Wednesday, October 29, 2008

"Great" News, Part II

I just got off the phone with Aunt Janet. She got home from China last night. She's got a thousand stories to tell - and only about 3 of them make me want to go there for a visit. But, she is thrilled that she went. The best part was that her "roommate" didn't show up so she had a private room to herself during the whole trip. ...and she lost 5 lbs!

I laughed when she called because of your blog and when I told her about it saying she is going to be a great, great aunt, she laughed and told me that I keep reminding her of that! So, she's thrilled about the new baby as well. Be on the lookout for a package from Wallingford.

She couldn't talk any longer - she was going out to play cards!

Please tell JJ not to plan on blogging during labor - I'll think she'll have more on her mind than punctuation.

New Blog

Hey everyone! I thought it might be a good idea to set up a blog so Ben, Jessi, Mom and I can keep people up-to-date during the labor and delivery.

birthofabelli(dot)blogspot(dot)com

The hospital where I will deliver has wireless internet in the room, so we'll be able to let everyone know the progress of labor and delivery. Don't worry, I won't include the gross stuff.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

"GREAT" news!

Hey - I was just thinking about all of Becca's aunts and uncles, etc...Aunt Janet is going to be a great,great aunt when Becca is born! She is my aunt, so she is Jennie's great aunt, so she will be Becca's great, great, aunt! I hope they get to meet soon...what a wonderful picture that would make!!

Good Morning!

DA - Sorry I missed your phone call Saturday night, but we were in St Louis at the Bellinger family baby shower. My phone was in my purse in another room. It would have been great to talk with you while at the shower, though. I didn't see that you had called until Sun morning when I checked my phone.

Well - it looks like I will have the nursery ready for Becca by Nov 1. That was my goal when I started working on the room. Today they install the new carpeting, then I head to Babies R Us to get a crib and changing table. Then all that is left is putting up some decorative pictures and hanging the valance. Did you see the latest pictures of Jennie & Becca? Jennie looks like she swallowed a basketball!!!! I think Jess has some pics on her blog. The nursery at J&B's is pretty much all done. They have the dresser/changing table, crib and shelves all put together and organized. I think they are still looking for a rocker/recliner for the room. Becca is due 3 weeks from today!!

Hope all is well with you. Are you "getting short"? When do you start packing up all the equipment for the trip back to the states? Any new news about your return??

Please call again when you have a chance. It is always good to hear from you.

Love you lots & KYHD!

mom

Monday, October 20, 2008

Sleep, per chance to dream...

Well, as you've probably heard by now the Red Sox will not be heading on to the World Series with Philadelphia. The Rays won that game. We just couldn't seem to bring our runners home - we've been stranding too many guys on base.

But, we've won two of the past four World Series, so I think we can let another team enjoy the spotlight. As much as I never have been or probably never will be a fan of Tampa Bay, I do have to recognize them for their climb from worst to first in the AL this year. Good job, guys. Now go away.

The one advantage of all this, I don't have to stay up any more watching games. I can go to bed at my normal hour. Ah, sleep!

As us Red Sox fans have been known to say, "Wait until next year!".

G O P H I L I E S!!!!!

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Red Sox


Red Sox Nation is on a major high today. We were down 3 games to 1 the other day against Tampa Bay and we are now tied 3 - 3. Tonight is the deciding game. Whoever wins, goes on to the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. I went to bed the other night thinking that I would not be going through sleep-deprived nights; after all, we were losing 5 - 0 in the 5th. I woke up to the wonderful news that we had come back and beat the Rays 8 - 7!!! How sweet is that. Last night I stayed up to the last out and we won - again - 4 - 2. The Red Sox don't make it easy for us fans, but we're used to it. After all, it was 86 years between World Series wins.

So tonight at 8:07 we begin game #7. Hopefully we will win again tonight. I just may have to be "sick" tomorrow.
Shennie

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Care Packages and Other Stuff

This morning, amongst the other things I had to do, I spent a couple hours at the care packages event packing for you and other troops. I managed to get 75 pocket prayer shawls finished with more in the works. I'll take them up tomorrow morning. Everything has to go into ziplock bags, so I packed some bags with coffees and teas and other bags with snacks: Oreos, doritos, peanut butter and cheese crackers, trail mix, peanut packages, 100-calorie packs, etc. It was much more organized this time than last but it was also a lot colder today than last May. But, it was good. Be on the look out, Scoots. You should be getting a couple of boxes. Please let me know when they arrive. I have no idea what will be in them, it's all random but packed with love.

There were folks from church, the private school in town, and some high school kids packing and hauling alongside soccer moms and dads and the likes of me and my friends. I had also requested pictures from the early childhood ed group on campus and the kids all drew pictures and put stars on them. I hope the troops realize that these are 3 and 4 year olds offering their best to them.

When I was leaving I had to pull out on to a major road and make a left hand turn. As I got to the end of the driveway I thought, "Great, one of S'boro's finest right here - I should have no problem pulling out." WRONG! He stood there with radar gun in hand aiming at all the folks coming down the road - out in broad daylight and never even took one step to go out and stop traffic so that I could pull out. I had to wait almost 5 minutes. What a bozo! When his raise comes up at the next town meeting, I may have to rethink things! The reason I had to go left was I had an appt. for my flu shot. Here's hoping it works.

I had a good checkup at Lahey yesterday. Numbers are all good and no one has called me in a panic after getting the results of my renal ultrasound. I guess Lefty is doing its thing quite well. Thanx, JJ! Oh, Marti sends her love.

The great surprise was when I stopped to get gas yesterday afternoon on my way home, it was $2.69/gallon! It hasn't been that low in AGES. It's usually more expensive at the place I went to, but that's the lowest I've seen it anywhere around here. It's also the same place where I get my heating oil. They sent me a "renewal" contract yesterday lowering my monthly budget payment by $162.00! I must be doing something right.

Last weekend I surprised JJ and the Mom and flew out for JJ's baby shower. Donut, Ben & Craig knew I was coming. I have NEVER seen the Mom so surprised ~ JJ as well. Of course, I spent the afternoon staying one step ahead of the Mom - dodging her all around O'F. It was worth it. We had a great time. It reminded me of an old 'I Love Lucy' episode.

I talked to Uncle Nick yesterday. He was between trips. He had just gotten back from a week in Arizona and was getting ready to head to the Berkshires for the weekend. Food for thought: Uncle Nick's full name is Hayden Albert Nichols, Jr. His suggestion for JJ's baby's name is either Nicolina or Alberta!!!! Don't laugh too hard.

Well, better get stuff cleaned up and think about supper. I need to be ready to sit down and watch the Red Sox. I NEVER thought I'd be doing that tonight after watching the first 5 innings of Thursday night's game. I went to bed then ~ we were down 5 - 0 and I had to get up early to go to Lahey. When I ever woke up Friday morning and heard that we had won 8 - 7, I almost fell out of bed! Can we win again? Here's hoping.

Here's JJ after the shower last weekend.

The Mom and Dad to Be. Chances are Becca will be tall. I'll call Gene Auriaumo (UCONN women's coach) and put her name in.

Proof of where Donut get's her napping trait.

The picture really doesn't do the color justice, but I wanted to include it anyway. This is taken at the reservoir here in town.

Same reservoir, different view.

Hope you're doing well. Can't wait for you to be on US soil. Until then, Scoots, I love you and KYHD!

Shennie

Saturday, October 11, 2008

I'm dreaming...

Of a white Christmas... Just like the ones I used to know...

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Fall in New England

I have to tell you that this is the best time to live in New England. The colors are beginning to pop and there are Kodak moments everywhere. By this time next week it will be picturesque here in Massachusetts. It's probably at its peak in Maine and northern NH and VT this weekend. The leaf peepers will be out in full force. This is the one time when it pays to stay home. The tourons (as we used to call them when I lived in VA) will be out in force.

I will probably be out and about on Monday - it's Heritage Day in town - so I'll bring my camera with me and will post them later on. The best shots are over by the reservoirs - the reflections in the waters are spectacular.

They say CO has color too - but not the variety we have here in NE. CO is mostly yellow due to the aspens. They used to tell me that there was a lot of color down in Virginia - if you wanted to drive 2 hours to the mountains! No thank you. I'm used to looking out my kitchen window at the myriad of colors.

Autumn in New England - You can't beat it!

KYHD!

Shennie

Monday, October 6, 2008

I kid you not!

I don't know if you kids will remember, but whenever you would ask G'pa Carew what he wanted for dinner, or what he wanted to eat, he would ALWAYS reply, "fried bananas". Well...at The Dragon Palace here in town they have a lunch buffet that Dad and I go to frequently and they serve fried bananas! So now whenever you eat there from now on you can think of G'pa...I do! I chuckle every time I go through the buffet line! (I have yet to try them!)

How's everyone doing out there?? DA - haven't heard from you in a while. How's it going? Any more news about returning to the states?? I did get your e-mail about the deployment trophy. To be honest, I'm not sure I feel comfortable donating money for a gun. I'm still considering your request. I would prefer donating to a "cruise fund" for you and Chelsey for when you return. How about that??

Things in O'Fallon are fine. Not too much excitement here. They closed the pool last week so I guess summer is over. The hot tub is cleaned and ready to go if we would just remember to use it!!

Hope all is well with you. It would be good to hear from you sometime...

Love you lots and KYHD!

mom