Our first home in Dublin - Clearwater Cove. I hope this will be an address we remember when we're old and gray. We had our setbacks (it nearly burnt down, black mold, brown water) but despite the problems, we loved this apartment. We are sad to leave it in many ways. (and then when I see pictures of our new apartment, I think: "Clear-what? When do we leave?!")
Norah's room/Guest Suite
The bathroom where we potty-trained our little one (where I nearly lost my marbles).
View out from living room across to West Pier
From the rooftop deck during the summer
First bath in Dublin mini-tub-within-shower
And about 1 year later, taking up significantly more space in the baby-tub
...where Norah spent many-a-day watching Peppa Pig on the iPad
...where Norah first helped Mommy make Colcannon
...where she drew her first wall mural
... and learned to eat with a knife and fork
(threw this in because I came across it and just melted. Norah at about 18 months, Monkstown Swimming Pool)
This apartment is where we had our first Christmas together in Dublin (3 weeks after we arrived). Thankfully, Oma Dykstra and Aunt Mary sent us along with some presents so our little one had some things to open!
18 months, Christmas morning 2011
This apartment is where my two best friends came to visit us, via Turkey no less. Here's Wayne with Trysh's Luna (at 2 1/2) and Vickie's Reese (almost 1 1/2) and Norah (1 1/2).
Auntie Trysh here with Reese, Luna and Norah
Norah doing some serious thinking
Playdates with Lilia!
One of my favorite memories here: Norah reading her book aloud to Aunt Mary
And Aunt Mary reading Dr. Seuss to Norah
This is where our little human turned two.
Where she helped Daddy make oatmeal and pancakes.
Where Daniel and Bill came to visit us (one from New York City and one from Belgium).
When we first arrived, it was jarring to adjust to the various Irish differences (a water pump that comes on each time you turn on a faucet), less than 650 square feet of living space, hand-washing all dishes, etc. There was no shortage of longing for the conveniences we left but somewhere along the line, this became all that we wanted. We felt it most when we left on trips (either to Lisbon, the UK, or even back to Seattle) and we longed to be back in our little apartment. Each time we returned, we loved it a little more. When we first found out we were moving, we were slightly sad to leave this first Irish home - the place where Norah grew from an 18 month old 'baby' to a 2 1/2 year old girl. (I mean, she's still a toddler but in our eyes she's about ready to move out and get her own apartment) Now, we're looking forward to the new apartment but we'll always look back on this place as our first Irish abode.
