Is it SUMMER yet???

Today we went to 'The Children's Place' with a return for store credit...
( a gift from the shower that didn't fit...)
so we traded it in for this really niffty fishie bathingsuit and kewl summer sunglasses!
(BOTH of which Ruby picked out ALL BY HERSELF!!!)

(this last one just kills me, LOL can we say BLACKMAIL?)
*evilgrin*
I mean let's face it, SOMEDAY there's gonna be a wedding, right?
LOL!
hehehehe

Humble Pie...

I am beyond humbled and touched in a way I've never been before...
I HATED putting that stupid paypal button up on the blog,
I hate having to leave it there until I'm over this mess but you all made me feel ok about it with your lovely emails full of amazing words...
each & every comment you left, left me with tears in my eyes...
and I honestly have no words for those who reached out to help Ruby & me.
Every time I log in & see that stupid thing I'm gonna feel like crap, cuz it's just a reminder of my failure to find a job, failure to provide for my daughter, failure to be the perfect 'single mom' I thought I could be...
It's why I haven't blogged in a few days, I didn't want to look at that freakin' button & probably still don't know how to articulate what I'm feeling over this whole thing, but I do know this...

This thing we call 'blogland'... these friends I've met because of this medium...

OH. MY. GOD.
You ALL are such AMAZING people, I consider myself TRULY BLESSED!
So, I'll do my best to ignore that button until such time that I can PROUDLY remove it,
and I know with friends like you all, Ruby and I will be just fine...

And speaking of Ruby, she thought that it would be nice to put a few pictures up this morning... So for everyone's viewing pleasure,
...a few Ruby originals:

Ruby: "BEEEEEAAAARRRRRRR, c'mon, hurry up!
Momma wants to take our picture..."

Ruby: "Awwww I love you pal..."
Bear: "Uh, Ruby I love you too but after this is over can I go back to setting up the tea set?
I was ALMOST DONE..."


Bear: "Finally! Now, let's get that humble pie your Momma was talking about
& have ourselves a tea party!"
Ruby: "I hope it's similar to blueberry pie, that's my favorite!"

Tail between my legs...

... you may have noticed the newest addition to 'Ruby In Her Own Time'... it's that little button over to your right. That little 'paypal donate' number that, despite much dismay from loved ones, I really felt I needed to add.
I have one week left of unemployment & then *poof* no more...
Scarey? That's an understatement...
I feel like a loser, I feel like I can't even provide for my daughter... but I know that when people want to help, it's foolish to turn them away. Because I know on more than one occasion I've been the one helping and I felt good to do it and felt happy knowing that my little gesture meant the world to the one on the receiving end.
Well, now I'm on that end and am scared to DEATH what I'm going to do, so... to those of you who emailed asking how you can help, wanting my home address to send money etc, and I turned you all down & said " no, I'll manage..", now I'm going to, with my tail between my legs, admit defeat, momentarially.
I guess it's silly to feel bad or like a failure about this because the truth of the matter is, when I was saving up for 'All things Adoption', I had friends & family saving change, and when I say change, I mean everything from just a pocket full all the way up to full out, hard core COFFEE CANS FULL of change. Trust me, it adds up.
I was amazed at the generosity I received, it made the whole process such a wonderful experience for me. As a single mother it was really the icing on my adoption cake because truth is, without that help and the help of my parents, I would NOT have made it to Ruby... I just wouldn't have.

I know that when I first blogged about being terrified about not finding a job, everyone in blogland emailed & those who knew my number, called & all of you wanted to help but I swallowed my pride & said thanks but I'll be fine.
I do believe I just felt something resurface... my pride again because I can't keep it swallowed forever.
So, for those of you who were so wonderful & generous & caring & sweet to want to help out, I now have a way for you to do so, should you still wish to.
I am humbled by this entire experience I'm going through, but I know that it will pass eventually because it can't last forever, nothing does.

But before I get in over my head, I figured I should at the very least, do this.
So, it's done.

And before even one person clicks on that button, I want to say an enormous;
THANK YOU
to anyone & everyone who finds it in their heart to help us out.

I know that when the day comes that Ruby and I are in a situation to be able to help someone else out, we will do so tenfold, as I'm a very generous woman by nature... just ask my family & friends.
Ok, now, my tail & I are going to go crawl under that rock...
...more later.

Shhh...

... time for our nap,

and sleeptime kisses...

To the Library & Back...

On our walk to the library, we saw some pretty flowers...
Momma said they're just babies cuz they're brand new at growing...

Then we get to the Children's Room at the Library and I found some Puzzles!

Watch this Momma...


I think THIS piece


goes HERE...

Now let's try this Circle piece, hmmm...

No, no... don't tell me, I'll find it...

Oh yeah, THAT'S RIGHT, I TOLD THAT CIRCLE WHERE TO GO!

Momma, I think I got this whole 'puzzle thing' LICKED!
But I'm pretty sure Bear is falling asleep over there in my carriage...
Maybe it's time to head home?

Hey kewl, check out these fun ELEPHANTS they have on display on the way out...

Wow, there must be a MILLION of them!
Momma, these elephants make me think of my friends,
Marisa and Isadora...
I miss them.

Oooh look Momma, more flowers!
Some pretty yellow ones...
Why can't we pick them?
*sigh*

Peg'O'The mornin' to ya...

That's right... I did them ALL!

*grin*

YIPPEE!!!

Ruby's Bracelet...

In answer to the questions I've been getting about Ruby's Bracelet... here's the scoop.
I found it on ebay LONG before I ever saw her little referral pictures... long before I was even a month into the process... but when I had just started & knew my daughter was in China.
It's a slide bangle type bracelet with two little 'bells' that hang off it.
The bracelet symbolizes good luck and long life in Chinese tradition and is usually worn by babies or toddlers.
Now although I don't remember exactly what seller I bought this from off ebay, I do know that you can find similar bracelets here at Sherry's Place in Guangzhou, China.
I frequented this place every day while in Guangzhou and really enjoyed her friendly spirit & her carefree attitude about selling. She wasn't pushy in the least and let me take my time. (probably cuz she knew I'd be back in less than 24 hours...) LOL

So although the bracelets she has aren't identical to the one I got for Miss Ruby, it's close enough & just as adorable if not MORE so since Sherry's bracelets come with chinese characters along the band!

Hope that helps... happy shopping!
(psst, Tell Sherry Ruby & I said Ni Hao!)

Everything's always more fun...

... NEKKID!

hehehe Even Shape Sorting!
*grin*


MOMMA LOVES YOU TOO RUBY!

*muah*

Get out the tissue...

... here's another wonderful video for you all to enjoy!

For everyone still waiting...

I happened upon this video while searching YouTube... now, I don't have a clue who the family is but honestly, it doesn't much matter when what you're seeing is the unfolding of a long journey of patience, love, excitement & a dream come true... the moment any child is placed into loving arms, is a beautiful one... and really, this family could be your family, my family... anyone who has ever gone the long haul that is international adoption, this is everyone's family.
It shows us that yes, there is a light at the end of this tunnel...

I remember how much I LIVED for video's like this when I was waiting... each one made me cry but each one made me realize that no matter how much the wait sucked, that it was bound to eventually be MY TURN... as it's also bound to be YOUR TURN one day!

So this is for all of you still waiting, I know it sucks but I PROMISE YOU that your day is coming...

I know this with 100% certainty!

Sending much love & hugs your way all you 'waiters'...

Love,

-Amy & Ruby
(& Bear too!)

*REMEMBER*
After hitting PLAY, IMMEDIATELY HIT PAUSE
and wait for the whole thing to load before trying to view.
Makes it alot easier.
=)

ENJOY!

Signs of Spring...

Lookie what Miss Ruby and I saw this morning
while out for a walk down to the bank with Nanna...

And then once IN the bank, we saw this poster...

... and both smiled!

=) =)

Who knew...

... FEET could be SO MUCH FUN!
hehehe
And nobody told me just how DIFFICULT these BOWS are to put in...


No wonder Momma does it every time...

=)

Oh yeah, teach ME tonight! *grin*

Here's another one that I ADORE! Elliot Yamin's voice gives me chills all up & down my spine, the boy can SING DAMNIT!

*grin*

As someone also living with diabetes I am proud to see him not let it get in the way of realizing his dreams!

GO ELLIOT GO!!!!

Thanksgiving in March?

THAT'S RIGHT!
THANKSGIVING IN MARCH!!
ABSOFRIGGENLUTELY!
(oooh, another word for Dictionary Schmictionary)


Anyhoo... so most of you probably already know this but,
the time I was in China with my precious little doodlebug
was right about the time that THANKSGIVING happened...

... AND I MISSED IT!

Now, obviously I'd not change going to China to be with miss Ruby for the WORLD but

MISSING THE TURKEY? THE CRANBERRY? THE STUFFING? MY DAD'S ITALIAN PEAS?

...sigh.

SO TODAY, MY FAMILY HAS STEPPED UP & IS PREPARING TO HAVE
AN ALL OUT, FULL BLOWN, THANKSGIVING DINNER
COMPLETE WITH ALL THE TRIMMINGS!

Now, obviously this makes me very happy since I still was bummed that I missed it-


(noodles for thanksgiving doesn't cut it people...)

but truth be told, part of 'what' I missed wasn't just the delicious food, but really more the house being packed full of my family & all of us being loud & talking too much & being silly & just having a wonderful day.

The biggest part of what I missed would have to be the 'ceremonial picking of the bird' with my cousin Steve.

Steve & I are only a few years apart, and although we're now in our 30's... when Thanksgiving rolls around, we're INSTANTLY KIDS AGAIN, and getting into trouble!

Every year starting when we were too young to know we shouldn't be doing this but old enough to know that something smelled good, we both knew we HEARD THE BIRD CALLING US!

So, we would creep quietly into the kitchen to do the honorary 'picking of the bird' and each year we THOUGHT we had devised a foolproof plan of getting in & out without being caught!
After all, this IS a two person job... one to be the 'lookout' while the other is doing the 'picking'...

Every year, without fail, for as BRILLIANT as we thought we were & as AMAZING a plan as we were CERTAIN we had devised...

...WE WERE CAUGHT!

Man, you only have to HEAR your mother yelling...

"AMY ELIZABETH!!!"

and you KNEW you were in trouble!

It's that middle name that sends fear deep into the heart of a child.

You hear that middle name & you KNEW your ass was in SERIOUS TROUBLE!

Still, every year, TO THIS DAY, Steve and I PICK at that poor bird and I have to say that this past thanksgiving was the FIRST TIME EVER that I wasn't here to 'pick'.

So today, although amazing as I know it will be, still will NOT be the same without my cousin here to join me in us STILL getting yelled at for our bird picking antics, all these many years later.
Grown adults (and I use the term adult very loosely) STILL getting into trouble & not caring EVERY YEAR because, let's face it, if we managed to get a GOOD PIECE OF CRUNCHY SKIN prior to the 'middle name yelling', it was all good and WELL WORTH BEING SPOKEN TO BY MY MOTHER! hahaha

Sorry Mom but you KNOW STEVE AND I LOVE TO PICK AT THAT BIRD!
(and although he's not here today, I'd still watch your back & the back of that bird because Ruby is down for her nap right now & I can smell something wonderfull wafting up the back stairs & into my kitchen... so if you hear your oven door open & you know that it's neither you or Dad... you can be sure that it IS ME getting my ceremonial piece-o-da-bird, and this time, TWO of them in the honor & absence of my cousin Steve!)

hehehe Just don't yell my middle name out too loud k?
Let's not wake Ruby...

hehehe