CHINA PICS!!!

I have never been a fan of flying but Ronayne helped me through it, over 30 hours of traveling! UGH!!












Group pictures in Beijing... it was chilly there and I LOVED IT! ( not a fan of the heat )


















Various pics of my beautiful baby girl Ruby Cate Pei Mu!


Medical Exam room for Adopted Babies... RUBY PASSED WITH FLYING COLORS!!!


Ruby's bestest buddy Thia, they had a BLAST together!! WE MISS YOU ALREADY THIA!!!!



Pic's of Shamian Island, Guangzhou China. (Where the White Swan is located...)


Ruby's other good buddy Song, isn't she just precious? WE MISS YOU SONG & ERMA!! (her momma)


The 'CHOP' girls of Guangzhou... now, there are TONS of places selling chinese hand carved Chops, but these two got all my business, and trust me, I bought over a dozen chops! ;)
(A chop is a hand carved wooden stamp with your child's name on it in both english & then the chinese characters as well as any little symbol you'd like to add, like ladybugs or butterflies etc...) I LOVED THE CHOPS I GOT!


Ok, when they say that the kids in China wear 'split pants' THEY AREN'T KIDDIN! This kid was wandering around outside a 7-11 we frequented to get bottled water & I couldn't resist taking this pic, HELLO PUT SOME PANTS ON THE POOR BOYS FRANK & BEANS WILL YA?@$#$%



More pics of my precious punkin' hehehe I LOVE THAT KID!




Chicken anyone? I'll have mine WITHOUT THE HEAD & BEAK PLEASE! ugh BOGUS!


Awwwww, this is a pic of Ruby on the Famous Red Couch with her older friend Wynn, WE LOVE WYNN! She was the sweetest little girl ever & really was a joy to be around! WE MISS YOU WYNN!



Boats along the Pearl River in Shamian Island, Guangzhou.


My FAVORITE Red Couch pic of all the ones I took that day, it's adorable!


Ruby in her bathing suit even though she refused to go in the water! LOL ( she's not as insane as her momma apparently!)










The gorgeous grounds & the pool at the White Swan!


Our friend Wynn with her new Cell phone her Momma bought her! It was so cute to watch her talk on it, I could eat that kid up!



AWWWW THIA WE MISS YOU SO MUCH!!!!!! Ruby really enjoyed spending her time with you while we were all together in China! CAN'T WAIT TO GET TOGETHER AGAIN REAL SOON!















More pics from Guangzhou, China.






Three different LONG flights home & my baby girl SLEPT MOST OF IT! She's such a trooper!!!

Last day in China!

Ok, today is our last day in China, currently I'm at the business center using the hotel computers and it's ok but I swear I think the connection is slow on purpose so that it'll take me TWICE AS LONG to blog & they get TWICE AS MUCH MONEY FROM ME! As if I haven't already helped the Chinese economy ENOUGH ALREADY! lol I'm glad you're all enjoying the pics, I don't have any I can post right now because I forgot my chord to connect the cam to the computer, but I promise once I'm home I'll post EVERY SINGLE PICTURE I HAVE ON MY CAM! There's over 200! =)

Well, my cell phone is charging, my charger shit the bed while here so I had to come to the business center & I was able to use their charger for Nokia phones for FREE! So I thought while I was here I might as well just be online! We're gonna go buy some chinese childrens books today & then it's off to the U.S. Consulate to swear my Ruby Cate in as a U.S. Citizen & then I receive her Visa to get into the United States! SO EXCITING! Thanks so much to everyone who has commented on my blog, I've read them all and appreciate the sweet sentiments! Ruby is VERY EXCITED to come home & meet her family & friends & especially her doggie Ebenezer! Once we're all settled in at home I'll try & post a quick 'We're home safe" blog then sometime over the weekend I'll post ALL THE PICTURES FOR EVERYONE TO SEE! I even got one of a little chinese boy wearing SPLIT PANTS! SERIOUSLY A SCREAM TO SEE! ;)

Ok, take care everyone & looking forward to blogging from home! I LOVE YOU ALL! PRAY FOR A SAFE RETURN TRIP FOR US ALL!

Love,

-Amy & Miss. Ruby Cate Pei Mu!

RED COUCH PICTURE!!!

HELLO EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!! It's me, AMY! I am ACTUALLY POSTING TO MY OWN BLOG FINALLY!! I'm still in China but am currently in a small slice of heaven called Guangzhou, a little island off the southern coast of China and it's PARADISE HERE! I went SWIMMING today! The water was VERY COLD cuz it's an outdoor pool HOWEVER, anyone who knows me knows that I'm a damn FISH so I was IN THERE SO FAST! I do think though that after about 20 minues when I thought the water was starting to warm up that what was actually happening was that my body was going numb. LOL oh well, felt so good to swim in nov! Anyhoo... today was fun, we did our famous 'RED COUCH' picture where all of the Babies in my travel group get lined up along one of the many Red Couches in the White Swan Hotel and we take their pics! I'll give you all ONE GUESS WHICH ONE RUBY IS! lol (for those of you who don't know where I'm from, Massachusetts, home of the BOSTON RED SOX, is where I call home...) Now, qquick, find Ruby! ;) hee hee
She did SO GOOD! My precious little monkey didn't cry at all, she just sat & kinda looked around at all the other crying babies and was probably thinking " what's the problem people, it's just a picture...?' LOL She was so good! I'm having a wonderful time here in Shamian Island it's just beautiful! Shopping is so wonderful & SO CHEAP! *grin* I have just one more day here & then first thing wed morning at the ASS CRACK OF DAWN we leave the White Swan for the hotel & head for HOME!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait, I am excited for everyone to meet little Miss Ruby Cate and just want to sleep in my OWN BED and show Ruby her own Crib & her TONS OF TONS OF TOYS THAT ARE WAITING FOR HER! Plus, she has no idea yet but she's got an adorable lovable dog waiting for her too! I MISS YOU EBENEZER!!!

Here are some more pics for you all to enjoy & then I won't be posting again until I'm home but I want to say again a VERY BIG HUGE THANK YOU TO KAREN FOR ALL HER HELP WITH MY BLOG WHILE I'VE BEEN IN CHINA! KAREN YOU'RE THE BEST!!!

Ok so it's late monday night & tomorrow is the last day here, we have to drive with our babies to the US Consulate & do the swearing in ceremony on behalf of our babies & then we get their visa's so that we can FLY HOME WED!!!! OMG I CAN'T WAIT!!!

Enjoy the pics everyone & keep me and Ruby and Ronayne in your prayers as it is going to be one very long, very interesting, very tiring trip home! We fly from Guangzhou to Tokyo, then Tokyo to Detroit, then Detroit to Boston... then I'll be about ready to hang myself I'll be SO DAMN TIRED!!

Oh, and Paige, don't tell anyone you read all my bad words in here! LOL pretend you never saw em! ;)

Give my love to everyone & I can't wait for you to meet Ruby too! =)

Love to you all & I'LL BE HOME SOON WITH MY PRECIOUS BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER MISS RUBY CATE PEI MU!

Love always,

-Amy & Ruby

Checking In from Karen

Hi everone, Karen here. It's almost noon EST on Sunday, the 27th and I just wanted to post a quick update to say that I haven't heard from Amy in several days. I'm sure she's just busy as can be gobbling up and adoring her sweet Ruby. Should I hear from her, I'll be sure to post any updates.

I Bet I Know What Amy's Thankful for this Year!!

I Just Got a Call from China!!

Karen here. I just got a phone call from Amy (and Ruby!) and Mommy and baby girl are doing fabulously well. May I just begin by saying that Ruby was cooing and chatting away in the background and it was way too cute for words. She said, "La-la-la....ma....mmmm" which of course translates into, I'm guessing, "Look at how much my Mommy loves me." (Hee!) Here's what Amy had to say: All is well - hell, all is FANTASTIC! She's blowing off tours with the group because frankly, it's taking all her energy to stare lovingly at Ruby all day long. She said she could care less about the tours - she just wants to get home with her precious baby. Ruby's health is well - a bit of diahrrea but nothing too stressful. No assplosions as of yet. (That's a good thing!) Ruby was OFFICIALLY adopted as Amy's daughter on Monday, the 21st of November. And Ruby's totally hooked on her baby bear and blocks. Apparently, she loves them so much that she sleeps holding them and her grip is so tight that Amy can't get them away from her. Amy still doesn't know Ruby's exact weight but in her words, she's a "chunker!"

Our conversation was very brief but there was no denying the happiness of Amy's voice exuding through the phone line. Dreams are coming true, folks, and it gives me goosebumps. Oh yes - Amy said she will try and get me some more pics tomorrow. As soon as she does, I'll be sure to post. I promise.

Congrats again, Amy!! She's a cutie for sure!

She's a Real Cutie!

BEE-YOO-TEE-FUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gotcha!!!

To say that I'm IN LOVE is an UNDERSTATEMENT! This child is beautiful, amazing, wonderful, sweet, funny, kind, adorable, funny, and EATS LIKE AN ITALIAN!!!!!

Yesterday was Got'cha Day, it was pretty wonderful & hectic as well. I found out from our guide that the children were literally taken from their foster mothers THAT VERY MORNING & placed in the arms of STRANGERS for a two & a half hour bus ride into the city to our hotel & then placed into a big stuffy hell hot room & sat on tables to await their fate. They were then handed one by one to the anxious awaiting families and although we all were head over heels in love and so excited, the experience of it was not all love & fuzzy feelings. The babies screamed bloody murder as you can imagine and it took me about 30 minutes to get Ruby calmed down enough to sit with me & interact... and at about 45 minutes I got a smile and a giggle! She was slowly coming around and finally with the help of some childrens benadryl she slept like an angel from 8:30pm until 1:30am when it was time to wake Momma up & I suggested a Bath for our little miss 'spicy' girl (she smelled of something spicy) and she wasn't all that crazy about the bath but didn't scream her head off, was more of a 'you're bothering me' kinda whine... but after it was over and she was all dry & clean & dressed in a new outfit her Nanna bought her & a toasty fresh diaper etc... all was well with the world.

She played in her crib with the toys that I brought her and she's in LOVE WITH HER SOFT TEDDY! She ate some food, I made some instant oatmeal cinnamon & spice and she loved it & ate the whole thing but REFUSED to touch her bottle which made me a little worried but I figured she'd eventually come around, so I told myself that at least she ate & that's better than nothing, right? So we go back to sleep around 3am & slept until nearly 9am. She's a WONDERFUL SLEEPER! THANK YOU GOD IN HEAVEN!!!!!!!!!! When she woke up this morning she had the most adorable bed head sticking straght up to the heavens so I just let it be that way & finished it off with a cute hair bow, everyone thought I 'did that' myself LOL I said " thanks but nope, that's all mother nature & a good toasty bath before bed!" hehehe

I do FINALLY HAVE PICTURES! I am going to upload a few now and I ask again Karen to please post this text as well as the photos to my blog for everyone to see. I am just OVER THE MOON & BACK AGAIN IN LOVE WITH THIS BEAUTIFUL LITTLE GIRL I AM PROUD TO CALL MY DAUGHTER!

Oh, and by the way, Karen, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE ADVICE ABOUT BRINGING A TON OF PEDIALYTE CUZ THAT'S ALL RUBY WILL DRINK! She won't TOUCH formula, chinese or otherwise! I have TONS of the Gerber Liqui Lytes packets and I finally got her to drink HALF AN 8 OZ BOTTLE TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I sobbed tears of joy as I was nervous that she'd be dehydrated if she didn't drink but you all must've been keeping us in your prayers cuz Ruby is drinking now & I couldn't be happier!!!

Today we have an appointment at 2:30 to go to the Notary for something, don't know, don't care, I have a daughter who DRINKS HER BOTTLE!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll just show up where & when I'm told & bring this BEAUTIFUL CHILD WITH ME! =)

I'll hopefully be able to continue to update everyone here & there because of a wonderful woman in our travel group who is completely ok with sharing her laptop with me SHE ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Take care & I'll look forward to posting again real soon!

-Amy & Ruby Cate!

Update from Amy

Hey guys!! Ok, it's sunday morning, Nov 20th, and I am happy to say that it's GOTCHA DAY!!!!!!!!!!! It's 7:05am in the morning and I'm showered & dressed and ready to go down to breakfast & enjoy my last meal here at the wangfujing grand hotel in Beijing! We leave here at 9am and head to the airport for our 11:30 flight to Nanchang! We will be staying at the Gloria hotel and our precious babies arrive at the hotel at 4:30pm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There are 14 families receiving their precious children today and what a MAGICAL DAY IT'S GOING TO BE! We are all so happy and can't wait to see our babies! I have to apologise that I don't have any photos to share with you all because I can't get my camera to work with these computers here and who knows if I will be able to in Nanchang but please know that when I come HOME I will HAVE PICS OF RUBY FOR SURE!!

Yesterday we had a great day.

We went to the jade factory and the Great wall and the friendship store and then the cloisonne factory! We're having fun but I can't wait to meet my baby later on today so I'll post more from Nanchang!

Later Gaters... I'M OFF TO KISS THOSE CHEEKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LOVE,

-Amy

A Cut and Paste Ni Hao from Amy!!

From Amy:

I don't know if this is going to work or not, the computer access
in Beijing kinda sucks A** but here goes nothing...

Ok so today is the end of day one in Beijing! We were up at the
BUTTCRACK of DAWN had a wonderful breakfast buffet & then all loaded
into the bus to head out to see Tien'amen Square (spelling?) The
Forbidden City, the Imperial Gardens, pearl market & the
silk factory! Great day, TONS OF WALKING AND I'M EXHAUSTED!
But excellent day all in all even if I am wiped out.

I got myself some silk bedding for back home IT'S GORGEOUS & RED AND
I'M IN LOVE WITH IT! and also I bought Ruby a pearl necklace & matching
bracelet for when she graduates college someday. I did take a ton of
pictures but can't upload any of them from here, maybe from Nanchang on
Sunday after GOT'CHA DAY!

Tomorrow it's another busy day of sight seeing, we go to the Great Wall
and go out to lunch at the friendship restaurant... we had lunch out
today too & it was authentic 'Chinese Food' half of it I didn't know what
it was but ate it anyways in the spirit of this whole experience.

I'm wiped out & need to get some sleep, it's 8:20 pm here so I hope this
finds it's way to you & you can do my email some justice on my BLOG! ;)

Hope to touch base again soon!

Love,

-Amy (and pretty soon RUBY! )

Still Haven't Heard Anything...

Hi all, Karen here. Still no word from Amy as of yet. I just wanted to touch base as I'm receiving quite a few emails asking about her. As soon as I know something, I promise to post. Here's to hoping she has her sweet baby girl in her arms very, very soon!

Amy's in Beijing!!

Hi all! This is Karen reporting in for Amy. I'm stepping in to post for her while she's away. They are safely in Beijing - exhausted but she sounds thrilled to be there. Quoted from the phone message I received from her: "There were flames shooting out of my a** as we sped through Tokyo, barely making our connecting flight. But we're here now [Beijing] and absolutely exhausted."

She's getting close to her sweet little Ruby and she promises to send pics as soon as she can. Tomorrow she's off to tour the city and have a fabulous time. Glad you made it safely, friend!

Thanks to ALL!

This goes out to each & every one of you who read my blog faithfully (LISA!!) & not so faithfully (Chris!! LOL)... to my friends in the real world & the cyber world... to my closest friends & family... to anyone who has had any sort of influence in my life to date, I say a big heartfelt THANK YOU! The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step... someone famous said that but don't ask me who cuz damnit, it's late and I'm tired & I have to be up at 5am to get showered, dressed & leave this house by 6am to head to Logan. Please be patient with me as I will attempt to blog from China, I don't know if I'll be successful at posting photos from there but I DO KNOW that I'll at least be able to post 'text' updates so don't hate me if you all have to wait a while for pictures of little miss 'CHEEKS'. I ask that you all just please keep myself, my friend Ronayne, and my beautiful little Ruby in your thoughts & prayers so that we may have a happy & healthy trip & return safe & sound on the night of the 30th. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone & please know that I love you all!!!!!

XOXOXOXOXO

-Amy

PS. To, R.K., I love you more than you know, and I know Ruby will too. I'll miss you but we'll be together very soon. Love always, Me.

*smooch*

Last time to view the Itinerary!!

CHINA ADOPTION TRIP
(Nov 16 – 30)

SCHEDULE

Nov 16: WEDNESDAY

Leave Boston: 845 am Arrive Detroit: 10:57am
Leave Detroit 1:45pm Arrive Tokyo 5:10pm China time( they're 12 hours ahead of us here in Boston)
Leave Tokyo: 6:00pm Arrive Beijing: 9:15pm
IMMEDIATELY CRASH INTO BED & SLEEP HOPEFULLY!


Nov 17: THURSDAY
Wangfujing Grand Hotel
Beijing – Arrive Beijing at 9:15pm, will be met by local guide at
the airport. Stay at Wangfujing Grand Hotel.

Nov 18: FRIDAY
Wangfujing Grand Hotel
Beijing - Tour of TianAnMen Square, Forbidden City and the Summer
Palace. (Lunch included)

Nov 19: SATURDAY Wangfujing Grand Hotel
Beijing – Tour of the Great Wall. (Lunch included)

Nov 20: SUNDAY Gloria Hotel
Beijing – Flight MU5174 (11:25am – 1:45pm) to Nangchang.
Nanchang – Arrive Nanchang at 1:00pm, will be met by local guide at the airport. Receive your daughter in the afternoon.

Nov 21: MONDAY Gloria Hotel
Nanchang – Interview with CAB have adoption registration done.
Interview with Justice Dept. Apply for baby’s passport.

Nov 22: TUESDAY Gloria Hotel
Nanchang – City tour and shopping.

Nov 23: WEDNESDAY Gloria Hotel
Nanchang – Visit the suburban of Nanchang City.

Nov 24: THURSDAY Gloria Hotel
Nanchang – Pick up the Notary documents.

Nov 25: FRIDAY White Swan Hotel
Nanchang – Pick up your daughter’s passport.
Flight CZ3536 (4:10 – 5:30pm) to Guangzhou.

Guangzhou – Be met by local guide at the airport. Check-in
White Swan Hotel.

Nov 26: SATURDAY White Swan Hotel
Guangzhou – Child’s medical check up, picture taken and fill out the forms.

Nov 27: SUNDAY White Swan Hotel
Guangzhou – City tour.

Nov 28: MONDAY White Swan Hotel
Guangzhou – Interview with U. S. Consulate at 10:30am.

Nov 29: TUESDAY White Swan Hotel
Guangzhou – Pick up baby’s visa.

Nov 30: WEDNESDAY
Leave Guangzhou 8:30AM Arrive Tokyo 1:40PM
Depart Tokyo 3:45PM Arrive Detroit 1:20PM
Leave Detroit 3:13PM Arrive Boston 5:03PM



The adoption trip includes all hotels, Western breakfast, city tours, ground transportation, guides, translators and air transportation in China. Lunch and dinner are arranged at the convenience of the parties.

Please re-confirm your flights 72 hours prior to departure in China. Your local guide can assist you in this.



Hotel Numbers Guide’s Numbers
Wangfujing Grand Hotel: 01186-10-65128833 Fay in Beijing: 13501067809
Gloria Hotel: 01186-791-6738855 Mary in Nanchang: 13807914383
White Swan Hotel: 01186-20-81886968 Cordelia in Guangzhou: 13609007881


One last time for everyone who keeps asking about the details while in China! ;)

The GENIUS of MARKUS!!!

Ok, I'm back from my hair appointment and I could NOT BE HAPPIER! Markus is truly a GENIUS! I LOVE my cut, I LOVE the style and I am PSYCHED FOR CHINA!!!!!!!!

I am NOT however excited to have learned today that my 'gaydar' DOESN'T WORK! While sitting in the Markus's chair as he worked his magic, there was a VERY HANDSOME VERY FRIENDLY VERY YOUNG 23 YEAR OLD 'NEIGHBOR' in the NEXT CHAIR! So, what did I do the entire time? I FLIRTED & CHATTED MY ASS OFF WITH SAID CUTIE PIE! Was feeling very good about the whole scene until he got up to leave, smiled told me to have a blast in China & that was that. So I IMMEDIATELY told Markus that I thought he was ADORABLE etc... and he and Bethany ( the girl who did cutie pie's hair) started laughing & Markus said "Aw, honey I love you but your gaydar SO DOES NOT WORK!" I could NOT BELIEVE IT! SAY IT ISN'T SO!!! THAT CUTIE PIE WAS GAY???? HE DOESN'T PLAY FOR MY TEAM?????? SOOOOOO SADDDD!!!!!! I mean, I have gay friends who I absolutely ADORE but when there's a REALLY CUTE GUY I'M DIGGIN' don't tell me that he's gay! =*(

So it's a bittersweet day for me today, because no matter how great my hair looks I still spent an hour flirting with a guy who would rather look at Ricky Martin than me BUMMER!!!!!

Oh well, live & learn... & get new batteries for my DAMN GAYDAR! grrrrrrrrrr

PUMPKIN WHOOPIE PIES!!!!!!

Ok, so Pumpkin pie is yummy, this is true, however I put a fun 'spin' on my Thanksgiving Pumpkin Treats every year since Jen's soon to be 'sister in law' Denise shared her secret with me and I thought I'd in turn share it with you all... I figure since I won't be here for Thanksgiving this year, but rather in China with little miss Ruby "Cheeks" Cate, I'd share this recipe in the hopes that this year, somewhere, SOMEONE could enjoy them! THEY'RE REALLY SOOOOOOOOO GOOD!!!!!!!!!! ENJOY EVERYONE!!!

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

2 cups brown sugar
1 cup veggie oil
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups canned pumpkin
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Mix Brown Sugar & Oil. Add eggs, pumpkin & vanilla. Sift dry ingredients & add to mixture. Spoon onto cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes at 350

Filling Ingredients (aka, the WHOOPIE in whoopie pie)

1 egg white
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons milk
2 cups confectioners sugar
3/4 cup shortening

Beat egg white until soft peaks form. Add vanilla and milk and sugar and shortening. Beat until smooth.

Once pumpkin cakes have cooled from the oven, top one half with WHOOPIE icing & then cover with another cake. Overfilling with icing PREFERRED! ;) hehehehe

AFTER ALL, THAT'S WHERE YOU GET THE WHOOPIE!!!!!!!!! CUZ YOU GOT MORE ICING!

Oh, THEY'RE SO YUMMY! DON'T HATE ME CUZ YOU'LL EAT THEM LIKE MAD THIS YEAR! hehehe Enjoy!

-Amy

Little Ellie 'KING' hehehe...

My best friend Jen & her husband Elvis got themselves an adorable new family member at the local shelter & BOY IS SHE CUTE! She's a puggle & her name is Ellie! Here are a few pics of her, she's cute as a button but Ebenezer wasn't impressed so I kept him downstairs with Nanna. He barked alot & is happy to now be back upstairs in HIS house again by himself. Silly boy... he's my old & dear friend. I LOVE YOU EBENEZER! But this post if for your new cousin ELLIE! ;)

Enjoy!

OMG I CAN'T STOP LAUGHING!!!!!!

Ok, FIRST I WANT TO APOLOGISE TO EVERYONE WHO READS MY BLOG WHO HAS CATS! Secondly I want to say that I don't HATE cats, I've just never been a cat person & have grown up with dogs, but I do adore my friends cats & I am never mean to them...EVER! Now, THAT SAID, I hope you can all enjoy the humor in this little 'stupid video': Kitty Flip!!!
I have NOT STOPPED LAUGHING TO THE POINT THAT THE TEARS ARE STREAMING DOWN MY CHEEKS!!!!!!! OMG SOOOO FUNNY~!!!!!!!!!

Enjoy~!

A true family heirloom...

You know... when I was a child I had a christmas stocking, it wasn't fancy but it was mine... over the years it either was lost or fell apart but no one really knows and now it's just anyone's guess at this point as to where it ended up, shit happens... HOWEVER, I was going to make DAMN sure that this was NOT the case for my daughter. I spent over 6 months stitching her needlepoint stocking and when I say it was a labor of love, trust me, it WAS! There were days that I didn't want to LOOK at that thing, but rather shred it up with dull kitchen scissors & toss it out the window! BUT, I did not, rather I kept stitching, because not only was I determinted to finish this for her, but I paid to take a damn class to learn how to do it in the first place! So, after all that stitching, I sent it away to CA to a woman who finished it all up with the satin lining and the deep blue felt outsides and it is now a TRULY FINISHED STOCKING which I hope will become very dear to my sweet Ruby. I hope that someday down the road, long after I'm gone, she'll still have it & cherrish it knowing that it was made out of love, from love with love, for her & her alone. I love you Ruby... and I hope when you learn to speak & can tell momma things, you can say how much you love your Mr.Frosty Stocking!! *fingers crossed*

HOLY SHIT!!!

Ok... one week from this exact moment I'll be on a plane headed to THOSE CHEEKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Which cheeks you ask?THESE CHEEKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!


OMG GONNA KISS THIS GIRL A MILLION TIMES & THEN A MILLION MORE!!!!!!!!!

1 MORE WEEK!!!!!!

I'M IN THE HOME STRETCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *tears* I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!!

ABSOLUTELY IN LOVE WITH THIS PIECE OF PAPER!!!!!!

Ahhhhhh, one little piece of paper but OH WHAT JOY IT BRINGS!!!!!!!!!!

I love seeing my little chubby cheeked gal on an OFFICIAL DOCUMENT FROM CHINA! This is a picture of my 'NOTICE OF COMING TO CHINA TO ADOPT' form, OMG HOW CUTE IS MY DAUGHTER???????????? =)

THE COUNTDOWN'S ON NOW!!! 8 DAYS & COUNTING!!!!!!!!!!

excuse me as I go FAINT!

Travel Meeting & my baby's 14 months old today! =)

Well, today at 4pm my time (1pm washington time) is my travel meeting with my agency to go over last minute paperwork for my upcoming trip! I leave a week from WED! =) And, today also happens to be the day my Ruby turns 14 months old! I can't believe that when she turns 15 months she'll be HOME WITH ME & ALL HER FAMILY! OMG

Let me just tell those of you reading this who have yet to make it to this stage, it does get here before you know it & MY GAWD it's JUST AMAZING!!!!!!!!! Every little milestone is a memory to put in either a blog or a handwritten journal and each one more precious than the next! Treasure EVERY moment, be it your i160 or your i171 or your DTC or your LID.... from your Referral to your TA, right down to your Travel arrangements, it's all magical because let's face it, at the end of the whole journey, be you single or married... the end result is the same: A Wish Come TRUE!!!!!!!

And if you're me, a beautiful CHUBBY CHEEKED GIRL named FU PEI MU! hee hee
WOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOO BABY MOMMA'S COMING SOOOOOON!!!!!!!!!!!

XOXOXOXOXOXO

HAPPY 10th BIRTHDAY EBENEZER!!!!

Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday EBENEZERRRR...
Happy birthday to YOUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My boy is TEN YEARS OLD TODAY! So his Nana and I thought it would be only fitting to take him for his 'BIRTHDAY WALK!' let's just say that he starts out with a bang but tends to drag his birthday ass towards the end! hehehe STILL A WONDERFUL WALK and here are the pics to prove it! ;) Next we'll be making some peanut butter doggie biscuits to celebrate mister Fatty Mc'Fat's 10th Birthday! ;)


Hmmm I wonder what this suspicious smell is on this hydrant???


Sure Momma, I'll pause so you can get a picture of me, after all, I'm GORGEOUS!!!


Ahhhh much better, have to leave my MARK every TWO FEET, so this spot will do... don't worry, we'll stop again in like fifteen seconds to leave another mark!


Ok, I'm friggen BEAT... where's my water bowl & those peanut butter cookies you promised??

What can I say, us Italians like to EAT! MY BOY IS NO EXCEPTION! Honestly, I think he could give my relatives in Italy a RUN for their GHNOCCHI'S! hehehehe

13 DAYS & COUNTING...

In China Itinerary...

FINALLY!!!!!!! I just received an email from my agecny and the following is my In China Itinerary!!!!! WOOOOO HOOOOOO RUBY HERE I COME BABY!!!!!!!!

SCHEDULE

Nov 16: WEDNESDAY
NW327 BOSDTW 845AM 1057AM
NW 25 DTWNRT 145PM 510PM
NW 11 NRTPEK 600PM 915PM

Nov 17: THURSDAY Wangfujing Grand Hotel
Beijing – Arrive Beijing at 9:15pm, will be met by local guide at
the airport. Stay at Wangfujing Grand Hotel.

Nov 18: FRIDAY Wangfujing Grand Hotel
Beijing - Tour of TianAnMen Square, Forbidden City and the Summer
Palace. (Lunch included)

Nov 19: SATURDAY Wangfujing Grand Hotel
Beijing – Tour of the Great Wall. (Lunch included)

Nov 20: SUNDAY Gloria Hotel
Beijing – Flight MU5174 (11:25am – 1:45pm) to Nangchang.
Nanchang – Arrive Nanchang at 1:00pm, will be met by local guide
at the airport. Receive your daughter in the afternoon.
I GET RUBY A DAY EARLIER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG OMG OMG !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nov 21: MONDAY Gloria Hotel
Nanchang – Interview with CAB have adoption registration done.
Interview with Justice Dept. Apply for baby’s passport.

Nov 22: TUESDAY Gloria Hotel
Nanchang – City tour and shopping.

Nov 23: WEDNESDAY Gloria Hotel
Nanchang – Visit the suburban of Nanchang City.

Nov 24: THURSDAY Gloria Hotel
Nanchang – Pick up the Notary documents.

Nov 25: FRIDAY White Swan Hotel
Nanchang – Pick up your daughter’s passport.
Flight CZ3536 (4:10 – 5:30pm) to Guangzhou.

Guangzhou – Be met by local guide at the airport. Check-in
White Swan Hotel.

Nov 26: SATURDAY White Swan Hotel
Guangzhou – Child’s medical check up, picture taken and fill out the forms.

Nov 27: SUNDAY White Swan Hotel
Guangzhou – City tour.

Nov 28: MONDAY White Swan Hotel
Guangzhou – Interview with U. S. Consulate at 10:30am.

Nov 29: TUESDAY White Swan Hotel
Guangzhou – Pick up baby’s visa.

Nov 30: WEDNESDAY
NW 10 CANNRT 830AM 140PM
NW 26 NRTDTW 345PM 120PM
NW370 DTWBOS 313PM 503PM


HOLY SHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I AM SO BESIDE MYSELF RIGHT NOW I'M LAUGHING & CRYING AT THE SAME TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HERE I COME BABY!!!!!!!!! MOMMA'S COMING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GONNA KISS THOSE CHUBBY CHEEKS FOREVER!!!!!!!

T minus 14 days & counting...

HOLY CRAP IT'S SO SURREAL TO BE ABLE TO SAY TO MYSELF THAT TWO WEEKS FROM THIS EXACT MOMENT I'LL BE HOURS AWAY FROM GETTING MY SLEEPY ASS OUT OF BED & GETTING READY TO PACK THE CAR & HEAD TO LOGAN AIRPORT!!! HOLY CRAP HOLY CRAP HOLY CRAP!!!!!!!!!!! RUBY, MOMMA'S COMMING!!!!!!!!!!!!! BEFORE YOU KNOW IT I'LL BE HOLDING YOU IN MY ARMS & ONCE I HAVE YOU DARLIN' I'LL NEVER LET YOU GO! I LOVE YOU SOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *tears*

Ok, I'm just a bit overwhelmed and most likely sleep typing right now... so I should get back into bed & enjoy this freedom of 'sleep' while I still have it, I'm learning all to well through friends who have made the journey before me that you miss sleep after it's dissappeared! Goodnight everyone in Blog'land... SWEET DREAMS!!!!!!!!!! ZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

HALLOWEEENIE BABIES!!!

COULD THEY BE ANY CUTER???????????? These beautiful children are the three I nannied for for the past 3 & 1/2 years and their mom Jen just MADE MY MORNING by sending me a pic of them in their costumes cuz it'll be the first Halloween of theirs I'll miss EVER! So A GREAT BIG THANK YOU TO JEN FOR MAKING MY MORNING AND PUTTING A HUGE SMILE ON MY FACE WITH THIS BEAUTIFUL PICTURE!!!!!!! and to my babies... should Momma read this & tell them what Nanny said:

To Abi: YOU'RE THE MOST ADORABLE HARMONY CAREBEAR I EVER DID SEE!
To Emma: I think you are the most BEAUTIFUL SLEEPING BEAUTY EVER IN THE WHOLE WORLD!
and last but not least...
Mister Sam: (aka: Bob The Builder) SAM!!!!!! CAN WE FIX IT????? YESSSSS WEEEEEE CANNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!! =) Sammy, I loveyou, to the moon and back and the stars and back and the sun and back and to CHINA AND BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*teary* I MISS THOSE THREE SOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH IT'S INSANE!!!!!!!!!


NANNY LOVES YOU ALL SOOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!! I PROMISE TO COME VISIT WITH RUBY BEFORE CHRISTMAS OK????? *KISS FOR EMMA* *KISS FOR ABI* AND *KISS FOR SAM* !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-Nanny

How Time Flies...

OMG... tomorrow is Halloween, I leave two weeks from Wednesday and my Cousin & his wife just stopped by with my nieces Stephanie & Jennifer for a visit & they invited me AND RUBY to Steph's birthday party on Saturday Dec 3rd. It struck me funny at first cuz I'm used to going to these things solo but to hear her say " We'd love you and Ruby to both come" I was thinking " OMG THAT'S RIGHT, RUBY WILL BE HERE! HOLY CHRIST!" I can't beleive how fast this is all going... I am gonna run to Target today for some last minute items that I need: Aleve, chapstick, a couple long sleeve shirts for my Ruby girl, and I need to find a little set of stacking cups to bring & I think that's IT! Oh, and maybe some Robitussin DM for momma, and a bottle of Nyquil COUGH because that stuff just ROCKS!!!!!!!!!! I'll post more later after I'm back from Target but figured I should post something for now since I hadn't in a few days. I hope you all enjoyed checking out the hotels I'll be staying at, DON'T THEY LOOK SO NICE???? Man, a nice vacation & my beautiful Daughter all in one trip, TALK ABOUT A DREAM COME TRUE! =)

Later Gater...

XOXOXOXOXOXO

DIG IT!

Ok, just got off the phone with Eric from my agency & although our official in country details won't arrive until tomorrow, I DID MANAGE TO FIND OUT WHAT HOTELS I'LL BE STAYING AT! =)

The WanFuJing Hotel in Beijing

Gloria Plaza Hotel in Nanchang

& last but certainly NOT LEAST...

The White Swan Hotel in Guangzhou

WOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOO I AM GETTING SO EXCTIED!!!!!!!!! =)

OMG MORE PACKING!!! UGHHHH

Ok, so here's two more pics, ABOVE is another shot of my red luggage for my little Jewel of a daughter, WITH, IF I MAY POINT OUT, TWO ADDITIONAL SHIRTS SLIPPED IN ON TOP... and THEN as if the fact that I keep ADDING things to my luggage isn't bad enough, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THIS BEAUTY BELOW!
It's a BRAND NEW LUGGAGE FILLED WITH CLOTHING & SALT WATER TAFFY FOR THE ORPHANAGE & THE NANNIES OF SAID ORPHANAGE! OMG I seriously don't know HOW I'm going to bring all this with me! I need to have Ronayne over here to help me organize my CHAOS! (she's gooad at that!) I so think that this may be a calgon moment... SOMEONE BEST TAKE ME AWAY SOON! ugh Why can't the 16th just be tomorrow morning? grrrrrr

I LOVE BOOKS!!!!!!

As long as I can remember I have LOVED BOOKS! Always reading something & now that I have a daughter on the way I hope to pass on to her my love of books, thus the pictures featured here. First one above is Ruby In Her Own Time... a gift given to me by my friend Krista and it has become the mantra of my adoption journey & thus for my blog as well. It's a VERY SWEET BOOK that I love reading out loud to my dog & once Ruby is here, to her as well. lol ( Yes, I know, I probably need some sort of therapy but what the hell, for now let's just go with it! )


This next picture above me obviously more books & hardly all of them, just a small snippet of them so that you get the idea... If anyone is ever at a loss as to what to get Ruby for birthdays etc... GIFT CARDS TO BARNES & NOBLE WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED! hee hee


AND LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, the BOARD BOOKS! My girl is going to start reading ASAP all on her own! =) I'm gonna talk always & read always, if she isn't speaking full sentences within six months I'll be a monkey's uncle! ( or aunt ) LOL

Packing, more packing & christmas gifts for my CHUNK'O'CHINA!!!

Ok so I did a little 'shopping' for my beautiful girl on China Sprout recently & yesterday a nice big box arrived with FUN THINGS IN IT!!!!!!!! =) I bought this beautiful Fancy Prancey Princess- Asian Doll, this Woodkins Dress Up Kid-Kimmy complete with Woodkins Dress Up Kid-Accessory Fabric Pack. I forgot to take a pic of the wonderful Peddler Drum and the Little Miss Ladybug and her Magical Red Thread BookI got her like a dork but trust me, they're adorable! I also HAD to get the DVD Big Bird In China!!! IT IS SO CUTE!!! (Yes, I've already watched it & got very teary... I'm a dork!) The asian CPK I bought AGES ago because those of you who know me KNOW that I'm a HUGE CABBAGE PATCH FAN! (With a collection of over 55 MINT CONDITION ORIGINALS from the early 80'S~!) hee hee so it went without saying that my Ruby needed her very first CPK & there she is! =)
Also among all this 'shopping' was some 'packing' and let me tell you that this red suitcase pictured is JUST RUBY'S STUFF ALONE! I know, it's insane but the other suitcase that I have yet to take a pic of is filled with tons of donations of clothing & candy for the orphanage & then a small space up top for MY THINGS lol which don't amount to more than 2 pairs of jeans, several mix & match tops and a handfull of undies & two bras, one black, one white. VERY SIMPLE PACKING FOR ME but man, Ruby's stuff was insane and that black CARRY ON weighs MORE THAN MY DOG EBBY! Looking forward to figuring out how I'm going to HAUL ALL THIS SHIT onto the plane! ;) But don't worry baby...MOMMA'S COMMIN' COME HELL OR HIGH WATER! ;)

MY TICKETS ARRIVED!!!

Monday Nov 24th (yesterday) a nice big FEDEX truck arrived & LOOKIE LOOKIE WHAT WE HAVE HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*huge ass grin*
To actually see my daughters NAME on that ticket? PRICELESS!!! hehehe WOOOHOOOO CHINA HERE I COME!

Don'cha just LOVE kid's birthday parties??? hehehe

Ok, so yesterday was my sweet little Kayla's 4th birthday party and I was there with bells on with my three little friends Emma, Abi and Sam in tow...
First of all, KID's STOP is a WONDERFUL PLACE FOR ANYONE UNDER 4 FEET TALL! My kids LOVE IT THERE so the fact that their favorite place on earth was now host to their favorite Kayla's birthday party... well, life just doesn't get better than that when you're 4! Add to that the prospect of Pizza and Cake and you've got yourself a recipe for SUCCESS! =)
I have to admit though, the best part of any party, child or otherwise, is seeing one of your friends dress up silly just because he can! (And the better part of that is knowing that at all times, a FULLY CHARGED DIGITAL CAMERA IS WITHIN ARMS REACH TO CAPTURE SAID MOMENTS FOREVER!) hee hee Sorry Dan! HAPPY BIRTHDAY KAYLA!!!! DOESN'T DADDY LOOK SO PRETTY?! HEHEHE

There's room for ONE MORE!!!

The Study of Man and The Steaming Pile

AHHHHH FINALLY Everyone is SLOWLY jumping on the BLOGWAGGON! There's always ROOM FOR ONE MORE! hehehe Hmmm, now if I could only teach Ebenezer to start his own BLOG... would that then be a DOGBLOG? hee hee HOW CUTE! ;)

-Amy

I LOVE MY BABIES!!!

*sigh* I miss my babies that I've loved & nannied for for the past 3 & 1/2 years SO MUCH!! Tomorrow I am going over in the a.m. to pick them up & we're all going to our friend Kayla's birthday party! THEY ARE VERY EXCTIED & their mom emailed me today asking if things were still 'on' for tomorrow & of course I replied with 'yes absolutely!". So, tonight before their bedtime, I felt the need to call them because I love them so much & miss them like MAD, the following is that conversation:

Phone ringing...
Jen(their mom): Hello?
Me: HEY! How are you?
Jen: Great Amy, how are you?
Me: Good, I'm just missing my babies & I wanted to talk to them about tomorrow...
Jen: Awww, Sammy will be excited because just this morning he was saying to me " Momma, I miss my old nanny..."
Me: *teary eyed* Awwwww I MISS MY SAMMER SO MUCH! HE'S MY LITTLE BOYFRIEND!
Jen: Abi wants to talk to you ok? (handing the phone to miss Abigail...)

Abi: HI NANNY!! I miss you... *sad sounding*
Me: Awwww Abi, I miss you too baby, but I'm coming to see you tomorrow! Isn't that great? (waiting for a response...)
Abi: Nanny, I'm gonna miss you so much when you go to China... (more sad snifflie sounds)
Me: Awww Abi, I'm going to miss you too but I'm not going to China for another month but I'm coming to SEE YOU TOMORROW! I miss you baby!
Abi: (mood shifts & obviously becoming more happy) hee hee NANNY I LOVE YOU!
Me: Awww honey, Nanny loves you too baby!

(phone dropping... Abi screaming 'EMMA NANNY WANTS TO TALK TO YOU!")

Emma: Nanny, I got a new tooth fairy box, it's different than the one that you got me, it's all gold & very shiny & special. It could break if you step on it so I'm going to be very careful !
Me: Emma! that's so GREAT honey! I can't wait to see it! I'm excited to see you tomorrow honey... Nanny's coming to pick you and Abi and Sam up and we're going to go to Kayla's birthday party at Kid's Stop, isn't that exciting?
Emma: Nanny, um, Sam wants to tell you something...
(phone drops hard onto the wood floor & then I can hear it dragging along for a bit until little hands come to grab it up & then, a voice...

Sam: NANNY I HAVE A TELL YOU SOMETHING, I DID A BIG HUGE POOPIE ON A POTTY LAST NIGHT!!
Me: Sam! That's SO GOOD BABY! NANNY IS SO PROUD OF YOU!!! I LOVE YOU BABY!
Sam: Nanny, you gonna give me a prize? It was a 'BIG HUGE ONE!'...
Me: Are you kidding? OF COURSE I'll bring you a prize baby, nanny is SO PROUD OF YOU YOU'RE SUCH A BIG BOY!
Sam: Nanny, what you you you, you gonna bring me?
Me: Sam, I'll bring you a Sponge Bob Square Pants treat! (normally he LOVES SPONGE BOB...)
Sam: Nanny, I wanna Superman prize! You you you, got one?
Me: Sam, I don't have anything Superman honey, Nanny has Sponge Bob treats honey, I bought them for Halloween...
Sam: Nanny, you you you can go a store an get a Superman prize for me?
Me: Awww honey, Nanny is coming to see you first thing in the morning, can I just bring you one of my special Crabby Patties that are special for Sponge Bob? You LOVE Sponge Bob honey!
Sam: Nanny, I love you, you my boyfriend!
Me: (heart bursting at the seams with LOVE for this child) Awwwwww baby, Nanny loves you toooo SO MUCH~! You're my boyfriend too sweetie!
Sam: BYE BYE NANNY, I SEE YOU IN A MORNING!
(phone falls crashing yet again onto the hardrood floor...)

screaming wild children as it IS the 'witching hour' for them... then fait footsteps headed for the phone...

Abi: Nanny?
Me: Yes sweetie?
Abi: Nanny, it's me Abigail!
Me: I know it's you Abi, I love you sweetie, what's up?
Abi: Nanny, when you go to China can you bring me home a special prize? I want a purple prize! And Sammy needs a Green prize and a Pink one for Emma, ok? I love you Nanny, I'll see you tomorrow, goodbye!

*click*

all done. LOL

I love those kids & I CAN'T WAIT for Ruby to know them too, they're wonderful little people who bring such joy to my life, even if they tend to hang up on me every time we talk. LOL ;)

hee hee