Bump in a dress (19 weeks!)

Tonight I've got a doctor's appointment to get a note that says I'm okay to fly-I guess the airlines are being particularly careful these days so my doctor advised I come in and get a note so they don't try and turn us away next week when we arrive at Heathrow for our flight to Seattle. I've also read that you should call the airlines ahead to let them know you're pregnant, I called them all last week (we couldn't get direct flights so between here, Seattle and Miami we're flying with 3 different airlines) and they all said they would be able to accommodate me with an extra leg room seat when we check in-super exciting when you're talking about 15 hours of flight time!

I've also come down with an awful cold and had to stay home from work today-only the 2nd day of the entire year! Pretty miserable when you can't take anything for it, will be spending the rest of the day catching up on The Hills and napping in hopes it goes away ASAP.

Above is the latest bump pic that Mark took on Saturday when we went to Paul & Rachel's work Christmas party. Not sure if it does it justice, but do feel like I've plateaued a bit over the past couple of weeks which is probably a good thing. More soon x

Christmas Parties

As I write this Mark & I are getting ready for another Christmas party.... The two weeks leading up to Christmas in London are a blur of social get togethers with colleagues, clients and friends and we're right in the middle of the season. This week I went out with a client on Tuesday and then on Thursday night had a mini-work Christmas party with my team. Tonight Mark and I are going to Rachel and Paul's work Christmas party; they own a recruitment firm here and this is the second year in a row that Mark has been asked to come down and speak to their staff before celebrating that night.

I wasn't sure how it would go this year, last year and the year before these weeks were filled with lots of drinking and late nights and left you feeling exhausted for Christmas. Luckily I've been feeling pretty good over the past couple of weeks so I've been able to keep up with everyone else although it has been an experience being the only sober one at these parties. I found a great party dress online (quite a feat when you see what the options are for maternity party dresses!) which I will be wearing tonight and probably again in Miami on New Year's and am really looking forward to tonight.

Today is also the anniversary of Mark's dad's passing. 22 years ago Mark's Mum woke up to find her beloved husband had a heart attack whilst sleeping and was left to raise 3 young children all on her own. Mark's dad, John, was the love of her life and often I wonder what it would be like if he was still alive. He was the spitting image of Mark and everyone who met him said he was the kindest, most generous person going. Mark will say a prayer today and tomorrow we will go to his dad's grave to honor him.

Have a great weekend and enjoy the snow in Seattle-fingers crossed for a white Christmas! x

Andy & Jaye

Taylor & Dave

Gordon

As mentioned in my last post, on Saturday I met one of my idols-Gordon Ramsay! To be honest, I don't really have any idols but am obsessed with Gordon, not only is he an amazing chef but he's great to watch on one of his many shows over here. We got up early on Saturday and met my brother and sister in law to attend the Taste event he was putting on. It was kind of like an indoor Bite of Seattle with a Christmas theme that Gordon Ramsay happened to be hosting. In addition to getting to be part of a one-hour live cooking demonstration, he and his wife were also doing a book signing (despite the rumours circling them right now with regards to infidelity!). Below are my pictures with Gordon and some others from the day-we had a great time and big thanks to Paul & Rachel for making the day special and for surprising me with a signed copy of Tana Ramsay's book.

Update on baby, clumsy me took a bit of a spill today. It's been pretty cold here in London, so cold that I've cheekily started wearing my Uggs to work and changing into heels when I get there. I still haven't been able to give up the stilettos but with all the walking you have to do in London had to figure out an option for getting to and from work. Anyway, in a rush at lunch today I tripped on the pavement and landed on all fours. Totally embarrassing, ego crushing and worrying all at the same time. After a worried call to Mark who scorned me for taking things too fast, and about an hour's research online trying to make sure baby would be okay, I'm feeling a bit more relieved and have learned my lesson about being more careful. Two more weeks until our 20 week scan where we will get to see baby and know he/she is okay.....

Gordon shouting out to Mark in the audience-I was so nervous!

"To Mark & Jen-Much Love Gordon Ramsay"
Totally worth the wait!

"To Mark, Jen & Bump-Best Wishes, Tana Ramsay"
Thanks Paul & Rachel-so sweet!

Mark and his sausage roll....

Celebrity Weekend-TGIF

TGIF! After what has been a long but good week I'm really looking forward to the weekend. Mark & I are having a quiet one tonight-Dominoes pizza (double mushrooms for me, mushrooms have been one of my few pregnancy cravings along with chocolate milk and ice cream and grape juice) and the finale of I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here. I'm a Celebrity is this reality show in the U.K. where they take a totally random group of B-list American and English celebrities and put them in the jungle in Australia and film them over a few weeks-kind of like Survivor for celebrities.

Tomorrow I'm going to meet one of my idols, Gordon Ramsay (or at least be in the same room with him with him). Mark surprised me with tickets to an event that he's hosting where he gives a live cooking demonstration and signs cookbooks afterwards. Gordon Ramsay is THE celebrity chef here in the U.K., he's got about 4 different shows on t.v. and his restaurants are the top restaurants in London (we went to one for the first time for our year anniversary this year and another one for my sister-in-law's birthday). We're going with Paul & Rachel and will be spending the day, I will make sure to bring my camera in case I get to meet him-shame I have to be preggors!

Sunday we're going to do some Christmas shopping-they close the two main shopping streets (Regent Street and Oxford Street) in London to traffic and have lots of big events this weekend so whilst it will be mayhem, I'm really looking forward to it.

As far as baby is concerned, we got some great news earlier this week. The results from our integrated blood tests for spina bifida and Down syndrome came back with a low risk and they have said the chance of our baby having Downs is 1 in 50000. Such a relief!

Hope you all have a great weekend.

London Thanksgiving

Yesterday we had the Verghese family over for my 3rd annual Thanksgiving in London. There was Mark's mum, Pat, his older brother Paul and his wife Rachel with the two kids, Max (4) and Holly (10), and Mark's younger sister Tracey and her boyfriend Richard. As mentioned, it's really important to keep up your own traditions, especially now as we add to our family. If we end up staying here in London for a few more years, I want to make sure that my kids celebrate some of the traditions that I grew up with even if we're not in America and I'm sure Mark will feel the same someday when we're back (someday!).

Pretty much the entire weekend was dedicated to shopping and preparing for dinner on Sunday, bless Mark for giving up his weekend to help. Dinner turned out perfect-a massive turkey, mash, Tom Douglas stuffing, green beans with sage and pancetta and an English twist, Yorkshire puddings. Mark's Mum made 4 apple pies for desert (Mark's favourite) and at least half of the family tried my Grandma's pumpkin pie and actually seemed to like it (Pat asked if I had to carve the pumpkins myself)! The boys watched "football" (soccer) upstairs whilst the girls were downstairs and it felt like a real Thanksgiving. I was so exhausted by the time everyone left that I fell asleep before 9 last night!

It was pretty cute, Mark's family even dressed up for the occasion, did a little research about the importance of the day (apparently some sites say we give presents?!), and brought flowers and chocolates and for that day I felt a little less homesick and part of a truly great family.

A few things I'm thankful for this year:

1. Our baby and having a healthy and easy pregnancy (so far!)

2. My wonderful husband

3. That all of my family and friends are healthy

4. The fact that I still have a job in this economy

5. Feeling like there is nothing I want to put on my Christmas list because I have everything I could want and more

6. That I get to come home in just 23 days!

Have a great Monday x

The apple pies

Richard


Eating dinner


Mark & Paul watching the game after dinner


Holly, Max & Tracey

16 Week GP Appointment

Well, I survived-I made it through my GP appointment on Tuesday with flying colors. The appointment started with the not so pleasurable event these days of getting on the scale. Never in my life have I ever weighed so much, and while I know it's healthy and to be expected I have to say it's frightening to see the numbers getting bigger and bigger. Luckily the doctor said I'm on track with how much I've gained and have nothing to worry about (I was especially concerned because I put on a whopping 3.5 lbs this week!). She then had me lay down to feel for the size of the uterus which is at a normal size for where we should be right now. It was a nice surprise when she listened for the heartbeat and I got to hear that reassuring sound that proves baby is still in there and doing okay. Thanks to all for the moral support with regards to getting my flu shot, compared to giving blood it was nothing and two days later I haven't had any flu-like side affects which is pretty lucky. Our next appointment will be Dec. 22nd when we get to have our 20 week scan and find out if we're having a boy or a girl.

Today is Thanksgiving and I must admit I'm feeling pretty homesick. This has always been one of my favourite holidays and provides lots of warm memories. It's such a strange feeling to "miss out" on holidays and to have a normal day when lots of your loved ones are celebrating-the only other time of the year I feel like this is 4th of July which is also another one of my favourite holidays. Whilst I can't replicate the fireworks and barbeque's of the 4th of July, there is nothing to prevent me from making Grandma's pumpkin pie (even if I'm the only one who eats it) and roasting a turkey (if I can manage to find one this far before Christmas) so Sunday we will be having my own version of Thanksgiving (minus the parade watching, American football games and sales to look forward to the next day). One of my Finnish friends told me that it's important to keep hold of the traditions of your own country and this will be my third year of having Thanksgiving in London. It's been fun to share the tradition with people who haven't celebrated before and it helps me feel connected to those back home. Last year we had a friends Thanksgiving where I managed to have far too many glasses of wine and champagne and had to put myself to bed before our guests left. Needless to say, this year will be a little different.

Anyway, I hope all of you enjoy your Thanksgiving and know that I'm thinking of you and am thankful to have each and everyone of you in my life.

Brrr.... Snow!

London has been freezing lately (literally!); early Sunday morning I woke up to snow which was short-lived but pretty while it lasted. This will be my third winter in London and I think with that I've seen as many snows in that time. Snow in November is pretty early, bookmakers here have upped the odds of a white Christmas from 8/1 to 6/1, which seems like pretty good odds-if we miss it I will be pretty disappointed. Weather here in London is probably just a small step up from Seattle in terms of quality, we get slightly less rain but on the whole it's still pretty cloudy for more months than not and always seems to be around the 45-55 degree mark. On that note, I have already started counting down the days until we're in sunny Miami-29 and counting!

Other than the snow we had a pretty good weekend. On Saturday we looked at 3 houses, one of which we are really interested in: http://www.georgeproctor.co.uk/ViewProperty.aspx?adid=1355821. The house is great, about as close to an "American" house as you can find in London and within walking distance of the shops (for me) and the train station with links to London (for Mark). We're going to have a second viewing next weekend to have a better look.

We also went into a few baby shops (Mothercare and Mamas & Papas) to have a look at strollers (called "prams" in the UK) and cribs (called "cots" in the U.K.). Who knew how expensive this stuff was?! For the stroller and car seat we're looking at about £575 (about $865) and for the crib, changing table/chest of drawers and clothes cupboard we're looking at easily another £2k ($3000)!! Things here are so expensive, it's a shame there isn't an easy way to bring this stuff back from America. Mark has been quite cute about it, he's taken the philosophy that nothing is too good for our baby and that we should get the best we can get although I suspect that will change when we actually start buying things and it all starts adding up!

Tomorrow (Tuesday) is my first regular appointment with our local doctor (GP). I haven't actually seen a doctor since I first found out I was pregnant so it will be good to go in and see how I'm getting on, although I will also have my dreaded flu shot... Wish me luck!

Aches, pains and conquering your fears

Week 15 going on 16 and I have my first pregnancy groan-aches and pains! For the past few days I've been getting really bad cramps and aches in my legs and my back hurts worse then it ever has before. I feel like I'm 28 going on 58! It's so bad that I've even asked for one of those foot rest stools at work to see if it will help and I'm literally rolling off the couch and out of bed!

This week I've also had to go on a wild goose chase to get a flu shot, something that is recommended for women who will be in their 2nd and 3rd trimesters during flu season (and also something I never thought I would be doing, usually I would be running the other way!). When I came to Seattle in February this year I got the worst flu of my life on the airplane and don't want a repeat over our precious few days in Seattle for Christmas nor in Miami on our last "couple" holiday-also in London you're surrounded by people on the bus and tube where germs run rampant. Despite this, in the U.K. flu shots are only available to those who are terminally ill or over 65! I've managed to convince my doctor to write a prescription though and will have the shot done at my first regular GP (general practitioner) appointment next Tuesday which will occur every 4 weeks starting from next week, my 16th week.

I have to say, I hate shots. I hate needles. I've had several episodes at the doctors office when giving blood where I've had ringing in my ears and almost passed out. I hate the hospital. The one time I had stitches at age 16 I cried my eyes out. For most of my life I've known that I wanted to have children but was scared to death at the idea of the actual childbirth. Even now I'm trying not to think too much about it and have passed over the later chapters in my What to Expect When You're Expecting book because I don't want to start worrying about it. However, in the last couple of months I've had to give blood loads of times and have done so without incident-in fact, it didn't even hurt and was over in a second each time. Hopefully when it comes time for my flu shot I can say the same!

I guess this is the first step to becoming a Mom, a new stage in growing up-learning to conquer your fears and be selfless for someone else. Sure, we've all done it for our boyfriends/husbands/friends/family but this new challenge is really putting your own fears to one side and focusing on the greater picture-your child.

Attached is a week 15 and three quarters photo-swear I'm getting bigger by the day! Have a great weekend x

You won't be so fat after you have the baby......

It's a rainy Sunday here in London and I can think of nothing better to do then stay indoors and watch a movie. Mark and I are going to a local pub tonight to have Sunday roast-in England it's a regular family meal for Sunday that includes roast chicken and potatoes, steamed vegetables, gravy and my favourites-Yorkshire puddings (popovers). Yum! I might even treat myself to a small glass of wine with dinner, tomorrow marks the start of week 15 and everything I have read says that one small glass a week after the first trimester is okay.

Yesterday we spent the day with the Verghese clan. Mark has a younger sister, Tracey, who is 27 and an older brother, Paul, who is 35. Paul is married to Rachel who has become more than just a sister but a best friend to me here in London, and they have two beautiful children Max, who is 4, and Holly who will be 11 just after Christmas. Whenever the Verghese family gets together you can bet that we will make it out for at least one meal, if not two. In fact, I can't really think of a time when we've all gotten together and not had a big dinner here at our place or over at Paul and Rachel's. Yesterday we went to a Chinese/Japanese restaurant around the corner from Pat's (my mother-in-laws), although it did take about 20 minutes of deliberating to all agree on going there instead of to Indian or Italian (the other two local choices).

The kids are surprisingly curious and interested in the pregnancy, particularly Max who is probably most excited because he won't be the youngest anymore. A couple of weeks ago whilst out for another dinner we were all discussing baby names. Max decided he loved the name Luke (after Luke Sky Walker of course!) and that from now on we should call him Luke. That stuck for a week or two. Last night as I was finishing a massive plate of stir fried shrimp with onion and basil Max said "You know, Jen-you won't be so fat after you have the baby." Which you know, really made me feel better after stuffing my face! He's such a comic and so cute, all I could do was laugh. Let's hope if we have a little boy he will get some of the same cheeky Verghese genes that Max did.

My first driving lesson....

Last night was my first UK driving lesson, the first time I've gotten on the "other" side of the car and the first time I've driven since moving to London in June 2006. I have to say, I was really nervous before my lesson last night. I think when I first learned to drive I didn't realise how much power you have behind the wheel of a car and now that it's not just me that I'm responsible for but also a little baby, I think I was double nervous. It was also dark outside and rush hour in the city of London so that didn't help!

It was an hour lesson but felt like it was about 20 minutes. Driving here is so different to driving at home, not only do you have to get used to the other side of the road and the other side of the car, driving on two way roads that are as wide as our one-lane roads, but they also look in the mirror before signaling and you have to learn how to get through "road abouts" and etc.

After my first lesson they have decided I need 10-20 hours more of lessons. I also have to take a "theory" test which is like our written and then a "practical" test which is when you go out with an instructor and is the last thing to do before I get my license. At this rate I might just have my license by February which would be ideal because if it takes any longer than that, I might not be able to fit in the little tiny car anymore (it's a Ford Astra, kind of like a new version of the Escort).

I can't believe it's taken me so long to sign up for lessons; when we found out we were having a baby all of the sudden I felt like we had so much to do-rent out our flat, move house, get my driving license, and so on and so forth. Now that I've taken the steps to get started, I'm actually really looking forward to it-if I wasn't able to drive when baby came I would be bored out of my mind and I think I will have gained a sense of independence.

Would have included my new license photo but it's way to heinous! Enjoy the rest of the week x

The first bump photo

Hard to believe I'm starting my 14th week on Monday and I'm already this big! Mark took this photo when I came home the other night from work, it will be one of many that will show just how huge I'm going to get in the upcoming months. I'm still feeling great though, not a single bout of nausea so far, and I'm no longer feeling like I want to go to bed at 8 every night. I am a bit slower moving though, find it harder to bend down and pick things up and no longer run for the bus in the morning....
People are also starting to notice that I'm pregnant. The first incident was ironically right after our first scan on Oct. 27th; on the tube on the way back to work a man got up and offered me his seat which is what people are supposed to do if you're pregnant (British people are on the whole pretty polite). At work I've had a couple of people politely ask (via e-mail one colleague asked if I'd had a big breakfast or if congratulations were in order) although it's kind of a tricky one still depending on what I'm wearing. To be honest, I'm so excited I pretty much tell anyone who wants to hear, the waiter at dinner who offers wine (although in Paris even when he knew I was pregnant he still tried to push the red wine!), the cleaner at work, the receptionist at the doctor's office-anyone who will listen!
I can honestly say that I've loved every second of being pregnant so far and hope this good feeling continues over the next couple of months as we've got lots coming up with coming to Seattle for Christmas, our "baby moon" to Miami afterwards and moving house when we're back to London in the New Year.

Mom's Visit & Paris

It's been just over a week now since my Mom left after her first visit to London. She was here for 10 busy days in which I saw more of London than I've seen in 2 and a half years. It was great to finally show her where/how we live and to be able to see some things I've wanted to see in London but haven't been able to drag Mark along to (which I can totally understand since he saw most of the tourist attractions around London when he was a kid in school). We went to quite a few markets (Borough Market-the food market, Spitalfields Market-our local market and Portabello Road-the antiques market), took a tour of the Tower of London, went the the National Gallery Museum, saw the amazing Leeds Castle and spent two fantastic days in Paris.

To be honest, I've never really wanted to go to Paris but it's so easy to get there from here (just over 2 hours on a fast train that goes 186 mph!) that I thought it would be an easy trip for us to conquer-me being pregnant and exhausted all of the time and my Mom not having travelled abroad before. Paris was such an amazing experience-literally just as I had imagined it to be with lots of cute little shops, people dressed super glamorously and lots of people smoking outside at little cafes all around the city. We saw the Louvre, did the Eiffel Tower, walked the Seine, saw Notre Dame and visited about a dozen little French bakeries along the way.

It was a great time and I'm really happy to have had this time with my Mom. It was great to tell her our news in person rather than on the phone and to be able to listen to her share a few stories about when she was pregnant with me. It also reminded me that even though it's hard to live so far away from my "real" home, I'm pretty lucky to live in such an amazing place and to have been able to travel as much as I have since I moved over here.

We're having a baby!!

Yes, that's right-we're pregnant! After 3 months of not really believing it was true, we got confirmation on Monday with our first ultra sound that there is in fact a baby in my chubby little tummy. Things have been almost too easy so far, other than feeling like I want to go to bed every night at 8.30 I've had very few pregnancy symptoms (knock on wood!).

I had seen my "GP" (general practitioner in the UK, your local doctor that you go to for general issues) when we first took the test 6 weeks ago and when I showed up it was the first time I had used the "free" UK health care system. Fully expecting blood tests and the works like what some of you guys in Seattle have had, I was shocked to have more of what was an interview and when the doctor told me there would be no tests because they use the same ones you would use at home, I was a bit disappointed and worried.

A couple weeks ago I went to the hospital where we are scheduled to have the baby and met with a mid-wife. Again, I totally expected some tests, poking and prodding, the works! But nothing. Mark and I honestly felt there was a slim chance that at our ultrasound appt. on Monday they might not find anything in there!

Thank God, there was in fact a little, healthy baby. Mark has pointed out that so far "it" has his legs (like sticks!) and my belly (or at least what it looks like right now). Our estimated due date is May 13, 2009 (almost Mother's Day my Mom pointed out) and we have our 2nd ultrasound when we get to find out the baby's sex on Dec. 22nd-just in time for Christmas!