Ireland

For my mom's 50th birthday she wanted us to celebrate with her by traveling to Ireland.

We flew over with my parents and Great Uncle. Thanks to a generous Christmas gift from my parents we were able to enjoy first class. I've never flown first class on an international flight and now I don't think I will ever be able to fly coach again. We put Mac's folding travel bed (that he just barely still fits in) on the floor and he slept much better than if I had attempted to hold him! Mac's bed was loved by the flight attendants and they referred to him as the "baby in a box" for the entire flight. One of our flight attendants was also on our returning flight and remembered us because of his little box. I was so nervous about Mac waking up and me not hearing him that I was able to get caught up on free movies!

Once in Ireland we met up with 9 more of our family and friends (including my brother and his fiance Heidi). We rented Lisheen Castle as our home base for the week and tried to squeeze in as many activities as we could.

On our first full day in Ireland we visited Holycross Abbey.

My dad and Ron loved that you could just turn on a spigot and have holy water:

On Monday Mac took us on a tour of Roscrea Castle:

Here is the view from the gardens: My cute parents in the gardens at Roscrea: Here we are with my brother and Heidi, at Bunratty Castle.

On Wednesday we went with my parents and uncle to Rock of Cashel:

We ended the day hosting the Irish McLoughlins for dinner at our castle. My mom is a McLaughlin and her grandfather was the only one from his family to immigrate to the United States from Ireland. It was very exciting to meet my 2nd and 3rd cousins!

Here is our little family before they arrived:

This is a picture of the American and Irish McLo(a)ughlins:

My parents kept Mac for us on Thursday so we went with my uncle, cousins, brother and Heidi to Blarney Castle, the city of Cork, the town of Kinsale, and then finished the day checking out the cliffs at Old Head of Kinsale.

Us on top of Blarney Castle

Us at Old Head of Kinsale

On our last full day in Ireland we visited Kilkenny Castle: Mac thought the castle was so exciting that he took a short nap... Just some cute photos of Mac that Ron took our last night at the castle:

Happy 50th mom!!!

We've been a little busy!

Now that I am officially a stay at home mom I am hoping that I might possibly find time to update our blog. Here is a brief summary of what we have been up to since my last post:

Mac (Ronald Fred IV) was born on December 10th at 1:00am. He weighed 7lbs 4oz and was 21 and 3/4 inches long:

A week after Mac was born (on Dec. 19th) I was a bridemaid in my bestie Katie's wedding:

Mac's newborn photos at 2 weeks old:

Mac's first Christmas:

My brother got engaged on New Year's Day:

In May we took our camper to Gatlinburg for a long weekend. Mac had so much fun hiking that he fell asleep!

Mac slept in a tent on one of the beds in the camper.

On Father's Day we spent the day playing in my parents' pool. Needless to say I don't think the sun touched Mac:

(6 months)

In June we went Vegas for my Aunt Dani's baby shower and Mac's first trip on an airplane (Of course we were in first class):

(The nicest flight attendant ever!)

(Mac with my aunt at her baby shower)

We were literally home for 5 days in the month of July. First we went to Keaton Beach for the 4th and Mac took his first boat ride:

Then we came home for a couple of days before heading to Amelia Island for a Banking Conference. Mac loved being out on the beach!

(7 months)

From Amelia Island we were home for 2 days and then headed to Ireland to celebrate my mom's 50th birthday. I'll do a separate post for the Ireland trip.

Lisheen Castle (Where we stayed)

Life has been super busy for us, but we have enjoyed every minute! Here are some more pictures of Mac at each month:

Month 1:

Month 2:

Month 3:

Month 4:

Month 5 (Easter):

Here are a couple of pictures that we had taken right when he turned 7 months at the Picture People at the Mall: