Mmmmmmm...

...Diego Luna.



OMG HE'S SO YUMMY!






(You can see where my mind is at right now...
I should be in bed but MAN I can't stop thinking about that boy...
his shit eatin' grin, his lips, his body OMG I ADORE HIM!!!!)

Thank GAWD for LUCID DREAMING!
*evilgrin*
hehehehehehe
NIGHT'Y NIGHT!

Photo Mish-Mosh & Prayers Needed...

Ok, so here is how my daughter looked this morning as she made her daily call to my mom.

As you can see, she's already far too comfortable with a phone in her hands...
oh how the teenage years frighten me so!

Here is a nifty little number Ruby likes to call "Green Glasses"...
...she took a 'sand hourglass' magnet (aka: the timeout magnet),
and slapped it up on her referral pic on the fridge & said promptly:
"Momma! Ruby have a green glasses!!!!!"

Her imagination continues to blow me away...

And last but not least, since it is/was Tuesday night,
and Uncle Steve did come over, I'll share with you all a picture of tonight's dish.
Chicken Taco Stoup!
(and man was it DELISH!)

...so that's it for my random images tonight. Sorry that it wasn't more but it is what it is.
Also, please if any of you are compelled to believe in any sort of higher power, God etc... and believe in the power of prayer, please, PLEASE, keep both Ruby and me in your daily prayers. So much is going on right now and sadly it's just far too much to go into right now,
but let's just say that we truly truly need your prayers now more than ever,
and really, the more the better.
I thank you all in advance & pray right along side you for a happy ending to my current situation.
God bless you all.
-Amy & Ruby Cate.

Blogger ROCKS!

Ok, I have wanted to share this video with my readers for nearly two years now,
BUT because my last name was in it, I wasn't willing to put it on youtube.
(youtube being the only way I'd share videos on my blog until now)
But blogger just came out with this FANDAMNTASTIC new feature
that allows me to upload
MY OWN MOVIES
DIRECTLY ONTO MY POST!
How bitchin' is that?
So, Ruby's birthday is fast approaching & not only is it her birthday,
it's also the 2nd anniversary of my 'REFERRAL DAY'!

Only a few people have ever seen this footage of me receiving the call,
but now that I can share it here, I would like to with all of you.
Again, as with anything on my blog,
I ask that you please just enjoy it here
& not share it anywhere under any circumstances
& thank you in advance for respecting that...

...now, without further ado' I give you,
"The Call"
September 7th, 2005
(Ruby's 1st Birthday)

One Small Step For Potty Training...

...one GIANT step for STICKER CHARTS!
Have I mentioned how BEYOND PROUD I am of my girl?
Go Ruby GO!

A Very Special Day... *UPDATED*

Today, August 21st, 2007 was Ruby's FINAL step
in becoming part of our little FOREVER FAMILY!

In Massachusetts,
in order to obtain a birth certificate for your child from the town you live in,
you MUST re-adopt within said state.
All that meant to me was more paperwork,
as Ruby was my daughter the second I first saw her glorious little face
& those CHEEKS nearly two years ago.
My heart didn't need a judge or a piece of paper to tell me that she was my girl,
but it sure was nice to not only hear out loud but to also know that there will be NO MORE PAPERWORK!
YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW AMAZING THAT IS TO KNOW!

Below, is a little glimpse into our special day...
(Now that I can post this directly through Blogger,
I feel comfortable allowing it to say indefinitely,
and as always, with the understanding that it only be viewed in this forum
by my readers. Thanks!)

Ruby would like to thank her Auntie Jen (soon to be God mother Jen)
for this beautiful card! It means alot to us both!

Singing...

...Ruby style!

Cheezy or Timesaver?

Ok so here's the deal, Ruby's birthday is fast approaching
& I'm doing something different this year.
Yes, I'll still send out cute invites, that hasn't changed.
Yes I'll still have a 'cupcake tower' because frankly
that's just the easiest thing on the planet to NOT do!

But this year, rather than handle dozens of phone calls from eager party goers as to the best gift ideas for my little munchkin, instead I'm going to be sending everyone an email with THIS link.

It's by no means a 'must have' wish list.
On the contrary, it's just more of a guideline for those who prefer a little guidance,
as to not.

Last year I had call after call from people wanting to know what she'd like, what her size was, what she needed etc...
...and I don't mind the calls so much but what happened was that I started taking so many of them that I forgot who I told what to!
And that is where it got messy.
I didn't want that to happen this year, thus... the WISH LIST!

Honestly I prefer to look at it as my 'sanity provider' because quite frankly, my memory was total shit BEFORE my MS, people can't honestly expect me to remember what I said to who for how many cookies after the fact, now can they?

Oh, and if you're all wondering, yes, in addition to sending everyone the link, I also intend to put in the invitations the following 411:

Ruby takes a 3T & could really use some long sleeve tops
& colored socks if you'd prefer not to go the 'toy' route.
We look forward to seeing you all Sept 8th!

So, call it people, what do you think?
Cheezy or a timesaver?
And NO you won't be hurting my feelings to say it's cheezy, I'm just curious what others think from a 'guest's' point of view, cuz I know what I think from my Momma point of view...

Thanks!

So Sweet...

...tonight just before bed, Ruby ran up to me with tears in her eyes
and said: "Momma! Where Bear? He not here, I MISS HIM!"
Turns out he was in the playroom 'playing people' the whole time.
(right where she left him I might add...)
Funny how a little bear can cause such a big heartache.

If that isn't adorable enough, the other day she announced to me:



It's moments like these that make me smile from the inside out.
Man, do I love this kid AND her Bear!

Desperate Times Call For Desperate Measures...

...at least that's how the saying goes, right?
Well, I've reached the end of my rope, or more to the point, the end of my pull up!
Ruby knows how to use the potty.
She's used it several times, SUCCESSFULLY I might add!
She knows that when she goes, she gets a sticker & the whole process is praised beyond praised.
Apparently to a toddler, this just doesn't make much difference to her because as long as she knows she doesn't truly HAVE to do it, she's not going to.
I'm convinced that it doesn't matter if it's a diaper OR a pull up,
basically if it's ANYTHING that will catch the urine and trap it in some way, shape or form,
the kid just isn't going to be on board because kids are savvy and they KNOW that even if they kick & scream & downright REFUSE to use the potty, the really don't have to cuz Momma keeps providing them with said pull up/diaper.
NOT ANYMORE I SAY!
My child, STARTING TODAY, went from pull ups,
to DORA UNDERWEAR FIRST,
then the pull up.
(which sounds counter productive HOWEVER, it isn't... let me explain why.)
FIRST, the underwear is just regular old 100% cotton undies.
She pees, it gets cold & wet & UNCOMFORTABLE!
The pull up OVER the undies is just my own insurance plan so that I don't end up spot treating my couch, carpet, bed... etc.

Ruby only had to experience that feeling ONCE to know she DID NOT LIKE IT!
Needless to say this little girl of mine has used the potty THREE TIMES TODAY
&
been SUCCESSFUL EVERY TIME!
Her chart is LOADED with stickers and I'm loaded with SMILES FINALLY!
So much so that I've stopped putting the dates & just started letting her put stickers wherever she wants to stick them.
Every sticker on this chart represents a successful potty experience!
(No, she's not once done a poop on the potty yet,
but let's conquer one issue at a time, shall we?)



Now, I am, however, inundated with laundry up the Dora, HOWEVER I don't care!
If it means that my child is realizing that she can't play the 'lazy' card anymore & understands that she needs to use the potty for it's intended use, THEN BRING IT ON!

We have a little two step stool that she uses to get up to the sink to brush her teeth
and it conveniently has two little pull out drawers under each step!
(Bottom step houses extra undies & pull ups,
top step houses an array of stickers for her 'potty chart' on the bathroom door!)

Please everyone, keep your fingers, toes, eyes ... etc crossed for us!

Oh, and anyone with any potty training advice on what worked for them, feel free to share.
I know it must sound ridiculous that a Nanny like me with all the years experience I have is asking for advice but honestly, I just think it's totally different when it's your own child.
I NEVER had any trouble potty training any of the kids I've cared for over the years.
Ever.
Ruby?
Man am I getting a run for my money this time!
My mom just smiles & says:
"God has a sense of humor Amy... remember, you wet the bed till you were 11, that's alot of laundry!"
Thanks Ma, that's just what I wanted to be reminded of at a time like this... good times!

NOT!

True Story...

...so Ruby & I were all snug in my bed the other morning
& as she reached over & placed her hand on my arm she said:
"Momma?"
"Yes Ruby?"
"Momma, Ruby FUNNY!"
*smiling*
"Awwww sweetie, that's true, Ruby IS FUNNY!
And what about Momma? Is Momma funny too?"
Without skipping a beat she replies:
"Nooooooooooooo"
while giggling.
I look at her, mouth open, wide eyes & ask:
"Momma's not funny? What is she?"
Clear as a bell & as sure as she's ever been about anything, she answers:
"Momma LOUD."
Truer words have never been spoken.
*grin*
Beautiful AND HONEST!
My girl rocks...
hehehehe

What Is Going On With The Bridges These Days...?

First Wisconsin
& now this...

Bridge Collapse In China Kills At Least 22...

SO sad!

Ok People, Help Me Out Please...

...in this house, we've always been 'dog people', never once owned a cat.
Needless to say, I know lots about having a dog as a member of the family.
What they love, how they like to live, their favorite pastimes... etc.
But a cat?
Nada!
The only thing I know about cats
is sadly from one of Ruby's books.
It's one of her favorites & we read it several times a day, every day.
At the end of the story,
the two cats can be found snuggled in a cardboard box
much too small for them, yet, there they are,
all snug & toasty together, happy as peas in a pod.


Yesterday, after a trip to BJ's,
(in another attempt to try to help my daughter learn to love the potty)
we bought a box of training pants.
They have the 'feel wet liners' apparently they get wet AND cold!
*fingers crossed*
Anyhoo, as I was about to disassemble the box for recycling,
Ruby screams; "No Momma! I have a box!"
Ok then, so you get the box, that's kewl.
And, this is how she's been ever since I gave it to her.
Her and Bear, snug as bugs, in a box just a wee bit too small for them,
but happy as can be.

Maybe my kid was a cat in a past life?
Cats do dig boxes, right?

Eventually Happens Every Night At 9pm...

*ladybug on one cheek, rainbow on the other*

She never napped & was going, going, going all day like a trooper.
Triplets,
mass amounts of relatives & friends,
birthday celebrations,
swimming,
face painting,
dancing,
story telling,
side walk chalking',
sandbox'ing,
tricycle riding,
Nonno grilling,
salad eating,
milk drinking,
Nemo watching,
Bear loving...

I knew she'd crash EVENTUALLY!
Sleep well baby girl, Momma loves you.

Birthday... Cake?

How yummy does this little number look?


That's right,
my very first,
very own
BIRTHDAY FLOWER CAKE
from my friend Heather & her husband Tom!

Was a total surprise, and I knew immediately that it was flowers because the woman who delivered it was from a local florist I know very well.
So, when I opened it in front of the masses of family members gathered around me,
my cousin in law, Paul, pipes in:
"Man, that just looks too pretty to eat!"
I kinda smirked at first cuz I thought he was joking,
but turns out he didn't know it was truly made of flowers
& was excited at the thought of getting his very own slice.
I nearly pissed my pants!
I looked at him, smiled & said:
"Paul, if you'd like you may have the very first piece, I'll even cut it for you!"

He lit up like a Christmas tree...
"REALLY?!"
(He's 38, but you'd have thought he was 12 at that moment.)

"Yes Paul, really. I can't wait to see you enjoy it!"
By now family was laughing
& he started to catch on
& I told him why...

He laughed in spite of himself,
and said that eating it was probably not the best idea after all
but that it was a very pretty cake.
I wholeheartedly agree!

THANK YOU HEATHER & TOMMY FOR ONE HELL OF A BIRTHDAY SURPRISE!
It meant alot.
=)

PS. Was THIS

necessary?
Biotch!!!!
*grin*

LOVE YOU BOTH!

The Calm Before The Storm...

...yes, that is certainly what today is.
Why, you ask?
Because tomorrow, this house & yard will be filled to capacity
with family from all over the US!
Here's the list of attendants:

Me & Ruby
Nanny & Nonno
Uncle Adam, Auntie Leanne & Bella
Nanna T & Uncle Steve
Uncle Andy, Auntie Kris, Stephanie & Jennifer
Uncle Alan, Auntie Sue & Joshua
Uncle Bruce (my mother's brother) and Aunt Pricilla his wife.
My cousin Alison (Antie Allison to Ruby), her husband Paul,
& their 4 YEAR OLD TRIPLETS, Marissa, Olivia & Tori!

Now, if my math hasn't failed me,
that's 23 people and that's ONLY MY MOTHER'S SIDE!
Several of my Italian relatives may pop by as well...

...stay tuned, this could be what 'CRAZY' looks like!

*grin*

But seriously, my uncle Bruce only visits but once a year (he's from Wisconsin)
and my cousin Allison (previously from AZ but now currently in NH, couldn't take the heat)
also only pops in about once a year.
Goes without saying that they try to plan these visits simultaneously and although it doesn't always work out that way, this year... it has.

Tomorrow also happens to be my birthday.
I'll be 35 which is fascinating to me since I feel more like an overgrown kid.
How the hell did 35 creep up without me knowing it?
I guess when you're having fun with your beautiful child,
you tend not to worry about such silly things as time.

Then it got me to thinking... two years ago at this time, I was nannying Emma, Abi & Sam and waiting (albeit not so patiently) for Ruby's referral, which I foolishly thought would arrive sometime around my birthday.
I guess I just always thought that it would be fantastic to have it arrive then, as it would be the BEST birthday gift EVER!
Turns out, as fate would have it, Ruby first made her appearance into my life on Sept 7th, 2005, her very first birthday.
Here it was my little girl's birthday & she was giving me the best gift I ever received.

To this day I don't think that my birthday will ever register as important as it used to,
as now my favorite day of the year is my daughter's special day.

It's wild to me to think that we've nearly been together two years...
...I can't remember what my life was like before her.
I love you Ruby.
So much!

Peek-A-Boo...

...I see you Momma!

I love when I come across an outfit in her closet that I was unaware even existed.
This outfit is one of those fantastic surprises I found today
while putting some of her things away.
It was tucked in the way back hanging there all lonely.
I don't remember where I got it or if it was a gift from someone,
but I DO know that it is ADORABLE!
When I called her into her room to try it on, she went crazy for the HAT!
I didn't know she had such a love for them.
Perhaps we're on the verge of phasing out the bows
& replacing them with hats?

Never know with my girl...
...but whether it's a bow or a hat, she's still my beautiful girl!

(Now if I could only get her to love bath time...*sigh*)

No Comment...

...that's right, not a one.
Yes,
from now on,
emails only if you have something you'd like to share.
Otherwise, silence is golden.
Thanks for your understanding.
-Amy

Who Needs A Grocery Store...

...when you have a father who maintains a yard to envy any Italian's?
Ruby's Nonno makes sure every summer is filled with san marzano tomato's,
gorgeous hydrangea
&
fat juicy pears fresh for the pickin' straight from the tree!

(Ruby nearly started to eat one of those tomato's before we got it into the house!
She eats them like apples! That's my girl, an Italian American of Chinese descent!)
*big smile*

In A Combination Of Watercolor & Finger Paints, I Proudly Present...

...Ruby's Artwork!


(done in finger paint)


I initially asked Ruby what colors she'd like to make her hand prints in,
hoping she'd say maybe red or blue or yellow, an actual color... but not so much.
My girl smiled & as she's making one awesome mess on her first practice piece of paper, said:
"Momma, NO color! Ruby make a messy hand print, more FUN!"
How right she is... hehehe!

Our finger paint kit comes with red, yellow, blue and green.
In my attempt to teach her how colors, when mixed, create other colors, she pointed out to me that, "Momma, no need a mix yellow and blue, have green a-ready!"
So we do baby girl, so we do...


(This one above was actually done with Crayon first,
*courtesy of Momma who drew the shapes*
& then watercolor via a very small paintbrush.
Impressive her attempt to truly stay within the lines!)

(When asked what we should call this particular painting,
Ruby replied with a clever but simple: "This One!"
So be it.)
hehehe

Height, Weight & Cuteness Factor...

Ruby is somewhere between 37 & 38 inches tall...
(& yes that's my living room wall I write her stats on,
been doing it since groundhog day of 06.)

She's 30 lbs...

And is absolutely in LOVE with her new jammers!

Her Nannie bought them for her yesterday & yes, they are sock monkey ballerinas!

I never had those 'sock monkey' dolls when I was a kid,
always thought they were kinda creepy.

Ruby doesn't have one either,
but because they're ballerinas & the waist and ankle cuffs are pretty RUFFLES,
Ruby feels like a ballerina in them & that is all that matters!
(and FYI, that discoloration on her cheek is actually the remnants of a face painting I did yesterday for her of a ladybug, NOT a bruise. This ladybug makes the second one this week!)

Yesterday she actually told both me & her auntie Kristen
that she wants to be a ballerina for Halloween.
Kristen's mother is going to hand make the outfit & asked what color she wanted it to be?
Ruby proudly replied: "GREEN!"
(it is her favorite color)

Ten Things:

1. Never apologize for who you are.
Some people may like you, some may not, so be it.
If at the end of the your day you are happy with the way you conducted yourself,
that's all that matters.

2. Never talk behind peoples backs, there is no honor in that.
If you have something negative to say,
chances are you just should not say it.

If you must say it,
have the gumption to OWN your words & say them directly to said person.
If you can't find the courage to do that much, perhaps reread the beginning of #2.

3. Be happy with who you are & not who others perceive you to be.
Putting on airs to impress others is never impressive in the end.

4. If you are unhappy in your own life don't try to take others down with you,
because the truth is, if they are happy with themselves, nothing you attempt will be successful in bringing them down, period.

5. Don't validate yourself through the way others view you.
If everyone did that, nobody would be happy because I can assure you that everyone has someone who doesn't like them, yes... even you.
Try, perhaps, validation through self visualization,
after all, don't we know ourselves better than anyone else can possibly claim to?

6. Remember that the more you share of yourself with someone,
the more they learn about you as well,
so if you don't want people knowing intimate details of your life, keep them as such.

7. Judgemental people are usually that way because some aspect of their life isn't how they wanted it to be, sad but true.

8. Jealousy is never a part of true lasting friendships but more a sign of pettiness.
A true friend isn't jealous of what you have or how you live, but instead is happy for your happiness. If they're jealous & angry all the time, chances are it's more them & less you.

9. Don't be fake in an attempt to be accepted,
but rather have the courage to just be yourself knowing that you might not be accepted.
Being true to yourself 100% is what's important.
Sadly, not many share that sentiment.
It's unfortunate.

10. Never say things in anger,
usually you'll regret them later
&
the person to whom you've said them to
may not forgive or ever forget.

Ruby Speak, things I don't want to ever forget:

Sunscreen: 'sum-scream'
Milo & Otis: 'mi-no & loless'
Kitchen: 'chicken'
Emperor: 'empiner'
Ketchup: 'checkup'
Makeup: 'make-mup'

When Ruby first started to talk, one of the first words she was desperate to say was Moon.
However, she could not say moon, so she started calling it the BOON!

And now, last but not least, a song or two:
(actual song first, Ruby's version second...)

Snuggle puppy of mine
Everything about you is especially fine!
I love what you are, I love what you do,
Fuzzy little snuggle puppy, I love you!
Ooooo, I love you!


'snuggle puppy a mine,
evrysing bout you a fine,
wuv a you are
wuv a you do
snuggle a puppy
I wuv you!
ooooo I wuv you!'

&

Row Row Row your boat,
gently down the stream...
Merrily, Merrily, Merrily, Merrily,
life is but a dream.

Now, when we sing it we don't necessarily row a 'boat' down the stream,
but more often than not, sing it like this:

Row, row, row Bear gently down the stream...
etc.
Bear could also be Uncle Steve, Nannie, Nonno, Momma, Isabella, Uncle Adam etc...
Whoever she feels like sending down stream is the current winner.

So now, here's her version of this song:

Row row row BEAR
gentle a dream!
May-a, may-a, may-a, may-a,
life a but a dream!
who next?

Row row row MOMMA
gentle a dream!
May-a, may-a, may-a, may-a,
life a but a dream!
who next?
etc...

hehehe


What about your children? Any kid speak that makes you smile from ear to ear?

Equal Opportunity Simpson'izer...

...I proudly present:

Nonno Simpson



&



Nannie Simpson

(per Ruby's request)

Introducing: NONNO'S 1ST TOMATO OF THE SEASON!

...brought to you by, Ruby Cate!
(who went up into the garden & picked it herself!)

2 cents... Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

Ok, so after finishing Harry Potter, I needed something new to dive into, yes?
How many of you have heard of this guy?

So here's the thing,
I'll admit that infomercials,
on the whole,
piss me off.
HOWEVER,
that being said, I watched this guy on SPIKE tv the other night,
and I was truly blown away to the point that my curiosity got the better of me and,
I picked up his book.
(only had to pay for shipping)

So, I will also admit that generally, I'm a skeptic until proven otherwise.
Kevin's book arrived & within the first chapter, I learned that he's from Lynn, Massachusetts.
Merely two towns away from us.
That, in & of itself, was impressive.
If you lived locally & knew Lynn, you'd understand why people sing this catchy little phrase about the town:

"Lynn Lynn the city of SIN, you never come out the way you went in!"

I digress...

So, I was browsing through his book & jumped ahead to his weight loss chapter.
Now I know he's got a book devoted all to weight loss but let's not run away with ourselves just yet, and take things one chapter at a time.

So, I read...
and I read, and I read.

He not only suggests but goes on to validate through personal use himself, that
unrefined, virgin, cold press, organic COCONUT OIL is a GOD SEND.

Skeptic reads on...

I was impressed to say the least of the number of claims he makes about this stuff...

...but knowing that they're just claims until I find out for myself, I went out & bought some,
knowing that the worst that could happen was that it would taste gross, not do anything he claims it does, and I've only lost 22 bucks on the oil.
(Plus, if even after a week I didn't see any noticeable changes, I'd have just used it to cook with cuz lord knows I love to do that much!)

So, here's the scoop:

I've been taking it myself since monday.
One tablespoon in the morning before breakfast,
(chased with TEA or else I could NOT do it! It's still OIL after all!)
and one tablespoon just before dinner.

In LESS than one week, I can say with 100% certainty the following:

I've lost, thus far, 7 lbs.
I no longer have heart burn, period.
Probably a little TMI, but my bowel movements are flawless & regular & I barely need to use any TP.
NO, SERIOUSLY!
I feel better, I have more energy, I am not as hungry as I used to be and I don't snack as much at all anymore.

Monday the 6th will be a week since I have been taking this stuff and if it's already doing this much in under a week, I can't wait to see what a month will bring!

How about all of you?
Any thoughts?
Concerns?
Input?
C'mon Johnny,
I know you still read the blog,
aside from Karen,
you're the one who I KNOW will call a spade a spade.
Throw me your thoughts on this guy...

Who Knew...

...that Yellow would be our color? LOL



Thanks to Karen, Gwen & Scott for showing us how to
SIMPSONIZE
ourselves!
LOL

I'd post the pic we did of Uncle Steve,
but I think he'd kill me!
LOL

In A Word...

...WOW!




To quote my friend Jen:
" I laughed, I cried, I loved it..."

Book arived Monday night, finally got a chance to crack it open at 9pm.
Read straight until 3am.
Went to bed.

Woke up Tuesday morning, read some more.
Breakfast for me & Ruby, then read some more.
Pool time with miss Rubes, then dinner, then snuggle time, then bed for my girl.
(omitted the nap specifically so she'd go to bed EARLIER rather than later!)
8:00pm: Read again until 3:30am this time.
Forced myself to leave the final chapter and the epilogue till morning...
...couldn't bear to go to bed knowing that come morning there'd be nothing more.

Woke up before Ruby,
(don't ask how that happened)
read the final chapter & nineteen years later.
And as I've said;
I laughed,
I cried,
I LOVED IT!

Now my question is, WHEN IS SHE GOING TO WRITE THE NEXT GENERATION OF BOOKS?
And anyone who has read it can't tell me,
positively CAN'T tell me that they weren't thinking the exact same thing!

The next generation of wizards & witches to enter Hogwarts...
...if only!