Pizza

Pizza
Originally uploaded by deirdred75.

We're getting him on finger foods and real people foods as much as possible now. He likes chicken meatballs, jelly sandwhiches, and of course pizza.

Not sleeping part 2

Not sleeping part 2
Originally uploaded by deirdred75.

When we got back from Ireland, Nathaniel was really excited to rampage around the house. He discovered that he could just walk around his crib for hours. And for about a week, that's what he did every time you put him in his crib. He would run around for about an hour then finally pass out in sheer exhaustion. One time he actually fell asleep sitting up.

in church

in church
Originally uploaded by deirdred75.

Nathaniel made it to the actual wedding and about five minutes of the reception. We sent him off with the sitter and he slept for half an hour then woke up and watched television with her for two and a half hours. Then he got an ear infection and was up between 1 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. sobbing. Not so fun for him.

Kevin and Annette

Kevin and Annette
Originally uploaded by deirdred75.

We went over to Ireland for Kevin and Annette's wedding. It was a really beautiful wedding and we all had a great time. We rotated our nights out and got a sitter for a few hours for the wedding reception.

Hell's Pass

Hell's Pass
Originally uploaded by deirdred75.

After Budapest we headed over to Ireland, Bantry Bay to be exact. Okay it is a total cliche, but Ireland is incredibly beautiful. This is part of the view from Healy's Pass (or Hell's Pass as we dubbed) in the ring of Beara. We took a single lane road up through these incredible switchbacks up the mountain to be rewarded with a spectacular sight atop the mountain.

City Park Budapest

City Park Budapest
Originally uploaded by deirdred75.

We found a little kid's park in our travels through the city. Nathaniel wasn't old enough to start clambering on the pirate ship in the background. But he enjoyed this rocking horse and some swings.

Park of Soviet Statues

Park of Soviet Statues
Originally uploaded by deirdred75.

We trekked out via tram and bus to a small park where Hungary has moved many of its Soviet era monuments, statues and plaques. There are a whole lot of monuments extolling Hungarian-Soviet friendship and the brave Soviet soldier who saved Hungary. You can see why this is sensitive subject still in Hungary.

The Funicular Railway

The Funicular Railway
Originally uploaded by deirdred75.

It was incredibly, incredibly hot in Budapest as you can see from Nathaniel and Doug's sweaty appearance. We took the funiculuar railway up to the top of Castle Hill in Budapest. The railway-basically a small tram that takes you straight up the mountain-was the second of its kind. The first is on Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga and Doug has riden that one too.

I Can See You

I Can See You
Originally uploaded by deirdred75.

It was in Budapest that Nathaniel first started experimenting with refusing to go to bed. To be honest, he wasn't the world's best traveller in Budapest-he cried for about an hour and forty five minutes one night and pitched all sorts of food fits. We were all in the same room together and we would come back in the evening and put him down for bed. Nathaniel would find it really funny to stand up in the crib and peer over at us.

Hotel Gellert

Hotel Gellert
Originally uploaded by deirdred75.

So this was our hotel in Budapest- a really great Art Nouveau place on the Buda side of the river. We managed to hit the baths everyday during our stay there.

Grandma and Nathaniel

Granny again
Originally uploaded by deirdred75.

A trip to a hotel wouldn't be complete for Nathaniel without a dunk in the pool. He and Grandma cooled off in the Albany Marriott outdoor pool together.

Keeping Occupied

Keeping Occupied
Originally uploaded by deirdred75.

While Doug's swearing in ceremony was going on, I slipped Nathaniel his favorite book "Feely Bugs" and told him to quietly read it to himself. He was fascinated by the glittery bug.

Daddy's Official

Official Daddy
Originally uploaded by deirdred75.

The last part of our US trip was up to Albany where the state of New York officially welcomed Doug as a member of its bar. Doug passed the ethics interview and then was sworn in with about 20 of his fellow New York lawyers. We snapped photos and then celebrated with lunch at Chili's.

Hat

Hat
Originally uploaded by deirdred75.

Okay I just think he looks really cute in this photo, if a bit French.

Poppa

Poppa
Originally uploaded by deirdred75.

There's our little boy with his Poppa, soon before he jetted off to Cairo. Nathaniel is already impatient to tour the pyramids with Poppa.

Great Grandparents

Great Grandparents
Originally uploaded by deirdred75.

We had a great day at Grandma and Granpa's house. Mom, Dad, Nathaniel and I all drove down from upstate and had a nice lunch and really relaxing and enjoyable afternoon. Nathaniel was particularly enamored of great-grandpa, wanting to hug him all the time.

Great Grandmommy

Great Grandmommy
Originally uploaded by deirdred75.

Nathaniel and his great-grandmother, who was a real help to me. Nathaniel was testing out many of his newfound pulling up skills at their house.

Cousin Petey

Cousin Petey
Originally uploaded by deirdred75.

Nathaniel loved visiting Uncle Peter and Aunt Jeanne's house. He loved their dog (who was quite sensibly less than enthused about a screaming baby following him around) and cousin Petey, who was incredibly sweet and darling to him. Here they are hanging together.

Cousins

Cousins
Originally uploaded by deirdred75.

Here he is hanging out with a few of his cousins, Mary Alice and Grace. I have a ton of shots of him with everyone, but I picked this one mainly because of the crazy, crazy grin on his face.

Aunt Anne Marie

Aunt Anne Marie
Originally uploaded by deirdred75.

Here we are during the mountain portion of our journey through the U.S. Nathaniel got to meet all sorts of relatives ... cousins, great-aunts and uncles, great-grandparents, and I got to spend a lot of time relaxing. Here he is with one of his new favorite great-aunts.