BELATED BIRTHDAY PHOTOS WITH THE CAKE :11/24/09 )

Okay........ but where are the presents ?????

that little box...... the all IMPORTANT CCAA BOX "China Center For Adoption Affairs"

CCAA Status Reviewed through: December 31, 2007 Placed through: March 28, 2006

November 21, 2009 My "NOT" A Surprise Shower

Today, is my NOT a Surprise Shower...... soooooo very excited. It was fun to be a part of the planning.... I've waited too long, and am way too old for a Surprise Shower. It's from 3 to 6 PM, and I'm told to not drive the Mini Cooper, but bring the van........ gotta remember to clear out the crates so there is room.

I'm way beyond excited !!!!! Just will miss Momma Contin, she was so looking forward to this Shower, and the rest of the Contin gang will be missed. Tomorrow is Mom's Wake, and Monday is her burial. I'm positive she will be dropping in on my Shower, along with every other member of the family on the other side.

As for today......... beautiful weather, and just so excited that Baylon's time has arrived. Our travel itinerary has been confirmed, and we fly out on the 10th and return on Christmas Eve..... her arrival couldn't be more appropriate, as we've always believed that the Blessed Mother had a lot to do with our ability to complete this adoption. Baylon's middle name starts with M for my Dad, who passed in July '08 and couldn't wait to meet our daughter, and the completed name, Marie, is after Mary. We just feel very blessed, and it is confirmed by beyond, as she arrives on US soil on Christmas Eve..... how appropriate.

Oh, and a side note, the Town of Huntington, phoned to find out on what authority I had to place those Osprey poles............... luckily, I've had approval, just should have given them the heads up, about when we were dropping them in. They thought the article in the paper was lovely, but then I got in trouble anyway....... well, not really, I did have permission !

November 19, 2009 It's a Beeee U T Full Day

The sun is shining after a wet dose of Mother Nature.... so much so, that I'm not sure that one of our skylights didn't leak..... we had just had the moldings changed, so maybe something shook loose..... add that to the project.

KIRBY is FINE........ sooooooooooo excited. She's snoring as I type right now. She slept soundly through the night, AND, she is on the mend.

Tomorrow is my "NOT" SURPRISE SHOWER..... so, have some things to do for myself today. I want a new perfume. I used to only use one fragrance. Somehow it just worked well with my body chemistry..... EVERYONE would always comment on how lovely the fragrance was, and what was it. Well, it was Michael, and I can no longer find this anywhere. I have however, come across a few fragrances that I sorta like, but haven't purchased. They were in an Ultima store, so I think Shelley deserves a treat today, and that might have to be one of them. Oh, Shelley deserves, MANY treats today, hehehe.

Starting the day with a joyous smile on my face, and sending kudos to our Hero Dave for saving Kirby's life, and prayers to my Mom for a safe journey.

Life Goes On 11/18/09

Today, the floor was installed, along with the base board moldings, and the crown moldings..... all but that piece dead ahead in the photo on our right.

Damn....... our floor guy, miscalculated by that, thar amount.... and now, I have to set up my little finishing shop all over again, and do this one piece.... why is that one little extra hurdle always so much bigger and a pain in the butt.

Anyway, the floor was a bit busier than I anticipated, but with a rug down and Baylon's furniture, it hopefully won't be too busy. Then there's the topic of color. It's very loud, and I was originally going to do the moldings around the window the same as the baseboard, but, apparently, the trim around the closets isn't natural wood, as the rest of the trim, courtesy of my X contractor..... so, I had to try something different....... we went with another color, a purpleish, color pulled out of the trim. In fact, all of the colors are exactly from the trim above the windows. Anyway, the purple isn't working for me........ so I've tried to match a new paint color to the baseboard and crown mouldings...... that will be a project for next week, or perhaps tomorrow..... but don't really think so.

Now, this brings me to the horrible part of today. Besides the fact that my husband has the flu, my older dog Kirby, of 17 years, decided she wanted to visit the emergency room and have surgery, in leu of making the journey to Heaven, which nearly happened today, as she bloated...... a condition that affects numerous breeds and is a horribly quick, but very painful death. Luckily my husband spotted her distress, and notified me, and I ran home, (was out running errands), and rushed her to the Vet. Bloat kills I'd say maybe more dogs than not...... as it's not often easy to spot, and by the time you do, it's often too late. Anyway, she had an emergency procedure, that worked....... right now, she's back home, still has a catheter in, but hopefully tomorrow it will be removed.

Now, lastly, but most importantly, just after all of these things were going on today, when we thought that it was settling down, I found out that my Mother In Law # 1..... passed away. She was like a Mom to me, and has been a part of my life, for most of it. I met her when I was 17, and she has found a very special place in my heart. When my Mom passed away in 1994, Rosemary and I became closer...... I've been so busy of late. First with my Dad in the last two years, and now getting ready for our baby........ Mom and I spoke just a couple of days ago. We laughed..... she was hysterical over the fact that I sent her a thank you card, for some shower gifts..... gifts that her daughter, her namesake, sent to me. She was tickled that she got such a wonderfully special thank you card, for gifts that weren't hers to claim. Mom, also has another special link to my daughter, which now is more important than ever....... she shares Baylon's Birthday..... I will miss her tremendously. I love you Mom, R.I.P., your daughter Shelley. Baylon will learn all about how wonderul, and giving you were in life, She will blow out a candle every year on her Birthday for you, Mom.

11/18/09 " CA "

We are making headway, and have received our official Consulate Appointment (12/21/09).

Looks like my girlfriend is going to stay with my pooches here at the house... makes me feel a lot better.

Baylon's room is coming along, and the floor is scheduled to be installed tomorrow, along with the base board moldings and the crown moldings.

The paint job is 80% done........ here's a preview :)

We have a wonderful wall paper border to put up, and I've ordered custom drapes to coordinate.

Lots and lots of colors, but they are all in the Sea Life set...... Baylon's furniture is due to arrive the first week in December.... so we are right on target.

YEAH ! CIS Approval :)

Less than 24 hours later, we received a phone call from the NY CIS office stating that our paperwork has been updated, and is in route to New Hampshire to the National CIS office, and then onto China.

THANK YOU CONGRESSMAN STEVE ISRAEL...... and your lovely employee Maria :)

sooooooooooooooooo happy.

Now, back to painting the nursery!

November 16, 2009

T A'S....................... INCREDIBLE............. SO NOW WE WAIT FOR A CONSULATE APPOINTMENT........................................

I on the other hand also have to wait for Senator Steve Israel to help us get our updated CIS expedited.... our baby fell just outside of our approved age range..... we were approved for a baby 0 to 12 months old, and Baylon had her first birthday on the 18th of October.

Hopefully Senator Israel can help....if not we move on to bigger and better...... we are scheduled to fly to China on the 10th of December.

November 14, 2009 AGAIN WE WAIT!!

Dear Baylon.......

I look in your eyes, and wonder what you're thinking.....

I look at your lips and can't wait to see your first smile.......

I wish I can hold you and comfort you, tickle you, and hear your first laughter....

I can't wait to bring dimension to this one dimensional picture.....

You light up my heart and my World has become a better

place.

I can feel you, and smell your sweet fragrance........half-way across the globe.

The clock it ticking, each day brings us closer to you...... and that day will be our most joyous miracle.

Mommy and Daddy love you and we are forever grateful to your parents for having the courage and strength to give you a better life......... no one on this planet will give you the life and love that Dave and I will...... you are my shining star, and we are forever blessed!!

November 12th........................

Still waiting for TA's................. UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! I want to travel to China to bring home my little girl !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Pray for speedy travel approval.

One of our care packages to Baylon 11/11/09

Also included was a photo album of Dave, myself and our family of furballs and feathers :)

Well, I did have a photo here..... but more than once it disappeared....... Oh well :(

new pictures of Baylon 11/10/09

These photos were taken a few days ago, she's 22 lbs and 29.5 inches long.

She looks big to me, and everyone says she definitely looks older than 1..... we shall see.... I just want to pick her up and squeese her to pieces.

"Hey, you lookin' at me"??????

HENRY !! A Beautiful Baby Osprey

This is who I named Henry...... this is who my Osprey Poles are dedicated too !! Look back to the entries in 2007 and you will find the full story...... but my whole project was started because of this BEAUTIFUL CREATURE ! This is where it all began.........

Spectacular Day... Osprey Pole Delivery 11/08/09

Well, FINALLY, after what seemed like eons....... the poles went in. It was a day for the record books. Two weeks ago, when I researched the tides, looking for the window we would need to install these poles, I saw this weekend..... Nov. 7th and 8th... had dead low tides at about 8 and 9 in the morning..... well, in planning this event, that was the main concern..... what we were blessed with was beyond my wildest expectations.....

The weather turned out to be a gorgeous day.... Indian Summer as a matter of fact..... perfect tides, perfect weather.... no wind, and the manpower to make this happen........ what a wonderful day, what a wonderful cause...... I give thanks, HUGE THANKS to the powers that be for this stupendous, most MIRACULOUS day...... THANKS !!!!!!!! AND, I give thanks to the people that came out and actually made this happen....... :)

Osprey Poles going up !!!!!!!! 11/8/09

We are scheduled to install my long overdue Osprey Poles tomorrow. We're having a barn raising of sorts..... will post pictures tomorrow.

The weather is forecasted to be spectacular..... the tides are perfect......... there is a flatbed trailer in the driveway for transport..... and people will be arriving in the A.M. to get this project, this very long overdue project complete.

Two poles will be installed..... one in the Jerome Ambro Wetlands Preserve, and one in the Mackamaw Preserve.

Finally...............