The Best Hug Yet

Have you ever spent time thinking about hugs?

Hugs are one of the best things you can give or receive. They are free, yet they are not typically given enough.

I think about the value of human touch and the way a good hug feels. You give a hug to a friend or family member when you say hello and likely when you say hello.

You can give a hug to console someone and you can give a hug to congratulate someone.

Think about the time you were having an awful day, the weight of the world was on your shoulders and hug from someone you love brought tears to your eyes? You literally collapsed in their arms. You felt safe to release yourself in their arms.

I think about all the times in my life I've shared hugs of sadness and hugs of delight as I meet and greet or leave family and friends at the airport. Oh, the airport. A hub of hugs.

I think about hugs from my husband. He's one of my favorite people to hug - and I miss them when he is away.

I think about the hugs that need no reason - yet they brighten your day.

I think about the relationships I've fostered through business and how I've had VP's of HR embrace me in a hug - something that doesn't see to fit the workplace - but it was so natural at the the same time.

I think about the hugs that my mom gave me growing up - when I got hurt or was sad.

There are so many more reasons for hugs that evoke so much emotion - but there is this hug I've started to get recently that all but brings me to my knee's.

It feels like just yesterday Ireland started with "the neck hug".

After I change Ireland's diaper or change her clothes - I typically stand her up on the changing table and then scoop her up into my arms. As of yesterday she has begun hugging me back. Like HUGGING me back - taking her itty bitty arms and full on throwing them around my neck like I am the best thing she has ever seen. It literally melts my heart and makes me weak in my knees. She squeezes me and I can feel and hear her breath, hers squeals of delight, her love.
 
I say it all the time and I mean it - I do now know what I did in my life to be blessed with this amazing little baby girl. But I do know one thing - I can't wait to feels those arms around my neck tomorrow morning!

Easy Like Sunday Morning

Today was the best Sunday morning I have in a long time.


Ever since Nana and Pop moved into our house - Ireland gets up earlier than before. She likes to be nosy - and see what they are doing, or better yet - she likes to wake up and pound on their door to wake them up.

Last night Ireland and I went to my Aunt Cherry's house to visit and stayed the night.

I must say that I haven't shared a room with Ireland in some time - and I was so pleased to crawl into bed last night right next to her pack and play. She woke up this morning around 6am and cried out. I pulled her up in bed with me - something I did every morning for 380 days as I nursed her - but that was months ago - and I still miss that bonding time. I was so pleased that she was receptive to the snuggles even though there was no milk in it for her! Typically - Ireland is like her dad - briefly affectionate. If I pull her in bed at home - she wants to play, not lounge. However, today, she was easy and gifted me her time and love. We stayed awake about 30 minutes - I would rub her back, her head, and smooch up my little girl. She in turn would rub my arm and look up and smile at me. It was magical. We fell asleep until 8am and I woke up with a sense of rejuvenation I haven't felt in a long time.

The past few months are a blur. July my parents moved in, MP moved out PT for school and I stopped nursing. I started traveling a lot in late August through November and somewhere in between I started a new job. I no longer work at home and I'm trying to figure out my new balance of work, exercise, family, free time and sleep. My days typically start at 4:45am or 5am and end late. Everything is fast, loud, interrupted and not always enjoyable in a rush.

So today, Ireland made it easy for me. She indulged me and I loved every minute of it. I am so thankful for the experiences like this that remind one more time how much I love being Ireland's mommy.

Popping in....

I do not know what to call this blog b/c I do not want know what I even want to write about it.

I want to write about it all - about Ireland's birthday party nearly two months ago. I want to write about how I feel having a one year. I want to write about how Ireland amazes me every day and I get  why parenthood is so stinking awesome. I want to write about our new housemates - Nana and Pop - as Daddy is away at school part-time. I haven't written about her first steps - or the fact that she now has a first sentence: "What's that!?" I haven't taken the time to talk about how sweet she is when she hugs her Baby Dolly or how ornery she is when she sticks out her tongue. I have to write about her slew of booboo's and falls. She is perfection wrapped up in one bubbly little girl.

So much is going on! I am so behind in everything!I want to write about so much, but I just don't feel my writing mojo lately.

Oh...writing mojo...where are you???

My goal is to take some time to blog more frequently. So I may start behind - but I will catch up! Just not tonight - the bugs are biting me on my patio and I've been staring at my computer screen all day. It's now time for me. :) Love to you all.

A week shy of 1

Here I am - a week shy of Ireland turning 1.  I just cannot believe it has been a year.

Time is a funny thing. I remember a period of my 20s where I thought time had actually stood still, I hated it. I was in a holding pattern of my life - waiting, desperately for something to change. Now, here I am wishing every day that time would stand still for a little bit, just slow down a little bit - for one more hug, one more kiss, one more snuggle.

It's been one year of being a mommy. One year of nursing my baby. One year of figuring out this parenting thing (yeah, I don't have it figured out yet).  It's been one year kisses, hugs and tight swaddles. It's been one year of a a ride on this craziest emotional roller coaster ever - many crazy twists and turns. It's been one year of managing a baby on top of a marriage, two full-time careers, ending one masters degree and beginning another.  It's been one year of diapers, bottle warmers, breast pumps and footed-pj's.  

It has been - hands down - the best year of my life.

Ireland's First Surgery

Yesterday Ireland went in for her first surgery - ear tubes.  Since February Ireland has had her left ear rupture two times. A week after the last rupture both ears were filled up with fluid yet again - while we were sparred another infection or rupture - it was determined that ear tubes would be best. We do not know how often her ears are filled with fluid and did not want her speech and/or hearing development to be affected.

I was 'looking forward' to the surgery - in so much that I was keeping focused on the outcome, the benefits. I was not looking forward to the fact that we could not feed Ireland after 12am. She is known for wanting a snack between 4am - 6am and I was worried how I would keep her 'happy' until 7:15am. I managed to give her a dream bottle at 11pm - something I haven't done since she was just a wee one.

Ireland slept until 6ish and cried just a bit, I was so happy! We got to the surgery center, bagels in hand for us and I wanted to eat it so bad, but I just couldn't eat it front of Ireland. Poor little thing. She was in great spirits before the surgery, playing in the waiting room and was full of her signature giggles.

We were called back and met with the nurses to get her weighed and such - and then we met the anesthesiologist.  It was at that point that I freaked a little inside. I'm not one to think too much about the 'what ifs' of anesthesia, but of course now its different. The thought of my perfect little baby getting a mask of anesthesia put over her little face saddened me so much, it hurt my heart. Would she be scared? I wondered what it would feel like to be her, so tiny in her cute little fishy onesie - all alone one the surgery table surrounded by unfamiliar faces? I just felt sad for her. Finally our wonderful ENT came out to greet us, in his scrubs and he is such a peaceful, easy going man, he helped me put at ease. Finally, it was time to go.

As we walked out to the waiting room, we saw Ireland get carried away by a gentle nurse. It was torture to see my little baby girl getting carried into surgery while I was just watched her turn a corner and she was gone. I know this isn't brain surgery and I do not mean to liken it to such. But it doesn't matter what the procedure is. It's scary. Its my child, my tiny infant child, everything about her is a big deal to me.

True to the doctors word, we heard Ireland screaming about 15 minutes later. We went back to recovery there was a restless little Ireland - not awake, but as vocal as I remember her being the minute they took her out of my belly for the c-section - girlfriend has some strong lungs! We swaddled her, fed her and gave her Tylenol and rocked her for 30 minutes. We were granted persmission to go - no sooner were we in the car that she calmed down and slept for a few hours.

Ireland took naps on and off yesterday. In between her naps she would play hard and laugh like she still had a buzz. She was too cute and back to herself in no-time.

I am  very thankful she was had a successful surgery without any adverse reactions to anesthesia. God certainly is good.

Hanging on...one pump at a time

Here I am. June 6th. So close to Ireland's first birthday in terms of nursing, but not quite there. After almost 11 months of nursing, my body is giving out on me. The milk I produce at one time is quickly diminishing, I do not make enough milk to feed my daughter daily. But, I hang on, one pump at a time.

Why? Because I am addicted to my daughter and I just can't stop. Pumping through out the day gives me the ability to nurse her each morning. For the past month as my body gives out, I pump on! I enjoy each nursing session as if its our last - knowing that soon it WILL be our last. I stare at her beautiful face. I look down in awe that my body has sustained hers for nearly 11 months. I feel pride that I did not give up each time I thought I could find something better to do with my time. I have spent countless HOURS tied to my desk while pumping. I have pumped in cars, bathrooms, and at the beach. I have pumped in the Target cafe under an 'udder cover'.  I have pumped in airport bathrooms and carried a big hospital grade pump (huge) and frozen bags of milk through TSA lines and connecting flights. I have nursed in all these places. I have sustained my child.

I never thought I would nurse. Now, I struggle with the reality that soon I will not be able to nurse. It will be a thing memory of my past, my first lesson in 'letting go' I have to face as a mother. My eyes fill with tears but my heart is full. I am proud of me. I am proud of Ireland. I am proud of us. So far, we've been a great team together. I love you, baby girl! 

Preparing for the end of nursing

I am very emotional. Tonight is the night that I begin to drop one pumping session from my daily log of nursing.

I know I have said this before, but I meant it. I was never going to nurse. now, here I am, 9 months into my child's first year and I am sad and terrified of starting to ween my nursing.

I have to remember that I have given it a wonderful go. For 9 months I have supplied my daughter with the best of the best. I have provided her a gift that only I can provide her, and I have done it lovingly with little regard to the toll it has taken on my body and my time.

At this time, I am just not making enough milk to sustain my daughter on a daily basis. She is requiring more milk than my body can provide and she has not gained weight in months. Don't get me wrong, she isn't starving. Girlfriend can eat!

I am not getting sleep. Ireland sleeps a full 10-12 and yet I am still only averaging abut 4-5 hours of sleep a night due to my pumping regimen. As I type this, I am not as emotional as I am when I talk about it. I am so sad for the official end of nursing. We are still weeks, hopefully months away from the official end, but I am so so sad.

If you are reading this, I ask that you pray for us. Ireland doesn't like formula and I do not like giving it to her. However, she needs some of it integrated into her diet. I have to start to let go and do what is best for both us, but it doesn't make it easy.

The Perfect Easter

Goodness, where does the time go? I think to myself all the time that I need to blog more, but I feel like all I do is blog less! Days and weeks go by and I let time lapse without a written memory of what we are experiencing, as I try very hard to savior each and every moment.

The month of March was fabulous. We had a ton of visitors - family and friends - people who came to see us, but mainly Ireland. :)

However, today I want to write about Easter. Easter is a special holiday. If you forget the Easter Bunny, peanut butter eggs and baskets full of fake grass, you will simply think about the reason for the season. Jesus was executed for us, for our sins, because he loved us so much. That's really pretty powerful. I feel as those this was the most busy and irrelevant Lenten experience I have had in years, yet it was one of the most powerful Easter's I've had in a long time. It just felt different.

So, why was this Easter so perfect? It just was. It's pretty simple. MP and I woke up at the sound of Ireland stirring bright and early. We brought Ireland out to see her Easter baskets filled with goodies. She received enough puffs to feed a small army of babies. Books, a few toys and stuffed animals. Far too many things then one baby should get and I am very grateful she has so many people that love her enough to treat her to such luxuries.

After she saw what the EB dropped her way, we went out to exercise. MP went on a run and Ireland and I went on a stroll. We were back in to get showered and ready for 10:30 mass. Mass was beautiful and so was the music. Ireland was extremely well behaved and even fell asleep on me right before communion. As I carried her on my chest up to communion I couldn't help but be overcome with emotion. Here I am with this baby, this innocent, loving, special baby that I would do anything for. I would die for her. I would give my life so she could live a long, healthy life. Finally, it clicked for me. This is what made this Easter special for me. It doesn't matter that I didn't attend every Sunday mass this Lent. Or that I messed up and ate some french fries. I now understand Lent and sacrifice on a whole different level. For once, in the smallest of ways, I have an inkling of an idea of what Jesus felt for his people. It's a very overwhelming feeling. Don't get me wrong, I'm not anything like Jesus. I'm not half as good as HE. But, I can kinda get it a bit.

After mass we met MVP and our friends for lunch. Ireland was dressed to the nines in her sailor gear looking cute as cute can be. The conversation was joyful and the mimosa was tasty.

After a long lunch we retreated to the ever awful Wal-mart for a few items and then made our way home to feed Ireland. Then, we got dressed for the pool and made our way to play with Ireland. As we sat in the sun, one of my favorite places, it felt as though time stopped for a bit. We weren't doing anything overly special, but we were together, just the three of us, in our own little bubble. Life was good. Life IS good. After almost two hours at the pool, we made our way home to feed the baby and put her to bed.

Ireland got in her jammies and watched baseball highlights with her dad while I made us an easy dinner of grilled cheese and tomato soup. Ireland went to bed nice and easy that night and MP and I just hung out.

It really was the perfect day.

A Glimpse at Ireland's Personality

I that I am biased when I say that my daughter is adorable 1500 hundred times a day. But really, she is.

We are a week out from 8 whole months of life. While I want to cry with every day that passes all too quickly, I love getting glimpses at the personality that is Ireland.

So Saturday we had two parties to go to. One was for the third birthday of a dear friend's daughter, Caitlin. Then we had a housewarming party that night.

Ireland did very well at the party surrounded with 'bigger' kids. She just dug her little grubby hands into Caitlin and Jake's toy bin and made herself at home. Really, she is comfortable so long as their are toys that can be promptly put her in her mouth. She learned to climb at Aunt Erin's and she even managed to knock herself square in the head a few times at Erin's, once banging it on the wall, good and hard. She looked like she was going to cry....but then she found a toy to put in her mouth....and we're back to good, comfortable and at home. Easy going? She must get that from her Daddy.

After a few cat naps and a few hours later, Ireland found herself playing on the floor of a brand new house. Along came cousins, little miss 2 year old and little mister pita child. LMP was all about antagonizing Ireland. About 4 years old, he thought it would be awesome just wave his hand all up in my child's grill, get in her face, 'pat' her head. The LM2YO just wanted to politely rub Ireland's head and point at her binky. As I wanted to nicely push this kid out of the way, I remembered that I cannot helicopter parent. So, no time like the current for Ireland show us what she is made of when bully kids get up in her face. Yeah, she just sat there, and hardly blinked at the kid...with this look....this look that made me proud that articulated: 'Yeah, that all you got?!' and he kept doing it, and she watched him act a fool a bit longer. Then, she sighed, like 'you bore me' and rolled to her knee's and started cruising away...to find a toy to put in her mouth I can only assume. But little miss and mister would not let Ireland get away so easily. Everywhere she went, they went. They wanted a piece of her and she was like, 'peace out, cub scout' and went about her business - you know, crawling, laughing, trying to weasel things like remotes and pulling herself up on things. A cute, but adorable, tough, handfull. Mine all mine.

Sunday morning MP ran to the bathroom while I was in the kitchen making Ireland baby food. (I was making a banana, blueberry and banana puree if you must know, delish!) Ireland was sitting on her playmat, torturing her mother by pulling up pieces of the playmat. Then I hea r THE giggle. The gut busting, belly full laughter giggle. I look over to see her and our cat Niki playing together. She is taking a piece of the mat and sticking it out, he would swat it and she would pull it back and giggle. Loud. It was the the most fun this girl has had in days. (Man, am I a boring parent or what?!) So, I can't get the video camera and I can't call MP b/c this would disrupt these two creatures in their 'natural' habit. (By natural I mean the fact that Ireland thinks Niki is her best friend and Niki has resolved to the fact that this pint sized, squealing midget isn't going anywhere, so he might as well join her). So I watched as she laughed so hard and he begrudgingly entertained her. Now, here's the kicker. She has never seen us play with Niki like that, even though that's what we do. How quickly they learn!

And finally, Ireland can turn her head when we call her name. She knows her name and I am certain she knows the word no. 'NO, Ireland, we do not stand in the bathtub.' "IRELAND AOIFE, I told you NO, we do not stand here". But, she'll stop. She'll look at me. She'll smile. She is my child. I'm certain she gets that from her mother.

I am doomed. But that's ok because for now, I am LOVING watching her personality unfold and this little tiny human become a personality. She smiles all the time, she shrieks and squeals with joy, she laughs when you tickle under her chin and inside her thighs. She LOVES the itsy bity spider and she is learning sign language. Her eyes light up when she see's her daddy and she crawls to me when I pick her up at day and squeezes my cheeks like I'm her favorite thing. She grabs my nose when I nurse her and strokes my hair before bed. She is the most amazing thing I have ever done.

I love you, Little Poops!

A Sick Lilttle Babe

I hear the words 'welcome to parenthood' go through my mind a lot these days. Every time I think I'm smooth sailing, something inevitably comes along that makes me remember that I am so amateur! HA!

So the ol'boss lady was coming into town so that we could go visit clients together. She isn't actually who I report to anymore and we never get to tag team like we used to, so I was really looking forward to going into clients together - the dynamic duo. Lisa got in yesterday and I was so excited! She called to let me know she would be over by 8pm. No sooner did she call that MP came home with a very sick Ireland.

Poor Little Babe was coughing and kinda wheezing and just really didn't sound like herself at all. She was even kind of moaning. Oh, what this does to my heart. It's just a little too much. It seems that I only ever call my doctor after hours. So, once I again I called his answering service. His nurse called back and after talking to the doctor it was determined we needed to go to urgent care.

Urgent care, while I am glad that I went, turned out to be a great waste of $75. Thankfully, Ireland doesn't have a bacterial infection, but she does have a lot of congestion and a cold. She is sneezing, coughing deep from the chest and the little midget is in so much pain. She just kinda moans and whimpers.

So, last night, MP ran out to Walmart to get Ireland a humidifier. We got that set-up in her room with a little pedi-vapors plug in. She was all set. She slept fairly well, but by 5:30am, it was apparent that she wouldn't be making it to daycare, just too sick. I couldn't send her - I couldn't let the other kids near her and I couldn't let her go there and not be consoled by her loved ones.

So, long story short, I had to cancel my afternoon meeting, Lisa flew home early and I didn't get to work all afternoon. While that sucks, and I'm going to go answer work emails now, tonight, it was so worth it. My poor little babe only wanted to be held by me. So, we took to camping in my bed. I got her all swaddled and we snuggled up. She slept for a few hours and by about 5:30 seemed to be doing better. We ate carrots, played and had a good bath time. I got to nurse a lot today instead of pumping. So, even though my day was turned upside down - as parenthood must allow for - it wasn't so bad getting to take care of the sweetest little babe I know.

6.5 Months

Where does 6.5 months go? How is it possible that I just put to sleep a 6.5 month old baby?

This time last year, I was pregnant, in school and just waiting. Anxiously awaiting the arrival of Miss Ireland. Now, I find myself in full mother mode. It's all too much for me to take in sometimes.

Sometimes, I want and need time to slow down. I CONSTANTLY look at pictures of Ireland at birth, a week old, 2 weeks old, 2 months old, etc. My dad always laughs that I have too many pictures of Ireland, but I don't. Because I have almost a picture a day for the first 6 months and I can see the growth day to day, but I can't believe the growth. The pictures help remember.

I look at Ireland and I'm still in awe. How did we create such a magnificent and beautiful daughter? What did I do in life to get a baby that is so happy and smiles from ear to ear every day? How is it that she has been holding her own bottle for months? How is she crawling?

I look and Ireland and I wonder what she thinking. She is smart. She seems to always be thinking, calculating, and learning. Yet, she's so playful and just sits or crawls around saying 'lalalala' or 'dadada' in the sweetest little voice I ever did hear.

The days seem to short and they go too fast. I JUST put her to sleep, and I miss her already.

Moving and Shaking

Well, its official, Ireland is a crawler.

At Thanksgiving, Ireland started crawling backwards. Yes, on all fours, backwards. Since then she has tried to crawl forward. By Christmas she was up on all fours, rocking, pulling a leg up and then...she'd stop. She just didn't seem to make the connection between her hands going forward and actually moving.

When we were in PA, she started to crawl forward, doing it a lot for Pop on Friday before we left. But now since we've been home, she's definitely refining this art form. Daycare is in for it! Ireland's teachers have said she could get wherever she wanted, by rolling and crawling backwards and even rotating around on all fours.

It seems however that she is less interested in crawling and way more interested in standing up. She does this 'downward dog' thing ALL the time. She is constantly trying to standup. I've had about 4 heart attacks just today watching her try do this.

This morning dad let me sleep in. I woke up an hour later to hearing Ireland scream 'DADA, DADA DADADDDADDAA'. I'm not sure yet that she is calling MP Dada, but man, she can say Dada.

How does this time fly so fast? How can we slow it down?

Ireland's First Airplane Ride

As I sit down to write, I am astonished that it is already January 23rd! Where has this first month of the year gone already?

The last few weeks have flown by as we took Ireland on her first plane ride to a cold and balmy Pittsburgh, PA! I had to go away on business for work to Raleigh, NC so I had to leave the night before MP and Ireland. My first night away from MP and Ireland at the same time, that was no fun! My plane from Raleigh to Pittsburgh was delayed so I didn't get to my parents house until nearly 11pm. Too late to see Ireland. However, when I heard her cry, I did run up those steps and rock that beautiful baby back to sleep. Swoon!

MP said she did wonderful on her plane ride up to Pittsburgh. She slept half of the flight and was happy the rest. She was not as good for me, but darn near close. We both got sick in Pittsburgh and I think her ears were bothering her, so once she got a bottle on her way down, she was good to go!

Our trip to PA started off with a Thursday night out with some friends. Nan and Pop took Ireland on one of her fussy nights (thanks grandparents) and let us go out to the Southside to Fatheads for dinner. It so weird to drive down Carson street now. My life has changed so much since I spent my weekends there, its hard to explain. Its like I don't belong there and its just weird. But we had a great time and shared a lot of laughs with friends. It was great for my soul.

Friday we went to visit Natalie, MP's sister and her family. MP's Aunt Fran came to visit, too. It was a great time! We returned home with Ireland and I sick, and Pop not feeling well. We all survived a FABULOUS open house at my parents house on Sunday. About 40 people showed up to see us and meet Ireland. It was a great day. I am so thankful for all of our friends and family who drove up to see us. THANK YOU!!

The rest of our time in PA was not as expected as Pop ended up needing emergency surgery to get his appendix out. That put a bit of a kink in the rest of our plans, but mainly it was just disappointing for everyone b/c that was less time me and Ireland got with Pop. Thankfully, he is feeling better and is recovering well.

The rest of the trip I got to see some great friends, their kiddos and introduce Renee to Indian food! It was fabulous.

It is nice to be back, but its always sad to leave family and friends.

Thank you to everyone who made the trip to the cold northeast worth it! LOVE!

Letting Go...

Letting go seems to be a theme that keeps recurring for me....and I don't like it.

As much as I love Ireland moving into the next phase, or doing something new or growing bigger, I always feel a twinge of pain when letting go of the previous phase.

I was very blessed to be given so many wonderful gifts and hand me downs for Ireland. As Ireland grows up, I simply don't have the room in my house to keep everything for if and when the next baby comes along. As a result, I donated Ireland's tummy time mat and her bouncer chair to daycare today. I felt so giving up the bouncer. Not because I may need it in the future, but because it means that is no longer a wee little baby. Oh, right through the heart. I just want to slow the time down a little bit, please! This is painful!

I remember when my BFF Missy was in town, Ireland was almost 2 months old. I had my first night of graduate school for the semester and was gone for hours...my longest time away from Ireland. I came home that night, rocked her to bed and cried, b/c it was all going too fast. I almost cried again last night with the introduction of the tooth. :(

Today when I went to pick up Ireland, she was a hoot. I got saw her sitting in a bumbo with her back to me. I got side tracked by a teacher who was talking to me on my way to go grab her. Once she heard my voice, she literally arched complete back (think back bend) and was staring at me upside down while I spoke...waiting patiently. Once I acknowledged her she starting fake crying until I scooped her up. What a little brat! I scooped her and got lots of hugs, kisses and smiles.

Then today Miss Val told me that Ireland was kissing one of the twin boys on his head today - what a FLIRT! That little hussy! :) Boy, am I going to be in trouble?

An exciting start to the New Year!

Today was my first day back to work since Christmas Eve. It was so nice to have time off as it was unexpected and my parents were here. Additionally, it was so awesome to hang out with Ireland again, I love that little peanut.

It was a bit rough getting up this morning. I brought her into my bed to nurse her around 8am and she was just so sweet and cuddly. She would stop nursing to stare up at me and brush my face. Oh, how I love it. I didn't want to let it end. You know, as someone who never planned to breastfeed, its moments just like that which remind me why I am so happy that I do. The bonding is the best part, ever.

Relentlessly - I took her to daycare and her teachers were very happy to see her. :) They missed her.

By about 2pm, I was missing Ireland pretty bad. I was very anxious to go retrieve her. So I walk in and Miss Keiza says "She has tooth?" I said, "What?!" and she said "I thought you knew!" HA So there it is, Ireland has one tooth! She just cut the bottom left one today! And the bottom right one is darn near close it seems! My little baby girl! Oh, as excited as I am, it breaks my heart, too. TOO FAST!!

Additionally, Ireland reached for me for the first time. It was amazing. I sat down by her and Miss Val at daycare and she reached out for me to hold her. I about died. She was so happy and cheerful and just so full of smiles when she saw me. I could take that moment over and over in my life. It's the best!

Then Miss Ireland went to grab a toy from another little baby. Oye! We can't start that!

We came home tonight and played. We cuddled. We read. It was a perfect night! :)