Happy New Year!
I couldn’t officially start 2019 without saying hello.
Did you have a wonderful holiday? With a two year old, ours was ridiculously fun. Alexander loved everything Christmas. I am pretty sure we will still be singing Christmas carols in July.
It seems like 2018 flew by and we didn’t really get to catch up. Where do I start?
I suppose with the most important news–we had a baby! On November 11, we welcomed our second little traveler to the family, Hugo Laurence. He is an easy-going, cutie-pie. Alexander is growing into his big brother role more and more every day (he is an expert burp-cloth fetcher).
It’s hard to believe that the next time we travel to Ireland we will have an infant and toddler. Oh, goodness. Pray for me.
Being pregnant, we didn’t hop over the pond this year. Actually, being pregnant stopped quite a few things from happening.
It wasn’t exactly an easy pregnancy. I was diagnosed with Interheptic Cholestasis of Pregnancy or ICP. Its a fairly rare liver condition with the biggest symptom for the mama being an unbearable itchiness, but can be fatal to baby if not detected.
We are one lucky family as I was able to deliver Hugo without complication and he is as perfect as can be.
Despite having a bit of a rough go at it, I was able to continue working through most of the year.
My goodness the trips I have gotten to plan! I tallied it up and I created more than 52 amazing intimate Ireland itineraries for some of the most fabulous couples, families, groups and solo travelers last year. On top of that more than 100 people joined me on my live Ireland travel planning workshops–learning how to lay the foundation to create their own incredible Ireland adventure.
Looking forward into 2019, I can only hope for more of the same (and sleep, I am certainly hoping for more sleep).
I’ll be finishing up my maternity leave at the end of February and easing back into Ireland travel planning.
I’ll be kicking it off with a live Ireland travel planning workshop on Saturday, February 23. I usually announce this to my newest email subscribers but I wanted to make sure you knew about the opportunity.
Click here to get all the details.
I’ll be back soon with more of my favorite Ireland travel advice, but what do you think? I kind of like these little check-ins. I was thinking of sending you a little something once a month outside of the usual travel tip posts. You know sorta like a break for tea–you. me. comfy couch. cup of tea. me likely in a messy bun with spit-up on my shirt (real life here). Whatchya think?
Here’s hoping for a wonderful start to 2019!
Chat soon,
Stephanie
P.S. I couldn’t find one decent family photo of the four us from Christmas. This is best we could do–a somewhat fuzzy, not everyone happy, group selfie. Oh well, there is always next year! :-)
This post was originally sent to my email list. Not on the list? Ahh Shame on you? Just kidding that’s easily corrected. :-)
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Congratulations from New Zealand!
Thanks Paddy! I hope you are well! Any trips back to Ireland soon?
Warmest congratulations, and so sorry about the rocky pregnancy. Those babies are just adorable!
Oh thanks Deb! I think so too (but I may be just a little biased!). :-)
Congratulations! You have beautiful boys. :-) I enjoy your site very much. Can’t wait to see what’s new this year.
Thank you so much Mary! I can’t wait what this year has in store too (Ireland with two boys under 3–what are we getting ourselves into?!?). :-)
Congratulations on your new baby. He is precious, and so is Big Brother.
We are planning our first trip to Ireland this June-July. We’ll fly to Shannon, stay in Limerick, Killarney, and Dublin.
Our friends recommended your website and blog to us, Thank you so much for all the good information.
Carol
Oh thank you Carol! Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy your trip!