First Trip to Notre Dame

As the Grandson of a Domer, the son of a Double Domer, and the nephew of two Domers, it was only fitting that we stop by Notre Dame on the way to Ohio. Here is Eoin basking in the presence of the Dome.

Eoin's play date

It was my first week at home minding Eoin without Francis or grandparents. We had a nice week going on walks when the weather was good and going on a play date with Carrie and Matthew Bauman. Eoin and 8 week old Matthew became instant friends bonding over car seats, prams, and soothers. Aunt Brigid stayed over one night to keep us Company while Francis was in California. She fed Eoin at 3am so I could get some more sleep. Eoin and I are very lucky to have family support. Next week my mom and Aunt Molly Hayden are coming to Chicago and then the four of us are heading to Put-in-Bay and Kellys to see the Mooneys.

America's Favorite Pastime

Baseball, America's favorite pastime - note not the favorite sport but pastime.

That pretty much sums up baseball - a fantastic way to spend 3 hours in the sunshine, drinking some beers, eating hot dogs and cheering on your team while relaxing away from the pressures of life.

However as a sport it is slow, you are geneally waiting for something to happen to 'energise' the game like a home run or for the bases to be loaded with no outs and the potential for a big score.

Eoin went to his fist baseball game yesterday - Wrigely field the home of the Chicago Cubs and one of the oldest and best baseballs venues in America. It was a game of huge importance for Eoin (even if he didn't realise it). The Cubs were playing the Minnesota Twins (Biz's home team) and so I decreed that Eoin's baseball allegiance (until he has a mind of his own) was going to be decided by the winner of yesterday's game. Biz was feeling the pressure even if Eoin wasn't - he was wrapped up in his baby bjorn and didn't really care about the action on the field.

The final score - 7 to 4 in favour of the Twins! So Eoin will don a Twins jersey some day soon.

Eoin just chilling in his version of a lazy boy!

Eoin's baptism

Eoin was baptized in our local parish church in Chicago, Immaculate Conception, today. It is an interesting coincidence that the church where Biz and I got married last year in the parish in Ireland (Bruree) where I grew up is also called Immaculate Conception.

As he has done for most of his first two weeks with us, Eoin slept through the baptism service with barely any recognition by him of the water being poured over his head.

Fr Pat was apologizing to us for the fact that there was some dust on the water in the baptismal font - he didn't want to replace the existing water because for a baptism last week the family had brought water all the way from the Jordan River (where Jesus was baptised almost 2000 years ago by John the Baptist). So Eoin was also baptized with water from the Jordan River - he must be destined for great things!

Biz's sister Molly Hayden and my brother Greg are Eoin's godparents - he is in good hands : - )
Greg couldn't make it all the way from Australia for the service so my dad stood in for him today.

The baptismal gown that Eoin wore has been in Biz's family for many years and both Biz and her mum, amongst others, were also baptized in it.

We had a wonderful weekend in Chicago with our parents, Biz's sisters and their better halves(!), the Learys and the Davins, who all made the trip to share this special day with us. Thank you all.

Ryder Cup 2030!

Biz's uncle, Mike Leary, presented Eoin with his first set of golf clubs this morning - I am in charge of his training in the short term - if he is any good he will outgrow this teacher pretty quickly : - )

If he turns pro I'm not sure whether he would be entitled to opt to play for Ireland (Europe) in the Ryder Cup - not that he will necessarily want to, he may well be happier playing for good ole USA - in that case however I can picture myself coughing loudly as he tees off and spiking his water bottle with laxatives - all's fair in love and war!

The name 'Eoin'

Eoin is a Gaelic form of John, adopted into Gaelic in early medieval Ireland from the Latin name Ioannes. It was carried to Scotland by Irish settlers and has remained in use in both Irish and Scottish Gaelic to the present day. Eoin is pronounced OAÑ, with the same vowel as moan and with Ñ as the Spanish ñ in señor or the French gn in montagne.

We chose 'Eoin' about six months ago after trying out a number of names and it fit with our then image of our unborn son - happy to say that was still the case when he was born.

His grandfather (John McShane) and great grandfather (John Hunt) as well as a number of cousins are named Eoin or John. Plus of the Irish names out there, it is one of the shorter and easiest to spell so he will hopefully not get too much grief explaining it in later life Stateside!

BTW, while pronounced similarly, Eoin should not be confused with Owen which is of Welsh / Greek origin and the Gaelic form of it is Eoghan.

Do Grandparents spoil their own kids or grandchildren more?

Francis and I are very grateful for the help we received from our parents. My mom came down from Minnesota for Eoin's birth and stayed for his first few days at home. While she was here she cooked for us, cleaned our apartment and ran numerous errands. We felt so lucky to only have to worry about Eoin and nothing else. My mother went back to MN (she still checks in daily to see if we need anything) and one day later the Murphys arrived from Ireland. They have been a big help as well. The Murphys are early birds so after I feed Eoin around 6-7am they take over so Francis and I can get some extra Zs. We feel very spoiled. It is going to be a rude awakening for me when the grandparents leave and Francis goes back to work! Below are some pictures of Eoin's grandparents hard at work.

The art of soothing

It something of a wonder as to why baby's are soothed by sucking. Sure it mimics feeding but they don't get that feeding habit in the womb (though I have heard that some do suck their fingers while there) and yet they instinctively know from day one how to feed and to suck in a manner which soothes.

Anyway Eoin is no different. While he was in the NIC the nurses provided him with a soother so he got to grips early with the relaxing effects of a plastic shaped nipple. Since then we have tried to coax him to not become entirely dependent on it (being able to self sooth is an important skill for him to learn so that he doesn't have to wake up mum and dad for his soother!).

He has when deprived tried to put his fist in his mouth, sucked the side of his hand and more recently managed to put a couple of fingers in. Finally he has realised that his thumb may just be the ticket: