Dublin Marathon Expo

Today was the Dublin Marathon Expo and since we have a whopping four group members running this thing, we all decided to go and see the expo. We had our normal run on Saturday morning and then made our way up into the city - to the RDS (which is Dublin's convention center, for big events). I am immensely proud of these guys for training and preparing to run these 26.2 miles on Monday morning.

 Donal on the far left, and Killian (in the red) BOTH, could not run more than a 1/4 mile, one year ago. They have each lost 70-80 pounds and are now going to run the full 26.2 miles - and not just jog it, they will complete it very quickly. Killian plans to finish in 4:15 and Donal will be running with Rob and Alan (the other 2 pictured) and will finish in 3 hours 30 minutes, or less. (!!) So, to say these two men have come a long way, would be the understatement of the year.

 Killian, in the red, was also on the Irish version of "The Biggest Loser" and was the winner for his year. I've mentioned him before. He's one of my good running buddies and an honest-to-goodness inspiration, all around. Alan and Rob are both experienced marathon runners and they're still pushing to hit that 3:30 mark. Rob, however, we all joke, could finish it in 3 hours 15 minutes, in his SLEEP! (This is a man who ran across Spain, covering nearly 15-20 miles a day, every single day, for 6 weeks, straight. So....he's in another realm, but more humble than you can imagine.)

 "The 3:30 Three Musketeers" (I just had to)

 Clare made this sign for our running group so she could hold it up when we go to cheer them on, this Monday. It's so cool to see a banner for the running group I started being held by the most badass runners I've ever met, who are going out to finish the Dublin marathon! (Granted, the group had ZERO to do with their running training or prowess but still, we get to call them 'our own') =)

 

 We found a booth with headbands so, naturally, they tried them all on. This picture is hilarious knowing how shy Donal really is.

 This is the "Wishing Wall" filled with good wishes for the marathon runners. I love the bottom where is says "GOOD LUCK MUMMY!"

Two New Birthday's this October!

October has been an exciting month in the baby department (for other people, not me...no, not yet). =)

Sorry for the belated post, but it took me quite sometime to compile these pictures (ie, steal photos from Facebook and work out some kinks in a couple pictures - which I never actually figured out). So, instead I decided to post the pictures I have and share the incredible news about these two babies' arrival. It couldn't have been a better week for me (2 beloved babies arrived and I had to go through labor, zero times)!

 In order of births:

First, my oldest friend on earth, Shaunna, (we've known eachother since we were 6, so now 23 years!) gave birth to a gorgeous baby girl on October 12, 2012. (on her due date, which happens to less than 10% of people)

Meet Roya Marie Imam:

Look at that face! I am beyond overjoyed for Shaunna and Raazi and can hardly wait to meet this angel.  

And then, just two days later, my own sister, Mimi, gave birth to the most beautiful, chubby, perfect little boy: Simon Elliott! He was 9 lbs. 14 oz's and he's been so good to his Mommy and Daddy these first couple weeks.

Look at him! He is so perfect! There's nothing better than that space above a baby's upper lip (it's called a philtrim but that's a terrible name for it so I shall continue to call it, "that space above their upper lip"...And Simon's, (philtrim), is divine.



Simon!! It is agony to not be able to hold this little chub-a-lub angel (and offer help to Mimi) but we just have to be patient. We'll meet him soon and when we do, after a couple days I hope it will be as if we were never gone. =)  This is when being away is really tough, but as I told James, this is nothing compared to what some families go through (military for one) when sometimes parents (not aunts/uncles) are overseas, not only for the births of their own children, but sometimes for the first couple years. While my heart breaks to not be with these two babies and Shaunna and Mimi, we will get to meet them soon and I know, for sure, these two strong mommies are doing just fine.

Simon - 1 Week - October 22, 2012

(ohhh, if that face doesn't mellllllllt you)

Marko - 1 week - February 20, 2007 (Big Brother)

Simon, here is your brother, Marko, when HE was 1 week old - you MIGHT say there is a resemblance.

Two of the women I love most in this world, happened to have due dates 2 days apart and then happened to give birth 2 days apart! The fact that labors went well, that both births went (relatively)well, and that they were each able to take their babies home the next day (BOTH of which were nursing before leaving the hospital) is nothing short of a miracle. I am so happy for Mimi and Shaunna! I love you both!

Also, I happen to be doing this post on my mother's birthday. She would be 64 today and that really boggles my mind. I can't quite picture her anymore and I certainly can't imagine what she would have been like through her 50s, or to have seen her turn 60 but I do know, she would've impressed me every day. After nearly 13 years, while her image fades a bit, the gravity of her absence in my life (in all of our lives) has always been crystal clear. She was an incredible mother who worked so hard for me and my sisters. She was highly intelligent, had a sharp wit, and I miss her. I wish I could wish her a happy birthday today. I've thought of her since the moment I woke up and had visions of us playing the Beatles' song - "When I'm 64...." - just like we did for our Dad on his 64th. 

"When I get older, losing my hair, many years from now
Will you still be sending me a valentine, birthday greetings, bottle of wine?
If I'd been out 'til quarter to three, would you lock the door?
Will you still need me, will you still feed me when I'm sixty-four?

You'll be older too
Ah, and if you say the word, I could stay with you

I could be handy, mending a fuse when your lights have gone
You can knit a sweater by the fireside, Sunday mornings, go for a ride
Doing the garden, digging the weeds, who could ask for more?
Will you still need me, will you still feed me when I'm sixty-four?

Every summer we can rent a cottage
In the Isle of Wight if it's not to, dear
We shall scrimp and save
Ah, grandchildren on your knee, Vera, Chuck and Dave

Send me a postcard, drop me a line stating point of view
Indicate precisely what you mean to say, yours sincerely wasting away
Give me your answer, fill in a form, mine forever more
Will you still need me, will you still feed me when I'm sixty-four?"

 

("When I'm 64" lyrics,elyrics.net)

 

So while this date is always a sad reminder on the "birthday calendar", I'm so happy to know there are two new birthdays in this month now, thanks to baby Simon and baby Roya (or better yet, thanks to their mommies).

Norah Paints, and Mommy's OCD is at Ease

Today, Norah became a real kid. I finally....finally, got her some paint. I honestly feel as if I've deprived her of something so quintessential, but it's not been for a lack of trying. I've seen the paint sets, I've seen the paintbrushes...what I needed was the tarp. The protective plastic sheet that would save our rental-carpet and the balcony, from....... water-based, washable paint. Yes, I know this is absurd but I couldn't fully get on board with the mess of painting until I felt protected. =) And today, after months of looking, I finally found a "crayola paint tarp"! Wayne keeps asking me, "Should we look for a protective bubble online or do you think we could find one in a store??". Guilty? Yes.....but clean? Yes, again.

 

Fall in Dublin

Last year, we arrived in Dublin on December 1st, missing all of fall, arriving in the dead of Dublin Winter. So, this year, as fall came around, I felt some excitement for the one season we have yet to see here.

The leaves changing are beautiful and the weather has been pretty good to us.

There are rainbows almost every day and they're almost more beautiful here - given the whole Ireland-Rainbow connection. (I also learned from a friend that they don't say there is a "Leprechaun with a pot of gold" at the end - there's still the pot of gold, but it's being guarded by a troll instead.)

 

 

Norah and her Mom.

 If there were an industry called "Big Broccoli" - we'd be rich with this little spokeswoman. I missed the part when she was taking each bite and going, "mmmmm...mmmm I love broccoli".

 

 Sunset over the Marry Poppins' homes (around the corner from us).

 Clearly, Norah has been in a bit of a hat phase. She just discovered these two berets and she's all about them.

 "She wore a rasssssberry beret!"

 Dublin Castle

Norah and the nose-whistle:

Clearly, we've been spending a lot of time indoors lately, as this is what makes us giggle. Potty training has taken a LOT out of me. The last couple weeks, we've spent several days indoors from the time we wake up, until the time we go to sleep (following the timer I set for every 35-45 minutes for Norah to go potty). Yes, it IS as fun as it sounds. If you could see the size of our apartment, you'd understand the level of my insanity. The end is in sight though and soon this child will be potty-trained.
Wayne is doing really well in his work and the many jobs he's juggling. He is a natural teacher and truly loves this subject matter. He's putting in lots of 12 hours days and we try to help him keep his sanity too. Right now, we're sort of caught up in the 'slog' of daily life. I think we're both just trying to keep it together as we look toward a very long, cold, and unforgiving Dublin winter. On sunny days we get out and try to remind ourselves that beauty still exists despite the drudgery (hence the trip yesterday in to the city centre). We desperately needed to have a day of fun as a little family so we took Norah to a playground, went to 2 museums (both free which we love!) and ran around the grounds of Dublin Castle.
I think people look forward to Fall because it's a contemplative season that reminds us how nice it can be to 'bundle up' with our thoughts, before the darkness of winter arrives. We're very much there and I'm trying to enjoy this space instead of falling down the worm-hole that is "Gloria-contemplating-anything" (I may be more prone to obsessive rumination than romantic contemplation). Happy Autumn everyone!



More of County Clare and Poulnabrone

A families' "shed" outside the house. The elderly father and his son were out working here. 

 This is the same family's pile of peet for the Winter. And here's the son, filling his bucket to take in the house.

 The town of Lisdoonvarna where we stopped at this pub for lunch. Next door is their Post Office.

On the left there is the remains of an old famine house. Close-up below.

This one-room house could have held a family of 8 during the Famine (mid-1840s). They would burn peet indoors (with no chimney) and have the pigs and chickens indoors to keep the family warm. (if a family hadn't yet eaten their animals, that is).

 Celtic High Cross - from the 12th Century

 Over 5,000 years old! And they have discovered over 30 peoples' remains from the Bronze Age.

 2000 BC - Wedge Tomb constructed and just after, there were infant burials performed here. I can't imagine what the life expectancy would've been then....15? 20?

 Poulnabrone (this site) built over 1,000 years before the Great Pyramid in Egypt.

 And here's our two year old, hopping along the limestone at this site...........If that doesn't boggle your mind.

 And singing a song.....

 Over 5,000 years ago, this would've all been underground and they say the lanscape would've looked nothing like this. It may have been dense forest - not this rocky, barren-looking land.

 I LOVE this one.

 Norah was cracking us up - she had been in the car for 4 hours at this point (and was an incredible trooper) so when we told her we were, yet again, walking back to the car, she would walk along with Wayne, (pretending to go along) and then, slyly, turn around and run back into the site.

We didn't cover all that much land in our day of exploring but we had a great time stopping to take whatever pictures we wanted. Norah was patient and therefore, we had a beautiful day.