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!