Update as we Near the End in Dublin

I realize that title could be misleading... Not the apocalypse - just moving back to Seattle.

Here we are this week, on our way to my first prenatal scan for the baby. Week 21 (now at week 22). And here is Norah in one of her signature ensembles - this kid dresses herself and all her pizazz shows. We particularly like the fish socks (Auntie Sarah sent) over her tights. The top of the socks look like fish mouths, eating your leg. She always feels like a million bucks, this girl. :)

We took this because we thought we'd like to remember the Irish experience for the majority of this pregnancy (even though I'll give birth back in Seattle). Oddly enough, this picture was taken on the wrong floor and we were on our way to PRE-natal ultrasound instead. In Ireland, buildings start on Floor 0 and sometimes we forget this. They told us to head to the 2nd floor so up we went, 2 flights and saw this sign. Hm, all the doors seem to have locks and codes...."just yank on that one again and see..." It wasn't until we realized it was a locked wing also holding the neonatal intensive care unit that we needed to walk up 2 more flights to the 3rd level (2nd Floor). Oops.

Me, posing (again...wrong unit) :)

Ok...here we are...this seems right.

And here is our first image of baby boy or girl Dykstra (we don't know). :)  

Baby #2

And a trip to Marlay Park's fairy tree a couple weeks ago. These are all over Ireland but this is, by far, the  most ornate. People have worked on this one for many, many years. Most are just beautiful old trees that have somehow been deemed a fairy tree (not sure who this happens, if it's passed down, or what) - and they're usually covered in little strips of fabric, tied to the branches. People do this to leave a wish, or a prayer, or a request for the fairies. Often you see pacifiers/soothers (or here, Dodies), tied onto branches with a note from a toddler saying they're ready to give it up and want the fairies to keep it. It is such a sweet idea. This one though has actual doorways and windows and places where you can peek inside the tree.

It was dusk when I took this but at the top of the tree there is a fairy castle, complete with wraparound walkways with railings.

 Pacifiers hanging up top and a letter from a child.

 One of the many windows (this one filled with copper coins)

This little wooden door is so detailed - it has carvings, actual iron hinges and a knocker that moves.

Here it's covered in glitter and a child has left their baby-bottle to the fairies.

Another night in Dublin - always conscious of the fact that this will be one of our last times seeing this image. Looking at the Samuel Beckett Bridge.

 

We are in super-over drive the past two months, getting 1) the PhD finished (8 weeks to go now!), 2) getting ready for this international move/purging belongings/preparing to mail things back, 3) mentally preparing to leave our loved ones here and to close this innnncredible chapter in our lives and finally, 4) preparing the condo in Seattle for our return and getting Norah registered for school in the Fall (no small task given we're here and required to be there when doing this).

I was well for about 3 weeks there (after 2 full months of flus/chest infections and I'm not joking, a bout of dysentery). I was feeling amazing for the last 3 weeks in January - running twice a week, doing prenatal yoga, pilates and working everyday to help on Wayne's PhD. Well, this last weekend Norah and I got another nasty cold (thank the heavens it's only a cold - This I can handle) but a full week has passed and we're still battling it. The wonderful news is, Wayne did not get it - his immune system is an absolute rock. So, in the next few days I'm looking forward to feeling 100% again and not getting sick again until 2017. Pregnancy and asthma combined mean any little bugs knock me for a loop but I'm hoping this is the last and that the rest the pregnancy will be smooth-sailing. :)

For the last month or two, Wayne and I have been working as hard as humanly possible on the PhD. Well, me about 3/4 time (and preparing for move) and him always more than full-time. I am so proud of him and so impressed with his determination to finish this thing. It will be the feat of a lifetime if he finishes this thing in 3 years and 3 months time. Which he is going to - that's only 8 weeks away. (The international average for a PhD is 6-7 years!) And honestly, the level of his research is equal to almost two entirely separate PhDs rolled into one. Not to mention he taught full-time at the University while maintaining all of this - designing the classes, lecturing and grading 7 full courses in the graduate and undergraduate departments. I'm just floored that he's even still standing upright - that he hasn't had a full-on mental breakdown at some point. Anyway, super proud of him and that's where we're at.

Norah is very much aware of our move home and we're doing a calendar-countdown so she isn't too stressed about this big change. She's very aware of leaving her friends and her life here so it'll be an adjustment. (juts wait 'til she has Mighty-O donuts at Greenlake, or goes to the Children's museum or the Science Center or ANY playground in the U.S. and Dublin will be a distant memory) :) She is so lucky to be only 4 and to have two amazing cities feel like home to her.

So main update - we have about 8 weeks until Wayne finishes the Phd, I'm 5 1/2 months pregnant and all is going well. We have not had any stress breakdowns and plan to keep it that way. ALSO, all of my extended family will be arriving in Dublin in mid-March for St. Patrick's Day! It will be a huge to-do that my Aunt Mary is hosting (usually held in San Francisco) with over 20 guests flying in. I'm helping her do some organizing but mainly it'll just be a break to visit with them and show them some of our favorite places here. We cannot wait to have them all here!