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