Ireland enchantment

After Elle went down perfectly in her crib tonight at 8:30pm on the spot (the antibiotics must have kicked in), I got to sit down for a moment and open the Ireland trip materials that Ted's company sent. "Ireland Enchantment" is the theme of the trip and I couldn't wait to open up the "program of events brochure".....We'll be staying at the Europe Hotel & Spa....and visiting every major tourist attraction in Ireland (yes, I plan to kiss the blarney stone) and will have really fun cocktail and dinner receptions but I think I am most excited to sit in a local Irish pub though, laugh with the locals and drink a fresh Guinness right from the tap, while cheering to Ted, my brother-in-law and my soon to be sister-in-law on how lucky we are to be here. In Ireland. Together. WOW. 

Ted's company has sent us to some amazing places. Last year was Pebble Beach- I was pregnant and couldn't enjoy the wine tasting tour you might recall, but it was a beautiful place that I probably would have never visited had Ted not won the trip. 

I'm getting anxiety about leaving precious Elle. At this age, they change after a few short days. She'll grow more hair, she'll gain a pound or two, she'll eat new foods (OK, it must be a grandparent thing as my Mom did it with Aydan, but they feed them things that are off the list you left them to follow and or they change their feeding schedule, I guess they've raised a few kids of their own to know what they're doing) but it's definitely funny. Just no honey or peanut butter Gramma. Not yet at least. And lastly, we'll miss her smiles........but as everyone has said to me, "this is a trip of a lifetime....first Paris with your good friends, then Ireland....you have to take advantage of this. " 

I know we'll be fine, but I have these "what if" thoughts. What if something happened to Ted and I, what if she gets really sick when I am gone, or if Christina needs me or something is wrong with Aydan or my Grandpa......I guess I just need to stop focusing on the what ifs, (it's hard though as in my world, anything is possible) and focus on the fact that everything will most likely be fine and that in 15 short days, I will be on a flight to PARIS AND IRELAND. Lucky me. I miss you already Elle Bell and I wish I could take all of my family and friends with me on this adventure. What my Mother would have done to see these places. One of the things she said to me a month or two before they died, "I can't wait to travel more" ......I won't wait because we are only promised TODAY. Tomorrow is a gift and I love to travel......

~Melissa