With their one year anniversary on the horizon, it’s high time for Nick Cannon to start showering his beloved wife Mariah Carey with gifts to let her know how much he cares. Firstly, we now know that Nick got his wife’s name inked in huge letters across his back (which, by the way, is the surest way to tempt fate to eff with your romantic relationship) and secondly, we learn that he also procured a new pet dog for his ladylove. Let the anniversary celebration begin!! Here are pics of Mr. & Mrs. Cannon frolicking together like the lovebirds that they are on a beach in Barbados (and of Nick proudly showing off his tattoo) and the deets about Mimi‘s new pet pooch:

Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon will celebrate their one-year wedding anniversary in May, after being secretly married last spring in the Bahamas. So what does a guy get the girl who has everything? “I got her a short-haired Jack Russell terrier,” he told Us Weekly. “A girl, named Cha-Cha. She’s 8 weeks.” Although Cannon laughed off rumors that he and Carey are expecting a baby, he did say that being married to her is “the most amazing thing ever. I couldn’t wish for anything else.” He even offered evidence of why the marriage is so great. “She’s the most incredible woman,” he said. “Being in a strong union and being there for each other is something that I’d never really experienced before, so to experience it with my wife is remarkable. We’re together as one, and that’s important to me.” The couple plan on getting away for their upcoming anniversary to a tropical locale, similar to the one where they were married a year ago. “We never went on a honeymoon,” he said. “So I guess I can tell you we’ll probably go to Barbados.” Cannon also recently spoke to “Extra” about the possibility of working with Carey on any music. “I am not worthy of being on a Mariah Carey record,” he insisted. “Please, we’re going to try to keep her career soaring. I can’t even step into the studio with that woman. She is incredible.”

Wow. I can’t even believe that it’s almost been a year already. It seems like just yesterday that we learned that Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon were secretly wed and here we are, on the verge of their 1st year anniversary. They say that the first year of marriage is the hardest but it seems like Mr. & Mrs. Cannon have made it thru with flying colors. Truth be told, I wasn’t sure if they were gonna make it a month let alone a year. Nick must really be sure that Mimi is the one for him because a tattoo that huge on one’s back is a serious commitment. Let’s hope that they never break-up because Nick would need some major skin grafting surgery to have that tattoo removed. BUT, let’s stay positive … I suppose congrats are in order for Mariah, Nick and little Cha-Cha. It’s not quite time for Happy Anniversary just yet but soon … hopefully.

[Photo credit: Splash News; Source]

The Hills are alive … again. With the 5th season of the MTV reality show debuting next Monday night, it’s about time that we got to check out the new cast promo photos for the upcoming new season. As you may be aware (those of you who have seen the season 5 preview trailer once or twice), Lauren LC Conrad and her ex-BFF turned nemesis Heidi Montag are back to being friends again … or something. Hey, the show needs a gimmick to get folks to tune in again, right? Here are a couple brand spanking new promo pics of LC and Heidi together again:

I understand that the promo photos for the past few seasons had to be Photoshopped so that the girls could be in the same frame (since they didn’t want to be photographed together). Now that all of that is water under the bridge, the girls are — once again — happy to be photographed together. Does this mean that all is forgiven? We shall soon find out. After the jump, check out new promo photos of the rest of the cast of The Hills, you know, if you wanna …

Here is our first look at the first photo of Madonna with the young girl, Chifundo Mercy James, who she is hoping to adopt in Malawi. As you may be aware, Madonna has journeyed to Malawi in order to begin the adoption proceedings so that she can add little Miss Mercy to her family (as well as bring her adopted son David Banda back to his homeland to be reunited with his biological father Youhane) but up until now we haven’t been able to see Maddy and Mercy together. While touring the orphanage that has been home to Mercy for the past few years, Madonna was able to spend time with the little girl who is likely to become her daughter … behold:

LITTLE Mercy James looks back at her orphanage home as she walks away to prepare for her new life as MADONNA’s adopted daughter. The Queen of Pop was pictured with Mercy for the first time yesterday as authorities began finalising the adoption arrangements. Four-year-old Mercy held the hand of new sister Lourdes, 12, as she enjoyed her first family outing. They were surrounded by a posse of minders, but Mercy — wearing a blue dress — was seen laughing and smiling as she joined her new family. Madonna spent over an hour in Malawi’s High Court on Monday, when she told Judge Esme Chombo she would be “a deeply loving mother” to Mercy, whose Malawian name is Chifundo. In adoption papers seen by The Sun, Madonna says: “To deny Chifundo the opportunity to be adopted by me could expose her to hardship and emotional trauma which is otherwise avoidable.” The judge will give an official ruling on Friday — but Madonna, 50, has already been told that her application will succeed. The pop queen is due to fly to Britain on Saturday — and has told staff at her London home to “prepare for the arrival of my new little girl”. Madonna celebrated Monday’s successful meeting by throwing a dinner party at her luxury lodge. A charity worker who attended the bash said Madge was drinking wine and hugging her staff — while her adopted son David held Mercy’s hand and ran around excitedly telling guests: “This is my new sister.” The source said: “Madonna looked incredibly proud and happy, and David was so funny — he couldn’t leave Mercy alone and pulled her around all the guests.” Eight-year-old brother Rocco — Madonna’s son with ex-hubby GUY RITCHIE — has also been helping to welcome Mercy into the family by playing with her in the gardens of the lodge. A senior Malawian official yesterday confirmed that Madonna had been told Mercy was hers. The official told The Sun: “This is all very confidential, and Judge Chombo must still make her ruling — but that ruling will be in favour of Madonna. “Madonna is a very good mother and ambassador for Malawi. She has improved the lives of thousands of orphans.” The approval comes after The Sun told how Madonna had recruited two of Malawi’s leading politicians to help secure her second adoption.

Whether or not this report of Madonna‘s adoption being a “done deal” is true, I think it’s very telling that Madonna and her children are being allowed to spend time with Mercy James. If officials are fine with the little girl getting to know and spend time with her prospective new family then it seems to me that they’re pretty much on board with approving the adoption. I can’t believe that they would be OK with letting the little girl get close to her possible new family if there was any chance that the adoption might not go thru. Not that I really doubted that Madonna would be approved for her adoption but the photo says more to me than this report does. This may be the first photo of Madonna and Mercy but it surely won’t be the last. What a beautiful family Madonna is making for herself. Madge and her children are very lucky to call Mercy James one of their own.

[Source]