2006 was a whirlwind year for Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt (aka "Brangelina"). The pair begun the year by announcing that Angelina was pregnant with Brad's child; and finished the year by continuing on with their humanitarian efforts across the globe.

The pregnancy announcement came in January, and shortly after Pitt officially adopted Jolie's two adopted children, Maddox, four and Zahara, one. Jolie's friend, Fugees singer Wyclef Jean, was one of the first to congratulate her. The couple visited Haiti on a UN Goodwill trip, and Jean's Yele Haiti Foundation charity is one that Jolie passionately supports.

Jolie also told the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that she is apalled that the US hasn't signed a UN charter on children's rights. She said, "I am absolutely ashamed Washington has not formally ratified the 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child... Children should have an education. People should have a right to seek asylum. This has become very important to me." Angelina Jolie Believes Every Child Deserves a Good Education

Brangelina's humanitarian efforts continued throughout the early part of the year. In April, Jolie, a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador, took out a large ad in USA Today to help draw attention to the violence in Darfur, Sudan. She told People Magazine that the reason she took out the ad was because "when Congress returns from recess, they have the chance to fully fund peacekeepers in Darfur. The situation in Darfur has been going on far too long. It's only getting worse. Reports are pouring in about mass atrocities including children getting raped and killed. If people are aware of the facts, I believe many will be driven to action." Jolie also contacted Prince Charles of England several times about the situation.

She also gave a speech at Peter Gabriel's "Witness" gala to focus on the plight of refugees in Sierra Leone; asked Laura Bush for more education funds by influencing her husband; and she revealed she is planning to help build a pediatric AIDS center in Ethiopia after witnessing the plight of orphans there when she adopted her daughter Zahara.

In April, the couple announced that they would spend the last months leading up to the birth of their baby living in a lodge in Namibia. Africa is a special place for the couple, as they first vacationed there while rumors of their relationship were circulating; and Jolie first took custody of son Maddox there in 2002, and then adopted Zahara, in 2005. The family was guarded by lions and other wild animals to keep the press from getting too close, and they arranged the closing of the roads around the hideaway. The move angered locals in the area though, prompting them to call for a nationwide ban on Brangelina.

On May 27, Angelina gave birth to a daughter and named her Shiloh Nouvel Pitt-Jolie. They thanked the Namibian government by donating $300,000 to local hospitals and made a second donation of $15,000 to a local school and community center. The family returned to California in June, and in order to counter the demand for baby photos, the couple decided to undercut the paparazzi and sell the pictures themselves, getting $5 million, which will go to charity.

Eventually the two returned to acting, and while in India filming A Mighty Heart, the big-screen adaptation of Mariane Pearl's best-selling book about her late husband, journalist Daniel Pearl, who was killed by Islamic extremists, Pitt was getting dirty with Habitat for Humanity helping build homes in the western part of the country. The couple also visited an Indian orphanage, sparking rumors that the two were set to adopt again.

But Brad and Angie weren't the only two stars adopting children. Pop queen Madonna caused a controversy when rumors she was adopting a Malawian baby broke. She denied the rumors, but ultimately they were true and she adopted a 13-month-old boy named David Banda. The process was heavily scrutinized and the legitimacy of the adoption was questioned, but ultimately the Material Girl returned home to England with her new child. The singer is currently looking to adopt a baby girl; however, husband Guy Ritchie's father claims that another adoption could ruin the stars' marriage.

Also expressing their interest in adoption were Lost star Evangeline Lilly, Halle Berry, Jessica Simpson and Renee Zellweger; however, none of them have followed through with their plans. Latin hearthrob Ricky Martin also has plans of adopting, and his Ricky Martin Foundation is already helping house Indian children; and supermodel/reality show host Tyra Banks claims it's been her lifelong ambition to adopt and defends herself by saying she hasn't just "jumped on the celebrity bandwagon."

Jolie is currently starring opposite Matt Damon in The Good Shepherd and is set to star in the animated Kung Fu Panda, and the film adaptations of two classics, Beowulf and Atlas Shrugged. She's also signed on to reprise her role as adventurer Lara Croft inTomb Raider 3. Pitt is currently in the Oscar contender Babel with Cate Blanchett, and is set to star in The Doctor, The Tornado & The Kentucky Kid; The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford; Ocean's Thirteen; and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

Both Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have recently said that they want more kids. They are hoping to add a few more to the pack in 2007. He said, "I'm not joking around. I have three kids now and by next year, I'll have six. Nine. We're looking at a soccer team. I want to compete in the World Cup."

Get all the year's news on Brangelina:
Angelina Jolie News Archive
Brad Pitt News Archive