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