, the leader of their little gang of two. It is Marianna who is likely to be the brains behind their naughty little escapades. The tiny evil mastermind leading her innocent big brother astray.

She is strong-willed, smart, outgoing and a very quick learner. She picks things up so quickly it takes my breath away. She is loving when she wants to be, everything on her terms only. Her way or the highway. If she chooses to use her powers for good instead of evil the possibilities for the future are limitless.

Happy birthday, my sweetheart.

My baby boy turned TEN on Saturday.






















It's a bit hard to believe. Sometimes it seems like only yesterday we got THE CALL to say there was a little baby boy waiting for us in Guatemala City (what an exotic place that seemed at the time). He waited and waited, sixteen months to be precise. We waited eleven months from the time we got the call to the day we first held him in our arms.

What a tiny little thing he was. More like a six month old than a sixteen month old. Everything was new to him and for us. What a huge adventure we've been on together these past eight and a half years!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, my gorgeous brave big boy. I wish for you a full life full of love and friends and wonderful experiences.