Not my mini-me

Well...the jury is in.  The proof is in the pudding.  There's no denying it.  Isla is Barry's mini-me.  We knew this already, but after viewing Barry's baby pictures yesterday, it was clear.  She's his spitting image.

Barry's baby pics:

Aside from the fact that she has significantly more hair than Barry as a baby (and an adult :), they are almost identical.

A few of Isla:

Spasms

A long week we've had.  Isla started having these tiny freezing spasms on Easter Sunday...one a day, lasting about 4 seconds.  She had a doctor's appointment on the Wednesday after Easter to check her hips from where she was in breech position pretty late in my pregnancy...just a precautionary measure, her hips are fine.  However, since we had to go to the hospital for this appointment, we decided to stop into accident and emergency to see about these spasms (we couldn't get an appointment with her doctor for a week and a half which is a long time to wait).  After being seen by the doc in accident and emergency, we were taken to the children's ward of the hospital where she'd be examined more closely.  Well, what turned into a quick appointment to check Isla's hips turned into a week long ordeal really because we never left the hospital...well we did eventually but it wasn't for another week.  Here she is all tucked into her hospital bed:

The doctor wanted to keep Isla to witness one of these episodes.  Wouldn't you know that she didn't have one while they were observing her.  The best cure for an illness is to make an appointment with a doctor because then your symptoms seem to just disappear like a fart in the wind. But, to be on the safe side, an EEG was arranged for her which they couldn't do until Wednesday (a week since she was admitted into the hospital) and, they were still hoping to witness one of these mystical spasms (they never did), so we were there a week.  After being in the hospital we were officially discharged yesterday as they didn't see anything on the EEG.

Here's Isla being a good girl for her little brain scan (I won't mention the screaming session she decided to partake in for about ten minutes before this photo was taken since she looks like a sweet angel here):

Anyway, turns out everything seems to be okay.  She just wanted to give us something to panic about.

The EEG lasted about 45 minutes (15 minutes of prep time and then test time).  The entire procedure is videotaped just in case something happens.  Once the tech prepped Isla and left the room, Barry and I were left alone with the baby as the first part of the test is being performed.

The tech re-enters the room to do another part of the test that involves flashing lights.  She asks us if we ourselves have problems with flashing lights.  We respond no.  Tech leaves the room.  We are once again alone with Isla.

Barry: Turns to me. "How do we know if we have problems with flashing lights?"
Me: "You're 38 years old, you would know by now if flashing lights sets you off into seizures."
Barry: " Should we close our eyes?"
Me:  "What? No!"  Laughing.
Barry:  "Well, what happens if it bothers us?"
Me:  "It won't bother us.  It's just like a strobe light.  Like you'd see at a night club." Light begins flashing.
Barry: Begins a new conversation. "So, if we get finished up here, I figure we'll be back in Derry for about 1 o'clock.  I wonder how long it will take to...."  Stops talking and begins to break out into a fake seizure.  Why?  Because he's a jokester.
Me:  Laughing.  "That'll look nice on the video camera."
Barry:  Panicked look on his face.  "Oh, aye.  I forgot we were being filmed."

Well, maybe we'll at least keep someone entertained with Barry's fake seizure if they have to watch the footage.

Eggs eggs eggs

Happy Easter everyone!  This year, I'm egged out.  Since it is Isla's first Easter, I decided to make a family favorite--my grandmother's peanut butter and chocolate Easter eggs.  She has made these eggs every Easter as long as I can remember and this year, I wanted to make one for Isla.  Yes, even though she has no teeth and can't eat it, I still made her one (hmm...I wonder who will do the honors of devouring this sweet treat?).  I made Isla one and one for Barry and then I made them for all of Barry's nieces as well, just because I'm wile good (as said in Derry).  I'm pleasantly surprised at the outcome.  Take a look:

We also went and had Isla's picture taken with serial killer bunny, er, I mean the Easter bunny.  Take a look and tell me he doesn't look like he belongs in the movie, "It" based on the Stephen King novel.

Have a closer look at Isla's face. She wasn't impressed and if she could speak I'm sure she was saying, "Are we done with this creep yet?"

But, at least she had a pretty dress for the picture.  My mom sent her this dress from America:

Barry and I also thought Isla would look cute in a pair of bunny ears.  But, she didn't agree:

At least the Easter Bunny was good to her, even if she doesn't like his ears:

Long distance party planning

Last Saturday was my friend's bridal shower.  As Matron of Honor (I prefer the term Maid of Honor but seeing as how I'm married now that isn't technically proper I guess....poo), it is part of my job to host the bridal shower.  It proved to be a bit difficult, especially since I'm so far away from the bride-to-be, but I think it was pulled off okay.  I co-hosted with my friend's fiance's mom and sister.  And, since I needed a USA liaison to help do my planning, I enlisted the help of my friend's fiance who was more than pleased to help.  In fact, he came up with the cute idea to have the bride to be where a Hawaiian grass skirt at the shower (it was a Hawaiian-themed shower so it made sense...they're going to Hawaii for their honeymoon).

So, with the help of Mr. Bride-to-be and the other co-hosts, the shower was a success.  But, the most impressive part of the shower I believe was the cake.  I emailed this picture to the cake lady of what I wanted...just something I found online:

And, here's the cake she made:

I have to say I was rather impressed.  I hear it tasted wonderful, too.  If only I were there to get a piece.

Here are more photos of the shower.  These are the only ones I have...they were sent quickly by the bride's fiance as he scurried about delivering all the decorations and other items I had shipped to him.

Sucks I wasn't able to be there, but waiting on lil miss Isla's passports (either Irish or USA...whichever one comes first), proved to take longer than expected so I had to miss out.  Boo.

At least I'll get to be there for the wedding in June.

Weak and Whatta Man

As traditional ways of soothing Isla continue to fail with her colic, I've now resorted to singing to her.  Sometimes she enjoys it, sometimes she does not.  However, I've found that my repertoire of children's songs is nearly non-existent.  I know just a few songs: The Alphabet Song, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and Jesus Loves Me.  I know a few other songs, but not the entire song like I know these three.  If I were to sing another song, I would know the chorus then the rest of the song would be more of me mumbling or humming to the beat and that's just sad.

Since I know so few children's songs, I resorted to singing Christmas songs.  It seems I know more Christmas songs word for word than I do children's songs, including Jingle Bells (the original and Batman smells versions), Rocking Around the Christmas Tree, Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer.

It seems however that I tire of singing these songs so often and Isla gets tired of hearing them, so last night I decided to mix it up a bit and sang the two songs that I know EVERY word to.  You'll laugh when you hear them because they are probably songs that you've forgotten about and haven't heard for a very long time.  Song number one:  Weak by SWV.  I used to sing this song in  my backyard while swinging on the swing set.  I thought my voice was soooo killer then, too.  Here's the song:


And, the other song is Salt 'N Pepa's Whatta Man.  My rap on this is so dope y'all for reals.  Here it is:


Anyway, I think I've proved I need to learn more kiddie songs.

Isla is growing quite a bit now.  She's six weeks old and weighs 8lbs and 13oz now and she's finally starting to outgrow her newborn clothes.  We put one of my favorite outfits on her today and the bottoms were too short.  I made the comment to Barry:  "Isla's pants are too small...she has on highwaters today."
Barry: "What?"
Me: "She has on high-waters."
Barry: "What are high-waters?"
Me: "You know...high-waters...like her pants are too short on the bottom."
Barry: Confused look remains on his face.
Me: "Like capri pants almost."  Surely he will understand now, I think to myself.
Barry: "What are capris?"
Me:  Dear Jesus, I think to myself and wonder how to explain this further to a man who clearly knows no fashion terminology at all.  "You know, like the only come to to here."  I motion to my calf.
Barry: "Oh, okay. Like three quarter length."
Me: "Yeah."
Barry: "High-waters!!! And, you make fun of the way I talk!"

A classic example of high-waters:

Oh...I'm also raging (a Derry term I've picked up there) that I've encountered three women this week alone who have named their babies (born after Isla) Isla!  Whaaaaaat?  I heard of no one with that name except for the actress and now BOOM...everyone is using Isla!  Rage!

Okay, last but not least, I spotted this at the grocery store yesterday.  Yes, this is a real item and a real photo taken with my own tiny hand:

Yes, you're seeing it correctly.  It is Delicious Spotted Dick.  But, not only is it delicious spotted dick, it is Just the way you like it!  As you can clearly see in the photo.  What?!  You've got to be kidding!

Happy St. Patrick's Day from Ireland

My second St. Patrick's Day in Ireland isssss today!  And, Isla's first ever St. Patrick's Day is today, as well.  It's not as big of a deal for Barry since it's his 38th St. Patrick's Day in Ireland :).

I was told by Barry that it isn't a tradition here to pinch someone who isn't wearing green on St. Patrick's Day like it is in America, but I told him that I was going to do it anyway to anyone who wasn't wearing green because, it's just cool to do that.  And, can you believe it?  Of ALLLLL people to NOT wear green today, it was BARRY!  Sooo, he had to take his oil and receive a pinch, and so he did.

Kiss me I'm Irish?  Well, okay...you're too cute not to!

Rest in peace Titan

Got the sad news today that my mom's dog, Titan, had to be put down.  It was very sudden news and no one in my family was expecting it as he only seemed sick the past few days.  Unfortunately, he had lung cancer and there was nothing they could do.  R.I.P. wee buddy, Titey.  You were a very good boy and sorry I wasn't there to take you for one last walk.

Titan enjoying the snow, Christmas 2010.