Monday, January 31, 2011

Grand-parenting

Good grand-parenting is probably something you learn on the job although your own grandparents are your first reference point. For now we wanted to be useful, assuming some of the chores that need to be done, and allow the new mother to get some rest and have some quality time with her baby.

Yesterday there was grocery shopping, fixing meals, and rocking the baby. Today had more of the same but we also had a chance to walk the neighborhood while we dropped and picked up the dogs from the vet and groomer.




TJ went to the vet in Ranelagh which is a nice little town devoid of the franchises that litter the American landscape. There is a lot of concrete and little grass. The city is serious about cleaning up after your dog.




The veterinary clinic is crowded and first in line gets the first appointment. We arrived fifteen minutes before opening and we were the first customers. The Irish have a sense of humor as evidenced by this picture hanging at te clinic.




TJ needed to spend the day so we stopped for coffee and hot chocolate. We saw this quiet neighborhood bar on the way back to the apartment. Kelly and Richard said it was frequented by a group of older people who looked at them like they did not belong there.





Later we passed a small Italian restaurant. Don't tell lies.



You can see the Ranelagh Luas elevated station in the background behind the sign. Under the station there is an arch entrance to a one hectare garden. This duck was low on water and had lost his flock.



Later on we picked up Mackenzie Grace from the groomer. Kelly, Richard,and Harris strolled over earlier that morning. When we arrived we were greeted by a Springer Spaniel who repeatedly sprang to the top of a half door, sprang down, greeted us, and sprang back up and over. Possibly the most agile dog I have met. They were working on this St. Bernard while we were there.



And in case you forgot, St. Patrick's Day is right around the corner.





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Location:Dublin

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Dippin your Longhorn before the Big Game

"Every man has the right to a Saturday night bath"
Lyndon Banes Johnson






Harris was all dressed up in his burnt orange longhorn towel complete with horns for his first bath. His outfit was courtesy of Rachel. If you heard his complaining you would have thought he had to jump in the vat like his fellow longhorn. His bath started with sterilized water prepared by his Dad.





No more tears Johnson Baby Shampoo!





Baby, it's cold outside!






Don't get water in mine eyes! (inside joke)





I want the tapes in that video camera. You're not showing that to anybody.





OK, I feel better now!





Let's watch my first Longhorn game. Texas vs Missouri





Texas blowout Over Missouri 71-58. Hey I'm 1-0 as a Longhorn fan! Duke lost so maybe this is our year. I am thinking Final Four. Yawn.....Sweet Dreams!


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Location:Dublin

Homecoming - Part 3 of 3

Richard opened up the humidor of Cuban cigars and Jameson Irish Whiskey and the men celebrated a son's birth in traditional fashion although we were required to do so on the cold patio.





Welcome home Harris!





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Location:Harris

Homecoming - Part 2 of 3

As the evening progressed the Tarun's extended ex-pat family joined us for the homecoming celebration. Siobhan, TJ 's & MG's best friend in Dublin, Subrat, Sarah, and David all came bearing gifts.







David claimed his gift of a Barcelona football (soccer) jersey and shorts was the best gift.





Homecoming continued on next blog........

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Location:Harris

Homecoming - Part 1 of 3

Harris arrived to his Dublin home on January 29th and was greeted by TJ and Mackenzie Grace his Maltese brother and sister. TJ took it in stride while Mackenzie Grace was attentive and alert to the baby's needs.





Cherry and I arrived early afternoon with groceries and took turns holding Harris who was very interested in nourishment. That boy can latch onto a pacifier and has a firm grip with both hands. His eyes are dark with a dark blue tint that should turn dark brown like Richard's. Kelly spotted his detached ear lobes like hers and long toes like Richard's. He was happiest when rocked or carried with a rocking motion.




Kelly had a chance for some lunch while Cherry rocked Harris and Richard assembled the Pack'nPlay portacrib.




First of many chances to follow instructions. The Pack'nPlay was a gift from Melissa and delivered via grandparent express. Once assembled Harris enjoyed a quick nap in his new downstairs sleeping quarters.




Homecoming continued on next blog.....



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Location:Harris

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Harris

"There are lives I can imagine without children
but none of them have the same laughter & noise."


Brian Andreas
Laughter & Noise

Cherry and I are on a flight to meet our grandson in Dublin. Harris took his first breath in Dublin, Ireland at 6:46 AM, January 27, 2011.  He weighed in at 7 LBS & 10 OZ. His Great-Great-Great Grandmother, Alice Lyons, was born in County Cavan before immigrating to America about 100 years ago. To my knowledge. Harris is the first of Alice's descendants to be born on Irish soil.

Harris is very lucky to have parents like Kelly and Richard. They enjoy exploring the world and being with their family and friends. Harris will see more of his family when he moves to Texas later this year. He has grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins waiting in Austin, San Antonio, Houston, Cincinnati, & Los Angeles who are all anxious to meet him. In the meantime we will be kept up to date by The Irish Taruns blog authored by Kelly.  Some day Harris will be able to read Kelly's blog and learn about all the adventures he had before he was even born. Perhaps that is the best reason to blog after all.  

"He wrote secret notes to people he hadn't met yet.
Some of them aren't even born, he said, but we live
in a strange neighborhood & they will need help figuring
things out & I won't always be around to explain it to them."

Brian Andreas
Secret Notes