Blocks before bed!!! *

The BEST part about building with Nanna and Nonno is that they
DON'T MIND when I want to KNOCK IT ALL DOWN AT THE END!!!!!!!!
Hee hee hee WOOOO HOOOOO G'NIGHT EVERYONE!

(*long day tomorrow, going into Boston for my big Dr. Apt...
so wish me luck & look for an update to be posted sometime later tomorrow!)

I <3 BATH TIME!!

Yep, that's right... I FINALLY LOVE MY BATH! (When we first got home from China I used to SCREAM bloody murder whenever Momma put me into the water!) BUT NOT ANYMORE!



Now, I love it so much that the FIRST thing I do is lean over to give Momma a great big SMOOCH!


Then, it's time to splash & PLAY!


Hi Momma! Look at ME!


Ok, so let's see... I have this red cup here & this blue thingie there... OH THIS IS FUN! I wonder how much water I can spash onto the floor this time!


NOTE TO SELF: When splashing, keep in mind that water doesn't JUST land on the floor, it gets in my face TOO!


Ah yes, the ever popular 'shampoo doo'... thanks Momma, I'm lookin' spiffy!

I'm sorry Momma, what did you say? Who is Squiggy? From Laverne & who? I have no idea what you're talking about!

Love it when you towel dry my hair, NOW I'm STYLIN'!

Don't hate me because I'm beautiful! ;)

1st Post Placement Visit!!

Well, today was a long day but a good one. We had our first Post Placement visit with Jen Chen, my Social Worker. She's a wonderful sweet woman who brought her adorable daughter Lindsey along too! Lindsey & I met when I first began this process, she too was adopted from China many years ago, as she is now Ten! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT! I kept looking at her today thinking to myself; 'Oh my GOD, someday Ruby's gonna be 10! " and I know it'll happen in the blink of an eye. Anyway, back to the visit, it was GREAT! They visited for a little over two hours & Jen now works for Early Intervention of Massachusetts (I 'm her last case as a social worker...) Anyhoo, she said that Ruby was right on track for everything they look for! WHAT NEWS TO HEAR!!!!! I was very excited! She could not believe how much she's excelled in the two months she's been home with me! =) hehehe Excuse me while I pat myself on the back... *grin* I AM JUST SO TICKLED PINK TO HEAR THIS! The only thing she did say is that her speech, obviously is a little lacking but she heard how much she babbles & heard her say Momma & Bear so she knows that we're on the right track. And anyway, I told her " I talk ALL THE TIME! With ME as her mother, she can't help BUT TO TALK EVENTUALLY!" hehehe & she agreed. LOL

Lindsey thought Ruby was a doll & they had fun playing together while Jen & I talked details. It was a great day with a fantastic first PP visit and I'm looking forward to our second visit in March! =) Until then, we get to look forward to our next adventure, which will be New England Medical Center's Floating Hospital in Boston. Ruby has an appointment there this thursday with Dr. Laurie Miller. It's a pretty big appointment to check Ruby's complete overall health & well being. They're gonna draw blood for testing & redo ALL her Immunizations, which won't be easy on either Ruby or Momma... but it is something that has to be done. So wish us luck!

In the meantime, enjoy this beautiful picture of my precious angel all snug as a bug in bed with her best pal Bear. =)

Poor Bear, I think she's got him in a headlock of some sort! LOL
He's such a trooper!

Little, Big & Happy...

Little Hand...

Little Feet...


Big Smile...


Big Laugh...

Happy girl on her rocking horse!

(Her Uncle Steve got her that licence plate from Hershey PA!
THANKS UNCLE STEVE! WE LOVE IT!!!)

Tune in every FRIDAY for NANNY Q&A!!

Ok, don't ask how I came to this decision, but I just picked Fridays as Nanny Q&A days!
So, here's my e-mail: mom4ruby@yahoo.com

Please send all questions to the above link, and see too the new 'EMAIL ME YOUR QUESTIONS" link to the right of the blog.

In the subject line, please put NANNY Q&A and be sure to let me know if you'd like to remain anonomous as both the question & my answer will be posted on the blog. If you don't want to be known, please just leave the email unsigned, and if you DO want credit for the question, just be sure to sign your real name & I'll include it.

I'm telling you all now so that you'll have a heads up. Obviously it's best to just email me your question when you think of it so you don't forget, but please know that all questions & answers will be posted to the blog on Fridays only.

Thanks to everyone who was interested in starting this & know that I look forward to helping in any way that I can!

-Amy

Before & After

I was reading my blogs tonight as I do every night before bed & came across a posting from a friend 'down under' who was commenting on how it was so easy to put ON weight but near impossible to take it off. I posted a reply to her to let her know that it IS POSSIBLE to take weight off & keep it off...
(80lbs & counting for me...)

... then I got to thinking that words alone don't really drive a point home, so I thought these Before & After pics would do the trick.

Before

After

Now, before you all go crazy on me, please keep in mind that I still have a VERY LONG ROAD ahead of me & lots more weight to lose, but I know that slow & steady will win my race... and just like my daughter, I will do it in my 'own time'. =)

And I could go on & on FOREVER about how
DIETS DON'T WORK, but most people don't listen anyways... just know that when you finally reached a point where you're sick to death of a diet not working, remember this one thing: It's not YOU failing the diet, it's the DIET FAILING YOU! (psst, cuz they don't work!) =)

Just eat healthy, drink TONS of water & walk at least once every day. That's it.
If I can do it, ANYONE CAN!

G'night

Sweet Dreams...

Bear keeps his constant watch over his beloved friend Ruby...
... Ahhh the love between a Bear & his Girl, PRICELESS!

ps: thanks to Ruby's Cousin JENNIFER for helping Momma decide what to put on this post & what to call it! THANK SO MUCH! AUNTIE LOVES YOU!

My Infamous Nanna 'T' and Momma & Me!

This is my Nanna 'T'! She's my Momma's Aunt Allegra and the one who was famous for that FANTASTIC Banana Bread!!! recipe!! She even brought some with her TONIGHT! Yummy!! Thanks Nanna 'T'!!

And this is my Momma & Me!
I was happy cuz Momma really wanted to make Chocolate Chip Cookes tonight & she did! The house smelled yummy and we all had one! (or two)
My Momma can BAKE! =)

Now it's time for bed, so you KNOW that later there'll just be this pic of me sound asleep probably droolin' all over Bear! Ugh... could someone just come over & take that camera AWAY from Momma?? PLEASE!!!

FINALLY!!!

I'M IT!!! Ok, so I've FINALLY been tagged by Lisa from Tate R Bug...,
and I'm happy to answer the following questions for the entertainment of the masses...
So, HERE GOES...!

What were you doing ten years ago:
Ten years ago I was 'LIVIN' IT UP in my 20'S & partyin' EVERY WEEKEND at Bleachers in Salem!!! GOOD TIMES! *grin* (use your imagination... that's all you get!)


What were you doing one year ago:
One year ago I was 'happy dancing' all around my house cuz I had JUST BEEN DTC ON JAN 14TH!


Five snacks I enjoy:
Planters Cocktail Peanuts

Cheddar Cheese Chex Mix

Smartfood Popcorn

Peanut M&M's

Cheddar Cheese Combos


Five songs to which I know all the lyrics:

Pink Floyd / On the turning away

Metallica / One

Led Zeppelin / Stairway to heaven

Nickelback/ Figured you out


Vasco Rossi / Liberi Liberi


Five things I would do if I were a millionaire:

Take care of any/all debt for my parents & family.

Buy a new car, maybe a nice Red Saturn Vue

Open a S'mores N'More Bookstore (Tea/Coffee/sinful treats) right here in Beverly!

Finally LEARN TO PLAY THE PIANO! We have a gorgeous Steinway that NOBODY PLAYS!

Travel to Italy to visit my family who I haven't seen in over ten years.


Five bad habits:

Talk too much
Interrupting others
Know it all
Too Outspoken
No Tact


Five things I like doing:

Spending time with Ruby
Laughing
Reading
Writing
Napping

Five things I would never wear, buy or get new again:

Hairspray (yuck!)

Stirrup pants (what the HELL were we all THINKING?)

High Heels (NEVER!)

Blue makeup of ANY KIND!

Shoulder Pads! (ewwww)


Five favorite toys/games:

My Computer

My Digital Camera

My Game Boy Color


UNO Card game! LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!

Kitchenaid Kitchenmaster (THOSE OF YOU WHO LOVE BAKING WILL TOTALLY UNDERSTAND WHY THIS LITTLE NUMBER MAKES MY TOP FIVE FAVORITE TOYS LIST!) hehehe And those of you WITHOUT ONE? SHAME ON YOU!


So, here's the deal; remove the blog in the TOP SPOT from the following list and then add YOUR BLOG to the bottom spot.

So, it's come down to this
Gwenblog
Waiting for Lauren Elizabeth
tate r bug
Ruby In Her Own Time

Then select FIVE PEOPLE to TAG!!! =) *evil grin*

Jen:Welcome to my Kingdom

Jamie:The Stury of Man and the Steaming Pile

Kris:Life In Bradford

Deidre:The Random Thoughts of a Misplaced Bostonian

ChristiCherryblossom Baby

*Breakfast with Bear*

Ruby: "Hi, and welcome to Breakfast with BEAR! This morning's menu choices include Cheerios, organic whole milk in an avent sippy, organic apple yogurt from Yo-Baby, and apples & cinnamon oatmeal courtesy of Quaker! Come in & sit a spell!"

Bear: "hmm, what's that Ruby?"
Ruby: "be patient my friend, it's a CHEERIO! It's good, trust me..."

Ruby: "Here, you try it... I PROMISE it's good stuff!"

Bear: " MMmmm THAT WAS GOOD!"
Ruby: "Wasn't it?? I TOLD YA SO! Cheerios ROCK!"


Ruby: " Ok, so let's try you on some Oatmeal now, this was my favorite breakfast food in China and still is to this day! It's good SCHTUFF!! Give it a 'go' Bear!"
Bear: "Do I really have a choice? She's stuffing that spoon in my face!"


Ruby: " Yeah, she does that sometimes... just go with it, she means well."

Ruby: "Awww Ebenezer, don't STARE at me when I'm eating, you KNOW you get me feelin' all GUILTY n'stuff!!!"
Bear: "Ruby, if Ebby's not gonna eat those Cheerios, can I have em'?"

Ruby: "Hey Momma, THIS is what the PATRIOTS should've done more of last night, right?"


Ruby: " I know, I'm funny, but hey... it's the TRUTH! They played great ALL SEASON & then BLEW IT LAST NIGHT WHEN IT COUNTED! Well, spit happens!"
Bear: "Uh, Ruby, you're kinda squishing me down here... "

Ruby: "Ok so I guess Breakfast with Bear is over since I'm apparently hurting my friend, I think maybe it's time for Bear & I to go play with Momma!
Tune in later for MORE EXCITING ADVENTURES OF RUBY & BEAR!!"
Bear: "s'bout time! ... can you get your elbow off my head please?"

Nanny Q&A?

Ok, so my friend Lisa recently brought to my attention that I should perhaps start a weekly Q&A with all of my readers who have 'kid related questions'... what does everyone think of that? I suppose with my experience as a Nanny I do have certain knowledge of all things 'Kid's' but please keep in mind that my experience with children is just that, my experience. As you've all seen by now, I'm very forward & honest & don't beat around the bush with ANYTHING, ESPECIALLY KID RELATED QUESTIONS, so you feel free to ask any question under the sun, no question is ever 'stupid' but then bear in mind that I will answer it in my own way... even if it's not what you were hoping to hear! So, with that in mind, if you're all in agreement let me know &amp;amp;amp; I'll pick a day of the week to take NANNY Q&A!!

=)

And, on a side note, any suggestions for what day of the week it should be?

-Amy

PS. I just realized that today was the 14th... Jan 14th, 2006. Well, Jan 14th 2005 was my DTC date. I can't EVEN BELIEVE that it's been a YEAR!!!!!!!!!! Amazing the changes that one year can bring... Here's to a fantastic NEW YEAR for ALL OF YOU in your adoption journeys!!! =)

LAURIE BERKNER ROCKS!!!

Today was a GREAT DAY, regardless of the tons & tons of RAIN that's falling around here, we ventured out to BJ's to get a few things and while we were out we decided that a trip to Barnes & Noble was in order & we went looking specifically for Laurie Berkner CD'S! RUBY JUST LOVES HER!!! (As seen on Jack's Big Music Show on Noggin) We got the following two CD'S:
Laurie Bernker / Under A Shady Tree

and

Laurie Bernker / Victor Vito

SHE LOVES THEM BOTH SO MUCH!!!

And from an Adults point of view, she's really got a soothing soft comforting voice that sounds like your best friend telling a story. I could listen to her all day without wanting to pull my HAIR OUT! Plus, to see my daughter happy and dancin' & groovin in the car while we drive... well that is just PRICELESS! =)

Her favorite songs are: BOOTS, I'm not perfect, Under a shady tree, I'm gonna catch you, I'm me and you're you, My energy... the list goes ON AND ON! Check her out... Ruby and I promise you won't be dissappointed! =)

Sleeping Beauty...

Is there anything more beautiful in the whole world? *teary smile*

Thank you Ruby for making Momma's dreams come true!

I love you to the moon and back,
& the sun and back,
& the stars and back,
& to CHINA and back!

Ruby's ORIGINAL BEAR...

This is THE Original Bear that I gave to Ruby on 'Gotcha' day... he is, as you can see, much loved as he was dragged around the streets of China like only a true friend would've been. She now loves & drags around the 3 duplicate bears that I got so that we can keep her Original Bear in good condition... someday down the road when she's older, she may want to see the exact bear that's in the video footage, and I want to be able to give him to her. For now though, this little guy sits in my China Cabinet among the chinese tea sets & crystal wine goblets etc... a place of honor.

For those of you planning to become a mother anytime soon... be sure that the MOMENT you realize that your child has fallen in love with a specific fuzzy friend, that you GET SEVERAL MORE ASAP! That way, you won't have to worry & your child's little friend will FOREVER be by his/her side! =) Let them play with EACH FRIEND, just one at a time. When one gets dirty, toss that little guy in the gentle cycle of your wash & give your child one of the 'duplicate' friends... that way, all the friends 'age' at the same time so they'll NEVER SUSPECT a duplicate friend!

Just a little friendly advice from this Nanny turned Momma!

HAVE YOU SEEN THIS DOG???* (*UPDATE!!!)

This little fella is a beloved friend of Ruby's pal Gwen, in NC. Gwen loves her friend to pieces & we're in a desperate search for DUPLICATE FRIENDS so that should her buddy ever be misplaced we won't have a sad Gwen on our hands! Blue dog was purchased by a friend at a Babies R Us in North Carolina & the only thing it says on the toosh tag is 'Carter's' THAT'S ALL WE HAVE TO GO ON! Please people, could you please help our little friend Gwen!!

*UPDATE*
I just got off the phone with Gayle Peterson, a most wonderful, fabulous, amazingly friendly woman who works for Carter's. I explained to her my friend Gwen's plight & she asked me to email her a photo of Blue Dog, which I did... and she said to me, and I quote: "Sure, I know that little guy, I designed him. I think I can get your friend a few more of these little guys, how many would you like?" *thud* (the sound of my JAW DROPPING, FOLLLOWED BY THE PHONE DROPPING!) "OMG SERIOUSLY?@$#$ UM, WELL, HOW ABOUT 3?" to which Gayle replied : "No problem... "

SO SEE, FRIDAY THE 13TH IS THE LUCKIEST DAY EVER HANDS DOWN!!! WOOOOOO HOOOOOOOO THANK YOU GAYLE FOR ALL THAT YOU DID FOR MY FRIEND GWEN TODAY! I KNOW HER MOMMY'S GONNA BE OVER THE MOON WITH THIS NEWS! =)

Thanks again!!!

-Amy & Ruby

Friday the 13th!!

WHAT A BUNCH OF HOOEY! This 'unlucky' stuff is for the BIRDS!!! I happen to think that when I've got a HUGE BIGGER THAN LIFE BOX OF BLOCKS in front of me to PLAY WITH, THAT'S A LUCKY DAY IF I EVER SAW ONE!!! CHECK IT OUT!!! =)


Hey, wait a minute... WHERE'S MY FRIEND BEAR?????????????? OMG I HOPE HE ISN'T LOST!!!!!!!!

I've got to FIND HIM!!!


Nope... not in there... ??

Or under here either, CRAP! WHERE IS HE??!!


OH BEAR!!!!!! THERE YOU ARE MY FRIEND!!!!!!! I'VE MISSED YOU!!!


COME HERE & I WILL KISS YOUR LITTLE NOSE!!!