Boy or girl, it's definitely a leprechaun...

This was a big week in our child's preexistence. Not only did the belly perform its first international trip, it also became eligible for duel-citizenship. For those of you who don't know, Jay's grandfather, Andrew Fee, was born in Fermanagh, Ireland, and emigrated to America in 1923. Ireland permits duel-citizenship, meaning that becoming a citizen does not require one to renounce one's former citizenship. Eligibility only goes back two generations, so only a child or grandchild can apply. Furthermore, the application process needed to begin before the birth of our child because it can only be passed on to the unborn. All that said, as of April 11, 2011, Jay is now a confirmed Irish citizen of foreign birth and can apply for an Irish (therefore, EU) passport.

You might be asking what all this means for the belly. Well, it means that both Jay and his progeny can live and work in any European Union country (there are currently 27 in all) without residence or work permits, can purchase property and travel anywhere with an EU passport, and would be eligible for social benefit programs like unemployment and health insurance after working there for a short time. Best of all, they can apply for school in the EU just like those born there as well. Essentially, Jay's becoming an Irish citizen presents opportunities for our family that may otherwise have not been available.

We're all very excited and wonder how this will change the course of our decisions over the coming decades - should we retire to Wales, Sweden, Amsterdam, Estonia... However, we ask everyone to withhold the urge to purchase “burp me, I'm Irish” garments, although those baby-sized Irish hooded capes are quite cute... just kidding, seriously...