Farewell to 2007

It's hard to believe that 2007 is coming to an end in just a few hours. What a year it has been for our family! We started the year with great anticipation, as I was 4 months pregnant with our first child. We were looking forward to the joys and challenges of parenthood and couldn't wait to meet our little angel. We were anxious to see if we would have a boy or a girl, but decided to wait until the birthday to find out.

The year got off to a good start with Martin starting a new job, his first job in the U.S., after many long months of waiting until we completed the immigration process. In addition to working, we were starting to prepare for our baby's arrival.

We started looking online at houses and dreaming about having a place of our own. One Sunday in March, Martin found the right house. We came to see it and made an offer that day. Within three weeks, the house was ours, and we set out to make it a home before baby's arrival. It was completely surreal, and we knew that this house was meant to be ours.

The next big day in 2007 just happened to be the biggest day of our lives...well, actually two days. On Friday, May 25th, I checked in to the hospital in labor, and early the next morning, Grace Calleigh was born! I will never forget the first time I laid eyes on Grace. I was, and still am, completely in awe of the miracle we created.

Since that wonderful day, 2007 continued to be one of the best years of our life! Martin and I have cherished every moment together as husband and wife and every second with Grace. As this year comes to an end, we thank each of you who have been such integral parts of our lives. We are humbled by the family and friends who have stood by us this year and throughout our marriage. We love you and hope you know how very special you are to us.

New Clothes & A Cool New Toy

Grace is a lucky little girl for a lot of reasons. She has a family that absolutely adores her. Her family has lots of good friends that want to be part of her life. She has a home to call her own and plenty of food to help her grow. I could go on and on. I hope we're able to raise Grace with a deep appreciation for all the blessings in her life.

Today I was explaining to her how incredibly generous her Aunt Karen, Uncle Chris, cousins Josh, and Maddie are. They sent us another huge suitcase full of clothes for Grace. They are so good to us! Maddie has an adorable wardrobe that Grace has inherited, and we are very thankful.

Karen, Chris, Josh, and Maddie also sent Grace a really cool Christmas gift that she loves. A fun new toy and a stylish wardrobe -- what a day! And it's the last day of the year...more about that a bit later! I need to do some more cleaning for our New Year's Eve party tonight!

I'm outSTANDing!

Grace keeps getting stronger everyday. She is absolutely amazing to me. I love watching her learn new things and explore her world. I am constantly fascinated by her.

Ever since she started sitting up on her own over a month ago, she's been having a ball playing with her toys. She's really independent...I wonder where she gets that from? I must admit that when I think about the reality that she'll be mobile in a few months, I get a bit teary. I like it that she stays in one place. I can't imagine how things will change, and how much more of a worrier I'll be, when she starts crawling and walking. Let's not get ahead of ourselves though.

Grace really digs standing up. When we're holding her, she wants to be in a standing position. But today she held herself up, and it was fun to watch. She only held herself up for a few seconds at a time, but you could tell she was proud of this new achievement. That's our girl! She's OUTSTANDING!

Martin's Eye Troubles

A few days ago, I mentioned that Martin was having severe pain in his eye and was having trouble opening it. It all started this past Sunday when Martin woke up and couldn't open his eye. Because of the holiday, we weren't able to get him in to see an eye doctor until Wednesday. He wasn't able to see his regular eye doctor, and the eye doctor who was filling in completely freaked us out. She told us that she feared he had ruptured the inner part of his cornea and that he needed to see a cornea specialist right away. She mentioned the possibility of needing an emergency cornea transplant, which scared us both. Wednesday night was rough for us, and neither of us slept well. I was so worried.

First thing Thursday morning, we went to see the cornea specialist. She confirmed the prognosis that Martin ruptured the inner part of his cornea, called Descemet's membrane. This rupture was a direct result of the progression of a disease Martin was diagnosed with last year called keratoconus. If you want to know more, look it up in Wikipedia. There's a good description there.

So the specialist explained that the rupture caused fluid from the back of his eye to leak into the front part of the eye. We could see the cloudy appearance of the eye, which was caused by this fluid. When she tested his vision, he couldn't see even the top row of the vision chart with that eye. His periphery vision is good, though, and his vision in his other eye is excellent. I've been driving everywhere this week, and it's fair to say that I'll be the family chauffeur for awhile.

The specialist wants to see Martin again in two weeks to see how the eye heals. We talked briefly about the possibility of a cornea transplant, but she told us that we will first wait to see how the eye heals and if there's any improvement in the vision after the scarring is complete. This is scary stuff...

Stay tuned, and please keep us in your prayers.

Gift from Nana and Pop in Ireland!

Today Grace's Christmas present from her Nana and Pop in Ireland arrived. She LOVES it! It's a crib toy that has lights and plays music and nature sounds. It's awesome! We put it in her crib tonight, and I can already tell this will help put her to sleep many nights. Thanks, Nana and Pop!

Don't Blink!

Back in July, I posted a blog called, "Where's the Pause Button?" Grace wasn't even two months old when I posted that blog, and yet I already felt the time going by too fast. Now, in December, Grace is seven months old, and I'm experiencing the same feeling.

For Christmas, Martin got me a Kenny Chesney CD. Those who know me know how much I love his music and always have. He has a song called, "Don't Blink," and it really captures the essence of how I've been feeling about how quickly the months have passed.

My favorite part of the song goes like this:

"Best start putting first things first. 'Cause when your hour glass runs out of sand, You can't flip it over and start again. Take every breath God gives you for what it's worth."

If you ask me, that's advice to live by. Thanks, Kenny!

Grace is 7 Months Old!

Today Grace Calleigh is 7 months old! Since May 26th, our lives have never been better!

There's a new ad campaign with the slogan, "Having a baby changes everything." Talk about hitting the nail on the head! For us, every change has been an adventure, and we cherish Grace more and more each day.

The other day I was talking with one of my "Mommy friends" about watching Grace grow up and how I just wish I could slow things down and have more time to take in every smile, every giggle, and every second of her life. We talked about how, as parents, we have a certain level of anxiety about the unknown, about what's next for our child. For example, we think ahead to our kids walking, then running, and the fear of them falling down. We fast forward to them learning how to ride a bike and eventually teaching them to drive. Somehow we can't help but worry about the future, even as we strive to live for today.

My friend gave me hope when she told me that, in her experience, when the "next step" arrives, it's almost always better than you expect, and you adjust and continue to marvel at what your child learns along the way. For me, I find the greatest challenge in my seven months as a Mom is to know when to hold on and when to let go, and I think that's a challenge we all face in our lives, whether as parents, husbands or wives, friends, or employees. I have found that when I most want to hold on and keep things as they are, that's when I most need to "let go and let God." As much as we fight it, change is good, and it's part of life. And as we change, we grow and become the women and men God intended for us to be.

A Perfect Christmas

It was a perfect day! Grace's first Christmas is a day Martin and I will always remember and cherish. The three of us had such a great day together. I took Billy to the airport first thing this morning; then returned home to start Grace's first Christmas! We had cuddle time in our bed for a bit before getting up to see if Santa came. He did! We got the web cam set up so our Irish family could watch Grace open her gifts. Martin and I had fun opening Grace's gifts with her and showing her all the neat things she got from Santa and from us.

After Grace opened all of her gifts (with our help), Martin and I exchanged our gifts. We finished up the gift-giving with lots of kisses and hugs!

We made all of our Christmas phone calls to our families to wish everyone a Happy Christmas. Then we made our Christmas meal together, and the three of us sat down and enjoyed a delicious meal. We fed Grace her food first, so she just watched us eat. She's very curious and loves watching her Mommy and Daddy eat.

We spent the rest of our day relaxing and playing with Grace. Martin assembled her toys, and we watched in awe as she played. She especially loved her drums and her rocking horse from Aunt Caroline, Uncle Willie, and cousin Liam.

Overall, Grace's first Christmas couldn't have been better. Martin and I will are so thankful that we were able to spend this very special day together as a family.

Merry Christmas!

It’s been one heck of a year for the Fogarty Family!
We started as two and now we are three!
So much joy & happiness in 2007,
On the 26th of May, we got a gift from Heaven.
Grace Calleigh Fogarty entered the world,
And we are so thankful for our little girl.
Now we send our Christmas Cheer
And our wishes that you have a Happy New Year!

'Twas the Night Before Christmas...

...and all through the house, we're still stirring, but thank God, there's no mouse :-)

Wow! Christmas is nearly here! It's already Christmas in Ireland. In fact, our family there will soon be waking up to see what Santa brought. Here in Texas, on the other hand, we are super excited about celebrating Grace's first Christmas tomorrow!

We had a nice day today, getting everything prepared for Christmas day and going to Christmas Eve Mass. Martin is having a problem with his eye, so I drove him to work today. He had to work from 10 AM to 2 PM. Grace and I went to the mall with Billy and hung out at his place for bit this morning. After we picked Martin up from work, I did some cleaning and finished wrapping gifts for Martin and Billy.

Before I knew it, it was time to get ready for Mass. Martin, Billy, Grace, and I went to Christmas Eve Mass at 6 PM at the University Catholic Center, and it was a beautiful service. The kids did a great job presenting the Christmas story. Grace was awake for most of Mass and was, of course, well-behaved. After Mass, I subjected everyone to a round of photos in front of various Christmas trees and flowers. I can't help but want to capture every moment of Grace's first Christmas! My favorite picture was this one of me & Grace looking at the Nativity Scene. As always, you can see all the pictures at: http://picasaweb.google.com/amberfogarty

I noticed at Mass that Grace was really warm. When we got home, I took her temperature and was worried that it was 101.3! She's never had a fever before, and I was sad to think she'd be sick for her first Christmas. We gave her some infant Tylenol and lots of hugs and kisses, and two hours later, the fever was gone, and Grace was as good as new. We were so relieved!

Billy, Martin, and I had sandwiches for dinner and enjoyed hanging out together for the evening. We exchanged gifts since Billy will be leaving early tomorrow morning for Philly. Uncle Billy got Grace an adorable St. Ed's cheerleading outfit! I can't wait to see how cute she looks wearing it.

It'll soon be time to call it a night, but not before calling our Irish family to wish them a Happy Christmas! Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

The Countdown to Christmas...2 days to go!

Only 2 more days until Grace's first Christmas! YIPPEE!

We had a wonderful weekend! Yesterday we drove to Waco in the afternoon for some quality time with the family. Grace enjoyed lots of play time with Nana, Pop-Pop, and Uncle Billy. Grace was particularly amused by Nana and Pop-Pop's cat. Every time she sees the kitty, she smiles and sometimes lets out an adorable little chuckle. Nana helped Grace pet the kitty, and this really made Grace's day. We'll be watching the cat while my parents are in Philly for the next week, so I'm sure that will make Grace very happy!

Grace got some quality time with Nana and Pop-Pop while Martin, Billy, and I went out to finish some last-minute shopping on Saturday afternoon. Grace had a quiet evening at home, filled with story time and lots of cuddles.

Today we went to Mass together and then came home to prepare for our family Christmas meal. Martin woke up with a severe pain in his eye, so Billy and I went to get him an eye patch. We are all really worried about him. He's having trouble opening his eye, and he's in a lot of pain. We hope he feels better in time for Christmas!

We shared a delicious meal, which Grace slept through. She woke up in plenty of time to open her gifts though! Who wouldn't? When Nana gave Grace her first gift to open, I was SO excited when she started to tear the wrapping paper off! I had no idea what to expect, but was overjoyed that she was opening her own gifts! It was the coolest. Grace received wonderful gifts for her first Christmas from her Nana and Pop-Pop, as well as savings bonds from Nana & Pop-Pop, Uncle Brian and Aunt Jen, and Uncle Billy!

Our family is so blessed, and Christmastime always reminds me of how good we have it. First and foremost, we have each other. Martin and I are so in love, and now we get to share our love with Grace. We have wonderful parents, brothers, and sisters and dear friends. Today was such an awesome day. We shared it with family, and that's what Christmas is all about!

Sunny Saturday

Grace and I spent the morning preparing for our trip to Waco to celebrate Christmas with the fam. Mom, Dad, and Billy are leaving for Philly on Christmas day, and Brian and Jen leave for Hawaii on Christmas Eve, so we'll be having our family Christmas celebration tomorrow.

In addition to packing up our stuff for our road trip, I naturally found time to snap some picture of Grace in all her cuteness. Grace has been lucky enough to get lots of precious clothes from her cousin, Maddie. Today Grace is wearing one of the many cute dresses Maddie has passed on to her, along with a bow in her hair. She couldn't be cuter!

It'll be interesting to see how Grace feels about dresses and bows when she gets old enough to voice her opinion. When I was little, I fought my Mom every time she tried to put a dress on me, and I'm wondering if Grace will inherit my tomboyishness. Time will tell...

For now, much to my surprise, I enjoy seeing my little girl in dresses, although I'm the first to admit she looks adorable no matter what she wears! I wish this blog could show my beaming face! I'm so proud of my little angel!!!

Welcome to Splashtown!

Grace has always loved the water. She's enjoyed bath time since her earliest days. But during the past month or so, Grace has taken bath time to a whole new level of fun. She splashes like crazy and is all smiles. She especially goes mad when we pour water on her head. It cracks us up :) We've added her rubber ducky to the bath recently, and she digs him.

We've gotten into a routine to some extent, and bath time is filled with rituals. When we take Grace upstairs for her bath, I carry her up, and Martin "chases" us, saying "comin' to get ya, comin' to get ya." This makes Grace laugh every time. Now any time I take Grace upstairs, she's checking over my shoulder to see if Daddy is coming too.

My other favorite bath time ritual is showing Grace herself in the mirror. Martin holds her, and we all look in the mirror. She grins from ear to ear when she sees her Mommy and Daddy in the mirror!

There are countless moments every single day that I try to capture in my memory. I never want to forget these precious moments with our daughter. Writing them down ensures that we will always remember Grace's childhood (and that someday we can share all the laughs with her).

Grace's 6 Month Well Check

Even though Grace is nearly seven months old, today she had our six month well check and more immunizations. Our little one really isn't so little anymore. Grace weighed in today at 17 pounds, 3 ounces, and she is now 27 inches long. Who knows? Maybe Grace is going to be tall. It could happen ;-)

Grace handled the shots like an old pro today. She had 4 shots again this time - one oral and 3 with needles. She didn't cry until the third shot, and then she only cried for about a minute. As soon as I picked her up and held her close, she calmed down.

The highlight of the visit to the doctor's office was Grace's reaction to the paper on the exam table. I laid her on her tummy, and she had so much fun hitting and crinkling the paper. It was hilarious to watch!

Grace's First Christmas Party

This evening Grace attended her very first Christmas party. It was a get together with her Daddy's coworkers, and she had a great time. She was so well behaved while we were there. She spent a lot of time playing by the Christmas tree. She is getting to be more and more independent everyday. She gets in a "toy trance" sometimes where she sits by herself and plays with her toys with no concern for what's going on around her. That's in stark contrast to her nosy times where her head goes from back and forth at record speed as she tries to take in what everyone around her is doing.

After being sick all week, Grace is finally starting to feel better. She still has the cough, but seems to be feeling much better. It seems we've all made it through. It was a tough week for all of us, and it was truly a family effort to take care of Grace all week. I was home with her on Monday, Daddy on Tuesday, and Uncle Billy on Wednesday. Then Nana and Pop-Pop watched her at their house on Thursday and Friday, which was a lifesaver! We couldn't have done it without their help.

On Thursday night, when Grace was staying with her Nana and Pop-Pop in Waco, Martin and I did some Christmas shopping and then met Uncle Billy at our favorite bar for a quick drink. It felt so strange to be out and about without Grace. It's been quite a while since we hit the town without a stroller in tow :-) We missed our girl like crazy and were so thrilled to see her on Friday evening. Our home felt so empty without her!

Nana and Pop-Pop spent the night at our house on Friday night, and we all had fun playing with Grace. Nana got Grace these singing Christmas characters, and we cracked up as we watched Grace's reaction to them. There was a Santa, a reindeer, and a snowman, and each one took turns singing. Grace's eyes followed along as each character sang, and we were thoroughly amused. Good times...

Nana and Pop-Pop got to spend a few hours with Grace this morning before they headed home, which gave Martin and me a chance to sleep in. We welcomed that opportunity since sleeping in is a luxury we don't often experience these days. We spend the rest of the day relaxing, and I worked on our Christmas cards and wrapped some gifts. Then we went to the Christmas party and had a nice time. It was a late night for Grace since we didn't get home until 10:30 PM. She's now sound asleep, and I'm heading that way too. Good night!

The Eagles Beat the Cowboys!

It's been a rough season for the Eagles. Grace's first season as a true Eagles fan hasn't been pretty, but we've taught her to stick with her team no matter what. We want to raise her to be a loyal fan, unlike the bandwagon-jumping fans that many other teams have. So she's learned some good lessons already.

Today was a great day in the Fogarty household! The Eagles beat the Cowboys, 10-6. Grace sported another Eagles outfit and even borrowed her Uncle Billy's Santa hat for a few great pictures. It's cool to see Grace watch football. She actually seems to be concentrating on the game. We look forward to teaching her all about the sports we love as she grows up!

Uncle Billy came to watch the game with us, and it was a nailbiter until the very end, but the Eagles came out on top! WOO HOO :-)

Sick Baby Girl :-(

I'm sad to blog that our sweet little baby is sick. She came home from day care on Friday with a nasty cough and a lot of congestion. We kept her home all weekend and canceled our plans so we could take care of her. Even though she sounded awful throughout the weekend, she was in a good mood and was her usual cheerful self. Until this morning...

Grace woke up around 6:00 AM and cried uncontrollably for almost three hours straight. It was one heck of a morning. When your child is in pain, so are you, and it was almost unbearable hearing her cry like that. I made her a doctor's appointment first thing this morning, and we got an appointment at 10:30, thank God.

Luckily, she calmed down by the time we got to the doctor, and I just held her close while we waited to be seen. That seemed to comfort her (and me). The doctor diagnosed her with an ear infection and a bad cold and prescribed her an antibiotic. After picking up the antibiotic, I got her home and spent most of the day with her in my arms. The doctor ordered medicine, but Mommy prescribed TLC. We made it through the day with quite a few tears, but hopefully Grace is on the road to recovery.

Grace Meets Santa & St. Nick

This week Grace met Santa Claus twice and St. Nick! At day care on Thursday, Santa Claus himself showed up to take pictures with all the kiddos. Grace wasn't so sure what she thought of him, but she liked touching his beard. That night Grace met St. Nicholas, who made an appearance at a party at the UCC. Grace thought he was pretty cool, and once again was impressed with the beard.

Then last night I took Grace to the Festival of Lights at St. Ed's, which is an annual tradition that I've always loved. She liked the singing and all the Christmas lights. She was very popular with her "Baby's First" pink Santa hat that her Aunt Caroline sent her. Everyone wanted to say hello to her, and she got lots of compliments on her awesome hat. She posed for another picture with Santa at St. Ed's, but was completely distracted by the Christmas lights next to him. Thus, I didn't get a picture of her looking at the camera. Oh well! She had fun, and that's all that matters.

I'm having trouble believing that Christmas is right around the corner. I've said it before, and I'll say it again -- the time is flying by! Martin and I are looking forward to all of the fun and memories of our first Christmas with our daughter!

Grace is 6 Months Old!

It is truly hard to believe that Grace is 6 months old! She's been bringing joy to our lives for a half a year already. It just doesn't seem possible that the time has gone by that quickly.

I was home sick today, so we weren't able to celebrate as much as we hoped, but we did sing "Happy Birthday" to our angel, which produced loads of smiles :) She loves when we sing anything to her. I'm sure when she's old enough to talk she'll tell me that she prefers Daddy's singing to mine. He has a wonderful voice, and mine isn't so great. But she loves me anyway. And, of course, I love her so much!

I was trying to explain to a friend the other day how I've changed since becoming a Mom. Life is certainly different, and I have a new-found appreciation for the gift of life. When I look at Grace, I see a little miracle. One of the things that has struck me during the last six months is the depth of the love I feel for Grace. Becoming a parent introduces you to a deeper, more spiritual level of love than you ever knew existed. It also has made me fall even more in love with my husband, who is an amazing father to our baby girl.

All in all, being a Mom has given my life new purpose. My family is the most important thing in my life. Happy Birthday, Sweet Grace! We love you loads, and we look forward to watching you grow and taking care of you every step of the way!

Getting in the Holiday Spirit

The Fogarty household is gearing up for the holidays! Normally, I'm not a fan of putting up a Christmas tree right after Thanksgiving, but this year I decided to go for it for several reasons. First, this is Grace's first Christmas, and I'm beside myself with anticipation! Second, I wanted to make the most of my four-day weekend, especially since I expect December to be a busy month. Third, this is our first Christmas in our new home, and I want to make it really special!

So yesterday and today I got myself into the holiday spirit and put up our Christmas tree and did some other decorating around the house. I love our Christmas tree and had so much fun showing it to Grace. She's in awe of the lights!

Growing up, I can remember being really giddy around Christmastime! I'm feeling that once again as I think about making every Christmas wonderful for Grace. Grace won't remember her first Christmas, but it will be well documented with pictures and blogs. I already think about showing her this blog when she's older and sharing the thousands of pictures of her from her earliest days.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving one and all! What a wonderful day it was in the Fogarty household, as we celebrated our very first Thanksgiving with Grace! We've never had more to be thankful for...our beautiful baby girl is such a gift.

We had a fabulous spread at our house, complete with turkey, ham, stuffing, and all the fixings. The meal was awesome! It was a team effort with my parents, Martin, and me all contributing to the meal. I was especially proud of my broccoli cheese casserole, especially when Billy said it was AMAZING! Most of you know that I don't usually have much luck in the kitchen, so I celebrate every victory I can get. Hopefully, by the time Grace is old enough to remember, I'll have honed my cooking skills and can make her mouth water. Here's to hoping...

Grace feasted on sweet potatoes for her Thanksgiving feast, and she seemed to thoroughly enjoy it. All in all, it was a great day with family and an opportunity to give thanks for all that's good in our lives.

Grace is Sitting Up!

Breaking news! A new development in Martin and Amber's Adventure as Parents...

Tonight Grace sat up by herself for the first time! How cool is that? She can sit up for very short periods of time, but nonetheless, we are super excited about it. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and we can't wait to show Nana and Pop-Pop, Uncle Billy, Uncle Brian, and Aunt Jen this new feat! On that note, we are also very anxious about celebrating Grace's first Thanksgiving tomorrow. It's going to be a fantastic day!

Fun Times with Mommy

Today I got home from work early enough to take Grace for a walk. It's mid-November in Texas, and it's in the 80's. The weather could not have been more perfect today. So Grace and I set out for a walk and some quality time together. In the morning, I'm leaving for an overnight trip to Dallas for work, so I need all the Grace time I can get.

We took a nice long walk and ended up at the playground by our house. I decided to let Grace try out the swing for the first time. She wasn't too sure what she thought about it. There was a half-smile for a few seconds, but mostly a look of confusion.

As we headed home after swinging, the wind picked up, and the temperature started to drop! The weather folks are calling for a huge temperature drop tonight -- 40+ degrees, they say. Here's to crazy weather in Texas! One day you're out in shorts, and the next you need your winter coat.

So tomorrow morning, I head to Dallas, and I fly back on Friday evening. Then on Saturday, I'll be taking Grace to Waco to visit her Nana and Pop-Pop who are returning tomorrow from the Holy Land. We are excited to see them and hear about their trip!

High School Reunion and Grace's First Football Game

This weekend was my 10-year high school reunion. I seriously can't believe it's been 10 years since I graduated from high school! This is one of those milestones that you think about a lot. Some people look forward to it; others dread it. I looked forward to it because I knew it would be fun to see people I hadn't seen in years. I keep in touch with a few friends from high school, and one of the highlights of my pregnancy was a baby shower with a group of girls from high school. Aside from that group, I haven't seen many of the other people in my class in a long, long time.

I always wondered where I would be in my life when my high school reunion finally came around. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine my life as it is now - with an absolutely awesome husband that I adore and a beautiful baby girl who brings me so much joy! I am so blessed.

Last night was the Homecoming football game. There was a pre-game tailgate party and a reception after the game for the Class of '97. This was the first football game Grace ever attended. Unfortunately, our team lost, but we enjoyed sitting in a big crowd of my high school classmates. Grace was an angel the entire time, even at the reception, which lasted until after 11 PM. Even though it was way past her bedtime, she was the life of the party :)

Then today we had a picnic, which was good fun. There wasn't a huge crowd, but I really enjoyed catching up with those who attended. And the weather was great, and that added to the fun. Having a picnic in November is risky, but it worked out for us!

All in all, the reunion was a huge success! We had a good turnout, and I think everyone that came enjoyed themselves. Tammie and I were partners in planning the reunion, and I want to thank her for all her hard work. I'm so glad we pulled it off!

Road Trip

This weekend we traveled to Waco to see my parents before their big trip to the Holy Land. We also wanted to attend the 25th Anniversary of my parents' parish in Hewitt. Of course, Grace's time with Nana and Pop-Pop was a blast. She loves going to their house and getting loads and loads of attention.

The Mass this morning for the 25th Anniversary of St. Jerome's was beautiful. The bishop presided, and it brought back many memories from my years there. Our family has a lot of great memories at St. Jerome's, and that parish has been a huge part of our lives since we moved to Texas in 1990. Grace was an absolute angel during the Mass. We all took turns holding her, and she stayed awake for most of the Mass and was checking everything and everyone out. She's so curious (and a bit nosy).

There was a nice picnic after the Mass, and then we headed home to hang out for the afternoon. Grace has lots of playtime and showed her Nana and Pop-Pop how she pushes herself up when she's on her tummy. She's getting really strong!

We drove back home late, after the Eagles game, which I don't want to talk about. The best part of watching the game was seeing how cute Grace looked in her cheerleading outfit, even though she didn't have much to cheer for!

Happy Halloween!

It's Grace's first Halloween, and we are really excited. The first year of a child's life is so much fun because there are so many firsts! We marvel at each "first" that Grace accomplishes, and we enjoy each first holiday, knowing that those memories will remain forever imprinted on our hearts.

Grace has two Halloween costumes. She was dressed as an elephant today for her day care party and as a cow tonight when we greeted the trick-or-treaters that came to our door. The party today was more fun for the parents, I think, than for our little ones. Seeing all of the kids in her class dressed up was a riot! They all looked adorable.

Then tonight Grace and I passed out Halloween candy to TONS of trick-or-treaters. Despite buying a lot of candy, we ran out in less than an hour. Grace took that opportunity to take a nap, still decked out in her cow costume. It was a great day :-)

5 Month Old Girl!

1, 2, 3, 4, 5 MONTHS have passed since Grace was born! It's just amazing that she's five months old already. Grace is our pride and joy, and every minute with her is precious.

She's been doing lots of new things lately. One of the most exciting things is that she's gotten the hang of eating rice cereal, and now she loves it! She first tried it on October 6th, and within a few days, she was opening her mouth for each spoonful. Now she devours her cereal every day! She likes to eat, and that definitely runs in the family.

Grace is also exploring everything around her, reaching for things, and putting anything within reach into her mouth. I love watching her discover the world...she is fascinated by virtually everything. She is particularly intrigued by her Daddy! She watches him closely and takes in all that he does. A Daddy's Little Girl in the making...

Grace loves her bouncer and enjoys playing in it more than almost anything else. She squeals with delight as she jumps around and plays with the various toys on the bouncer. We get a kick out of watching her antics!

She's also getting very close to rolling over from her back to her tummy. She puts her feet straight up in the air and rolls halfway, but hasn't made it all the way over just yet. She's also reaching for her toes when she's laying on her back, and that is too cute! So many new tricks, so little time...

All Bounced Out...

Grace really loves to play in her bouncer. What's funny is she'll be playing away - bouncing, squealing, and smiling - and suddenly, she'll realize she's tired and take a nap. Yes, that's right. She'll take a nap, standing up in her bouncer. Guess it's true that babies can sleep anywhere!!!

Family Time - First Things First

Last night and today I attended a conference. I was gone last night from 6 PM to 10 PM and today from 8 AM to 6:30 PM. I enjoyed the conference, especially because my brother, Billy, went too, but...

The whole time I was there, I was missing Grace and Martin. I've come to accept being away from my family during the workday, which has been a rough adjustment. I've accepted day care as a reality in my life. However, my nights and weekends are my family time.

In my pre-wife and pre-Mommy days, I used to have something going on every night of the week. Now I don't want to commit to much of anything if it involves doing things at night or on the weekends. I want to be home (or out and about) spending quality time and making memories with my family. My priorities have changed, and I'm putting first things first.

An Emotional Rollercoaster

What an emotional rollercoaster the last 5 days have been. Since hearing about Dawn's death on Wednesday, I have thought of little else. I have prayed; I have cried; I have asked, "Why?" I have thought about her husband, her sweet daughter, and the rest of her family. I have remembered every moment of my time with her. Everyone who knew and loved Dawn is still in shock. It's hard to accept the death of a 33 year old, but thank God for faith. I'm not sure how anyone could cope with her loss, or the loss of anyone they care about, without it.

Today I attended Dawn's funeral Mass. It was truly heartbreaking, yet the service was beautiful, and the Bishop brought comfort to a church full of mourners. There were few dry eyes in that church today. The Mass was followed by a short ceremony at the cemetary and then a reception at the church. I think it was good for everyone to come together to remember Dawn and celebrate her life. She was one-of-a-kind, someone whose smile could light up any room! She will be missed.

Please, please, please keep Dawn's family in your daily prayers. God calls on each of us to sustain each other in times of need. This is one of those times when the Body of Christ must unite to support and console one another.

Hot Date for Mommy & Daddy

Last night, Martin and I went on a date to celebrate our 2-year wedding anniversary! We had a wonderful evening together. We got dressed up and went out for a nice dinner, while Grace spent the evening hanging out with her Nana & Pop-Pop.

We drove to Waco yesterday afternoon and got to hang out with my parents for a few hours before our date. Grace cuddled and played with her Nana & Pop-Pop all afternoon, giving them some of her best smiles.

We also did a little photo shoot with a pumpkin, which was pretty funny. Grace seemed to like the big unidentified orange vegetable and smiled for the camera. Check out the pictures on our photo site: http://picasaweb.google.com/amberfogarty/BabyGraceWeeks2122

This morning we were up bright and early for Mass, and Grace was awake and alert for part of it. Then she fell peacefully asleep in her Daddy's arms, which was the sweetest thing ever! After Mass, my Dad made us a nice breakfast; then we headed home to Austin. We just got here, safe and sound!

Our 2 Year Anniversary

Today, Martin and I are celebrating two years of marriage. On this day in 2005, we tied the knot and promised to spend the rest of our lives together. Who knew where we would be two years later? On our wedding day, our future was a blank slate. We knew I would be moving to London a few months later, but we weren't sure of our long-term plans. We agreed that we wanted a family eventually, but hadn't decided when or where we would raise our kids.

Now here we are two years later...we have a beautiful four and a half month old daughter who lights up every day of our lives! We have wonderful relationships with our family & friends who have loved and supported us through thick and thin. We own a home and have settled into an amazing life as a family of three. We have been blessed beyond belief, and we are so thankful for all God has done and continues to do in our lives.

Shock & Sadness

This morning I heard the shocking news of the death of my friend, Dawn. I still don't quite believe the news. Dawn was just 33 years old -- a young wife and the mother of a one-year old little girl. At this point, no one knows what caused her death, and the family has ordered an autopsy. This hits so close to home...literally. Dawn and her family are our neighbors. They live one street over from us.

I first met Dawn through work since our jobs often intersected. We got together for lunch in January of this year and began building a friendship, as we talked about her daughter, day care, and how much having children changes your life. I was pregnant at the time, and Dawn was so supportive throughout my pregnancy.

We were both thrilled when we moved to her neighborhood in March and were excited about being neighbors. We talked about our kids playing together and us getting together for barbecues.

After Grace was born, Dawn came over one evening, and we had a lovely visit. She recommended the day care her daughter was attending, and we decided that that’s where Grace would go. I trusted Dawn’s judgment, and she felt so good about the care that her daughter was receiving there.

Grace’s first day of day care was last week, and Dawn sent me the sweetest email, which began "I wish I could come by and give you a BIG HUG (SQUEEEZZZZEEEEEE). I know exactly how you feel, trust me it does get easier."

The next day Grace and I went to her house for a visit. I needed a friend who understood the struggle of those first days of day care, and Dawn comforted me and assured me I'd get through it. While I was there, we talked about us getting together more often and Grace getting bigger so she and Dawn's daughter could play together. It's hard to believe that was last week, and this week she is gone.

It's a harsh, painful reminder that life is so precious. We never know when God will call us home. We need to cherish each and every moment with our families and tell them we love them often. Tonight I spent most of the night holding Grace close to me and telling her and Martin how much I love them. The loss of a friend always hurts, but especially someone so young and full of life. I will always remember Dawn's smile and laughter. She loved to make people laugh, and all who knew her thought the world of her.

Please pray for Dawn's family and friends as they cope with her sudden death. And live each day to the fullest.

Week 2 Begins...

Grace's second week of day care is off to a good start. I managed to drop her off today without a tear, which made me feel a bit guilty. I was kind of mad at myself for being able to leave her without crying.

I had a super-busy day at work today, and I was stressed out at the end of the day because I felt I had so much left to do. I had a tightness in my chest as I felt the weight of my workload and the old familiar tug of the workaholic in me.

I feel constantly torn between my family and work. It's the ongoing struggle of the working parent, I think...a struggle that I doubt will ever get easier. On one hand, prioritizing is a no-brainer now. Family first. Period. On the other hand, I care very much about my job, and I believe in the work I do. Thus, I want to give it my best and deliver the same quality work I always have. Can you have the best of both worlds? I'm not sure, but I'll give it my all. I guess that's all I can do and all anyone can expect of me.

Miss Independence

I've said it before, and I'll say it again -- "Our little girl is growing up too fast."

Grace is becoming so independent. She spends more time everyday entertaining herself. I'm in awe just watching her as she explores and discovers new things. She makes the most adorable faces and sounds while taking in her surroundings.

The last few days she's really grown into her bouncer and loves playing in it. She bounces and dances and plays with the toys on it. She's enjoying playing by herself now and is reaching out to grab anything you dangle in front of her. She's also starting to put everything in her mouth...her own hands, rattles, toys, stuffed animals, anything she can get her hands on. Have I mentioned how awesome it is being a Mom? Wow! It gets better every day.

Grace's First Jog

This morning Grace and I went jogging together for the first time! My coworkers got me an AWESOME jogging stroller, and I've been so anxious to use it. Finally, the time has come!

I've been waiting until Grace's neck was strong enough that her head wouldn't bob around in the jogging stroller. Now that she's less of a bobble-head, we can get some exercise together.

Our jog today was more like a walk-run combo since I'm not in the shape I once was, but Grace enjoyed it nonetheless. In fact, she enjoyed it so much that she drifted off to sleep. However, when I got home she woke up full of smiles, which is when I snapped the adorable picture to the left.

After I got home, I decided to to do a workout video. Grace was in her bouncer next to me jumping around while I did my lunge routine. We were exercising buddies! I think she was thoroughly entertained watching me sweat and groan as my muscles begged me to stop bothering them. Our Saturday is off to a great start!

Our plans for the rest of the day are the fun Saturday chores of house cleaning and doing laundry, but we'll top off our day by having a few friends over to watch baseball and have dinner tonight. Gotta love the weekend...

We Made It Through Week One!

It was a rough week, but we made it through. Grace's first week of day care was definitely not easy. It was extremely emotional for all of us, but Grace took it all in stride and already seemed completely at ease in her new surroundings by the time I picked her up today.

After making in through days two, three, and four without crying, I got teary when I dropped her off this morning. Then when I went to visit her at lunch time, she had just fallen asleep so I didn't get to feed her or play with her, and that made me a bit weepy too. I know, I cry a lot. Whoever told me that my hormones would even out, and I'd cry less after having a baby than I did when I was pregnant was dead wrong.

My parents came to visit tonight, and they accompanied me to pick Grace up from day care this afternoon. We had a nice evening with Grace's Uncle Billy and grandparents, the highlight of which was Grace trying rice cereal for this first time. She didn't seem too impressed, but she had a few bites. It was fun for all of us, and we took a bunch of pictures of the momentous occasion. Check them out at: http://picasaweb.google.com/amberfogarty/BabyGraceWeeks1920

After Mom and Dad headed home, Martin, Grace, and I were hanging out when Grace got us both laughing hysterically. I was holding Grace, and I laughed at something on TV. Grace started laughing along with me, which got both Martin and I cracking up. She continued laughing right along with us. It was the coolest thing ever.

What a Difference a Day Makes

I'm proud to say I made it through Grace's second day of day care without crying. What a difference a day makes! Yesterday I met several of the parents of the kids in Grace's class, which helped tremendously in making me more comfortable with her new arrangement. I also spent lunch there yesterday, and that gave me a lot of assurance about how the teachers treat the children. I had another Mom in the class tell me that she thinks the teachers are wonderful and take fantastic care of the kids each and every day.

Grace seems very curious about the other kids in the class. She is checking them out and taking everything in. It's her first time around kids her own age, and I think it's good for her to get socialized early. Soon enough, she'll be having sleepovers and IMing with her friends about boys. I'm not quite ready for that yet, but I made it through today. One day at a time.

Day two. Done.

Hardest Day Ever

Today was Grace's first day of day care. It was one of the toughest days of my life. I started crying last night, cried myself to sleep, and cried most of the day today. Heart-wrenching.

My Mom friends told me that it would be way harder on me than it was on Grace. I'd say that was true. Grace seemed to adjust nicely to her new surroundings, which we expected, because she's been such a flexible baby so far. Martin and I went together this morning to drop her off. I'm certain I couldn't have done that on my own the first day. I needed someone to do the talking because I was crying too much to form a sentence. Martin was my rock. He handled everything and comforted me as well. He's the best.

Thank goodness, the day care is close to where I work, so I can go see her at lunchtime and can get there quickly if needed (like when I'm really missing my sweet girl). Even though I struggled with her first day, I trust that she will be well cared for at her day care because I have a good friend who has been thrilled with the care her daughter has received there. Without her personal reference, I would have been even more of a mess today.

We made it through day one, and I know we'll continue to adjust each day. Leaving your child in anyone else's care isn't easy, but it's an unavoidable reality. I have to keep reminding myself that I survived day care, and millions of others have too. Grace will be fine, and we'll continue to cherish every second we spend with her. Our time with our sweet girl is precious, even more so now that Martin and I are both working full-time.

Grace is 4 Months Old Today!

Today is Grace's 4-month birthday! We celebrated her birthday with a visit to the doctor for her well-check and immunizations. What a birthday gift!

She now weighs 14 pounds, 6 ounces and is 25 inches long! Grace sure is growing :-) She got four immunizations today - one administered orally and the other three were shots. Boo!! My Mom and I accompanied Grace, and both made it through without too many tears. Grace, on the other hand, screamed at the top of her lungs during her shots and had real tears. Talk about heartbreaking :-(

It's been a busy week with some long days at work. It's been absolutely wonderful having my Mom here the last two weeks to watch Grace. I know Grace has enjoyed every second with her Nana. We've had some really special times, the three girls, and I'll always remember these days.

On Monday, Grace will begin day care, and we're certainly not looking forward to it. We've delayed the inevitable as long as we could, and the time is almost here. I know that dropping her off that first day will be the hardest thing I've done so far in my four months as a parent. I get teary just thinking about it.

Grace's New View

I've mentioned many times before how much Grace loves "tummy time." She has so much fun kicking her legs and moving her arms around, making the early motions of crawling. In the last week, she's really started to push herself up so she can look around. She digs this new view...her eyes open wide and she looks back and forth, taking it all in. The pic to the right is from earlier today, when we were having a staring contest :-)

Grace and I spent Thursday and Friday nights in Waco at her Nana and Pop-Pop's house. I had to be in Waco for work yesterday, and Grace wanted to come along to have a sleepover at her grandparents' house. She, of course, had a blast! Now we're back home, and Grace has had a fun evening of playing with our friends who came over for a BBQ. It's been a good weekend so far :-)

Grace's Full Body Smiles!

Over the last few weeks, we have become fascinated by Grace's "full body smiles." These smiles happen most often in the morning, but can come at any time. Grace doesn't just smile with her mouth; literally, she smiles with her whole body! Her entire face lights up; she waves her arms; she kicks her legs! Sometimes she even lets out a happy squeal :-) If you're holding her when she smiles, she'll almost jump out of your arms!

Grace lights up our life so much! There's nothing quite like her beautiful smile :-)

Grace said MOM!!!

Tonight my Mom and I were hanging out with Grace. Martin was out for the evening, and the three girls were having an evening at home. I was holding Grace in her favorite position, supporting her so she could stand up. All evening Grace had been in a great mood -- smiling a lot, making all kinds of noises, and moving around non-stop. Then Grace looked away and suddenly said a very clear, "Mom." My Mom and I couldn't believe our ears! We were beside ourselves with excitement. We proceeded to call Martin, my Dad, and my brother, Billy, right away to tell them the news! What a night :-)

Three, Three, Three

Today Grace is all threes (or as Martin says, "trees")...Three months, three weeks, and three days old! My sister-in-law pointed that out to me, and I thought it was fun :-)

Grace had a good day with her Nana yesterday, and last night I tried to catch up on lost time with her. Remember, I didn't see her from Sunday at 6 PM until Monday morning at 12:30 AM. Then yesterday I was at work all day, so I was anxious for quality time with her by the time I arrived home. We had lots of play time and took a long walk. Grace is very close to rolling over from her back to her tummy. She's getting about half way over and seems content to lay on her side. She's not as interested in rolling over from her tummy to her back because she loves her "tummy time" so much. On her tummy, she kicks her legs and moves her arms around like crazy and seems to be dreaming of the day when she will crawl. Grace is so cool!

A Night Without Our Girl

Last night Grace stayed with her Nana and Pop-Pop, her first night away from her Mommy and Daddy. It was very strange in our house last night; the most important person in our lives wasn't home, and we missed her terribly. Grace was born less than four months ago, yet it's already hard to remember what our lives were like before she arrived.

Nana will be bringing Grace home tonight, and she'll be watching her for the next two weeks at our house. I'm back to work full-time now, and I am hating being away from my sweet girl. It's even harder than I expected it to be. I'll be counting down the hours everyday 'til I can be home with Grace and Martin. Let today's countdown begin...I'm off to work.

Happy Birthday, Pop-Pop!

Today is Grace's Pop-Pop's birthday, and she has something to say:

eoathohnaetne

That was from Grace! It means "Happy Birthday, Pop-Pop! I can't wait to see you tomorrow to celebrate your birthday :-) You are so great, and you really do have the magic touch*. I can't wait to show you all my new tricks tomorrow. I will give you lots of smiles and some giggles to make your day!"

*The magic touch has become a well known phenomenon in our house. My Dad, Grace's Pop-Pop, definitely has a way with Grace. He can always get her to calm down if she's fussy, and she is always happy to show him her beautiful smile. Just like I've always been a Daddy's girl, Grace is already a Pop-Pop's girl!

On This Day

To My Dear Daughter,

You will grow up reading in your history books about the tragedy that took place on September 11, 2001. When I was growing up, I read about the bombing of Pearl Harbor, which my grandparents remember, and about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, which my parents remember (even though they were kids when it happened). All of these events had a lasting impact and altered the course of history.

I remember vividly the events of 9/11/01, a day that changed so much in the United States and around the world, a day when we witnessed unspeakable grief, a day I, and millions of others, will never forget. I lived in Austin at the time, was working for a software company, and was 22 years old. I was home sick from work that day, and I was glued to my TV all day as the horror unfolded. It was one of the most terrifying days I've ever experienced.

So I say to you today that we live in a broken world. There is much pain. There are events and tragedies we will never be able to understand. There are people who do horrible things and who carry hate with them wherever they go. But I never want you to live in fear or focus on any of this. Rather, I want you to see the world as your Dad and I see it - a world of hope, a world of possibilities, a world where love truly does prevail. We want you to always look for the best in people, to be optimistic, and to choose to be happy. Most importantly, we want you to have faith that God will provide for your needs and that He will walk with you throughout your life.

Your Daddy and I love you, Grace, and we always will. We are here for you - to help you learn about the world and to teach you right from wrong. We will try our best to never let you down, using the example our parents have set for us as a guide. No matter what happens or where your life takes you, our love will follow.

With All My Love,
Mommy

You'll Never Guess...

...how much Grace weighs now! Martin took her to the doctor today. She has a cold, and we wanted to get her checked out to make sure it was nothing more serious. It wasn't, just a cold that needs to run its course. Grace was weighed at the doctor's office, as she is every time she visits. Remember that she weighed 11 pounds, 2 ounces at her 2 month visit. Now she is 3.5 months old and weighs just over 14 pounds. Our little girl isn't so little! She is growing up so fast :-)

Martin got to spend the last two days with Grace. He had the days off before starting his new job tomorrow, and it was wonderful for him to have that time with Grace. I am back at work now and am slowly getting into the swing of things as a working Mom. It's a challenge, but I'm doing the best I can to juggle it all. The best thing in the world is having an awesome husband and sweet little girl to come home to every night!

The Appropriate Response

Today was the first Sunday of the pro football season, and Grace experienced her first regular season Philadelphia Eagles game. They played the Green Bay Packers. Grace was dressed in her Eagles cheerleading uniform, which was passed down from her cousin Maddie who lives in Pennsylvania. She looked absolutely adorable! We took tons of pictures of her, which you can check out on our photo page.

The game didn't go too well for the Eagles, and we lost. Not a good way to start our season, but such is life. We, of course, were disappointed about the loss, but not as much as our sweet Grace. She responded by pooping through her diaper and onto her Eagles onesie and cheerleading uniform. It seems Grace will take after her Uncle Billy and take the Eagles' losses particularly hard. I thought the poop was the appropriate response after the Eagles performance today, and apparently so did Grace. You go girl!

Grace's Impressive Streak

For the last week, Grace has quite a streak going. If you don't have kids, brace yourself. I'm about to talk poop. If you do have kids, I'm sure you can relate to the fact that poop is now a daily discussion in our life, even at the dinner table. Grace has pooped through at least one outfit a day for the last week; some days it's two outfits! This is some serious poop! Needless to say, I'm doing a lot of baby laundry!

One of the many cool things about Grace is that poop really doesn't faze her. In fact, she's usually pretty darn proud of herself when she does a "doozie of a twosie." She flashes us some of her best smiles when we're changing her nastiness :-) And years from now, Grace will read this blog in horror, realizing that everyone knew about her bowel movements! Maybe I'll share this particular blog with her first boyfriend ;-)

YAY - It's Morning!

Grace absolutely LOVES the mornings! She begins every morning with a big smile, an adorable little squeal, and kicking her arms and legs like crazy, as if to say, "YAY - It's Morning!" Waking up to her sweet smile makes every morning wonderful and puts me in the right frame of mind to face the day.

Grace reminds me daily that my life couldn't be better -- I have the most fantastic family, complete with an awesome husband and an amazing daughter, good friends, and a job I love. Our family is blessed with the greatest extended family we could ever hope for and friends who have been with us through good times and bad.

So I share Grace's morning contentment all day long...life is good!

Delicious Hand

Grace has recently started to eat her hand. No thumb sucking for Grace so far...she likes to get as much of her hand in her little mouth as possible. She's still not a huge fun of the pacifier. Her hand is her favorite thing to munch on these days. So my job is to keep those little hands clean. I'm in awe of how dirty they can get, and I can already imagine how much dirtier they'll be when she's crawling and walking!

Our Little Eagles Fan

Grace is officially ready for football season! Today she sported her Eagles onesie and watched preseason football with her Mommy and Daddy. She is definitely ready to cheer for her Eagles and experience her first football season.

Without a doubt, Grace will be exposed to a lot of football in her life. Her Mommy (me) grew up watching football and going through the ups and downs of being an Eagles fan -- my three brothers & Dad saw to it that I understood football at a very young age. Martin and I are already explaining this great game to Grace, in addition to lots of other sports that we love (especially soccer, baseball, basketball, and softball).

Grace is the cutest sports fan I've ever seen! And she's learning the Eagles cheer: E-A-G-L-E-S, EAGLES!!!

Grace's New Sounds

Tonight Grace has been "talking" up a storm for us. She's discovering that she can make noises, and it's so cute to watch her experiment with how her mouth works. She watches us when we talk to her and seems to be trying to do what we're doing. She's come out with a bunch of "oohs" and "ahhs" and other crazy baby sounds. It's so much fun! Martin and I are in awe of our little girl. She truly is AMAZING GRACE!!!

It's So Hard to Say Goodbye...

Today we bid farewell to Martin's family. It sucked! Airport goodbyes are always tough. Martin and I have had more than our share during the last two years. In the beginning, we were saying goodbye to each other. Then our goodbyes were to our families...first mine when I moved to London, then his when he moved to the U.S.

It's certainly not easy living so far away from family. It is even harder now because of Grace. We really want her to know her Irish family, and it's sad that she'll only see them once or twice a year. Martin and I are blessed with awesome families...we just wish they all lived in the same place!

Today's airport goodbye was one of the hardest yet. We were all in tears, except Grace who slept right through it. I thought that she was the lucky one because she didn't realize just how difficult those moments were. I don't look forward to seeing her tears when she has to say goodbye in the years to come. Ugh.

On a happy note, our visit with the family was absolutely wonderful. I will always remember the last two weeks. We had a blast, and Grace had fun getting to know her grandparents, aunt, uncle, and cousin. There are tons of pictures on our photo site: http://picasaweb.google.com/amberfogarty. Enjoy :-)

Grace and Her Cousin

Grace has grown very attached to her cousin, Liam, during his visit to Texas. Liam is the first cousin Grace has had the opportunity to meet. She has two cousins, Josh and Madison, who live in Pennsylvania, and three cousins, Liam, Michelle, and Conor, who live in Ireland. It's a pity that all of her cousins live so far away, but maybe they'll be pen pals when they get older. Okay, maybe not pen pals, but they'll chat on web cam or spend time IMing or something, the modern day equivalent of being a pen pal.

Liam is so wonderful with Grace! He has spent a lot of time holding her and the way he talks to her is really sweet. They really seem to have a special bond. I know Grace will miss him, and the rest of her Irish family, when they head home tomorrow. Our time together has been incredible, and I'm so sad that it's coming to an end.

Little Swimmer

Grace went swimming today for the first time! (I know, I know...there are a lot of firsts lately, but we need to capture these moments so we can always remember them.) We took the family to Volente Beach Waterpark today and had a great time. We took Grace in the kiddie pool, and she seemed to really like the water. We expected her to like it since she really loves bath time. At first, she was a little hesitant, but once she was in, she was content.

It was a good day at the waterpark. The rest of us tried the waterslides, which were a blast! All in all, it was a heck of a day...yet another memorable day with the fam!

Grace visits the Alamo

Yeehaw...Grace visited the Alamo yesterday with the family and took her very first boat ride, a tour of the Riverwalk in San Antonio. We all had a great time! I'm glad we were able to make our trip this time. Last week we attempted to visit San Antonio, but got caught up in a huge storm that dumped 9 inches of rain on San Antonio. Needless to say, we didn't do any sightseeing. We drove all the way there, ate lunch, and drove home after realizing that the storm wasn't passing! It was quite an adventure. Driving in that rain was insane!

This trip was a hit! After our tour of the Alamo and boat cruise, we cooled off at the Irish pub on the Riverwalk and topped off our day with dinner at the Magic Time Machine, a fun restaurant where the waitstaff are all dressed up as different characters. Harry Potter was our waiter, and it was a blast! We celebrated Liam's seventh birthday, which is coming up in September.

We've discovered that Grace is quite the traveler. She had a great day and seemed to adjust well to her new surroundings. Have I mentioned how awesome she is?

All the pictures from our day in San Antonio can be found at http://picasaweb.google.com/amberfogarty/GraceSFirstTripToSanAntonio

A Very Special Day

Yesterday was such a special day for our family. We had a Mass for the blessing of our marriage and Grace Calleigh's Baptism. The Mass was beautiful with fantastic music and our nearest and dearest there to share this important day with us. Grace slept right through her Baptism, even when the holy water was poured on her head. We couldn't believe it! Her godparents are my brother, Billy, and Martin's sister, Caroline, and we look forward to the role they will play in Grace' s life.

After the Mass, we had a party at our house, and it was good fun! My Mom made quite a spread of food, and we had plenty of adult beverages for everyone to enjoy.

We really want to thank everyone who surrounded us with their love and support yesterday. It meant so much to us! We love you all and appreciate all the ways you bless our lives. A special thank you to our families -- we couldn't be more thankful for you.

There are certain days in your life when you realize who matters most in your world. Yesterday was one of those days. God has truly blessed our family with amazing people to walk with us as we journey through life. We are abundantly grateful.

Enjoy the pictures from the big day at http://picasaweb.google.com/amberfogarty/GraceSBaptismOurMarriageBlessing.

Grace Visits the Texas State Capitol

Today Grace, along with the family, visited the Texas State Capitol. She says she was impressed by the fact that the Texas Capitol is the only state capitol in the U.S. that is taller than the National Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. by almost fifteen feet. We enjoyed our visit there and are looking forward to showing the family some of the other cool Texas sites during their time with us in this great state!

So what else have we been up to since the family arrived from Ireland? On Sunday, we went on a river boat cruise on Town Lake (recently renamed Lady Bird Lake) here in Austin. My parents came to town and watched Grace, so the rest of us could go on the cruise. The boat had a BYOB policy, so we all enjoyed a few cold beverages while we took in the sites. It was freakin' hot so we were glad to have some beers to keep us happy.

On Monday, I had to leave for a work retreat that lasted until Tuesday. It was my first night away from Grace since she was born, and it was not easy. I had a hard time leaving her, and I cried during most of my drive to the retreat center. I'm pleased to say that I made it through, although I woke up at least five times during the night missing my baby girl. Martin and his family took good care of her while I was away, and I was thankful for that.

On Tuesday evening, we went to see the infamous Congress Avenue bats in downtown Austin. Basically, there's a bridge where more than a million bats live, and they fly out from under the bridge at dusk. We went to see this bizarre phenomenon and ended our night with ice cream from Dairy Queen.

Lastly, today we went to Mass for the Holy Day and then visited the Capitol. Then tonight our brother-in-law, Willie, arrived from Ireland, so we picked him up from the airport and had dinner and beers at home. It was yet another good day! Let the good times roll :-)

Grace's First Baseball Game

Last night Grace saw her very first baseball game. Along with the whole Irish family, we took her to see the Round Rock Express play. She looked too cute for words in her ball cap, and she got a cool pink baseball bat from her Aunt Caroline.

The game was really fun, even though the Express lost. Grace got to meet the Longhorn cheerleaders and even got her picture taken with them. She liked being outside and getting lots of attention from her Pop, Nana, Aunt Caroline, and cousin Liam during the game. Grace thinks baseball is a cool sport, and she's excited about learning to sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame."

Have fun perusing the pictures from Grace's first baseball game: http://picasaweb.google.com/amberfogarty/GraceSFirstBaseballGame. As you'll see, the game was exhausting because Grace slept through quite a bit of it :-)

Grace met the fam!

Wow, yesterday was a fantastic day! Grace met her Nana, Pop, Aunt Caroline, and cousin Liam for the first time. It was such an incredible moment. They showed up wearing shirts with Grace's picture, and the shirts said "Amazing Grace." How cool is that?

Grace has been waiting to meet her Irish family, and they are finally here! We are so excited about spending the next two weeks with them. We have lots planned, and I know it'll be a memorable holiday for all of us. Rest assured, loads of pictures will be taken to document our time together!

Tonight we're off to a baseball game. That'll be a first for Martin's parents and for sweet Grace!

Today's the Day!!!

The day we've been waiting for has finally arrived...Martin's family arrives from Ireland tonight! As a matter of fact, they are on their way here right now! We couldn't be more excited. We are so anxious for them to meet Grace :-)

We will spend the day putting the finishing touches on our house. We moved here in March and are still getting settled. Grace's room was our priority when we first moved in, but now we're trying to get the rest of the house decorated. Today I'll be hanging pictures and doing my last round of cleaning. I can be a bit like Monica from Friends when it comes to my house...Martin will see my full Monica-ness today because I want everything to be perfect for my in-laws! Now I'm off to vacuum.

Quality Time with Pop-Pop

My Pop-Pop has been staying with us all week, and it's been so great. We moved to Texas when I was eleven, so I've only seen him once or twice a year since then. I've spent more time with him this week than I probably have in my whole life. It's a time I'll always remember. He shared so many stories with us about his life -- from childhood through the present. I learned a lot about him and about my family history. It was really memorable, and I know I'll cherish these days for years to come.

Grace enjoyed having her great grandfather around as well. She gave him some of her best smiles, her way of telling him that she loves him! It's been a really great week. Tomorrow Pop-Pop heads to my parents house, and Martin and I will complete the final preparations for his family's arrival on Saturday. Just 2 more days 'til Grace meets her paternal grandparents, Aunt Caroline, and cousin Liam!!!

Grace's Birth Story

I've been promising to write up Grace's birth story for awhile now, and I finally got around to it. Here it is:

On Monday, May 21, 2007, Amber went to see her OB for her 35-week check-up. As she did at every appointment, she teared up when she heard her baby's heart beating. The doctor assured Amber after her exam that the baby wouldn't be arriving until June. This was welcome news since Martin was leaving that Saturday for a few days in Phoenix, and Amber's parents and brother, Billy, were also heading there for vacation.

On Thursday, May 24, 2007, Amber was at work when she started feeling pressure. She thought Baby Fogarty was “dropping,” which would mean he or she would be arriving within two or three weeks. Being just 36 weeks pregnant, she never imagined that labor was getting underway. After a short nap, Amber finished her work day and spent a relaxing evening at home with Martin. That night, Amber spent more time awake than asleep. She lost count after waking for the tenth time to go to the bathroom. The next morning Amber decided to work from home since she had gotten so little sleep the night before. A big thunderstorm blew in, and Amber spent the morning with Fred and Phoebe, the hound dogs, afoot. They seemed to know something big was about to happen. Fred spent much of the morning staring at Amber with a concerned hound dog look on his droopy face. By mid-afternoon, Amber was getting curious about the amount of pressure she was feeling and started to wonder if the pressure might be contractions. She decided to time the “pressure feeling” and was shocked to see that the pains were coming every five to seven minutes. She then checked out the book she got at childbirth class and started to actually think she might be in labor. The book said to call the doctor if you had more than four contractions in an hour and were less than 37 weeks pregnant. So around 5:00 PM, Amber called her OB and explained what was going on. Still in denial about being in labor, Amber was surprised when the doctor told her to come to the hospital to get checked out. But since Martin was leaving in the morning, she thought it was a good idea to make sure Baby Fogarty wasn’t on the way yet! Amber then started to pack her bag for the hospital, took a quick shower, and waited to call Martin when he finished work at 6:00 PM.

At 6:00 PM, Amber called Martin to tell him that they’d be heading to the hospital when he got home from work. Martin was really shocked, but Amber assured him that it was just a precaution and that he shouldn’t worry. After they got off the phone, she sent him a text message asking that he not tell anyone they were going to the hospital. In the back of her mind, she was sure she wasn't in labor and didn’t want to get anyone’s hopes up. By the time Martin arrived home, Amber was almost all packed and ready to go. Martin ran up the stairs and actually tripped on the way up because he was so anxious. When he got to the bedroom, Amber was standing there calmly, and Martin looked like he was about to have a heart attack. Amber attempted to calm him down by assuring him that they’d be coming home that night and that they were only going to the hospital to confirm that the baby was not on the way. Within fifteen minutes, they were driving to the hospital. On the way there, Amber said to Martin, “I can’t be in labor because this doesn’t hurt nearly as bad as I thought it would.” Martin laughed and replied, “I bet you’ll take back that statement later.”

After checking in to the hospital around 7:00 PM, Amber was wheeled up to the Labor and Delivery floor and introduced to Julia, the nurse who would confirm whether or not Amber was in labor. Amber got dressed in her hospital gown and was hooked up to the fetal monitor. When Julia checked for dilation, Martin and Amber were both surprised to learn that Amber was already 3 centimeters dilated. “You won’t be going home,” Julia said. “You’re having this baby sooner than you thought.” Amber was then moved to a birthing suite to settle in for the night. Martin called Amber’s brother, who was supposed to fly to Phoenix in the morning with Martin, and her parents, who were already in Phoenix, to tell them the news. They couldn’t believe it!

Amber labored through the night, and, as Martin predicted, retracted her statement about labor not hurting as much as she thought. She got an epidural around 2 AM, when she had reached 6 centimeters. Doctor’s orders were for Martin and Amber to get some rest, which neither did for the next few hours. At about 4 AM, the baby’s heart rate began to rise, and this continued for the next hour, when the doctor told Amber and Martin that she was 9 centimeters dilated and that the baby had not descended into the birth canal at all. With the increased heart rate, she told them that a C-section would be required if the baby didn’t drop within the next thirty minutes. They were terrified to hear that their child might be in danger, but were hopeful that the baby would drop, allowing vaginal childbirth. Thirty minutes later, the doctor told Martin and Amber that a C-section would be necessary since the baby had made no downward progress and the heart rate was reaching a concerning level. The doctor and nurse Julia prepared them for the possibility that the baby would need some help to breathe after birth and might have to be transferred to a hospital with a neonatal intensive care unit.

Amber was wheeled in to the operating room and prepped for surgery. She had never been so scared in her life. Within minutes, Martin was by Amber’s side, comforting her, and waiting to meet his son or daughter. At 6:09 AM, the anesthesiologist said, “The cord is around his neck.” Martin and Amber thought they had a son…but a few minutes later, they were introduced to their baby girl! As they laid eyes on her for the first time, tears streamed down both of their faces. Grace Calleigh Fogarty was absolutely perfect, the most beautiful baby they had ever seen!

Baptism Class & The Countdown

Martin and I went to Baptism Class today, and we're now officially ready for Grace's Baptism on August 18th. It's only two weeks away, which means it's only one week 'til the family arrives from Ireland. We couldn't be more excited about their visit! We have a lot planned for the two weeks they're here, but the most important is to make sure they have loads of quality time with Grace. We want her to get to know her Irish family and them to get to know her.

It will be the first time Martin's parents have been to the U.S. What a time to visit Texas...in the hottest month of the year! Luckily, though, it's been one of the coolest summers ever in Texas. That's because it rained almost non-stop during July! The weatherman said the other day that there were only seven days in the whole month that it didn't rain in Austin. How crazy is that? It rained more here than it did in Ireland :-) Hopefully, the heat won't get to them too much. Regardless of the weather, I know their trip will be special for all of us. 7 days and counting!!!