I was extremely successful tonight ~ Not only did I get a great 1/2 hour workout in but I also was able to get the pictures developed and downloaded so everyone can see them! I really think they turned out great, I was very pleased. I have divided the Wedding pictures from the WTC pictures, so make sure you click on the seperate links. I even changed my opening picutre, looks much better than the last one, better quality and Derek's eyes are open!!

Today was not as tiring as I thought it would be, actually, my Monday just went by so quick! I hope everyone else had a great day, hope you enjoy the new pictures and continue to enjoy this site!

Well, I don't really love New York, I don't even sorta like New York. The state that I love is Washington State but I would never live there, it is just to far from all my loved ones. Unlike others I know, I just REFUSE to live on a different coast then that of my loved ones! But, this quote just totally fits the occasion, New York did go from bad to cute this weekend and I totally felt like Carrie Bradshaw (for those of you who have no clue who I am talking about you really need to brush up on your pop culture!) with my fabulous dress and the eclectic ambiance. I do realize that this picture is not the best, not only because Derek's eyes are shut but the quality of this digital camera is not great, to say the least. This is why I am begging for a new one for Christmas (hint hint Dad!!). But I didn't want to wait for all my pictures to get done before posting again, so this will just have to do. All the pictures from our weekend will be posted whenever Sam's Club gets them back!

The weekend was superb, awesome, amazing........I could just go on and on! We left Albany around noon on Friday and arrived at the hotel in White Plains at 3:00 pm giving me plenty of time for a quick party makeover and to paint my bare toe nails. Derek, Jenn and I got to the wedding at the exact moment that Carrie was walking down the aisle. Now, we would have gotten there 5 minutes earlier, but Jenn had a toe nail emergency ~ she scraped her freshly painted nail and we had to turn around to fix it. It just looked to hideous to hide for this type of evening, poor Derek! But atleast we sorta got there in time! The ceremony was beautiful and perfectly quick! It only lasted 20 minutes tops. I was fully prepared to sit through the typical marriage sermon by planning my meals for the week. I barely got time to get comfortable before the priest announced the newly married couple and we were dismissed! Short and sweet, just how I like these things! The drive to the reception was quite the adventure, Derek was able to drive in the perfect Cloverleaf style around the beltway thanks to the grooms father, Hans. Now, for those of you who where raised in the city, D.C. area specifically, ya' all know when you're driving on 495 and you hit traffic, you might as well just sit back put on a good CD or call a good friend b/c you are now here for the ride. But Hans decided that he was going to find one piece of the NYC beltway that no one knew about that didn't have any traffic on it ~ he didn't succeed, but atleast we finally arrived at the reception. Let me tell you, that family knows how to host a party! The appetizer was good enough for dinner alone and the whole evening was filled with great food and lots of fun. For me, it was nice to be able to see my Great Aunt's Ceil and Lonnie and my Aunt Margaret. I sometimes forget that I have so much family that really is interested in my life. It reminds me that I really need to be more aware of keeping in touch with them also! We finally ended the party at midnight and all crashed back at the hotel. I was so tired that I actually slept all night on a double bed with Derek! This is very unusual, whenever we travel, especially for the holidays, getting a good night sleep is never in the picture. For me it is impossible to sleep on anything smaller than a Queen size bed with my over 6 foot tall husband. So, it was very shocking to realize, with the aid of ear plugs, that I slept over 3 hours!

Saturday was spent in NYC with my Aunt Margaret, Dad and Pam, Jenn and Tom and my cousin Maryann (Rockebyes mom). We headed straight from Grand Central down to the Stage Deli (my Dad's favorite spot) for a Pastrami sandwich, Cream Soda and Motza Ball soup. From there we walked to the WTC site and spent time just reflecting. For those of you who have not been there, I highly recommend getting up to see it. For my friends in my hometown, we all experienced the devastation of the Pentagon. For me specifically it was very real working down the street from the Pentagon and smelling the fumes, to only drive by hours later stuck on 395 just staring at it smoldering building. I thought for me it would feel the same as it did just living in the area and driving past the destruction each time I would head down to National. But it was very different and surreal experience to see what used to be the Towers. We also had the opportunity to go into St. Paul's Chapel where many workers would go for comfort and prayer. For those of you who don't know, the Chapel is located directly across the street from the site and unlike all the surrounding buildings that where damaged, the chapel went untouched! They have set up a room with a display for the public to leave their condolences for the victims. Jenn and I were able to leave our thoughts amongst all the others who visited that day. With that being an emotional 2 hours, we decided to pick up our spirits and walk down the street to Century 21, a fabulous department store that carries closed out brands from some of my favorite stores. With some successful shopping done, we then headed to China Town where we ate at a delicious Chinese restaurant. After dinner we ended our downtown fun in Little Italy where I was able to get some scrumptious treats to bring home. By now, it was 7:30 pm and we were all wiped out, so we took the Subway to Grand Central then caught the train back to White Plains. By the time we got back to the hotel it was already 9:30 pm and Derek was wanting to get on the road to head back home. But, I knew I couldn't leave without going over to my Aunt Ceil's to pick up a handmade afghan she had knit for me and her old recipes that she was passing down to me. While Jenn and I were there we were able to sit with my Great Aunts and learn fascinating things about our Italian family history and hear stories about my dad when he was a baby! I finally gave in and agreed with Derek that it was time to leave. It is always hard to leave my sisters even when it is just one of them there with me, especially since I have NO family here! But, it was 11:30 pm, so we left and got back to Albany at 2:00 am. I will admit though, it was nice to fall asleep in my own KING sized bed and wake up to fresh brewed coffee.

So, I am sitting here watching the VMA's (again, refer to the pop culture comment) feeling not a bit sleepy even though it is 11:14 pm. It is the normal Sunday quandary, I am never sleepy until midnight. I hope to get the pictures from my weekend posted by Thursday before I leave for VA. If not, I will get them posted when I return. To my good VA friends, yes, I am returning home, my last trip just wasn't long enough. Everyone, you are more than welcomed to join my family and me at Cameron Run on Saturday, we will be there all day. Friday Mom has claimed for a girls day out with my sister and I. But, I will be in town until Monday evening. Hopefully someone will be able to visit me at my house, you can call for directions. But don't worry, if I miss you on this trip, I will be back in October for my mom's surgery, then of course for the holidays!! Okay, well, believe it or not, this is the 2nd time I have written this whole entire ~~ my stupid computer battery died on me while I was publishing this post and it all got wiped out, yeah, I was quite annoyed to say the least. My poor little fingers are starting to get carpal tunnel syndrome so I think I will end this. I hope everyone has a great Monday and a quick work week. Many hugs and much love to ALL!!

Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday precious Anthony!
Happy Birthday to you!

I can't even fathom it, today my sweet little boy turns 10 years old! I can remember the day that you were born like it was yesterday. Pop-pop had the honor of calling me at work that evening to congratulate me on becoming an Aunt. That definitely was a day of firsts for many of us: You made Granny a great-grandmother, you made Pop-Pop and Mamamaw grandparents, Jenn became an Aunt Jenn and YOU made Mommy a Mom.

Mamamaw and Aunt Jenn drove all the way down to Georgia to meet you, I couldn't go with them because I had to work....but, I flew down the same night you came home from the hospital. What a beautiful newborn you were, soft sweet smelling baby skin and a head full of angel soft hair. Leaving you was so painful, all three of us cried as we drove back to Virginia, we knew that the next time we would see you, you would be double the size! But, we were so happy when Mommy decided to move back home to live with Mamamaw and me. We had so much fun together! At the time I was still a Senior in High School, when most of my classmates were going on dates or out at parties, I would rush home to see my Anthony James! I loved our times together, especially the evenings, after bath, I would put you in your p.j.'s, give you your evening bottle and we would take a nice long walk around the neighborhood. You would sit in the stroller, kicking your little legs...after our walk I would carry you upstairs and rock you to sleep, I loved those days. And look at you now, you have grown so tall and handsome and smart (I attribute that to your days with me!). But, no matter how big you get, and how old you are, you will still be my baby! I love you dearly Anthony James and am so thankful that God gave you to me!

Wow! I can't even believe that it has been 7 days since I lasted blogged! I really am a slacker ~ actually, I wish that was the issue. If I thought last week was tiring, this week just tipped the scales. In the last 2 weeks, I have put in 14 hours of overtime! Unbelievable. I am really hoping that I killed off enough projects so that next week I will only have 8 hour days rather than the normal 10-12 hours! The more pathetic thing is that it is only 10:30 p.m. and I am just forcing myself to stay awake right now. Come on, I didn't even work today and I am just so exhausted, this is so unfair.

This week was very uneventful, I have absolutely no cool stories, unless you find typing incomplete homestudies fascinating. So, instead in this little ditty I am going to respond to my friend Bari's entry today. So, she is very frustrated with the sizing of women's clothes and has asked for comments. Well, I would just leave one on her site, but I think my response would far exceed the maximum words that the pop-up gives you. I too find it a little frustrating that every store has a different definition of "10" ~ which is my size that I humbly admit. But of course I won't complain when I can get my over sized butt into an 8 and still have breathing room. Just the other day I was borrowing some dresses from my friend for an upcoming wedding. She gave me dresses of various sizes and brands. Now, remember, I am a size 10, no in between, right? Wrong, she gave me all size 8 dresses which all fit with extra room, I would even go as far as to say that one was to big. I had to much room in the "spot" that is always to tight! Unbelievable. As I looked through my closet I noticed that I have such a variety of sizes which all fit exactly the same. I have a skirt by Express in a size 5/6 which fits exactly the same as a size 9/10 skirt also by Express! Now, I love GAP, it is my favorite clothe store b/c they make jeans that are actually long enough and aren't ankle biters. So, they are 10's and fit great, but yet I have a denim skirt size 10 that I swim in by the end of the day. Now, my favorite store for a good self esteem boost is New York & Co. There clothes are cut a little big which means you can wear a smaller size. SO, Bari, I understand your frustration and it at times is shocking. But for a girl with Italian genes which gave a little to much in the "truck" it feels so great to be able to fit into a 8, even if it is a lie.

Well, this weekend will be restful, as much as possible. Derek and I head to NYC next weekend for my cousin's wedding, it will be a big shing ding. My sis Jenn and my bro-in-law Tom will be there and my Dad and Pam (who I haven't seen since March!). I am very excited about it b/c I love these dress up type of things. It should result in some great pics for the site and for my scrapbook. But it will be very tiring, so I need to stock up on rest. I think Derek and I will just relax tomorrow and get some good couple time in. We both have either been sick or exhausted recently so we've really haven't gone out much. I am going to be adding some more card pics for those of you who still are not convinced of my new found talents, so check those out. And remember to check back for new pics and updates!! Have a GREAT weekend everyone!!

I am so glad that today is Friday ~~ I had such a hectic week at work, staying late 3 of 4 days. Many deadlines and numerous fires to put out. But, it is over, and I can finally catch up on those pesky tasks that have been just waiting for attention. Last night was a great way to start my weekend. My friend and her husband had Derek and I over for dinner in return for Derek networking their computers. It was such a great evening with Maryann, Ed, Victoria and baby Elijah. She has such a wonderful family and extremely well behaved children ~~ it's amazing what a little discipline and consistency can do! We ended up staying until 10:00 pm just chit chatting. Maryann has become a surrogate big sister to me here in New York. She is very up front and will tell not sugar coat things, which I need. She was there for me when I became extremely homesick and got caught in the rut of complaining. I will never forget over lunch one day as I was complaining to her how I don't have a life or friends here, she plainly said "Well, what are you doing to fix that". Which ofcourse I responded "nothing!" ~ "Than that's your fault, get involved in something" And sure enough, I did. The next Sunday I went to church and signed up for a women's bible study where I met my good friend Christy. The rest has been smooth sailing since. I do thank God for sending me the right friends at just the right time!

Today I have added to my blog a link to the cards that I have made. Check it out, and if you want to order any, I would be more than happy to oblige. I have so many random cards just sitting around b/c I just love making them. I now need someone to make them for! So, don't be shy!

I am so glad to report that today was an extremely productive Monday, unlike the last, and not as stressful. I was so proud of myself this morning, I actually got out of bed 15 minutes earlier than I have recently. I have challenged myself to wake a bit earlier to be able to fit in a couple extra things to help my day go smoother. For starters, actually having the time to blow dry my hair is a good one. I can only imagine how silly that sounds to you, but, recently I have been waking 1/2 hour before I am to be at work. The rush begins ~ I grab a HUGE cup of coffee, gulp it down, run through the shower (don't worry, I do take enough time there!) throw on an outfit and makeup (I might be rushed, but I still look like a princess), put my wet hair back in an elastic (it will dry by my first client) search frantically for my keys b/c I forgot to put them away then realize that my glasses are not actually on my face ~ that takes another 5 min (they usually end up being under the coach!) then I am out the door and at work 5 min later than I am supposed to be, but that actually counts as being on time. I figure 10 min late is late, 5 min late doesn't count as late!!

But, it is just amazing what happens when I wake up earlier. Just imagine that same scenario but with out such words like: rush, throw, frantically. The bonus is I have time to make the bed, sip my coffee, style my hair and even have a quite time with God. It is great, it was great and it just made for a good Monday. I am hoping that I can discipline myself enough that this becomes the norm for my mornings.

So, my Monday, as I said, went smoothly. I finished up 2 homestudies and only have one more to complete which has been promised to my family by Thursday. I really do my best work under pressure and with deadlines. All day though, I had this song just going through my head. Maybe it was because 3 of my friends went to the John Mayer concert, maybe because the lyrics of this song just ring so true, sometimes I think I used to be that girl he is talking about. I think it would be the latter, either way, I wanted to share them with you. I was trying to figure out how to link the song to my blog, but I am just not that good yet. So, if you would like, you can call me and I can sing it to you!

I know a girl
She puts the color inside of my world
But she's just like a maze
Where all of the walls all continually change
And I've done all I can
To stand on her steps with my heart in my hands
Now I'm starting to see
Maybe it's got nothing to do with me

Fathers, be good to your daughters
Daughters will love like you do
Girls become lovers who turn into mothers
So mothers, be good to your daughters too

Oh, you see that skin?
It's the same she's been standing in
Since the day she saw him walking away
Now she's left
Cleaning up the mess he made

So fathers, be good to your daughters
Daughters will love like you do
Girls become lovers who turn into mothers
So mothers, be good to your daughters too

Boys, you can break
You'll find out how much they can take
Boys will be strong
And boys soldier on
But boys would be gone without the warmth from
A womans good, good heart

On behalf of every man
Looking out for every girl
You are the god and the weight of her world

So fathers, be good to your daughters
Daughters will love like you do
Girls become lovers who turn into mothers
So mothers, be good to your daughters too

As much as I want to start a family, today is just one of those days when I am glad that it is just Derek and me. I woke up this morning feeling so sick and am just enjoying lounging around! Last night was a lot of fun, expensive, but quite delicious. We went to the Japanese restaurant and ate at a Hibachi Table, so much fun, and had amazing Sushi. It was nice to get out after 2 days of being confined at home. Ofcourse, I am paying back all that excitement with a mild temperature today and the body aches! I guess my weekend won't be as exciting as I anticipated. But, in the meantime, my friend Bari sent me this link from her friend Audra's blog, very cute. It is a game called "Throw Rocks at Boys" very silly but quite addicting, I have only made it to level 3 ~ be sure to turn your speakers on. Now, don't be offended anyone, it is just a game, not a message that boys are bad and we should go pick up a rock and through it at every boy we see! So, I don't expect poison pen letters on this one! Have fun and think of sick little me!

I can't believe how late it is and I am still not even close to falling asleep!! I stayed home from work today due to a oncoming sinus infection and I think I slept a little to long. Atleast the extra wakeful hours is giving me time to finish putting pictures online and has also given me a chance to finally wrap a friends birthday gift from April (sorry Heather!!). Ofcourse I am also off from work tomorrow which will give me a much needed 4 day weekend. However, to insure that I am not too lazy, I will be working on completing Homestudies for numerous clients. I am very excited though because tomorrow Derek and I will be joining my friend Christy and her husband Nate for dinner at a Japanese restaurant. This will be our first time eating Japanese and Derek and Nate's first time meeting. It will be a bit refreshing to go out with another couple, both of which who are not Engineers! I hope everyone enjoys their weekends and gets plenty of rest. Give us a call or send us an email, we would love to hear from you. Be sure to check out the extra pics from my weekend at home. FYI: I am planning on adding pics of the new cards I have created, so, if anyone would like to order a few ~~ I would love to make some for you. I am hoping that this new route will help compensate for income loss once Derek and I take the plunge into parenthood.

Although today is only Tuesday, I am already asking myself if the weekend is here yet. You know it's going to be a long week when you waking up thinking it is Thursday and realize what day it actually is. I had to sit in bed this morning and break the bad news to myself, really, for a moment there I was in denial that yesterday was really just Monday. After the type of day I had at work it felt like it had to be Wednesday! It really has been some bad days in the world of adoption. For starters, we received a court order on Friday to return a child back to her drug addicted father!! If that wasn't stressful enough, we have a family in Ukraine who have been there over 3 weeks now ~ the trip was only to be 2 weeks, and they still have not been matched with a child. After scurrying around trying to put out those fires, I received a call from a fellow Social Worker who informed me that a birthmother I had been counseling for the past 3 weeks had given birth but had decided to parent the child. Let me stop right there for a moment ~~ at *** we in no way want to pressure a woman to place her child, it really has to be a decision she comes to by herself. I can guide her through the adoption process, but at the same time I will assist her with finding resources that would allow her to parent. So, when a woman changes her mind, we completely understand and support her decision fully. Even after that we will still provide her with resources that she can tap into who can assist her. With that being said, this really just added more chaos to the day because I now have to place a call to a family that believed that they had been chosen to parent this child and tell them that she has changed her mind. This is very difficult to do because these families typically have dealt with so much loss already and are experiencing infertility that this is just another thing to grieve. Very hard to do. Ofcourse, on the flip side of this, it is also very hard to counsel a woman who has just placed a child because you know she is in so much pain and now she is grieving, either way someone is hurting and it is now my job to help ease some of that pain. grueling week, today didn't go any better in the emotional area either. Ofcourse I had just ended a weekend where I felt like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz chatting over and over again "There's no place like home, There's no place like home". You know it really hits you at the oddest moments. Friday I had a great day with my friend Christy, she is honestly my closest and dearest friend here in New York. We spent the afternoon making cards and playing with her 3 kids. I even returned that evening after dinner and scrapbooked. But for some odd reason Saturday it just hit like a ton of bricks. I become desperately homesick and couldn't stop from crying which for me is so unusual (crying). I pride myself in not being a big crier. If I can cry for over 3 min, I consider that a big thing. But this lasted for hours, and, I just let myself cry and cry and cry. I have learned that there is nothing wrong with missing home. It doesn't mean that I don't love my husband or love being married. It doesn't mean that I would ever think of leaving. But, I just missed so much of Northern Va ~~ I miss the Beltway and the thrill of merging onto I=95 from I-495, I miss Chipolte's and Quiznos, I miss Jenn and her kids and really miss Melissa. And ofcourse I miss my mom, sitting on my the screened in porch and rocking in the wicker rocking chairs with my cats at my feet and listening to the creek in the back. I just miss home. But, after hours of crying, it is amazing how God just puts His merciful hand on your shoulder and guides you back home and sends little things your way to just remind you that He is faithful. It's an letter from your sweet Grandmother with her adorable sense of humor, it is the thought that if I was in Va I wouldn't have Christy, it is a kind letter from a friend you have never actually met but feel like you've known forever. And ofcourse it is a husband who loves you with all his heart, so much that he calls your sister because he is so worried because you are so sad. And just when you think you are about to just scream and pull your hair out, you receive a call from your dear sister who has been right there in your shoes and reassures you that everything will be just fine.......and life is so so good.

I am hoping that the worst is over for the week and that tomorrow will begin with only good news! I finally did get my pictures back tonight from my trip to Virginia. Typically I use the 1 hour photo options, but have decided to be wiser with my money and send the pics away. Remember how I asked in one of my post if anyone had ideas of how to load pics without scanning each individual one? Well, no one over responded, which is okay because Sam's club now offers all your pics on a disk! This has worked out so much better and it only took a couple of minutes to load the pictures onto Shutterfly. So check them out, they are really cute!!