Library Time...

Books, Books EVERYWHERE...

... and what do I want to play with?


THIS GINORMOUS BLOCK THINGIE!!!

Let me just have a seat right here...

Ah, a toasty fit!


Now, let's see...


... what in the HECK does this thing do?

Ah, who cares, I made it over to the big block thingie, found a seat & sat down all by myself!

YIPPEE FOR ME!!!!

Good Times @ Salem Willows...

See that sign in the back? That 'Children Only' sign? Momma was a little upset to say the least, since she didn't see it initially & tried to get her fat but into one of the boats & was asked to 'back away from the boat maam' LOL
Sorry Momma but this is a Ruby ride only! =)

So neat to be able to get the RED BOAT this time!
It's my FAVORITE COLOR JUST LIKE MOMMA!

Yes, I know... I'm lookin' quite chill' in my shades!

Ok, enough with the boats, on to FASTER RIDES!
Race cars anyone??

I like this little brown number, it's VERY FAST!


Bear tends to get scared so he usually burries his face in my armpit...
lovely image, isn't it? LOL


Man, I wonder if Momma knows that I'm starting to feel a little queazy?

Maybe just once on the race cars this time...


I hope it's almost done...

Ok, I think that's quite enough...
...GET ME OFF THIS CRAZY THING!

A Delicious Obsession... (UPDATE)

... No, I'm not talking Chocolate, although that's pretty good too! I'm talking about my FANTASTIC, WONDERFUL, EASY TO USE, REASONABLY PRICED, "MUST-HAVE" KITCHEN TOY, THE
RED WHIRLEY POP POPCORN POPPER!!!!

Seriously, just as little as a teaspoon of corn oil, a 1/2 cup of corn kernels, some salt & a touch of butter- AND YOU HAVE SOME OF THE MOST DELICIOUS POPCORN YOU'VE EVER TASTED!
Seriously, MUCH BETTER than ANY microwave popcorn, PERIOD!

You've all trusted me on items I've presented in the past on the blog, don't for one second think that I'd drop the ball when it comes to POPCORN, cuz it's just NOT POSSIBLE!

I GIVE MY WHIRLEY POP TEN THUMBS UP! (I will just need to borrow a few friends temporarily if you really want actual thumbs...) but SERIOUSLY, if you've ever considered getting a home popcorn popper, THIS ONE IS THE ONE TO INVEST IN!

You'll all have to let me know if you get one & how it's worked for you. OR- if you HAVE ONE ALREADY, share your yummy popcorn adventures with all of us! AFTER ALL, WHO DOESN'T LIKE POPCORN?!?!?!?!!!!

ENJOY!

PS: Hey gymjava... I believe THIS should do the trick! HAPPY POPPING!

-Amy & Ruby Cate (who is currently in bed drifting off to dreamland...)

Shhh... Duckie's sleeping.

So cute that she sleeps on her side with Bear in front of her chest...

I sleep on my side as well, but my left side only and I too hug my bear,
William Bear, to my chest...

Funny how we're so alike, it makes my heart smile.

=)

A Letter from Sun Ying's Auntie:

Amy,

I'm M.'s oldest sister and I wanted to personally thank you for your support of M.-

I don't think she would be able to make it through these very difficult times without the support

of her "adoptive family friends." I have been very worried about her, as her heartbreak is so

deep, and I realized that from reading your emails to the agency, you totally feel her pain.

You are a special person to care for my sister. There is nothing I want more for her than to be

able to bring her baby girl home. Thanks for being there for her and listening...she

has not been herself this past week and I think you have done more

for her than we could of ever done....does that make sense??? Anyway, I wanted to thank you.

I appreciate your heart....

Jan

A call for HELP... *UPDATE* (BY THE BY see bottom)

This post goes out to all my fabulous loyal readers... I am asking for your help.

A friend of mine is desperate to find a light at the end of her darkest tunnel...
I know in my heart that if everyone who reads my blog takes a minute to show some support on her & her little girls behalf, that Sun Ying will be home before you know it & will once & for all experience the joys of a 'FOREVER FAMILY'!

So, I'm BEGGING EVERY READER OF MY BLOG FROM ALL CORNERS OF THE GLOBE TO FIND IT WITHIN THEIR HEARTS TO LEND A VOICE AND SOME SUPPORT...

LET'S ALL HELP BRING SUN YING HOME WHERE SHE BELONGS!!!

(click on the above link to check out SUN YING'S story & on that page there is a link to SEND AN EMAIL TO THE AGENCY'S DIRECTOR DEMANDING HE RELEASE THE TA. TO SUN YING'S MOTHER SO SHE CAN GO GET HER PRECIOUS DAUGHTER... Below is MY letter on their behalf, to give you all just an idea:)


Dear Harlan Tenenbaum,

As an adoptive mother to a beautiful little girl who was waiting for her 'forever family' last year, I can NOT imagine being denied my TA to GO GET HER! If my agency DID NOT release my TA to me to travel & get my daughter I'd be BESIDE MYSELF! I understand that as an agency you need to be sure that the families you're placing these children with are wonderful & loving, HOWEVER- IF THE CLAIMS FROM THAT WOMAN CONCERNING SUN YING'S FAMILY WERE UNSUBSTANTIATED & LATER RETRACTED, WHAT GOOD DOES IT DO YOU TO KEEP A MOTHER & CHILD APART? I COMMEND YOU ON YOUR EFFORTS TO BE SURE THESE CHILDREN ARE PLACED IN LOVING HEALTHY HOMES BUT HONESTLY, THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING PRUDENT & JUST BEING PLAIN RIDICULOUS! I DEMAND THAT YOU RELEASE SUN YING'S TA TO HER MOTHER SO SHE CAN FLY TO GET HER BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER & COMPLETE HER FAMILY ONCE AND FOR ALL! THIS LITTLE GIRL SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WAIT FOR HER DREAM TO COME TRUE ANY LONGER THAN IS NECESSARY AND YOU HAVE THE POWER TO SPEED THAT UP SO WHY NOT DO IT?! FOR GOD SAKES HAVE A HEART & LET THIS WOMAN COMPLETE HER FAMILY & GIVE THIS LITTLE GIRL THE LOVE OF A FOREVER FAMILY & A BRIGHT FUTURE!

-Amy E. S.
Mother to: Ruby Cate Pei Mu
Jiangxi Province, China.

***********************************************

His Response:

From htenenbaum@adoptionhouse.org
Date 2006/06/11 Sun PM 01:19:50 EDT
To amyla72
Subject Re: Attn: Harlan Tenenbaum

Amy,

Thank you for your concern. We will find a loving family for Sun Ming, as it is
our mission to find homes for children. Everyone in our agency has been touched
by adoption, and we are dedicated adoption advocates. We would never deny a TA
unless we had cause.

Adoption House

***********************************************

MY RESPONSE TO THAT:

Amy
Date 2006/06/11 Sun PM 05:46:03 EDT
To htenenbaum@adoptionhouse.org
Subject Re: Re: Attn: Harlan Tenenbaum

So everything she's gone through thus far doesn't count? She doesn't get her daughter? That's CRAP! I know you're dedicated to finding homes for all these children but THIS little girl is meant for THAT FAMILY!
If your accusations were unfounded & retracted in the end, and CHINA ALREADY GAVE THE GREEN LIGHT FOR THIS FAMILY, who are YOU to play GOD & step in & stop it?
I would be absolutely ASHAMED if you were my agency!
And I'll be sure to put out the word to all those looking to adopt to avoid your agency. I think my blog that is read by THOUSANDS should do the trick.

Shame on you & everyone there. How do you sleep at night KNOWING that you are DENYING this woman the right to be that little girls MOTHER and MORE IMPORTANTLY, denying that little girl her FOREVER FAMILY?

***********************************************

From	htenenbaum@adoptionhouse.org
Date	2006/06/12 Mon AM 09:44:33 EDT
To	Amy
Subject	Re: Re: Attn: Harlan Tenenbaum

Amy-

Please get all of the facts prior to making such a conclusion. We are not here
to cause anyone to be distraught. As a non-profit, our mission is to find homes
for children. It would be easy for us to just "give-in," right now, and not do
the right thing. However, we would never prevent someone from adopting unless
we had cause. Unfortunately, we have cuase in this matter.

Adoption House


***********************************************

From	Amy
Date	2006/06/12 Mon AM 11:41:08 EDT
To	htenenbaum@adoptionhouse.org
Subject	Re: Re: Re: Attn: Harlan Tenenbaum

It's Sun YING, NOT Sun MING, and you seemed to have spelled a few things wrong in your last letter, shame you don't pay as much annoying attention to details like the CHILDREN'S NAMES as you do to RUINING OF THE LIVES OF THOSE WAITING CHILDREN & THE PARENTS WAITING TO UNITE WITH THEM. I know all about you, I know folks who have told me things about you not returning phone calls to them, ignoring issues that have come up during the adoption process, non profit or not, you seem Crooked with a captial C in my book & anyone associated with you should be TERRIFIED that at any moment, they too could be faced a similar situation & all their hopes & dreams will come crashing down around them in an instant! All because you feel like being a ballbuster & not as you say "giving in", God Forbid to SOME DREAMS COMING TRUE!
Look, I've been THROUGH this process, I KNOW WHAT IT TAKES to get to the point of being issued a TA from China! EVERY AND ANY HOOP YOU'RE ASKED TO JUMP THROUGH, YOU DO SO WITHOUT SO MUCH AS A SECOND THOUGHT! And AFTER FINGERPRINTING, BACKROUND CHECKS, POLICE CHECKS,HOME STUDIES, EMPLOYMENT CHECKS ETC, ETC, ETC, ETC OH AND ETC.... YOU ARE JUST A DOWNRIGHT BASTARD TO DENY HER THIS TA. CLEARLY THE WOMEN WHO WAS INSANE ENOUGH TO SAY THINGS ABOUT SUN YING'S MOTHER IS THE ONE YOU SHOULD BE LOOKING AT AS IT'S NOTHING MORE THAN A CASE OF 'YOU ENDED OUR FRIENDSHIP, I'LL FIND THE BEST WAY TO HURT YOU BACK' GRADESCHOOL ANTICS & SHE CHOSE GOING AFTER HER ADOPTION IN WHAT CAN ONLY BE VIEWED AS THE POOREST OF JUDGEMENT CALLS! I stand by what I said, I made sure that EVERYONE (thousands upon thousands) who reads my blog KNOWS about your agency, your attitude towards adoptive families, your crooked 'do as I say, not as I do" ways of handling situations that come up, and those who are looking to find an agency, will NOT EVER LOOK TWICE AT YOURS! THANK GOD I never EVER got mixed up with the likes of YOU! My Agency is like my family, loved & welcome & on my side! Your agency clearly is like the obnoxious drunk uncle at every wedding, loud, rude & just plain ignorant & the quicker you get him out of the picture the better.
I will continue to pray for Sun Ying's mother that she may be united with her Daughter and that everyone who is unfortunate enough to be SUCKED INTO YOUR AGENCY may find either a way OUT before the same things happen to them and for those looking for an agency, that they steer clear of the likes of YOU!
Good DAY sir!

(Do not attempt to write me back as I have blocked you and have quite honestly, heard ENOUGH! I am going to see to it that Sun Ying's Mother get in touch with MY OWN PERSONAL LAWYER & go AFTER HER TA. FULL FORCE!)


BY THE BY: (and NO this is not a link to Sun Ying's Mother's blog...) HOWEVER- Everyone please check out this Blog, as I've just noticed that this person added MY Blog to hers without my prior permission. Upon further scanning, MOST OF YOU are on it as well. I don't know who this woman is at ALL so I am not comfortable being linked to anyone I don't know personally who didn't at least have the foresight to ask me FIRST. If you're friends with her so be it. Otherwise, if you find yourself linked to her blog without your prior permission and are like me, are NOT OK with that, I would suggest that you tell her so. Just my 2cents.

Standing Date Night a MAJOR SUCCESS!

So, Scott is unofficially the new Steadman and you're all just going to have to take my word for it, he's cute, he's sweet, he's thoughtful and he's over the BOON for Ruby & I.


Us on our way to dinner...
(and yes, that's all you'll probably ever see of Scott, that teenie little blue corner of his shoulder... )

Ruby thought I was 'cracked' to be taking pics of her from the front seat... she's like:
"Momma, Bear & I are trying to READ back here!"

After ordering, Ruby & Bear drew a few 'doodle originals' to pass the time...

Don't let this sweet little face fool you... inside she's saying:

"Seriously Momma, what's up with all the pictures anyway?!?"

We all had a wonderful night filled with more surprises than you can imagine!
To name a few...

flowers, candy, ice cream, ten little gifts to mark the 10th of the month,
sidewalk chalk for Ruby as well as a book with a "BOOON" (aka:moon) in it,
lots of laughs, smiles and just an all around amazing night that literally tops the charts as far as 'first offical dates' go.

More next Saturday when 'Standing Date Night' continues...

HYSTERICAL!

My Mother sent me this in an email recently and it is SO FUNNY I JUST HAD TO SHARE IT WITH EVERYONE! HAHAHA I HOPE THAT THE FATHERS IN YOUR LIVES ARE SLIGHTLY BETTER WITH THE DIAPER CHANGING THAN THESE POOR BASTARDS!!!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Saturday = DATE NIGHT!

Yep, you heard me right, TONIGHT IS DATE NIGHT!


Now, for those of you who know me, you know I have been single now for the past ten years...
dates here & there but nothing to write home about, ya know?



Well, all that has changed as I'm now seeing a wonderful guy who not only seems smitten on me, but on Ruby as well.


It's still early but he's taken me out on his sailboat, met my parents & vice versa.


It's fun, Ruby loves him & we laugh together, which to me is pretty priceless.


From now on, Saturday night is going to be our STANDING DATE NIGHT!


Every saturday night, Scott will be taking out his 'two best girls', new restaurant every time, wherever we wish to go. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? I NEVER GO OUT! THIS IS WILD!


I think he's a doll & Ruby and I are all DOLLED UP ourselves for tonight's date,
the first of many to come!

YIPPEE FOR DATE NIGHT!!!!!!!

(aren't we cute?)



(C'mon... you KNEW Ruby's dress had a LADYBUG on it!)

I got this for her off ebay way back before I ever saw even her sweet little face & those glorious cheeks... I just now did a search on ebay to see if I could find another like it & I found this: Sophie Rose Black & White Gingham Ladybug Dress
So, if you're looking to grab one in a size 12mo. WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?! An amazing lot of adorable girls clothes that is sure to doll up your precious little one, whether she's here already or you're excited & waiting... like I was when I bought this for Ruby.)
*smile*

Rainy Day SURPRISES!!!

Look what arrived today in our mail!!!

Our dear friends Julie & Tess COMPLETELY SURPRISED US! (Not to mention scared the shit'outta my Mother when the HUGE package came tumbling into the hallway as she opened the front door to get the mail- hehehe), when she sent us this GORGEOUS WALL HANGING THAT TRULY SUMS UP MY FEELINGS FOR MY DAUGHTER, RUBY!

For now we've put it on top of the book shelf but it will soon be hung properly ( by my Dad, Ruby's Nonno) above her crib on the wall.
IT'S JUST GORGEOUS JULIE!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SUCH A GREAT RAINY DAY SURPRISE!!!!!!!!!!
WE LOVE YOU GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!
(& Tess too!)

Love,

-Amy & Ruby Cate
XoXoXo

Best Friends...

... Always & Forever!
XoXoXoXo

Finally!

So, every night now since that awful day back on May 3rd, I'd crawl into bed at night & say, out loud, "Ebby, come visit Momma tonight in my sleep buddy, come say hi to me cuz I miss you SO MUCH and I just want to hold you & hug you one more time...".

And every night, I had high hopes, but every morning, I'd wake & nothing. Oh, I had dreams, silly ones of ridiculous stuff that made no sense, as most dreams usually are... but no Ebby.
No Ebby that is, until this past Tuesday Night when, again... upon crawling into bed, I asked him 'again' to "...come visit me in my dreams, please... I just missed him SO MUCH!"

My dream that night was the most vivid ever, and it was one of those dreams that I knew he had already passed & KNEW it was a dream, but was so happy that he had heard me & stopped by for a snuggle.

I was downstairs at my parents house doing something in the kitchen, (my parents were both in the yard doing yard work as it was a beautiful day and Ruby was sound asleep in her pack & play for a nap so, why was I in my Mom's kitchen? Don't ask... )

So, I'm there & I hear the ever familiar SCRATCH SCRATCH at the back hall door.... 'OMG WHAT THE HELL IS OUT THERE!?#$%#" I thought there's a critter or something, holy crap! I was TERRIFIED to open the door cuz my first thought was "it CAN'T be Ebby, he's gone so what the HELL is scratching at the door?"

I gently & hesitantly open the door & who should come bounding in, but Ebenezer. I was dumbstruck!
"OMG EBENEZER!! IS IT REALLY YOU? IT CAN'T BE BUDDY! OMG!"
I immediately dropped to the floor & scooped him up in my arms to make sure, yes it really WAS Ebby! I inspected his ears, his face, that pink spot on his bottom lip that was uniquely him... and after doing a thorough 'once over' OMG IT REALLY IS YOU EBBY! OMG OMG OMG OMG!!!!!! OMG!
"OMG BUDDY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR FINALLY VISITING ME IN MY DREAMS! I'VE MISSED YOU SOOOOO MUCH PAL! OMG LET ME JUST HOLD YOU BUDDY, COME HERE TO MOMMA!"
and he came & curled right up in my lap like he always used to whenever I sat indian style on the floor... and I was in heaven.
I scratched his ears, and they were solid & real & fuzzy & soft & smelled so familiar and I loved every second of this dream!
I held him so close & told him over and over and over and over how much I loved him & would always love him & that he can visit me anytime he wants in my dreams, cuz he made a wish come true that night. I woke up with tears in my eyes, but they were HAPPY tears.
Yes I'm sad I miss him, yes as I type this tears are streaming down my face, but I know I did right by my boy and I know he knows that too and now I know he LISTENS to me cuz he made a special trip to visit his Momma who had a hole in her heart.
And for just a short while tuesday night, as my physical body slept, my spiritual energy got to snuggle once more with my best friend, my fuzzy son... my four legged soulmate... and that has got to be the definition of 'HEAVEN ON EARTH!' It HAS to be!

Dreams are amazing things... I didn't have another one of him last night, and I wanted to share this with everyone right after it happened but life got in the way for a bit, you all know how that goes.

So, there you have it, my precious little friend finally stopped by for what I can only hope will be the FIRST OF MANY visits to me while the moon & stars light up the sky.

Thank you Ebenezer for knowing how much that meant to Momma... I miss you more than I have words to describe it here but it was so good to get to hold you again buddy, you felt so warm & solid & soft and I will hold that dream so close to my heart until you visit again old friend.

I love you!

PS. Just now after I thought I had finished with this post, I called Ruby over up into my lap to look at the picture of Ebby. I asked her " Who'se that baby girl, who is that? Is that Ebenezer?..." then I said to her "I'm sorry that you probably won't remember him, it makes me so sad that you'll never know what a great Dog he was..." and as I sat there with my Daughter on my lap, she looked at the picture quite seriously & started (on her own, with NO prompting from me) to howl. She knows! She remembers! OMG! You think the tears were streaming down my face when I first typed this thing, OMG NOTHING compared to the crying I just did upon the realization that my little girl, as young as she is (21 months yesterday) REMEMBERS HER FRIEND EBBY WHO TAUGHT HER HOW TO HOWL! I said to her, through shuddering/shaking tears, "OMG BABY, EBBY IS SO PROUD OF YOU RIGHT NOW, YOU REMEMBER! YOU HOWLED BABY, YOU REMEMBER YOUR EBBY!!!"
And that's about all I can type now cuz I just honestly can't see the screen & want to go snuggle with my smart, beautiful little girl who I don't nearly give enough credit to. I love you Ruby!

Love,

-Momma
XoXoXoXo

Scenes from a Sailboat...

Look closely, can you see the puppy playing in the water at the beach?
SO CUTE! THAT ONE'S FOR YOU EBBY!!

Again, look very close... can you see the little black duck swimming in the upper left hand corner of the image by the white mooring?
He was cute & quick, I'm so psyched I actually snapped his pic!

A beautiful overpriced home on Beverly's Sea Coast...
(don't even want to THINK about the property tax on this bad boy!)

A SEASIDE VIEW of Salem Willow's dock in Salem, MA...
(so DIFFERENT to see it from this point of view, rather than being the one sitting ON the dock looking at the boats passing by me... LOVED IT!)

I'm sure you can all see why I LOVE living here, it's just breathtakingly beautiful!

Sailboats patiently waiting for their owners to return & take them out to play...

Sleeping boats dying to be woken up by a strong wind...


Beverly's Hospital Point Lighthouse...


A Seagull's view of Beverly's Lynch Park...
(that blue building is where, when you're a kid, you BEGGED your parents to stop so you could get some YUMMY ICE CREAM! Hell, who am I kiddin, even as an ADULT I STILL LOVE THAT BLUE SLICE OF CHILLED HEAVEN!)


More houses I could never afford...

This house was just so pretty with all those windows,
I could not resist day dreaming a bit as my finger snapped the shutter...

Maybe I should rob a bank? LOL

Oh My God, can you imagine waking up every morning
to such a glorious view from your window?

... beautiful, isn't it?

Thank you so much Scott for taking me out today on your beautiful sailboat...
and for your patience in trying to teach me how to sail!
(aw, ok let's get real- so I just held the steering thingie but hell, it was harder than it looks AND LOTS OF FUN TOO!)

Thanks for an amazing day, I can't wait to do it again real soon.

XoXo...

-Amy