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