We finally reach 12 months LID!

That there, folks, is the slow boat to China and we're on it!

It's been a long time coming, and a short walk around the block. It's been the best of times and the worst of times...(haha!) and I can't lie and say it was always easy, but I can't fib and say it was always hard...

Here's to us and our longevity in the pursuit of our daughter, Keira Joy!

And to the year of LID in pictures...(above)

Here's what we did with our year: (and this is only what I can remember, mind you!)

Took vacations to:

• San Antonio
• New York
• California for summer
• Disneyland
• New York again

Went to See:

• Mama Mia
• The Lion King on Broadway
• The Drowsy Chaperone on Broadway
• You're a Good Man Charlie Brown
• The Phantom Tollbooth
• Who Am I this time?
• Disney Princesses on Ice
• The Dallas Cowboys at Cowboy Stadium
  

Celebrated:

• Ab turning 36 (amended...my bad...35!)
  
• CB turning 32
• 12 LID's every 29th of the month
• our 5th wedding Anniversary
• Our 7th dating anniversary (don't laugh!)
• Living in our home and in Texas for 3 years
• Superbowl Sunday with 30 guests
• Working from Home!!

Said goodbye to:

• Bella
• Grandpa N
• Great Grandpa N
• Meggie, our kitty

Spent our Summer:

• Swimming all the time and reading by the pool
• Barbecuing and having friends over
• Football Camp in Arizona for a week
• Visiting California
  

Regular FUN:

• M3 Get-togethers
• Our pets crazy antics
• Getting a Secret Pal and spoiling mine
• Shopping for Keira
• Eating AB's yummy creations
• Church Choir and Worship Team
• Scrapbooking

Difficult Days:

• Watching our wait get longer and longer
• Having my father get so ill
• Being away from AB for a month while I was with my Dad
• Seeing Meggie for the last time and not knowing she wouldn't be back
• Walking in Keira's room and having her not be in there

Things I loved about this year:

• Meeting five of the greatest friends a girl could ask for and spending more and more time with them
• Watching Keira's room and closet grow and become beautiful
• Getting to go to New York, Disneyland, and San Antonio!!
• All the shows we got to see
• Hosting my cousin and her hubby while they came to adopt their son!
• Learning to play Wii and my DS Lite
• Sitting in bed and playing DS cards with my hubby
• Snuggling with my dogs every night at bedtime
• Having quiet morning coffee all to myself
• Serving at my Church
• Going in Keira's room and praying for her - just being in her room makes me feel closer to her
• Ushering in the New Year with all my M3 Posse and their hubbies

To say it's been a full 12 months, is a bit of an understatement. The odd thing is, I really didn't recall doing so much! I challenge anyone who is up to it, to create a slide show and list of how you've spent your wait - whether that be 14 months, 12, or six. If you take the challenge, be sure to post a comment here letting me know. I would love to see your year in pictures! and repeat after me...

"I will not let this wait get me down!!!" (most of the time, any way)

LOVE AND HUGS!
cb

A tribute to all of our wonderful pets...

When I sent out the invite for pet pictures, I had no idea so many wonderful pictures would come flowing my way. It was a very special creative project to be able to see all of your beautiful fur-babies come to life through photography. I would have liked to have posted the pictures much larger, but I think it would have taken all afternoon - so I made the images small, but hope you will click on each one to see the larger version and to really see the soul inside. These pets are amazing and isn't it even more amazing what they have brought and added to our families? I hope you will enjoy this tribute to some amazing "kids". Hugs and love - Christie

My babies - Chloe, Kaleigh and Anabelle

"Thousands of years ago, cats were worshiped as gods. Cats have never forgotten this." ~ Anonymous

"An animal's eyes have the power to speak a great language." ~ Martin Buber

Mya's beauties - Leon & Nikko

"Dogs come when they're called; cats take a message and get back to you later." ~ Mary Bly

Doris & Dan's little dog - Miss Daisy


Erin's babies - Raegan & Lucy

"Animals are such agreeable friends - they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms." ~ George Elliot

Robyn's big little man - Rowdy

"The greatest pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him and not only will he not scold you, but he will make a fool of himself, too." ~ Samuel Butler

Valerie's sweet new addition - Maggie

And her little angels - Corky & K.C.

"My little dog -- a heartbeat at my feet." ~ Edith Wharton

Melissa's Babies - Zeus & Jeter

“You think dogs will not be in heaven? I tell you, they will be there long before any of us” ~ Robert Louis Stevenson

My mom's dog - Miss Molly (sweetest dog ever!)

Erin's Mom's Dogs - Bonnibelle & Penny (Hi Gran!)

"The average dog is a nicer person than the average person." ~ Andrew A. Rooney

My Aunt Deany's darlings - Dexter, Mojo, Tica, and Tullulah the Bird

"Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole." ~ Roger Caras


"Who can believe that there is no soul behind those luminous eyes!" ~ Theophile Gautier

Kelley's Puppy - Miss Hattie

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." ~ Anatole France

Last call...

OK gals - last call for those wanting to get their fur-babies in on my pet tribute. I know some of you have e-mailed me to say you wanted to - so let's have them!

I'd like to go ahead and get the post up by tomorrow, so send em on ova, and check the previous post for my e-mail address and details.

Hugs,
Christie

On Second Thought...

I started thinking about how expensive professional photos are. Then I started thinking, "how hard can this be?" I grabbed up my little Canon Elph Powershot and went in search of the pets. What luck! They were all nestled on our bed, snoozing the afternoon away. They quickly woke up for their photo-op and here's what we came up with...not too shabby for a complete and utter photo amateur. If you have a favorite pet picture and would like me to re-create it the way I did here for free (just for you - all my bloggy pals!), e-mail your pic to me at scrapbooksweetie1@yahoo.com. I will fix it up and send it right back - then we can all have our babies looking top notch on our blogs! M3 Posse - you're up - send em' ova! (You too Colleen, Melissa, and Donna!) When we're done I will make a nice big post with all our babies with links back to your blogs - kind of a tribute, if you will, to our sweetie-pies...