Seattle Showers

Our trip to Seattle from Dec. 23rd-28th was a bittersweet one. Sweet because I got to spend Christmas with my family and see all of my friends, but bitter because it will be a long time now before I get to go back-the longest I will have gone without a visit since I moved away. Previous to our visit I was excited about the prospect of a white Christmas, after arriving I wished I had never wished for it in the first place! Mark and I had booked the Marriott at the Redmond Town Center which was a blessing because we were close enough to see most everyone but spent much of our time snowbound in the hotel waiting for people to come to us or pick us up to go elsewhere.

Christmas Eve we woke up to snow showers and spent the day with my Mom and then went to my Aunt Lorie & Uncle Ken's which is always lots of fun. It was great to see my cousin Jake who is a sophomore at WSU and my cousin Garrett who is 12. Christmas Day our plans changed and we spent the day with my Mom again and even managed to drag Mark out to see the Benjamin Button movie which is worth seeing just for the scenes of Brad Pitt in his late 20s/30s! The 26th was the day that I got to see all of my friends in Seattle for dinner. Ashley & Troy came to pick us up and when we arrived at Katie & Jerame's house I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw how they had decorated for our baby shower.

In the U.K. it's not common to have baby showers so I wasn't really expecting one, it was a big enough treat just to have all of my friends and their husbands in one place! Mark was pretty shocked too although I think (know in fact) that he's come to realise what a special group of friends we have in Seattle. Leah made these beautiful cupcakes, the girls pitched in for an amazing meal and Katie gave up her house to a party which is a big sacrifice when you have 4 month old twins! Dett was up from L.A. (I hadn't seen her since the wedding) and Jeanne was just back from Thailand bearing gifts (LOVE the pashmina!). I got to see Keri's baby bump for the first time (she's two months behind me) and Ashley's who despite being two months ahead of me actually seems to be the same size or smaller.

In addition to a baby shower we also had the first ever "man shower". The guys had their own little party which involved Thai whiskey, tequila and some serious man bonding. Mark said for the first time ever he really felt comfortable and like he was with a group of friends. I can't even begin to tell you how spoiled Baby Verghese is going to be-he's got a pile of Calvin Klein onesies, a proper English cardie and cords courtesy of the Haighs, and a whole suitcase full of his own adorable clothes-thank you a million times over for being so thoughtful, for the gifts and for braving the snow and ice to celebrate with us. I can't tell you all how much it meant and how much I love you.

Another highlight of the trip was the limited amount of time we spent with my Dad which included a lunch with my Aunt Sue who I haven't seen in years. It was pretty special to see her as she's recently battled breast cancer and was great to catch up on how my cousins were doing.

Below are a few pics from the Seattle leg of our trip, the ones from Miami that I will post later this week show us looking a lot tanner and healthier!

Leah's beautiful cupcakes

Man Shower!

Mark in the snow on Christmas

The girls

My Aunt Sue & Dad

Mark & I on X-mas (Mark has a big smile because he got spoiled big time by my Mom!)

Holiday Hangover and It's a....

Yes, even while pregnant I'm experiencing a massive hangover! I couldn't get out of bed this morning, can't think straight and am feeling super sorry for myself all because I'm bummed to be back in London and back to the grind. Mark & I had such a fantastic time in Seattle and Miami, it's hard knowing I won't be back to Seattle for such a long time (probably another 9 mos or so until baby is ready to travel) and that I don't have any more holidays to look forward to since I'm getting close to the 3rd trimester now....

There is so much to tell you all about our 2 weeks away.... Seattle was great although a bit of a bummer, with all of the snow we couldn't get around as much as we would have liked and spent lots of time in our hotel wishing we could be doing more. The biggest highlight was the surprise baby shower the girls threw me on the 26th-I will post more later this week but it was the most special and thoughtful thing imaginable and made me feel so good to know that even after being 5000 miles away for the past 2 and a half years that I'm still part of the group and our friendships haven't suffered. Thanks girls (and husbands!), I love you!

Miami was fab, too-this was my first time there and although I would have liked to have been able to go to the clubs, sip a few mojitos by the pool and flaunt a pre-pregnancy body at the beach it was still pretty great. The weather was in the 80s while we were there so it's been tough to get used to the below freezing temperatures again here in London.

Anyway, just a quick note to update you on our last two weeks and to say thank you to everyone for making the time to see us, for the amazing gifts we received and for being part of our lives. Oh, and for those I haven't been able to tell yet-IT's A BOY!!!! Check out our latest picture at 20 weeks of Baby Verghese below. He's completely happy and healthy and is following in Mom's footsteps by sucking his thumb in this photo (I embarrassingly sucked my thumb until age 9!). 22 weeks today and counting!

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