I Dream of Travel

Bruges

One thing I am trying to work on is my "living in the moment" attitude. I have a major tendency to wish away the present. It would go something like this, "London is great, but I can't wait to have a house where more than 2 people can fit in the kitchen." And now it might sound like this, "I love being home and having more than 2 people in my kitchen, but wasn't my London kitchen so sweet? I could stand in one spot and reach everything!" So in ode to my grass is greener attitude that I am working on, here is a beautiful and interesting blog that is all about travel and the beauty of life found in it--written by a mom (or maman since she is French) who travels happily with her children in tow. And since I'm allowing myself to wish away the present for only this blog post, "I wish I was in London so that I could easily travel to all these amazing places so easily."

BozAround is written by Vanessa Boz, the mother of a boy Wiley went to nursery school with in London. Vanessa travels extensively with her family so that her trips are always planned with children in mind. I read the blog some while we were in London and wished we could go to these beautiful places. Traveling from London was so easy, but I did not (of course) realize or appreciate it as much as I should have. Being pregnant/with a newborn the last bit of our time in London really reined us in and sent us driving around England itself instead of exploring the Continent.

So should you decide to travel around the world like this family, or maybe you are traveling to Europe soon and want some ideas for off the beaten path destinations or new takes on the classics, or maybe you are just going to couch-travel and let the gorgeous photos help you pretend you are on a Greek island instead of your couch--either way, stop by BozAround for inspiration on travel, modern products for children, and a short (free) vacay from everyday life.

Royal Wedding

Continuing to slowly catch up on the last month or so in London, here are some pictures from the Royal Wedding on April 29th. We waffled back and forth on if we were going to go down for the festivities. With a threat of rain, we thought that would be our excuse to watch it at home live.

However, it turned out to be a clear day, and thanks to Wil's prodding and insistence, we took the tube to Green Park where we met our friend Katie (from Wake) around 8:00 a.m. We walked down Piccadilly to St. James and down to the Mall (pronounced with a long a sound, not like "shopping mall"). We found a great spot where we could stand on a tree's roots and not be in up in the first bit of crowd so we had plenty of room to spread out with the stroller and let Wiley play.

Here is a view after they were headed down the Mall to Buckingham Palace, just to get a feel for the crowd.

Our English baby loves William and Kate!

Waiting for the procession to start--Guards playing music. The flags and outfits of all the guards really set the tone for the morning.

We entertained ourselves by marching like a guard in the grass.

The Princes came first, and we could see them in the car. We could also see Kate's veil when she drove by. Can you imagine seeing all those people lined up for your wedding?! This is the best picture I have from the procession back. William and Kate were in an open carriage, and we were able to see them. However, the picture didn't turn out. This is the Queen's carriage. You could easily see her in her yellow outfit.

Look! Katie and the boys found the bride!

All of us waiting for it to start...It looks like I blinked, but in fact, my eyes are "open." An indication of our tiredness from a baby and early wedding morning. Please notice the stroller (pram) decor.

I'm so thankful Wil made us get out and enjoy the atmosphere in person. It was a fun, historical event that we can now say we were there for! I loved coming home and watching the wedding on TV knowing that we had been out there. And to see the national pride for the British people was also so special to be a part of--although the crowds weren't quite as loud as I expected. Congrats and Best Wishes William and Kate!

(Remember this post? My friend (and Wiley's friend's mum), Ute and her husband, designed some of those plates totally on a lark! They were all over London, and she casually mentions these plates at the playground! So fun! This one on the bottom right, however, was my wedding souvenir--thanks for picking me up one, Puck! If you still want to get a wedding souvenir, look at the London Transport Museum for cute posters and other bits and bobs.)

Easter...in June

I neglected to load any pictures from Easter/Wiley's Birthday/Last days in London until this week. So without any further ado...A look back at Easter in London.

After church at All Souls, we had our friends Jill, Tim, Elizabeth, and Victoria over for lunch and egg hunt. It was so much fun and an amazingly beautiful London day.

Sweet Ellis holding Parr with Victoria. Jill is to the right! Miss yall!

Easter picture. It's impossible to get both children looking normal at the same time. Our flat was in the building behind us.

Oh, I loved our beautiful garden across the street.

An attempt at getting all 3 children to smile and look at the camera at the same time. It was a no-go. I thought this was funny nonetheless. And by the way, those girls are the cutest girls in [insert our old postcode]. Their mama single handedly brought bows (and I'd say smocked dresses) back to the [insert our old postcode]. And I'm quoting her on that!

Coming up next...Wiley's Birthday!

simple

While I'm not entirely sure what this blog is going to look like now that we are back in the States, I do know that I still have a lot of pictures and memories that I want to share from our time in London. And selfishly, I'm going to use this to process the end of those hard-at-first but magical times in London. It's been an odd sensation to be homesick for a place I swore I'd never call home.
There is no doubting it, as hard as it was to sometimes find a babysitter and to not have family a phone call away to help, that life in London was so simple. Maybe not easy, but simple. Our little nest was just that. Little. Tiny. Simple. About the size of my kitchen and den right now. Total and no exaggeration. But my babies were right up under me and it felt so safe. Sure, a bigger nest would be great and fitting 2 people in the kitchen without bumping into one another is fine and all, but having your family right there, snuggled in, well there is just nothing like it. Our new house is a blessing, no doubt, but right now it feels very cavernous and my babies seem far away.

It's an odd life--being an expat--you long for home and its SUVs, large grocery stores, and familiar faces. That first winter feels like a lifetime of grey days and rain. There is just one tea cup at your table in the afternoon. Friends from home pull you through and a visit refreshes you. Then suddenly, one day, walking from Bond Street to Mayfair listening to an iPod, you find freedom in the new faces and life in those city streets. You are used to your online grocery orders and know what ingredients you can and cannot find in your new home. And the bus lines become as familiar as the interstates at home. The once-in-awhile friend for tea has become habitual and your home is strewn with toys and at least two empty cups at the end of the afternoon. It's not that you don't miss your friends and family in the States or that they could have possibly been replaced. But it's that without you even knowing it, your strange new city became home. Not Home, but just another home. Don't we have a few of those each if we are lucky?

In this transition, I'm missing my London home. A case of absence makes the heart grow fonder? But all it takes is me looking around at the faces of the people who have known me for years and years, and I'm reminded that this too will feel like home for my little family. It will look different and feel different than when I last lived here-- from when we left to make a home across the pond, even to make a home in Winston-Salem. I've changed. My family has changed. London happened. It was home and will always be one of my homes. And for my London home, I'll always, always be grateful.

Wake Forest Mama Goes to...

Alabama!

We have arrived back to Sweet Home Alabama and are finally recovering from jet lag. Our last couple of weeks in London were a whirlwind with Wiley's birthday party (pictures to come), packing (in suitcases only), and saying goodbye to some really special and sweet friends. I want to share about all this and selfishly just get it down in writing so I don't forget. There are a lot of emotions going on about the move, and I expect that they will all settle down once I have settled in with my little family in our new house. So, if it takes me a little bit, please hang in there (the five of you who read this), I'm in Athens for my little sister's graduation (yay!) and then orchestrating a move into a real house for the first time. In between unpacking boxes, if I can find the way out, I'll hopefully be able to share about our last happenings in London. That last month was pretty magical.

Chatsworth

The other weekend while Laura Puckett was here visiting, we took a long weekend trip to Chatsworth in the Peak District, the home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire. On Sunday when we got there, we caught the tail end of a gourmet food fair.

We toured the house and then proceeded to get lost in the maze they have in the garden. Very tricky! They also had a farmyard. I loved it. A lot. It made me want to move to the country and have sheep, pigs, cows, chickens, and goats.

Meet Gladys. She was heavily pregnant.

We loved the lambs.

Sweet piglets living next door to Gladys.

So cute! They were jumping around and frolicking. Actually frolicking.

This guy kept trying to get out of his fence. If you walked over there and paid any attention to him at all, he was up on 2 legs. He also was very good at posing for pictures.

Chatsworth was a fantastic family-friendly weekend trip, only 2 1/2 hours north from Central London. Besides touring the house, garden, and playing in the farmyard and adventure playground, you can just hangout on the grounds for free. The gorgeous hilly fields complete with a herd of deer would be perfect for a picnic. It was the perfect last weekend trip out of London.

Abbey Road

One of the iconic images of London is the Abbey Road crosswalk where the Beatles so famously walked. We took advantage of having a photographer (thanks Michal!) and did our own Beatles-esque photo. I felt slightly embarrassed seeing as I normally am the one ploughing ahead through the tourists en route to run my errands--there's no telling how many pictures I've ruined. Sorry, but one must walk with a purpose. :-) Fortunately, we've scoped out when is the best time to do this picture (we've taken this picture for friends before), and Sunday- morning-London has to be at its quietest, so before church we headed out.

Our timing was a little off in the first few...

But we finally started to get the hang of it!

And now we have our own Abbey Road picture with our foursome. Someday when Parr is bigger, we'll just point to that stroller and say "there you are!"

Wills and Kate...in the home

Around these parts, we are getting a bit excited about a certain Royal Wedding. From the day they were engaged, watching how Brits responded to Kate and William has been very interesting. It is certainly an event that we, as Americans, cannot quite fully grasp. The respect immediately given to the "future Queen" is foreign. Hearing others joke about her being "common" was quite hilarious as you are reminded that it is actually something that a Brit thinks about--that ever-so-important social standing. Royalty and the monarchy--something to Americans that belongs in a Disney movie or the dreams of little girls--is a reality here, and it commands respect, fascination, and in Kate's case--a bit of envy from millions of young women across the world! Stores even are capitalizing on the upcoming event with loads of commemorative items. Here are a few should you wish to have your own!

from John Lewis

from Judith Michael & Daughter in Primrose Hill

from Cath Kidston

{click the item for the link to the website! some places, like John Lewis & Cath Kidston have other items available}

Considering London

We've just been loungin'

But not really! Big Brother is in the States, but Parr and I have somehow stayed busy between running errands and getting to visit with friends. Less naps have been taken this week than originally planned, but nonetheless it has certainly been low-key. Parr was definitely missing his brother at bath time!

We've been out and about getting fabric samples, window shopping, and visiting with the friendliest 91 year old man (He tried to get me to guess his age. I'm not falling for that one!) in the yogurt aisle at the Waitrose. He stopped me as we were meandering through to look at Parr. We agreed that children are miracles and that Italy is a fabulous country. I learned that one of the best tenors (opera) is named Florence and is from Peru. I also learned that the secret to old age is keeping your mind sharp. He was so sweet and friendly; I felt like I could have been in the Piggly Wiggly having this long conversation with a complete stranger. That just doesn't happen here.
Parr also had his 6 week check up. I was planning on them weighing him, but alas, while the baby clinic (where you are supposed to go on Wednesdays to get them weighed) is in the same area as the GP, they cannot access the scale to weigh a baby. I don't get it. I may or may not have dropped a minute amount of sass and name dropped our pediatrician's name at home.

But apart from having no idea how much Parr weighs (he is gaining weight), all else is well.

5 weeks

Parr will be 5 weeks old tomorrow, and we are enjoying some time with just Wil, Parr, and me. I am missing Big Brother and the house is eerily quiet without him; however, he is off having a ball in Alabama where so far (last I talked to him) he had had bubblegum and homemade waffles with a promise of an icee this afternoon. Needless to say he is a very, very happy boy! And we cannot wait to join him in a few days. [I would like Zoe's chicken salad and sweet tea in lieu of an icee. ]

I'm thankful for this time with Parr, and selfishly, it is a chance to slow down and (as corny as it sounds) reflect on the past month. That is, when the jackhammer next door is not going strong. If the workmen spoke english, I would have some thoughts to share about jackhammers and infant naps. Oh wait, Wiley already took care of that. While my parents were here, he marched next door, and told the worker men (as he says) that their noise was really bothering him and was very annoying, and when would it stop. Mom said they said 5 days. Not so much the case.

We've made quite a few outings with Parr--to church, Bible study, to Wiley's school for the school run, coffee with a friend, dinners, and two Junior League meetings.

Perhaps the best was when Wil and I got a "posh curry" after getting Parr's passport (Wiley was in school). [Warning: Spit up involved. I should just put that under the header because let's face it, with a baby, spit up is always involved.] We arrived early at 12 noon (no one eats til 1), Parr starts crying after we sit down even though I had just fed him. After trying everything else, I had my "posh curry" while nursing Parr. (I love my "bebeaulait" nursing cover.) Of course, Parr spits up all down my side of my leg. Whatever. What is a little spit up? I clean it up on myself and him. Then, a while later, a busboy comes up with a wet towel. He kneels beside my chair and starts wiping something off the floor. On the same side that the spit up incident happened. As businessmen and women began trickling in from their "posh cocktails in the bar area," I couldn't even make eye contact with the busboy. I just pretended it never happened. And that was Parr's first "posh curry."

This little boy is on the go, and he loves, loves, loves sleeping in his stroller. He wouldn't nap in his moses basket this morning, so finally after trying to get him to sleep for over an hour--I popped him in the stroller and off we went to run errands to the library, post office, and butcher. In minutes the boy is asleep. And stays asleep when we get home so mommy can eat lunch!

I certainly did not...

...voluntarily offer my 4 year old a whole donut this morning to enjoy while watching Gullah Gullah Island (holla 1990s kids tv!)

...break a mayonnaise jar (they shatter, while remaining in mayonnaise jar form, so please pick up with a broom and dust pan. not your hand!)

...break one of our 4 bowls (cath kidston. tear.) while trying to reheat some pasta. i was moving the bowl all of 6 inches, and i still can't reconstruct what exactly happened.

...promptly thereafter, as my mom was cleaning up the broken bowl (i think she was worried i might fall to pieces, like the bowl, you know, crazy new baby, post preggo hormones), spilled red wine all down my sweater. first sip. (mom again steps in to avoid possible breakdown of daughter)

...and last night, i went through 3 diapers, rather Parr went through 3 diapers, in about 3 minutes. problem was, in between poo diapers 1 and 2, i somehow got poo on my hand, our duvet, and Parr. again, i can't reconstruct these events, other than i was doing it in the dark and couldn't see well.

i think i gave Parr what was left of my brain. which one might think is a lovely, selfless thing to do, but given the state of my brain, it might not have been so great.

on another, less-poo-ey, note, wil and i went to dinner alone for the first time since pre-parr! I don't think i had actually been without parr since he was born (he's 2 weeks old plus a couple days!) thanks mom for babysitting the boys! we were this close to throwing in the towel but thankfully wil insisted that we go even if we weren't that hungry. it felt so good to get out, and i could tell such a difference in our attitudes when we were doing our usual parr-doesn't-really-want-to-go-to-bed-between-9-and-1230am-routine-and-only-wants-to-eat. another fun fact of our yummy sushi date was that the tables were so close it was like speed dating but interestingly enough, both tables on either side of us were Americans. a reason why i love our little 'hood.

Brothers

Things are lookin' good here.

Um, mom, why is he starting to cry?

Hey, Parr, just pose for the picture and then she'll leave us alone.

Pose is not working. Can you take him already?

Back to Christmas

Here are just a few pictures from a wonderful Christmas in London!

One of the highlights for me was how much Wiley enjoyed playing with his toys. We didn't tear through Santa and on to family gifts at all. He genuinely loved playing with Woody and Buzz and his legos for a long time...at least long enough for us to all have coffee and coffee cake. Having a Christmas morning that was not rushed through and was savored was so special.

Back to Christmas Eve (below) Wiley went to work with Wil! Here Wiley is in Lloyd's of London (Insurance Market). The Titanic, Marilyn Monroe's legs, Brad Paisley's voice, your beach condo...you name it...is insured in this building.

The boys before they leave for work. Wiley insisted on wearing a tie like Wil.