Pregnancy in London

I'm 35 weeks. Still have 5 weeks to go until the baby comes! But I feel like it has kind of whirled by, and I want to remember a few things from this pregnancy.

Read this:

Not this:

Let's just take a look at the Mum on the Expecting book. She looks miserable. Like she is about to go through torture--wait, she sorta is. But that is not particularly encouraging for any pregnant woman. On the other hand, check out the Yummy Mummy in book 1--on the go, nappy bag on shoulder, latte in hand--nevermind that the baby is with the nanny. She is hilariously British and tells it like it is. Not to mention she has some great tips from Kate Winslet and other well-known hair, make-up gurus. You might should still get Expecting, I mean it is a classic and might be more medically reliable. But if you want to laugh and have some humor while your uterus expands to 1000 times its size (says babycentre.co.uk this week), read about becoming a Yummy Mummy.

Wear this:

A yummy mummy turtleneck (it's freezing here) from Isabella Oliver. Thanks to hand-me-down maternity clothes, I have loved this shirt. It's ridiculously comfy, it's got stretchy material, so unlike my 100% cotton turtlenecks, it doesn't stretch at the end of the day. I'm much more into the tighter shirts this go around compared to the tent like flow from beneath the breast area shirts that I wanted to burn after the last go. I think they are comfy regardless of the fact they accentuate my bump and possibly bum that has also expanded to off-set the front.

Walking.

I have walked a ridiculous amount this pregnancy compared to the first. Probably because we live in London and are car-less. But despite the fact that I curse the school run every morning now (You would too if it was 8:30 and 30 degrees outside and you have to walk a mile and a half--total.) I really think it has kept me in better shape (it is all relative, of course) and feeling better. It might have curbed some excessive weight gain, but since they don't weigh me at my midwife visits I guess we will never know!

Footwear.

Maybe because of the loads of walking, my feet seem wider than they did with Wiley. Not necessarily swollen around the ankles, but some of my flats are too tight and I certainly can't wear my black boots anymore. Leaving me with Uggs, clogs, and my trainers. Trainers are winning out today and I unashamedly wore them with black cords last week. It wasn't cute, but neither is pregnancy.

Cravings.

I have eaten an unreal amount of peanut butter, but I probably would have done that anyway. No real cravings this go. I am to a point where eating isn't the most fun thing but I attribute that to lack of space. Coffee and tea don't sound nearly as good as they used to, although I still drink both.

Healthcare in Britain.

I will be thankful to have BCBS again. They love a natural birth here which is not the way I'm going. However, despite some frustrations along the way, the care has been really thorough and good. I have seen one midwife twice, Celine from France who is kind and wonderful. The others have been good, too, but Celine is just so nice! I have seen a doctor for a routine visit once, and it was slightly disastrous. Here's hoping today's goes better! My hospital has a new maternity wing, so it feels much more modern than most buildings in London.

Wiley.

He is actually excited about the baby. He says he is thankful for the baby. He also thought there were two (a boy and a girl). There is only one. He now thinks there are four. (2 boys. 2 girls.). There is only one. Unless the ultrasound scanners are completely incompetent. We will also see how thankful he is for the baby when he realizes what this baby means to our family life. But I'm betting that Wiley will be a very sweet big brother even if he does get a bit frustrated at having to share everyone's attention with a crying baby after 4 years of having everyone all to himself.

Baby Gear.

We found a new stroller that is London-friendly (ie, I can take it on the bus, tube and the baby can be flat and nap on the go if needed)--the Bugaboo Bee. I salvaged a Moses Basket for the bed (funny story, but I have some pride, so I won't divulge that one). We have clothes from Wiley. And we will borrow a couple of other things for the first few months. Needless to say, this is a bare bones operation due to lack of space and not wanting to buy things we already have for just a few months. It is bizarre to not have a nursery to set up, and I think that has prevented me from truly nesting. It is difficult to nest in a tiny flat because no matter what you do, stuff is everywhere and you don't have a place to lay out all the baby things and say to yourself, "Ah yes, I am ready now." But amazingly enough, we don't really need all that stuff, do we?

Readiness.

I think I'm as ready as I'll ever be. Wil says this will be like riding a bike--we'll remember what to do when the baby comes. I'm a bit more nervous that I will have lost nappy changing abilities and will have no idea how to hold a newborn.

The lingo:

diaper=nappy

pacifier=dummy (I can't get used to this one)

sippy cup=beaker

junk that baby accumulates=bits that baby accumulates

mom=mum

stroller=pram

So there is a bit of a brain dump on the pregnancy. I'm totally shattered (exhausted in Brit) by the end of the day, and thankfully Wil arrives to save the night. We watch TV and put my feet up on pillows until our bedtime arrives around 9 pm. Yes. Cooking is lazy. Sleeping is hit or miss. My eyes have that "I'm heavily pregnant and tired and puffy" look that just stinks. Braxton Hicks contractions are the most annoying thing at this point. Doing breathing exercises while trying to continue to have a life with your 4 year old is not fun. Who knew that with the second baby, the rest of life spins on instead of stopping so you can nap and rest? And taxis. Those rides are happening more and more frequently. Thankyouverymuch.

I still can't wrap my head around being a family of four. And that we will have two children soon. I'm so thankful. And I can't wait for all the adventures to come.

(PS: Sorry to my sister, mom, and dad for calling Brooke multiple times Saturday morning at 7 am her time, 12 pm mine. I forgot about the time change. I just wanted the Lake phone number to get help with the dressing I was cooking from Mom (I also didn't realize it would be 6am at home). I didn't mean to alarm you into thinking I was in labor. You can obviously tell my head is in the clouds. I'll repeat call at odd hours less frequently from now on.)

Twas the night before Thanksgiving...in London

Twas the night before Thanksgiving (in London) and all through the flat,

not a toy was picked up, and Mama was looking fat.

The buttermilk was missing but the pecans had arrived,

a turkey would come- we hope he fits in the oven or we'll cry!

The child was nestled all snug on the sofa,

while stories of Little Bear flit by on the television-a.

With Dad still at work and Mama with her belly so dear,

she wished she could open just one can of beer.

When out on Facebook, the statuses they sang

"to the farm, the lake," "a feast," and "cooking" in Mama's ears they did rang.

Away to the door, she ran like a horse out of the gate,

the repairman still not here--3 1/2 hours late!

The sun had set around 3:30 p.m.

the light in Mama's brain was equally dim.

While flashes of Thanksgivings went by with family so near,

She knew all those to come would be held so dear.

The dishes they love, the family they miss,

And not to give London any sort of diss.

But to search hi and low for cornmeal!

when you find it, what a steal!

Turkey they know not,

nor Pilgrims and Indians they think of naught,

In fact, the husband proclaims to the English we fought,

Thank goodness for the day we left you lot!

While we will celebrate on Saturday,

At home to watch Macy's Parade tomorrow we'll stay.

With pumpkin muffins to eat and hot chocolate to drink,

We won't let Turkey Day stink!

Because it's not about the casseroles, the turkey, the place.

It's about being thankful in any case.

A flat that's warm, a healthy child,

and one on the way that seems quite wild!

We are blessed with so much,

we should spend each day saying thanks a bunch,

To those Pilgrims who left a country rainy, cold, and dark,

because when they landed at Plymouth, they sure hit the mark!

*Yes, I realize this could be written by a small child. Let's not judge.

**Yes, we are celebrating on Saturday. I know. Soo un-American.

***Yes, we will cook a turkey and all the fixin's. On Saturday.

****Yes, I really do want that can of beer. Let's not judge.

*****Yes, I really am thankful for more than the Pilgrims setting sail on the Mayflower (way to go, guys!).

******Yes, I said I wouldn't diss London. And then I did.

*******Yes, I am still waiting for the repairman. 4 hours later. And I'm still thankful for the Mayflower.

and 9* Yes, I know I might have mushed 4th of July and Thanksgiving together. Over here, both are reasons for a bit of patriotism in any form or fashion.

Gobble Gobble my good chap!

5

On Friday, Wil and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary. He took off work for the afternoon, and we had a delicious, delicious and long lunch at the Dorchester Hotel. It was so much fun to have a long, unhurried meal and to catch up on life. Wil was so sweet and gave me some beautiful earrings that I will probably never take off. Unfortunately for him, he had to get his gift a couple months early.

My friend, Emily Morgan Brown, sketched a portrait of Wiley. I think she did a fabulous job capturing Wiley--from his butter bean teeth to that little look in his eyes. Emily has such an incredible gift in her art, and I still have a watercolor angel she made for me when I had my appendix out in 7th grade (along with a hilarious poster)! Emily was amazing to work with- from helping tell me how to take a picture of Wiley for the portrait to doing the finishing touches to the portrait itself. If you or anyone you know is interested in a portrait, check out Emily's work or tell a friend!

We can't wait to hang the portrait up whenever we move back to the States (it was too big to bring to London).

We are so thankful for Wiley, and we are so thankful for our marriage. It has been a fun five years. As hard as living in London has/is been, I had to say at lunch that my favorite time with Wil has been in London. It has been such a blessing for us as we have grown closer and depend so much more on one another. It doesn't hurt that I don't have to share him on the weekends with anyone!

iPod/Phone?

Wiley: Ring of Fire!

Me: What?

Wiley: Actually, it would fill my bucket if I could listen to some music on your phone.

Me: What? Okay. Sure. You don't want Ring of Fire on my computer?

W: No. I want to listen to your phone.

Me: Okay. (looking at my iPhone for something about music. I find iTunes. I click.)

W: No! Not that. The iPod!

Me: I have an iPod on my phone?

W: Yes. There it is. (He points to it. It is orange if you wondered.)

Me: (Click) Oh. There it is.

W: Thank you.

And now he has set up "drums" in the den (all lights are out because he had a fort and all his animals were sleeping) and is banging colo(u)red pencils together and on the "drums." What is he listening to? Easy. Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas is You. On repeat.

W: Mommy. I'm listening to All I Want for Christmas is You. I like it.

It's not even Thanksgiving. And we are on repeat already plus have watched Elf twice. This is in the house of the girl who refused to turn on 96.5 Magic (B'ham) or listen to Christmas music until December 1. (I strictly enforced this in high school carpool.)

I surrender.

...to the fact my 4 year old can do more with an iPhone than I can.

...to the fact that I didn't realize Thanksgiving is in 2 weeks until yesterday. Is that even right?

...to the fact that Christmas is trumping Thanksgiving.

...and to the fact that my 4 year old has an affinity for Mariah Carey and Johnny Cash. Oh, and now Michael Buble.

Shoot, must go. He somehow found a Glee episode on the phone. Someone please tell me how Glee got on my phone!?

Cambridge

We took a day trip last weekend to Cambridge. It was a beautiful, cold-ish day. Cambridge is an easy day-trip out from London, and it is much bigger than I was expecting. Here are a few memories from our quick trip!

At Kings College. Not stepping on the grass.

Punting. (A boat steered/powered by a guy standing on the back with a long pole. Think gondolas, but less greasy Italian and more tweedy heart-of-England.

The Bridge of Sighs. Think Italy. But not really. Because the real one is in Venice. You know, where the prisoner would walk across it to his impending death on the other side. The (real) Bridge of Sighs is not in England. When our punter (?) told us about this, the lovely Chinese guys with us were a bit confused. "Oh, the prisoner walk across the bridge and is executed. This bridge?" I mean, what if, the punter did not correct him? "Yes, the student who failed his exams must walk across this bridge to be executed." Pretty sure you would have heard about that if it were true, buddy. Needless to say, Wil and I could barely contain ourselves. Even more so when the punter asked where everyone was from. "China." "China? Really?" I don't know how he contained himself. Such a professional. Unlike the obnoxious Americans behind him. America? Really? (Psh, no worries, we always like to add "But we live in London currently." Gosh, we are so exotic.)

Beautiful Kings College Chapel at sunset.

Happily punting down the River Cam.

(not our best angle, but the 3 of us, nonetheless)

And then when we arrived back at Kings Cross at Platform 10, we of course had to take advantage and check out 9 and 3/4! Woo Hoo Harry Potter.

October Re-cap

Here is a quick re-cap of the rest of October in pictures...

We celebrated Wil's Birthday at a friend's cottage in Great Rissington (near Bourton on the Water) in the Cotswolds. The house was fantastic since it had all the kids toys there along with a huge garden. They keep fruit trees and veggies in the garden as well. We ate plums and apples off the tree (Wiley loved this)! We also went on a walk and found these horses.

While in Bourton on the Water, we went to Birdland. While I thought it was going to be a bit lame, I'm realizing that I actually kind of like birds. We saw the best penguin show (I made everyone stay and watch it until the end.) and then as we were leaving, this cockatoo just cracked us up with dancing and singing. It was hilarious.
Later in the month, we went to Disney on Ice!

And that brings us to Halloween, which I've already done pictures of...I think I'm up to date now! November happenings will be coming soon!

*If anyone is interested in renting the Cotswolds cottage, I can give you the information.

Happy Halloween from London!

From carving our pumpkin to dressing up as Sir Wiley the Knight and trick or treating with friends, Halloween was a lot of fun this year! Here are just a few pictures of the brave knight and his scary pumpkin!