Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Hopefully it will fit next year!


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16 Weeks

16 weeks today!  My phone apps tell me baby is now the size of an avocado.  I had a check-up last week, and all is looking good.  Baby is measuring right on target, and all my vitals are good.  I must have jinxed myself after the last post though- that very night I had a lot of back pain trying to sleep, didn't get much sleep at all that night, and started getting sick as soon as I started trying to get up and get ready for work the next morning.  Luckily it only lasted a day.  I've gotten myself a body pillow now and am able to sleep much more comfortably.  No more sickness either- quite the opposite- I'm hungry all the time!

We're slowly starting to accumulate baby gear.  In addition to all the clothes, blankets, Boppy pillow, and Moby wrap carrier I brought back from America, I've found a lot of good deals on a Craig's List-type website called Gumtree.  I've gotten a Swing and Bounce (swing with seat that detaches to be a vibrating/bouncing seat), a Pack and Play, a highchair, a Moses basket with stand, and a baby bath.  A co-worker has let me borrow her sterilizer, and a store here has had their baby sale, so I picked up a baby monitor and some bottles at a great price.  Our guest room is rather full at the moment until Paul gets the office cleared out!  I've been investigating travel systems to no end and have even begun having dreams about them.  It's the item we'll be spending the most amount of money on, so I want to get it right!  So many decisions!

Tomorrow morning we have our first prenatal class.  It's an early pregnancy class taught by a midwife.  We'll do a set of further classes for 5 weeks- one evening a week - in June/July.  I'll also have 3 afternoons of a physiotherapist led class- one in April and 2 in June.  It's all becoming a lot more real now!  My next doctor appointment won't be until April 24, and that will include an in-depth ultrasound to look at all the baby's systems.

1st belly photo- 16 weeks

Since St. Patrick's Day is a Saturday this year, we get Monday off, so we're going to head to Louisburgh for the long weekend.  We'll take in the little parade they have every year, in which "The Yanks" (the College of St. Scholastica students) usually make an appearance.  Other than that, it will probably be a pretty quiet celebration on my part!

Baby Sammin!

Back on December 23, Paul and I got the most wonderful Christmas gift- we found out I'm pregnant!  Baby is due around August 28th.  We decided to keep it to ourselves for awhile until I was further along in the pregnancy, and it was so hard to stay quiet, especially over the holidays!

At 6 weeks, in early January, I had an early scan, "just to be sure everything was where it was supposed to be".  At 10 weeks, the day before I flew to MN, I had my first full doctor's appointment and another scan- in 4 weeks things had gone from a ball with a movement that was the heartbeat to something recognizable as a baby!

The timing was great, as I was able to tell all my family and friends in MN the good news in person.  Margo and I had an elaborate plan to tell my mom at the airport via Freya, but unfortunately my flight was really early, and the glitter on Freya's t-shirt didn't dry in time.  She wore it later on though!

We're not going to find out the gender of the baby, so I stocked up on lots of yellow and green baby clothes- everything is so much cheaper in the States, so I took advantage of the shopping opportunity.  I also received wonderful gifts and hand-me-downs from friends and family.  Here's what the haul looked like when I got back to Ireland!

A couple of days after I got back to Ireland, at 13 weeks, I had a first trimester screening (a bit late because of being away in MN).  Baby was stubborn and kept his or her back turned the whole time, but the results were all very good.

I've been very lucky to be feeling pretty good- a couple instances of queasiness, but nothing too bad.  I was extremely tired at first, but am feeling much more energized now and have started doing a lot more walking.  I think the worst thing so far was getting a bad cold and cough while I was in MN and not really being able to take anything for it.  I will never take cough syrup for granted again!

I have promised friends and family back in MN that I will be better at keeping this updated during the pregnancy and especially after baby arrives- so stay tuned!

Minnesota Trip

Back on the 3rd of February I flew to MN for just over two weeks for my niece, Freya's baptism.  I had a wonderful time visiting friends and family and was able to spend a few days just hanging out at Margo and Justin's house taking care of Freya while they were at work.  It was fantastic to spend some quality time with my beautiful niece!  

Valentine's Day!

Second outfit of the day on Valentine's Day

All clean!

Kisses from Auntie

I got to be there for Freya's first solid food- sweet potatoes.  She loved them!  She would try to grab Margo's hand and guide the spoon to her mouth!

Freya's baptism- her godmothers are her two aunts- Justin's sister, Heidi, and me

I got this for baby shortly after Margo found out she was pregnant.  It finally fits!  And, check out those leg warmers!

2011 Wrap-Up

During November and December we:

-Hosted Thanksgiving dinner for 7 of our friends, complete with sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, and pumpkin pie squares.  It was fun to bring a taste of America to the Emerald Isle!

-I also spent a lot of time in the kitchen baking Christmas cookies.  Christmas goodies here tend to be of the fruit cake and mince pie variety, which I'm not a huge fan of, so I made my own favorites!

-Spent a weekend in Cork in early December as our Christmas gifts to each other.  We had a lovely weekend, checking out the famous English Market and also the Christmas Market, relaxing in the jacuzzi, and eating some great food.

-Took in the Christmas Market at the Docklands in Dublin again this year.  It didn't have quite the atmosphere as last year, as there wasn't any snow, but we still enjoyed drinking cider, listening to music, and browsing the stalls.

-Enjoyed Afternoon Tea at the Westin Hotel in Dublin on a December Sunday afternoon, then strolled along Grafton street, taking in the Christmas lights and displays in the shop windows

-Spent Christmas in Louisburgh with Paul's family.  We relaxed and ate way too much!

 Bubbles checking out her gifts before we left Dublin

 Paul carving the turkey

 Bridget, Marie, Brian, PJ & Paul

Brian & Marie, PJ & Bridget, Paul & Me

Great times with great friends!

I can't believe it's been almost three weeks since some of my friends arrived and we explored the country together!  Jessica and Sara arrived on Sunday, October 9, and we headed for Cork that day.  We also stayed in Tralee, County Kerry (thanks to Paul's mom- she has a house there), in Louisburgh, County Mayo with Paul's parents, and we arrived back at our place in Dublin on Saturday, October 15.  Some of the places we toured in just under a week included:

• The Rock of Cashel
• Kinsale, County Cork
• Blarney Castle, County Cork, including kissing the Blarney Stone
• Killarney, County Kerry- Muckross House and Gardens, Ross Castle, the views of the lakes
• Dingle Peninsula, County Kerry, including Dingle Town and a boat ride to look for Fungie, the dolphin!
• The Cliffs of Moher
• Louisburgh and Westport, County Mayo
• Knock, County Mayo

Heidi and her husband, Trevor then arrived on Sunday morning, October 16, and we all headed to Glendalough, County Wicklow for the day.  On Monday, everyone headed into Dublin to explore the city while I unpacked, did laundry, and repacked for another tour!  Jessica and Sara flew out on Tuesday the 18th, and Heidi, Trevor, and I headed west after a stop in Dublin.  We also stayed with Paul's parent's in Louisburgh and in Tralee.  The sights we saw included:

• The Jameson Distillery in Dublin- Heidi and I discovered a great new drink at the end when the free samples were given out- Jameson with cranberry juice and a slice of lime on ice.  It's yummy- try it!
• Achill Island, County Mayo
• Louisburgh and Westport, County Mayo
• Leenane, Kylemore Abbey, Clifden, and Aughnanure Castle, County Galway
• Galway City
• The Cliffs of Moher
• Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, County Clare, including the Bunratty Banquet
• The Dingle Peninsula

We arrived back in Dublin on Sunday, October 23 and enjoyed some music in a pub and dinner in town before Heidi and Trevor flew out on Monday, October 24.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to Jessica, Sara, Heidi, and Trevor for coming to visit!  I had an amazing time catching up with you and sharing my new home with you!

Some photos from the two weeks!

Sara and Jessica at Blarney Castle

 Me, Jessica, and Sara at Muckross House with the lakes of Killarney in the background

 Jessica and Sara with Fungie the dolphin- we did see the real one in the harbor!

 Sara and Jessica at the Cliffs of Moher

 October 14 was Paul's birthday!  We all met in Louisburgh and celebrated with dinner.

 Heidi, Sara, Me, and Jessica on our last night all together at our place in Dublin

 Me and Heidi at the top of the Bunratty Castle

Trevor and Heidi enjoying the Bunratty Banquet

Freya

On September 15, my sister, Margo, and brother-in-law, Justin welcomed Freya Lynn into the world.  Paul and I were so lucky to fly over to MN on the 21st and meet her when she was only 6 days old!  I had the honor of taking part in a few of Freya's "firsts"- first doctor appointment, first Target/Starbucks trip, first shopping trip to the outlet mall, and first girl's brunch.  It was a quick trip- only 5 nights, but it was more than enough time for me to fall completely, madly in love with my niece.  She is such a sweet baby.  I'm already planning my next trip back to see her!