Home - ish.

The flight from DUB to SFO was pretty miserable, which any long flight usually is. Ryan fussed about 1/3rd of the time, slept 1/3rd, and was happy for 1/3rd. So it could have been worse.

We spent one exhausted night in SF at a friend's house. I visited our empty house on Potrero Hill and found it to be in excellent condition--not that we expected any different.

The drive down I-5 to LA is notoriously dull, but I found it beautiful. We left at 5:45 Tuesday morning thanks to jet lag, and we got to see the sunrise. Right now in Ireland the sun is about four fingers (held at arms length) above the horizon at the middle of the day. Well, in California's central valley it arcs high.

On the agenda:

• Fly up to Seattle on Dec 31st
• Fly back to LAX on the Jan 5th
• Buy a car to get us back to SF
• Find a place to live in Northern California while we wait for the house to sell (or not)

Things I'll miss about Ireland (by Mike)

The same stuff Riko will miss, with the addition of the almost total absence of bumper stickers.

Things I will miss

This will probably be the last blog entry I make until our return to San Francisco. The house is slowly becoming more and more empty. I'm starting to fill our many suitcases with the things we don't need on a daily basis. I've begun cleaning and preparing the house for our departure. I've been eager to leave Dublin for some time now. I miss the comforts of home, family and our good friends.

But I will also miss some things about living here in Dublin:

• Walks in the park along the Dodder River and to the Dropping Well
• Our butchers, Dunnes of Donnybrook and the taste of real Irish lamb (sorry Beth)
• Aussie Amanda (who is getting kicked out of Ireland) and the other friendly people at O'Briens wines.
• Hanging out with the Jo and Jill at Dundrum Mall
• The friends I made through Coffee & Kids meetings
• The trees in spring and summer
• The shower of yellow-gold leaves in Autumn on Ailesbury Road
• Feeding the ducks in Herbert Park with Ryan
• Watching Ryan play on the jungle gym at the Herbert Park playground
  

late_nov_early_dec

Stuff

Last Thursday, 27 boxes of our stuff was collected for shipping home to CA. That was a lot of packing, mostly done by Riko.

Yesterday I noticed that despite the absence of 27 boxes of said stuff, I hadn't actually noticed much diminution in lifestyle.

Apart from baby necessities, we've accumulated very little. We moved here in such a stripped-down state that I'm surprised that we could still reduce.

Then again, we're living on crazy-moving-energy right now. Comfortable reality has been on a hold for a while.

-Mike

Oh Yeah...

This blog can no longer be called "A California Dog in Ireland."

Dog Gone

Whiskey is on his way to LAX, via Newark, NJ. He should arrive around 6:30pm (local) today.

Also, Saturday was his birthday. He's six now.

"Normal"

Since Ireland is paying, I just had some blood work done to verify that my hypochondria level is within established operating parameters. Everything came back normal, indicating that my level of hypochondria is right there in the sweet spot.

-Mike

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

I bought a turkey stuffed ham, Stovetop stuffing, yams, poached pears in vanilla and ginger with vanilla ice cream. Let's hope I have time to make it all.

Lots of walking and a little playing.

At the beginning of the video you can see his "no" behavior. He's obviously picked this up from us and uses it unexpectedly.

The end is near

In four weeks we will have to change our blog to A California Dog in Ireland returns to San Francisco, which he will never leave ever again. One corner of our dining room is piled four feet high with boxes ready to be shipped home and there are still more to pack. Here are some photos going back to Ryan's birthday to about a week ago...

Early_November

Ryan is not saying much yet but he does say 'Da da' when he sees Mike or hears the key in the door as Mike returns home from work. He can climb down the stairs while holding onto the banister and he's just learning how to walk in his new shoes. He can feed himself with a spoon but I have to load it for him. He notices everything now and smiles all the time. He likes the wind and the trees and chasing Whiskey with one of his toys. It's getting pretty cold as you will see from Ryan's winter coat in the photos. He has no idea his life is about to take a drastic change...for the better, of course. -Riko

The Whole Family Speaking Whiskese

Turn up the volume and prepare to be impressed.

Ryan's 1st Birthday

Today Ryan is one year old.  He opened his birthday card from Nana & Papa this morning and 'Boogie Wonderland' started playing, but he didn't seem to have a strong reaction to the disco beat coming from the card.  He just looked at it for a few seconds and then closed it. He did enjoy putting it in his mouth and trying to take a bite out of it though.

He also got two new books from aunt Kelly, uncle John, and cousin Katie. (Ryan says thanks!) We explained to him the rest of his presents will come after we return to the US.  No sense in shipping stuff here when it's just going to be shipped back in December.

Later in the afternoon we met Jill and Jo at the mall where they bought us lunch and Ryan got even more presents (books and a cool mug that says 'Ryan').

(Photos to follow. Something wrong with the internet connection)-Riko

Before and after

End of May, 2008

From Ryan in the box

End of October, 2008

From Late October 2008

First Molar

Late October 2008

Yesterday while Ryan was crying I noticed his first molar (bottom right) peeking through his gums.

He's walking more than crawling now, say about 60% of the time. He can clap when we sing 'If you're happy and you know it.' He says 'hot' when the radiator is warm and 'ahhhh' when he sees a tea cup or a water bottle--also after he takes a pull off his bottle. And he says 'ow' when he slaps me on the head or face. He likes feeding Whiskey and playing hide & seek behind the drapes in his room.

The StairMaster

Halloween in Dublin

Matt just emailed asking if we'd packed the dog's bee costume for Halloween in Ireland.

The last time I put it on him I had to do quite a bit of cutting to make it fit.  Afterward I just threw it away.  

Thinking about it, having the dog in costume would be considered pretty outside the envelope around here, even in relatively cosmopolitan Dublin.  The practice of parading your dumb chum in fancy dress, something any thoughtful, socially-minded San Franciscan would consider well within the bounds of correct etiquette, would be seen here as perhaps incorrect and even laughable.  Go figure.

Playing catch-up

Late_Sept

Here are some more pictures from September. We are having trouble downloading new photos from the camera onto the computer so I haven't been able to post our most recent photos. As soon as Mike fixes it I will post them to the blog. We also have video of Ryan walking which he is doing quite confidently and often.

Remember him?

Late_Sept

Here are some photos from a month ago, just before we all started getting sick. That's why there aren't many posts in September. Ryan is starting to say more and more things that resemble words. Mike swears he heard him say 'water' this morning as Ryan watched Whiskey drink from his water bowl. He's walking longer distances now and more often. He requires a lot of my attention these days.

Whiskey had his first professional grooming session this weekend. He looks great and sheds less. They trimmed his beautiful tail, which I'm still a little upset about but there's less hair for Ryan to grab onto so I guess that's good for Whiskey.
-Riko

Walker! @ 348 days

We've been watching Ryan take a few steps here and there, but we were discussing the question, "When do you call it walking?"  A few steps then falling to the knees and continuing with a crawl doesn't really seem like it.

Well, we've just called it.  He got up and walked across the room on his own initiative.

On an unrelated note, here are some pictures of the scenery around our immediate neighborhood.  I'll try to place them on google maps.

From Around Donnybrook

Happy to Riko

Today is Riko's birthday!  We're still recovering from being sick.

A fatherhood first, 11 months in

Mike here,

Today Ryan barfed on me for the first time.  A goodish, sincere bit of vomit it was, not just a wee baby spit-up, with which I already have some milky experience.

Still, Ryan was kind and spared me the sort of double barreled, open bore, double ought barfs he reserves for Riko.  I feel like the favorite at the moment.

We're still working the Riko cold issue and now Ryan is getting it as well.  In the last four weeks we've all been sick, including Whiskey.

Mike

Happy to Mike

Today is Mike's birthday.  Ryan couldn't stay awake to wish his Daddy a happy birthday but he helped Mommy with the shopping for his birthday dinner.  We've aquired a taste for lamb since our stay here so we had lamb for dinner and carrot cake.   

(No, I didn't forget to type 'Birthday' in the subject line.  Mike's niece, Katie, used to sing "Happy to me!" when she was little so it's become part of the Fogarty family lore)  

Moving back, other news

Looking back, it appears we haven't served our web.audience well with news of the latest.

We're moving back to San Francisco around the first of January, 2009.  So, pretty soon Okaasan and Nana will get to hold Ryan and see how big he's gotten.  

What's more, we're putting the house in SF up for sale.  I understand our realtor has already shown it to a couple.  We're looking to buy something better suited to family living.

I don't know where that will be.  San Francisco?  Marin?  An old missile silo in Idaho?

Finally, Riko has a bad cold.  I may have to take a day off work to help around the house.  Ryan is doing well in spite of the fact that I'm doing a bit more of the baby care work than usual.

-Mike

Busy Mama

Early_Oct

Ryan is fully mobile now.  He crawls like a champ, is walking along the furniture and uses doors, chairs and ottomans as walking tools.  He says 'Bah, bah, bah' and now 'Ma, ma, ma' (not Mama yet) and is imitating Whiskey's yawns.  When I take a drink from my tea cup he says 'Ahhhhh'.  He's also taken up the recorder.  

On October 6th, his 11 month birthday he took his first deliberate steps towards Daddy.  (He took a few clumsy steps nearly two weeks earlier but they were kind of accidental)  The next day he walked towards Whiskey.  He was nearly two feet away.  

Happy Birthday, Grandpa

From September 17

When my younger brother, Mark, was about a year old I remember watching my Dad feeding him in his high chair. He would take a spoonful of baby food and as he brought it to Mark's mouth his upper lips would curl up over his teeth. He did this with every spoonful of baby food. I was about 6 years old at the time and I found it hilarious. I pointed this out to my Mom and we both stood quietly at the kitchen door as we and giggled until my Dad noticed us. He laughed, embarrassed.

When I feed Ryan I find myself involuntarily opening my mouth while bringing a spoonful of food to his mouth much like my father did with Mark. Because of Ryan I'm recalling many childhood memories I hadn't thought about in many years like the one I'm writing about now. Today is my Dad's birthday. He would have been 64 today. Happy Birthday to my Dad.

-Riko

Assorted bits of baby business

Not a baby anymore

Now that Ryan is getting older and more mobile he's getting into all kinds of mischief. He is able to stand for 5 or 10 seconds without holding onto anything. He pushes the dining room chair and chases poor Whiskey all over the house. I can barely keep up with him. He's talking a lot but not making any actual words yet unless you consider 'bah-bah-bah' a word.

Dramatic chipmunk

I know it's old, but it just needs to be embedded here.

Update: This is what made me think of it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muP9eH2p2PI

Happy Anniversary to Us

We were married 9 years ago today

Ryan the Handyman

More cute photos

Mid-Aug

Ryan grins and shakes his head from side to side as if to say 'No' (but he doesn't know the meaning of the word yet), he's walking while holding my hands, he climbs the stairs like a champ, and he stood unassisted for about 3 seconds before grabbing onto something.

Feeling better?

Riko informs me that Whiskey is drinking a little and taking a little more interest in policing Ryan's dropped food. He's also eaten some watery dog food.

That makes us all happy.

Whiskey isn't feeling well

We went up to Belfast and toured the countryside last weekend. We left Whiskey with a woman who takes dogs into her home up in the country.

Monday he was showing some gastric distress. I won't go into it. I took him to the vet immediately. They're pretty sure it's just upset stomach caused by stress and new food over the weekend.

He's very pathetic right now. He has no energy and just wants to lie down. We've got pills, some anti-nausea goop, and special food we're feeding him. We're watching carefully for dehydration. It's good that he's got Riko at home to keep an eye on him.

Here's a recent photo, from before the sickness.

Bath time, play time

July

Random cute pictures

Click on photo to view album

Yesterday Ryan climbed up the stairs all by himself. Well, I was standing, ok, hovering close behind. And maybe I put my hand under his butt and pushed just a little but only the last 5 of the 14 steps. I didn't get it on camera because he saw my shoes on the stairs and just went for it. No time to grab the camera. Like Whiskey before him, Ryan likes to chew on Mommy's shoes. Fortunately, unlike Whiskey, his teeth are not sharp enough to destroy Mommy's favorite Italian leather boots.

Boastful Mother

This is why I think my son is exceptional:
April 1st he rolled over onto his belly. May 26th he pushed-up onto his hands and feet. June 6th he sat up. June 27th started drinking formula and 2 days later was able to hold the bottle on his own and feed himself. June 30 he stood up in his crib. In 3 months he went from a helpless baby to pre-toddler.

At his last check up he weighed 21 lbs/1 oz and measured 28.78 inches. He has 4 teeth and 3 on the way. I'm afraid if I blink he'll be 18, moving out and going to college.

-Riko

Fine Dining - The Movie

Fine Dining

After returning from Spain, and his great experiences with sand, Ryan really wanted to feed himself. He was getting frustrated so Riko just gave him the bowl.

Going back to early June with a video

This is a one minute long video of some random crawling, chewing, and talking. I think the last segment may be the first time he sat up by himself. Nowadays he's a champion sitter.

Holiday in Puerto Banus, Andalusia, Spain.

circa_spain

Father's Day, 2008. Dublin.

We're going a couple weeks back in time here.

Ryan news

We have been busy this month with the move and recent trip to Spain and will be posting more photos soon. While in Spain, on the 20th to be exact, I discovered Ryan has a new tooth. His upper-right incisor.

Today while wrestling with Ryan on the changing table he threw his usual fit while screaming at the top of his lungs, exposing his gums and guess what? He has another tooth coming in! It's too soon to tell because I only caught a glimpse but I think it's his upper-left lateral-incisor.

Hopefully this explains his recent whining and ill-temper.

And also he sat up for the first time on his 7 month birthday, June 6th. (Photo to follow)

June 12th

Yesterday marked the one year anniversary of our arrival at London Heathrow Airport. We would then drive to Holyhead, take a ferry to Dun Laoghaire and finally arrive in Dublin, Ireland three days later.

That wasn't quite right. June 12 marked the one year anniversary of the day we left San Francisco. We arrived in London on June 13th, drove to Bath, stayed one night, drove on to Holyhead, stayed one night, then we took the ferry to Dun Laoghaire and arrived in Dublin on the 15th.

Transferring the Flag

Tonight will be our first night at the new house.

We've had a lot of overlap so the move has been at a leisurely pace. Now there's quite a lot to unpack and arrange in the new house. Riko and I will work on that for the rest of the week and weekend. Then, a week from today, we fly to Spain for some rest.

Ryan in the Box

Ireland is so expensive we can't afford to buy Ryan toys so he has to play in this tiny red box.

Push up

On May 26th Ryan and I went to the park because it was a beautiful day (by Irish standards, not California) and Ryan did his first push-up on the grass at Herbert Park. Since then he has become great at scooting along the hard wood floor but isn't crawling yet. We have more photos to post but have been busy with our move as mentioned before. Ryan is becoming cuter by the day and I try to capture it on the camera whenever I can.

Up the river

Our year lease on our place on the Dodder river in Donnybrook is coming up, and we're taking the opportunity to move to something a bit less expensive. The new place is about 60 meters up the river. It's got a little back yard, so that'll be nice for Whiskey. We might even enjoy it ourselves.

We didn't strictly have to move. It's nice to save some money and we don't need all the room we have in this house. I've decided it's going to be Ireland 2.0 for us, and the beginning of the end of our stay here.

Jameson Beam Engine in UCD Engineering Building

Here's the story I've been told. The Jameson distillery gifted this "beam engine" to UCD's egineering school. It's been built into a custom arrangement just inside the doors. I walk by it every day at work.

I've heard that once in a while they get it spinning, but I've never seen this. I've also heard that Jameson wants it back.

Shopping in Ireland

Yep, that's right folks. A 6 foot USB cable in the discount catalog store Argos in Dublin. 18 Euro. That's $28.37 for a standard, vanilla USB cable.

(That's outrageously expensive).

Look at the difference! (Fixed?)

One month old...

Five months old

One month old...

Five months old

People, let me tell you about my best friend...

I'm going to eat you!

No, I'm going to eat you!

Spring is here!

Last weekend we went to Ashton's, a restaurant/bar just downup the river from our house. It was sunny and warm (for Ireland) so we sat outside and imagined we were back in California.

Dublin Bay

We walked about a mile out into Dublin Bay with the tide as far out as we've ever seen it. It must have gone on another three miles.

Here's a power plant!

Look closely

Here are Ryan's first teeth. It's a bit blurry but you get the picture.

Ah Venice.

see more crazy cat pics

What's New?

Ryan had a big weekend. He got a new high chair and cot. But the biggest news is on Saturday I discovered his first tooth has broken through. It's his bottom right incisor. This surprised me not because I wasn't expecting it but because he didn't cry or seem uncomfortable at all. I never had to use the Orajel his Aunt Kelly sent us. Of course, we have many more teeth to go!

UPDATE: Wednesday, April 30, 2008 a second tooth made its appearance. He's growing so fast!