A Leisurely Stroll with Nana

Norah's Baptism

Norah's baptism was so meaningful and special. Louise officiated and did such a beatiful job. Norah embodied the spirit of baptism by continually trying to dive head-first into the font, and we were so touched by all of the family and friends who attended or sent their love from afar.

My parents earned extra jewels in their crown by digging around in their crawl space until they found my baptism candle, so we were able to use it for Norah's baptism. None of us realized until Sunday that I was baptized this same week thirty-three years ago.

Visit with the Vanderpols

We had a great weekend with the Vanderpols, and it was so much fun watching Norah meet her grandparents, great-grandparents and Alexa. We enjoyed time at the zoo, the condo, the Boulder Dinner Theater, and, of course, the baptism.

Norah definitely thought her Great-Grandpa was great.

Alexa stumbled upon our St. Patrick's Day accessories.

Jordan and Norah with the real Sophies at the zoo.

Spending time with her Papa.

A leisurely dinner at home. (Notice how much emptier Grandma's wine glass is than mine. She thoroughly enjoyed her vacation.)

Norah also thought her Great-Grandma was pretty great.

Playing on the condo floor with Great-Grandpa.

Maybe not the best choice for a teether.

Pulling Up and Teething

On Tuesday, Dad and I were having lunch when we heard Norah talking in her crib. We walked in to find her standing up. The same day, her first little tooth poked through. What a big girl.

The Vanderpols are Coming!

Tomorrow, Great-Grandma, Great-Grandpa, Joma, Papa, and Alexa arrive to celebrate Norah's baptism with her this weekend. We're so excited for her to meet them and to log some good Vanderpol time!

6 Month Photos

We had Norah's six month photos taken last week. You can check them out at: www.riverbankphotography.com/viewing/ Click on "Norah Vanderpol." The password is "Norah" (tricky, huh?).

Like a Cat

Luck of the Irish

To celebrate Mom and Dad's 60th birthdays and 40th anniversary, all of which take place in 2011, we spent a week touring Ireland and visiting with our Irish family. While completely different from our week in Scotland, it was equally great.

The biggest news from the week...Kim and Bridger are engaged! We're so excited Kim is finally going to make an honest uncle out of Bridger. (And we find it apropos that Bridger proposed at Dingle Bay.)

What trip to Dublin would be complete without a tour of Guinness?

As we were touring Dublin, we stumbled across a drive-thru car blessing in front of a church. With the teeny, two-lane roads, Irish drivers can use all the help they can get.
Norah, at the grave of her great-great-great-uncle, Thomas Blanchfield.

We had the best evening talking and laughing with the huge crowd of Irish family that came out to welcome us, and we're looking forward to catching up again when Michelle and her parents come to Colorado in the fall. Dad and Deanna with their Irish cousins:

At Blarney Castle.The daring three who kissed the Blarney stone and received the gift of gab.

During midnight snacking in our apartments, we found that Doritos really compliment Bailey's.

Norah was quite pleased with the furnishings in our apartment.

Dad has yet to apologize for this outfit.

A trip to the derby in Galway.

While the whole trip was a celebration for Mom and Dad, we specifically set aside Friday night when we stayed in a castle on the Atlantic and had a special dinner. Celebrating 40 years of wedded bliss!

As proper and polished as the clientele of the castle were during the day, they were equally eccentric at night. So much so, that it felt like we fell through the rabbit hole along with Alice. There was a raucus sing-along in the bar until 2 in the morning, complete with an Abba dance competition, medal ceremonies, a riverdancing competition, ridiculous hats that were compulsory while doing the conga line behind the bar, and a rendition of Sweet Caroline in which everyone in the pub joined hands and then ultimately embraced in one big circle while sing/shouting "good times never seemed so good."

Do you think they knew our Irish great-grandmother's name was Mary Jane and that's why they gave Kim this hat?

Mom and Dad showing off their medals after coming in second in the Abba-medley dance competition.

Time to head home.

A Wee Visit to Scotland

I took a week of study leave to visit Scotland, explore the Presbyterian Church's Scottish roots, and make a pilgrimage to the Iona Abbey. Norah accompanied me since I am lunch. And Mom and Kim joined us as Norah's nannies. It's hard to capture in words what a great week it was, and I cannot encourage you enough to find a way to get to Iona.

Baby in a box (otherwise known as the bulkhead bassinet)...

On Sunday, we worshipped at the High Kirk of St. Giles, the Mother Church of Presbyterianism and the church where John Knox was pastor. In the Thistle Chapel of St. Giles, Norah got comfortable in the Queen's seat. She looks quite regal, doesn't she?

Norah befriends John Knox.

It's a Scottish miracle! While wandering around Edinburgh, we found a Sophie to replace the one we lost.

After 11 hours of air travel on three flights, a three hour train ride, a 45 minute ferry ride, a one hour bus ride, a ten minute ferry ride, and a ten minute walk, we arrived on the Isle of Iona - and it was so worth it! During all of our traveling, Norah was better than we deserved, never crying and rarely fussing. (The day after we returned home, though, was a different story. She was sick of traveling, jetlagged, and happy to let us know about her displeasure.)

Iona is truly a thin place. Kim's first comment after arriving: "This place would make anyone religious!"

Norah plays while we have afternoon tea and scones.

Sheep, sheep, everywhere.

Norah is a huge fan of Nessie, her plaid-wearing, bagpipe playing Loch Ness monster.

I never expected to breastfeed in a cemetary or sheep pasture.

Norah's first beach experience.

Norah became great friends with Maggie, a sweet Scottish woman, who would remind us everyday at breakfast and dinner that Norah was a treasure.

As if the five square miles and 100 residents of Iona wasn't small enough, we took a day trip to the uninhabited Isle of Staffa and its legenday Fingal's Cave.

During another afternoon of tea and scones...

Meeting Daddy at the Dublin airport in a wee kilt and cap.