Trial Run In Siberia

Christmas time is more then just buying presents for me. I know you are all saying but all you have talked about so far is what you have brought for Christmas. This past weekend I spent the day with a wonderful little man named Ricky. He is my cousin's son. My Aunt Cassie thought it would be nice to take him to the parade on LBI to start the Christmas season.

On LBI it was particularly cold on Saturday because of the western wind. Let me paint the picture for you all. My Mother, Aunt Cassie, Ricky and I set out to see the parade and drink hot coco. The funny thing is I usually do not wear a coat except when I am going to be outside for long periods of time. Saturday I decided this would be an interesting trail run for Siberia like weather with the wind chill it was well below zero (at least in my mind). We stood out there and watched the parade there were lots of antique fire trucks and cars. There were floats and marching bands in all it was a very nice parade of about 2.5 hours.

We really had a great time I got lots of nice pictures of Ricky and Santa as well. The funny part is we were frozen by the end of the parade. We had to cross the street to the car and I told Ricky run and the poor little man told me but my feet are asleep also know as frost nip. He was so good not one complaint out of him about the cold or the standing and this reminded me of one of the reasons why I want to be a mother. We had so much fun just anticipating the parade and the hot coco that it was worth the frozen feet. I love the Christmas Season.

P.S. Yes I did buy something for Little Bean while I was there. I love children's books so I got part one and two of A Gull's Story By Frank Finale both signed by the author. Part one is an ABC book and Part two is a 123 book about the Jersey Shore.

Let's be a Lighthouse!

I have thought long and hard about how I want my child's room to be decorated. I know that this sounds a little selfish in one way but try to stick with me. As many know I have grown up near the ocean most of my life. The one constant in my mother's life has been her connection with her home town of Barnegat Light, New Jersey. My mother has always loved this town and in particular the Barnegat Lighthouse.



I have often thought that a coastal beach feel for my home is the most comfortable way for Gerard and me to live. Gerard loves the ocean, fishing and everything that goes with it so our Baby's room will mirror these loves. I have decided that we will focus on the Barnegat Lighthouse as the 'theme' for the room. This got me thinking about what is the underlying meaning of this 'theme'. I know Gerard and all of you are right I have been thinking too hard on this topic.

A lighthouse is a beacon for ships to signal danger but also to signal an area of save passage in the waterways. I want to be this beacon for my child. I want our home to be that safe place for him or her to grow; a place where love, understanding and discipline are delivered in the kindest of ways. Lighthouses are a constant in my mind. They never go away you can always find them in the day or night time. That is the type of mother that I want to be for my child. Lighthouses never come in out of a storm and are always their in the sunshine. I want to be there for my child during bad and good times. The light from a lighthouse shines in an unconditional non-judgmental way always bright. I want to love my child in that way unconditionally and non-judgmentally.



So see you are all right I have thought too much about this small thing of decorating a room for a baby but this is one small way that I will teach my child about life and the lessons that comes from living life to the fullest. We can all be the lighthouse in someone else’s life. Live life to the fullest, love like there is no tomorrow and be the best person that you can be always. If a friend needs you be there for both the good and the bad times.

Who's the Mommy?

Well since I have made the decision to turn this blog into a book there are a few things I should include. Unfortunately, for my readers these things may seem to be a little boring for you. I have decided to write a little bit about each family member. I think this is the part of those baby books that is almost never filled out but is very important. I know with my sisters this part was only filled out in 2 of 7 books and not for both sides of the family. So here goes.

Who's the Mommy? I think it is difficult for most people to highlight their strengths as an adult at least for me it is that way. Writing the autobiography was the most difficult part of the home study. Currently I am a Registered Nurse who works in a newborn nursery. I love my job. I work at night mostly because that was the shift that was available when I needed a change from adult nursing. I went to many different schools as a young child because my family moved around a lot. I once counted that we had moved over 26 times before I was 18 years old.

I think because of all of those moves I missed out on having a best friend that would be there for a life time like so many other woman have. In place of best friends I have my sisters; most of the time we all get along very well and do lots of things together.

Long Beach Island Grade School

Southern Regional Middle School



Southern Regional High School

The first school that I can remember the name of is the LBI School on Long Beach Island. I went there from 4th to 6th grade. We lived in Loveladies, NJ. Then it was off to Southern Regional middle school for 7th through 9th grade. We had move to the mainland or Manahawkin. I finished my high school education at Southern Regional High School. Wow, these last 2 schools have grown. After that I started my college career at Felician College and transferred to Ocean County College where I graduated with an Associated Degree in Nursing Science at the age of 20. So there you have it I was a Registered Nurse at 20.

The one funny thing about being a nurse so young was that I was in charge of people's lives could give very potent medications but could not go to a bar go figure. I looked very young at 20 as most 20 year olds did so it was harder for me to convince my patients that I was the nurse. But after talking to me for a couple of minutes they usually figured it out.

I have started back to school in 2004 for my Baccalaureate degree in Nursing Science at the University of Phoenix. I started this because I want to be able to spend as much time with my child as possible. I am hoping to finish this degree before he or she comes home. This will let me sit for the certification as a school nurse. Weekends off, summers off and Christmas off all things that I do not want to miss once the baby is here. The only reason why I would leave acute care nursing is to raise my child.

I love to quilt, ‘read’ books my own special way in the car while driving (more on that later I promise it is very safe, do not worry), decorate my home, watch the birds and go to the beach even though I burn easily. My favorite thing to talk about now is when my baby comes home. I will write more about me later on days when I have no adoption news to post. I figured that is a good time to put the information into the blog. Bye for now.