Dublin - September 22nd

We had a lovely night's sleep... thank goodness! Liam woke up maybe twice in the night and after some milk went back to sleep quickly. Once we got up we had a lazy morning in our apartment around the breakfast table. We were going to meet up with Aidan's dad's 1st cousin, Dermot, around lunchtime so we decided to head into the city center for the morning. Aidan's mom wanted to walk in so I joined her and we would meet up with the men at St. Stephen's Green.

The walk was superb. We walked past Aviva Stadium and then past where I took a course in 2003. We then walked through the neighbourhood that I walked every day for class and across the canal and quickly into the city center. Once we got there we didn't see anyone so we then walked around the outside of St. Stephen's Green. Apparently, Aidan then drove through as we came around the corner.... but we didn't manage to meet up with them for another 45 minutes. Yeah, between parking and figuring out what Aidan meant by 'passing the National Gallery to get to St. Stephen's Green', we didn't meet up for quite a while. It got to the point that Aidan's mom and I split up and while I found the car, she ended up walking through Grafton Street. Thankfully, when we finally got together and called Dermot he had not left home yet.

We met up with Dermot and Laura in Ballsbridge for lunch. It was great seeing Dermot again and Aidan was so excited to see him and his dad finally meet each other. We went to Roly's and had an amazing lunch. The conversation was even more wonderful as Dermot, Simon and Aidan shared family information. Laura surprised us with a Strawberry cheesecake for our anniversary and we made sure everyone got to share it. We stayed at the restaurant talking for hours. Aidan moved the car once and the second time we decided to move the conversation to the apartment. Mary and I walked back to the apartment while everyone else drove (we beat them!). The conversation continued well into the evening. We're going to get together for another evening during the week. Everyone is already looking forward to it.

Dublin - September 21st

We landed in Dublin about 4.45am and boy were we tired. We immediately found a family bathroom (wonderful - we need some of those in Bermuda!) and got Liam changed and dressed for the day. We took our time after collecting our bags since we had some time until we needed to pick up the car and go to the rental office to get our apartment keys. We had breakfast at a cafe and let Liam play a few games on the iPad.

Our wait for the car shuttle was quite cool for me and Liam - Aidan loved it. Liam snuggled into his blanket and my jacket until we made it to the car. We then took some time to head out because we had to fit the car seat into the car. And then we were off... with directions saved on my iPad because our GPS was with Aidan's dad. Well, the directions weren't great. It took us quite a while to find the apartment rental place and we literally figured it out using a tourist map and memory from our last trip here... so much for mapquest!

We followed the gentleman to our apartment and Aidan got to see what it looked like while the cleaner was cleaning it. We then headed out to pick up Aidan's parents  from the train station. We drove around Heuston  Station a few times because we could not find parking. Thankfully, we managed to find one with 20 minutes to spare. We picked up some lunch and then met the train as it arrived. Liam was so confused to see his grandparents in a strange place! He warmed up quickly through as his grandmother joined him in the back seat of the car.

We got to the apartment and were pleasantly surprised at how lovely it was. We have 2 bedrooms along a long hallway. One room have a bathroom with shower en suite and the other has a bathroom with full bath off of the hallway. The hallway opens into a nice sized living/dining room and there is a small kitchen off of the dining room. The kitchen has an oven, full sized fridge and freezer, dishwasher and a washer/dryer. And the views from the windows are residential. We love it!!

We went out and did a grocery shopping trip at a Tescos Extra. Talk about selection. We got enough for breakfast, a few lunches and a few dinners. We then went back and settled in. We had pasta, meatballs and salad for dinner and then got Liam ready for bed. We then made some tentative plans for Saturday.

Bermuda-Boston-Dublin September 20th

We spent the morning making sure we had packed everything and trying to reach Grandpa to wish him Happy 98th Birthday! We did manage to spend some time with Grandpa before we headed to the airport for a 1pm check-in. All went smoothly and soon we were boarding the plane.

Liam enjoyed the flight. He sat next to Aidan and learned rather quickly how to open and close the seatbelt. We ended up shifting Liam back and forth across the aisle so when we got up our seats were covered in animal crackers and blue chips!

The change over from Jet Blue to Aer Lingus went better than I had expected. We collected our bags and walked over to Terminal E. We had an interesting check-in where the ticket agent had no idea where Bermuda was and even asked what language we spoke there. She finally managed to understand the code allocated to us (GBD - Great Britain Dependent Territory) and we were checked in with about an hour to spare. And then we saw the line to get through security. People were being pulled out for flights and we were so sure we would end up being pulled out as well. And then we saw the 'Family and Medical Liquids' line. Aidan asked about it and was told we could go through it since we had Liam. We got through that line in less than 5 minutes. Excellent!

Once we got through we needed to get some dinner and milk for Liam for when we got on the plane. They called our flight just as we finished and we immediately go on the plane. We were seated in row 11 so we didn't have to walk far from the door. There was another family sitting next to us with a 17 month old girl. She and Liam got on really well. They spent a good part of the flight playing with each other's toys and copying each other. Unfortunately that meant that they also didn't want to go to sleep. Liam got maybe 2 hours sleep on the 5 hour flight and the little girl didn't sleep at all. Aidan and I maybe got 1 hour... and we had a full day ahead of us!

Liam - 20 months

Date/Week: 20 months

Milestones: 

• He's the big 2-0... He'll be 2 before we know it
• Likes marching around the house as the drum major or drummer or playing some sort of horn (using his yellow hoe)
• 'Sings' the 3 beat roll to start the parade and the base drum beats at the end
• Likes visiting the Lizards who live in our blind every morning and evening
• Likes saying 'goodbye' to the little girl in his English/Spanish book at night
• An old pro now at catching the ferry - first time to St. Georges during Cup Match Friday
• Had ice cream for the first time (loved it)
• Tries to copy mummy doing yoga (usually results in him being wrapped up in the yoga mat
• More teeth!
• Giving kisses, usually with the sound 'mmmm-smack'

Developmental Progress:  

• Must feed himself and is working on spearing food on the fork
• Colouring with more strokes and less dots
• Sings and acts out 'head & shoulders, knees and toes'
• Can drink from his juice cup on his own without spilling anything
• Counts to 10 and recognises the numbers
• Forming more and more 3 word or more sentences.
• Makes decisions on what to eat with clear 'no' or 'yes' comments and a fair amount of finger waggling with no
• Tells the cat to get off of the counter
• Starting to ask 'why' almost as much as he says 'no'
• Tries to negotiate for more stories when it is bedtime
• Potty training is interesting.  He'll sit on the potty and then go after you put the diaper back on.  He will tell you that he needs to be changed. He will tell you (sometimes) what he's done. He will take off his diaper if it's wet in the morning and you do not come fast enough to change it. He will sit on the potty and sometimes go before he gets his bath (but then get him into the bath quickly because sometimes he will take having his diaper off as an invitation to keep going...). So basically, he was probably better potty trained at 6 months when we were doing elimination communication than he is now...

Thoughts and Feelings? 

I cannot believe that Liam is almost 2.... but then he reminds me with the word 'no', the laughter as he runs around the house, the conversations that he has with his stuffed animals and the dogs, the request for 'bread' at breakfast and when we get home from work. It is an amazing time to experience... both a joy and exhausting all at the same time. So many evenings we have put him to bed and I want to go and climb in mine because he has me worn out in just 90 minutes at home together. And I wouldn't have it any other way. Each night I absorb as much as I possibly can and I live in that moment because it is where I truly want to be. Yay for my 20 month old! And yay for the wonders that I have been privy to over the last year and 8 months!

Other than that, in a months time we'll be on vacation. Ireland and Boston are booked! I'm a bit nervous about the trip over. We're doing Jet Blue to Boston and then Aer Lingus to Dublin. I'm the most nervous about the baggage on Aer Lingus. I wonder if Liam's Stokke stroller will cost us extra since it isn't a lightweight collapsible stroller and should I therefore get another stroller that will be easier to travel with. Then there's the car seat. Since he'll be a lap baby, will they charge us for his car seat (the website isn't helping in this regard...). And finally there's Liam and hoping that we can get him through a day of travel with two flights and a few hours in an airport. We got an Elmo kiddie strap to allow him to walk with us but not go to far. It probably won't go over well in the US airport but I would prefer him to be safe if he wants to walk with us. 

In any case, I am looking forward to some time away.... so I now just need to finish off this dissertation before I go...

What I am looking forward to: 

Cycling from Dublin down to Dun Laogharie and Dalkey; taking Aidan to the Merry Ploughboy Pub for dinner and a show for his birthday; going to see Idina Menzel at the Wang Theatre in Boston to celebrate our anniversary (a few days late but worth the wait!)

Liam - 17, 18 and 19 months

Date/Week: 17,18 and 19 months

Milestones: 

• 32.5" long and 22.8 lbs
• Climbs up and down stairs without help
• Loves his sandals for the summer but misses his sneakers (he carries them around the house)
• Just getting comfortable with the toothbrush
• Survived Daddy's 10-day trip away from us... and won't let him out of his sight now that he is home
• Has started  asking 'why?'
• Loves 'peek-a-boo'
• Climbs out of his crib - even when lowered to its lowest setting
• Appears to favour his left hand
• Eats cheerios in milk for breakfast 
• Has his own cups, bowls, plates and utensils
• Loves chasing bubbles
• Has a horrible reaction to mosquito bites
• Is registered for 'Parents and Tots' dance class in September

Developmental Progress:  

• Loves to throw a ball or toy.... or anything as long as it comes back to him to throw again
• Dances to music (Mummy's influence???)
• Conducts music (Daddy's influence???)
• Sweeps the floor
• Picks tomatoes out of the garden
• We're able to understand more of the words that he is saying (they're clearer)
• Loves to say 'hi/hello' and 'bye' along with your name and sometimes says 'hola' instead of 'hi'
• Can put on his shoes
• Can identify most animals and the noises that they make (often followed by 'ei-ei-oooooooo')
• Will point out flowers, trees and facial features when we read his books
• Repeats just about every word that we say and appears to retain quite a few 
• Jumps - on the bed, on the couch...

Thoughts and Feelings? 



I haven't updated anything since April.... it has been busy. At this moment, I am busy at work, busy with data analysis for my dissertation, busy trying to keep working out and busy trying to spend as much time as possible with my boys. No rest in sight though!


We are planning a family vacation in September... Ireland and Boston!


What I am looking forward to: 


Doing a reiki class. Considering career options once this degree is done. Sorting out the dance class schedule for the fall.

Liam - 16 months

Date/Week: April 22nd; 16 months

Milestones: 

• Third haircut!
• He can now open doors in the house.... try keeping him out of the bathroom now!
• 31" long and 21.9lbs
• Has his first pair of boat shoes
• Loves his books and will try to read them to you
• Has started to run!
• Boy, can he turn on the drama (and he can turn it off just as fast...)

Developmental Progress:  

• If you play 'Twinkle,Twinkle' or 'Row, Row, Row' on an instrument, he will start to sing the song
• Using more two word sentences
• He loves climbing
• He helps with the dishwasher and in the garden
• When he goes to sit on the step he will back up and then sit down
• Helps to put on and take off his clothing
• Feeds himself with a spoon or fork with some help
• Says oh-oh when something drops
• Is starting to get the dogs' names down

Thoughts and Feelings? 

It has been a hectic month! Between highland exams, work, the pilot study for my dissertation, 3 weeks of dissertation workshop courses and starting a diet and exercise plan, I have had a time keeping up. I am starting to contemplate what the future may hold. I've also been thinking about what to do to rebuild my confidence level. I am sick of second guessing myself.


I am hoping the fall will bring some peace. I am hopeful that we can have a relaxing vacation - we've identified the time but the plans are still up in the air. I really am looking forward to some family time - and hopefully some celebration time if I have finished the degree!


What I am looking forward to: 


Spending time in the garden!

Liam - 15 months

Date/Week: March 22nd; 15 months

Milestones: 

• He walks more like a normal kid and less like a zombie

• Liam likes to slide down the slide

• He waters plants in the garden and pulls up weeds

• We've begun to hear a symphony of 'no' 

• Yoghurt is his favourite food

• First time joining Aidan at the front of the church for the end of the service

• Loves the local bananas that are just the right size for little hands

• will fill the basket during shopping at the farmer's market when you prompt him to pick up tomatoes, potatoes, etc

• Has learned to blow the dandelion puffballs in his grandparent's garden

• Likes the penguins in 'Mary Poppins' and many Rogers and Hammerstein songs

• 15 months and not one bottle of baby food eaten! Baby led weaning rocks!!!

• When he drops something or wants something, he says 'Ca - wol' (Carol), which is his teacher's name. Since it is also my mom's name, it gave her a real shock that he was calling her name one day (particularly since he's been getting pretty good saying gramma and grampa)

• Signed his grandmother's birthday card with blue scribble - and used both hands to do it!

• If you say 'cows go' he says 'moo'

• He eats more consistently with a spoon and is getting better spearing food with a fork

• Drinks very well from a straw (which was surprise for me since we don't use them so it must be from school)

• He plays pretty well with a ball - mostly throwing it and sometimes kicking it

• Will read to himself from his board books - turning pages and pointing at the items on the page

• When singing 'row, row, row your boat' he will start the next series of 'row,row, row' when you finish the last line

• He is trying to run! If he holds you hands or has his hands between 2 people, he will start running. He sort of jogs on his own

• Uses both baby sign language and words - but we're pushing the use of words more since we've been delinquent on learning more sign language words

• He's been working on breaking into cabinets with the child locks - the ones we purchased at the stores seem to be targets. When we use rubber bands, he finds it difficult and he loses interest.

• Opening and closing doors is his forte - gates, french doors, bathroom doors... you name it. He also plays a mean game of peek-a-boo from the other side

Developmental Progress:  

Thoughts and Feelings? 

It has been a busy month and we look forward to weekends and evenings for a little down time during play time. As we move into a really busy phase (April - July) thanks to Pipe Band / Regiment Band / my school work / our regular work, time with Liam is a light at the end of the tunnel of each day!


As for my fitness, I have had an awful month. I feel that I need to do something because I have gained weight since weaning Liam. Plus, with allergies I feel really awful so working through that is necessary. I cannot let myself fall apart!


What I am looking forward to: 


Starting the research for my dissertation because I was granted approval to do so this month!