brandarling

Lake District Holiday

2012-05-24T10:42:00.001+01:00

We took our first family holiday last week. Since S and I love to travel, we don't want Life With A Kid to mean we can't continue to explore; we just have to make a few adjustments to our normal travel pattern.

With that in mind, we decided to start off as easy as possible. We rented a car and drove to S's parents' house in Ossett, West Yorkshire. The drive usually takes about four hours without stopping; we made it in under six hours with a stop for lunch and a nappy change.

Spending the weekend in Ossett also gave Junior the chance to meet S's aunts and uncles.

From Ossett, we drove to Windermere, where we rented a cottage (which turned out to be a ground floor flat, but still perfectly fine for our purposes.) We watched as the temperature gauge plummeted to 7C (45F) and I was glad I thought to pack my down coat. Ah, holidays in England!

Bowness-on-Windermere

We managed to take a few short walks in between the rain and Junior's midday naps, and spent the rest of the time relaxing in the flat.

On a particularly gloomy Thursday, we drove to Cockermouth. After a vain attempt to find the toy museum (which, it seems, is now closed), we settled on pub lunch at The Bitter End.

Four days quickly passed (where does the time go?!) and we returned to Ossett for another weekend in front of the fireplace.

Unlike most holidays, I never even took out my real camera - I relied on my iPhone instead - but that was no reflection on the surroundings. The Lake District is beautiful, even when covered with rainclouds. Junior was able to see sheep, cows, ducks, geese, and swans. Bizarrely, due to the odd weather (dare I say global warming?) the leaves on the trees looked autumnal in May: a patchwork of orange, yellow and green. We visited quaint towns like Ambleside and Grasmere which were nearly devoid of large chain restaurants and shops, a refreshing change from Almost Everywhere Else. We did not indulge in any literary pursuits (land of Wordsworth, Coleridge, and Beatrix Potter) but it wasn't hard to see why the extraordinary landscape has inspired so much creativity.

Of course, when we returned to London, the weather improved and we have been enjoying perfect summer sunshine this week. Sigh!

Junior was a good traveler and we are looking forward to our next adventure: flying to Oslo in July!

five months old

2012-05-12T12:05:00.000+01:00

21 Weeks: Inside/Outside

Highlights of Junior's past month include:

Continued teething (although no teeth have emerged yet)
Holding his bottle and feeding himself
Rolling over (back to front)
Swimming, including going under water
New noises and laughing
Graduating from swaddles to a sleep sack

Photo by Dad

Sleep sack made by Grandmamasita

Trying on glasses

He is getting more social and curious about his environment. He is more interested in the other babies at playgroup, and likes admiring his reflection in mirrors. He is also becoming more comfortable with the webcam. He loves hearing people sing and I am considering music classes for him when he is a bit bigger.

Junior is also showing more interest in food and drinks - he reaches for our mugs and is ready to start gumming food. It's almost time to start him on solids and we have no reason to doubt that he will enjoy eating something other than breastmilk and formula.

Month 4

2012-04-12T11:01:00.000+01:00

It's the 12th of April, which means that Junior is now 4 months old.

In March, we had visits from his Aunt S and his Grandma & Granddad.

It was my first Mothers' Day, or Mothering Sunday as it is known in the UK. Since Mothers' Day is celebrated in March here, but in May in the USA, I figure I'm entitled to both. Right? S and Junior let me have a few hours to get my hair done - thanks!

Junior has also been spending time smiling, cooing, and wiggling.

We had some beautiful spring days, which allowed us to take long walks outside. We joined a group of Mums and Babies for strolls on Wimbledon Common, and had an impromptu picnic in Wimbledon's South Park.

Junior attended his first grown-up dinner party and was very well-behaved. He entertained the hosts and other guests before dinner, ate his own dinner (with Mum in the living room), and fell asleep before dessert (allowing Mum to rejoin the party.)

Other milestones:

At 14 weeks, he was weighed at 12 lbs 15oz / 5.89kg
At 17 weeks, he had the last of his first set of immunization jabs
First fever and Calpol (infant paracetamol)
He rolled over from tummy to back (but has yet to repeat his performance)
He started laughing at - sorry, with - Dad
Teething has begun, and he sucks his fingers, toes, burp cloth, toys, us...

He is definitely taking an interest in the world around him, but he still finds time to nap.

Every day (and night!) is something new and we're enjoying learning together...

Americanizing Junior

2012-03-16T18:29:00.001Z

I took Junior to the American Embassy in London today to register his birth and apply for his American passport.

He has already been registered in the UK and received his British passport:

Registering his birth and applying for his British passport were relatively straightforward activities. When registering his birth, Wandsworth Council did not even ask S or me to produce ID - they just took it on faith that we were who we said we were. Our biggest worry was how to get there, but S' parents drove us over xmas; by the time they had parked the car and found a spot for some coffee, we were done with the whole registration process. The birth certificate was free and we got 2 official copies for £7.

The hardest part of the British passport application was finding a 'counter signatory' with the proper professional qualifications. We were able to use one of our neighbours, who is a Director of the freehold company for our building. The application, including special delivery return envelope and check-and-send service at the post office, cost £63. I was able to print the digital photos I took, and our neighbour signed the back to affirm that they were a 'true likeness' of Junior.

Registering an American birth abroad was slightly more complicated. I made the appointment online, one month in advance; appointments can only be scheduled at 8:00, 8:30 or 9:00 AM (!). It took me nearly all month to prepare the paperwork: consular report of birth abroad, passport application, and social security application.

For the report of birth, I needed to provide my old passports as well as my current passport, to prove that I fulfilled the residency requirement to pass on my citizenship. The report of birth was $100 (charged in US dollars, so I had to call my credit card company yesterday to make sure they would not decline it).

The passport application was straightforward, but the photo requirements were different from the British ones so I had to take a new picture of Junior. And the photos had to be professionally printed: another £9.

British photo on the left at 6 weeks, American photo on the right at 12 weeks

Instead of a counter signatory, the Americans insist that both parents are present to apply for the passport together. If one parent cannot attend the appointment, s/he has to complete a statement of consent and have it notarized. In S's case, this cost £100 - more than the passport itself! The passport was a mere $105 (again, in US dollars) in comparison.

The social security application was free, and caused the least amount of headache.

Finally, I had to bring a self-addressed special delivery return envelope: £5.90. All in all, the American documents cost just under £250.

But paperwork and money were only part of the adventure. The real challenge was getting into central London on a weekday in time for a 9:00 appointment! I woke up at 4:00, showered, got dressed, ate breakfast. Junior started stirring around 5:15, so I changed him, got him dressed, and breastfed him. I tried to give him some formula but he was busy soiling his nappy - another change! By this time, S was awake and showered so he came with us as far as Bond Street Tube.

Morning commute on the Northern Line

We took the Northern Line to Stockwell, then changed to the Victoria Line. We rode to Green Park, which was supposed to have stair-free access to the Jubilee Line. But the platform led us directly to a stairway, so S and I carried Junior up to the escalator. Finally we took the Jubilee Line to Bond Street and arrived just before 8:00. S left us and went to work; we stopped at the closest Starbucks where Junior took his formula while I had a chai tea latte.

Around 8:20, I decided to walk over to the Embassy. I knew I was early but figured it was better than being late.

Oxford Street, across from Selfridges

Walking through Grosvenor Square, we had our first view of the Embassy (you can just see the flag at the top.)

Once there, I was glad I was early: the queue - sorry, line - for security was long and even the security guards were apologizing for the delays.

At security, I had to give up my iPhone (wah!). Upon entering the building, I was surprised to discover that there are no ramps for strollers or wheelchairs. Fortunately, several kind people helped me get in and around. The initial wait inside was just a few minutes to turn in my documents, but then it took nearly three hours of 'go to this window', 'go to that window', 'pay this fee', 'pay that fee', and 'sit down and wait for your number to be called' before we could leave. Junior was incredibly patient and good. I eavesdropped on nearby conversations, in between reading a real book (no iPhone!) and entertaining Junior.

Victoria Line, returning home

The ride home was much easier without the morning commuters, and we got back just before 2:00 PM. Still, I'm not in a big rush to repeat the trip to central London again, especially on my own. I think I'll wait until I have more confidence with the baby carrier.

Now we wait for the American birth certificate and passport to be sent back. Then we need to plan some trips!

three months

2012-03-12T17:36:00.000Z

Junior is 13 weeks / 3 months old today! The last month has mainly been filled with social activities and developments. We have been going to an informal mummy/baby playgroup on Mondays; Tuesday story time at the Wimbledon Library; yoga on Thursdays; and filling our Wednesdays and Fridays with lunches, walks, and doctor appointments. We also celebrated Valentine's Day and my birthday in February.

Junior was brave for his first set of shots. He cried at the point of impact, then recovered quickly and charmed all the ladies in the reception area with his smile.

He also got his first UK passport.

He is becoming more vocal and generally keeps in good spirits.

He is beginning to grasp objects and explore the world of Putting Things In His Mouth. So far his favorite blanket is the burp cloth...

Our days are getting into more of a routine. He sleeps well at night, usually only getting up once to feed around 3 AM (except for his 'wonder week' at 11 weeks when he reverted to getting up every two hours and refusing to go back to sleep in his cot.) He is still taking formula to supplement the breastmilk and he has started outgrowing his newborn clothes and nappies. While he is still under the average weight for his age, he is growing fast - he's tall and slender, like his dad.

For me personally, the past few months have flown by. I have been away from work for four months already - one third of my maternity leave! I am fortunate that I live in a country where I don't have to go back to work at this point; Junior is just getting to the fun, interactive stage and I'm enjoying spending my days with him. Who could resist this smile?!

Junior at 2 months

2012-02-12T13:40:00.000Z

Today marks Junior's two month birthday, or the end of his first eight weeks. We spent most of January feeding him. I say 'we' because it became a team effort to help him regain and surpass his birth weight.

One of the best parts of giving birth in the UK has been having the support of the NHS (National Health Service). The midwives provide post-natal care for mums and babies for at least the first six weeks, both at home and at the hospital. One of the downsides of this (and perhaps it is only because we live in a well-populated area where care cannot be given one-on-one) was that I had nine different midwives trying to diagnose Junior's weight problem. At first, I was encouraged to breastfeed every two hours, but also confusingly told to allow the baby to lead feeding sessions. When he was eating for well over one hour at a time, how could I be expected to continue feeding him straight afterward again?

Next I was told to express my breastmilk and give him top-ups after every feed. I kept wondering when I was supposed to have time to express, if I was also supposed to be feeding him around the clock. If he was hungry, wasn't it better just to breastfeed him, rather than pumping and giving him a bottle? I understood that it should help increase my milk supply, but wouldn't regular breastfeeding accomplish the same thing?

At around four weeks, one of the midwives recommended that I start taking fenugreek and domperidone, a drug which had originally been designed to combat nausea but had been discovered to boost milk supply in breastfeeding mothers. As it turns out, it is available over the counter in the UK, but with a doctor's prescription I could have it for free. Too bad midwives are not able to prescribe medicine - I had to beg two GPs to give it to me.

At the same time, we started giving him formula to supplement the breastmilk. I happily stopped pumping and was able to share feeding duties with S and my parents. We also had his tongue clipped. My sore nipples began to heal and we began to settle into a more manageable routine, even getting out of the flat for a few hours at a time.

While this was happening, my parents were here until the end of January. S had gone back to work and it was immensely helpful to have two extra sets of hands while I figured out laundry, dishes, cooking, cleaning, showering, shopping, and getting Junior in and out of the flat. My parents generously replaced our washing machine with a washer dryer, which has made a huge difference (combined with the fact that Junior outgrew his cloth nappies quickly, so we're using disposables for the time being.) My mom cooked and ran around SW19 doing errands. My dad held Junior and had long discussions with him about nuclear physics. We took several short excursions to Clapham Common, central London and Wimbledon; it will be easier when he doesn't need to eat as often but at least I know I can do it now.

On the 1st of February, my parents flew back to California and I officially became a Stay at Home Mum. Since their departure, I have made an effort to get out everyday and meet as many people as I can. I have taken Junior to a breastfeeding clinic (useless, but I met a few nice people); Mummy/Baby yoga class (continuation from my pregnancy yoga class); showed him off to my co-workers; and we have started introducing him to our friends.

We are getting into a more predictable routine. Junior generally sleeps well at night, waking up around 3 AM to eat before falling asleep again. He has started sleeping in his cot and does not fight being swaddled anymore. He enjoys staring at his play yard toys, even if he has not figured out that he can touch and play with them yet. He has started outgrowing his newborn-size clothes and his face seems to change daily, although he's still quite a shrimp compared to some of the other babies. He has also started to smile and coo - it's very endearing. We web chat with our California relatives nearly everyday and with our Yorkshire family most weeks; eventually he will begin to recognize the faces in the computer better and start interacting back with them. He experienced his first snow and showed his extreme displeasure for cold bath water (sorry about that!)

This coming week, he has his first shots. What other excitement will the coming month hold?

Check out Junior's flickr set for new photos and videos: flickr.com/juniordarling

The Tree

2012-02-08T11:40:00.000Z

When I started maternity leave in November, the leaves had just changed colour and were still clinging onto the branches of the tree outside our living room window. At first I took the view for granted.

It was not until a few weeks later, when the tree was virtually naked (just before Junior was born in December), that it occurred to me that I should have taken pictures of it everyday to show the quiet passing of Autumn into Winter.

Never mind. I decided I'd take a few pictures each season and choose the best four to illustrate my view during Junior's first year, and my year of maternity leave.

Since there was not much urgency, I never got around to taking the Winter photo. I waited for a day with blue sky and maybe a bird or a squirrel - but mainly, I got a bit lazy. I looked at the tree everyday while breastfeeding Junior; I even showed it to him, although I'm not sure how far his eight-week-old eyes can see at this point.

This morning, I heard loud grinding noises outside, and by the time I came downstairs, this was all that was left of the tree. About half an hour after I took this picture, they had reduced it to a low stump (no longer visible from our window.)

Now I'm sad. There will be no Spring blossoms, no Summer shade. The squirrels will find a different tree, the birds will perch on the roof instead. My view has changed and I don't take it for granted anymore.

Introducing Junior!

2012-01-12T10:21:00.000Z

First this:

7 week scan, 23.04.2011

became this:

12 week scan, 26.05.2011

which became this:

21 week scan, 02.08.2011

34 weeks

39 weeks

And on Monday 12 December at 19.20, Junior arrived!

It has been an eventful month. We came home from the hospital on the 14th: S's birthday and Day 2 for Junior.

Second morning

Coming home from the hospital

Day 13 was Junior's first Christmas, and the entire family came to celebrate with us in London.

Junior met his grandparents and aunt from West Yorkshire, as well as his grandparents from California. His aunt, uncle and 8-month old cousin came from California, along with his cousin's other set of grandparents. In order to accommodate everyone, we rented two flats nearby and it was amazing to spend Christmas and New Year's together.

Junior also took his first Tube ride to Camden. We had intended to go to the London Zoo, but spent much of the afternoon at the Lansdowne Pub instead, with a brief stop for P to enjoy the swings in Regent's Park afterward.

Now, one month later (!), his grandparents are still helping us get into a routine while Dad goes back to work. Junior's job is to regain - and exceed - his birth weight, so we are on a fairly strict feeding regime, sprinkled with midwife visits and advice. We are all getting along fine, even if sleep eludes us throughout the night, and we are so happy that Junior has joined our family.

Happy one-month birthday!

To watch Junior's progress, please bookmark his photo stream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/juniordarling/

Junior also has an evolving wishlist of books he would like to read with us: http://www.amazon.co.uk/registry/wishlist/18O0GURVQWJOS

Ready for Junior

2011-12-07T09:38:00.000Z

Well, according to the 12-week sonogram, Junior is 3 days late. According to my own calculations, he is due tomorrow. Either way, we are ready for him when he gets here. I have had my hospital bag packed for several weeks and S is waiting for me to summon him back from work.

My parents arrived from California last week. We were a bit worried that they would have trouble getting here, since the public sector announced a one-day strike on 30 November which included a large number of immigration officers at Heathrow Airport. As it turned out, though, enough passengers were scared off that they got through immigration in about five minutes and no one even bothered to check their six suitcases (one of which was filled completely with goodies for the baby). What a relief!

They have been helping prepare Junior's space in our bedroom. Grandmamasita has been busy sewing, knitting and shopping. Grandpop is engineering a hanging device for the stroller at the bottom of the stairs. And everyone has been waiting anxiously for news...

Meanwhile, I am pleased to report that I am still feeling fine. I always feared that I would have a difficult pregnancy but it has been relatively easy: very little nausea, normal (well, for me) energy levels, decent appetite, almost no pain or discomfort, no swelling. I worked until Week 35 and only took two days off when I was not feeling well. I'm still walking, carrying home groceries, cooking and sleeping well. In fact, I think I might be too comfortable - Junior obviously feels happy inside or he would be making more of an effort to appear.

We are encouraging Junior to come late today or early tomorrow so that S can have the rest of the month off work. Come on, baby! We can't wait to meet you xo

baby talk

2011-11-08T13:46:00.000Z

I don't have to tell you that American English and British English are not the same. Sometimes you find subtle differences ("call me at..." vs "ring me on...") and sometimes they are more obvious ("elevator" vs "lift"). Ever since I obtained British citizenship, I like to joke that I am bilingual in English. I can spell it color or colour; organize or organise; curb or kerb.

There are two areas in particular where I have noticed the biggest divide: cars and babies.

Car and vehicle terminology varies widely: tire/tyre, trunk/boot, stick shift/gearbox, gas/petrol, rental/hire. Working in transportation and logistics for the past few years, I have started to adopt the local words, for ease of communication if nothing else.

Now I'm learning a whole vocabulary. While it is not yet second-nature, I figure there's plenty of time to confuse Junior later on - I might as well try to be consistent at first. Here is a glossary that I have started in no particular order (British to American). Hope it helps his relatives on both sides of the Atlantic!

antenatal :: pre-natal
Moses basket :: bassinet
carrycot :: bassinet
cot :: crib (although these seem to cross over a bit)
bath the baby :: bathe the baby
pram, buggy, pushchair :: stroller
babygro :: onesie (as well as more terms for each in both countries)
dummy :: pacifier
nappy* :: diaper
breastfeed :: nurse (some cross over, but preferences in each country)

*which gives a whole different meaning to the song we used to sing to put my sister to sleep: "it's happy nappy time..."

Aside from spoken and (eventually) written English, I would like to teach Junior sign language. My dilemma is American Sign Language (ASL) vs British Sign Language (BSL). I studied ASL for several years in high school, and while I don't remember much, it would be far easier for me to pick it up again. But would BSL be more useful in the long run? Or will it really matter if I just stick to a few basic words like milk, more, hungry, want, yes/no...?

Junior, like me, will be a dual citizen. I wonder if he will develop a London accent, which neither S nor I have. Will he be able to switch between American and British accents? Which one will he favo(u)r someday? Will he struggle with other languages? How much Japanese will he learn if I teach him?

It's exhausting/knackering just to think about it!

Invasion of teh Cute...

2011-11-08T12:52:00.000Z

...or as I have begun to think about it, 'baby creep.'

Not as in 'my baby is creepy' but as in the baby is slowly creeping into our lives.

Junior with Grandma C at 34 weeks

My bump is getting bigger. I went from a small, high bump just under my chest to a beach ball in the space of about ten weeks. Amazingly, most days I don't feel as huge as I look. S compares it to boiling frog syndrome, with the gradual growth over nine months allowing me to adjust to the change. I still have enough energy to walk around, carry bags, go up and down stairs, and run errands.

I can't say that the changes to the flat have been as gradual. The remodel is now done - we have fresh paint on the walls, new carpet throughout, and we have been rearranging furniture to accommodate the small human who will join us soon. We are, or at least I am, in nesting mode now.

So I have been washing tiny clothes.

And buying beds.

Combination infant bed, changing table, and play pen to see us through the first few months while Junior sleeps in our room. Eventually he'll move to a crib/cot downstairs.

And researching every type of pram, pushchair, buggy, stroller, carrycot bassinet, carseat, and 'travel system' on the market. Our main concerns were:

Stairs from the front door to the hallway with very little storage space, either at the bottom or the top
Transportation dominated by walking, buses, and the Tube
No car, but times when we will need to put Junior in a car (for example, getting home from the hospital)
Bumpy sidewalks (pavements)
Inclement weather, especially since Junior is expected in early December

Originally, a pram with a carrycot seemed like an ideal solution. The pram would allow Junior to face us; the carrycot would allow for easier movement up- and downstairs; and the carrycot could also double as a bed if needed. But we would still need a carseat on occasion, and the pram would have to fold small enough to keep near the door.

Enter the Baby Jogger City Mini.

After a brief flirtation with the (expensive! but impressive) Bugaboo Cameleon, a helpful shop assistant in John Lewis suggested the City Mini with a Maxi Cosi carseat. It was not until he showed me how to fold it - with one hand! - that I fell in love with the idea.

They should market it as the 'folding bike' of strollers. For the same reason that I bought a Dahon, I became obsessed with the City Mini. Turns out, it is quite a popular model with the yummy mummy set in London. It's easy to maneuver on buses and Tubes, it's rugged enough to go to the park or push through snow, it's lightweight and simple to fold, and incredibly it doesn't cost a fortune. Where the consensus seems to be that most families start with Bugaboos and move to Maclarens after a year, most Baby Jogger owners use the same stroller for years.

So Junior has his first set of wheels now. We chose a carseat instead of a carrycot after all - we can use it with a 3-point seatbelt in virtually any car, which will be useful for minicabs, rental cars, and (gasp!) our own car if we ever feel a need to buy one.

We are not quite ready for Junior's arrival just yet. There are still a few key items we need to prepare (primarily nappies/diapers and bathing gear - oh, and a name!) but we are getting closer, at least in practical terms. Mentally I'm not sure we'll feel ready for parenthood until ... ever? ... but I'm enjoying letting this little boy creep into my life.

irish wedding

2011-11-07T13:25:00.000Z

It is unlike me to wait so long before blogging about a trip, but here it is...

Our friends C&S tied the knot over the August bank holiday in C's native Ireland. Knowing that it would be my last chance to fly before the baby arrives, and our last chance to get away for a while, we decided to make it a mini-break.

We flew to Shannon and rented a car; then drove to our B&B just outside Tipperary in the scenic Glen of Aherlow.

We spent our first full day exploring the area and taking advantage of the well-signposted walks (between rain showers!)

outstanding in their field

The wedding took place on Saturday in C's hometown of Hospital, near Limerick. Try googling "hospital, limerick" for directions to the church... I promise that what you are looking for will be the last link you'll find. But as it turned out, the route was fairly easy and we found seats with all the cool kids.

Perhaps as could be expected at an Irish Catholic ceremony, there was an emphasis on C&S's new married life together and encouragement to procreate. Inwardly, we wondered what their one-year old daughter thought of being excluded from the references to the joys of future children, but the three of them took it in their stride. Maybe words matter more if you place importance in them. The correct sentiments were there in any case, and C&S couldn't stop smiling - which is all that really matters!

The reception was held at the beautiful Aherlow House Hotel, overlooking the valley.

lucky private moment with the bride and groom

We indulged on scones and jam with tea and coffee while the other guests arrived and the bride and groom mingled. Sitting down to dinner later with nearly 250 other people showed just how happy we all were for C&S, and there were very few dry eyes when the bride's father sang her the loveliest song... (S will have a hard time topping it when their daughter gets married someday!) Gradually tables were moved, the band set up, and the dancing began. I'm sad to report that we didn't last long after midnight, but the party continued until at least 4 AM.

The following morning, we woke up late and had given up the idea of breakfast when the phone rang. Our wonderful Irish hosts would not take no for an answer: 'come down and we'll give you breakfast. Go on, go on, go on...'

We continued exploring the area, heading first to Cashel where we found the local brass band playing (practicing?) in the town square.

We walked up to the famous Rock of Cashel and enjoyed the views from above, although restoration efforts meant that it was not as picturesque as usual.

From there, we proceeded to Cahir Castle. Maybe it was the presence of blue sky, or the absence of scaffolding, but I preferred Cahir Castle to the Rock of Cashel. Fortuitous timing also meant that we got there just in time to join a free tour.

On our final day, we drove back toward Shannon Airport via Cork.

Driving in Ireland was remarkably easy but danger never seemed far away. Big trucks rush down narrow country lanes. Speed limit signs of 100 km/hour are posted just before tight curves (how?! and why?!). The slow lane is for passing...or for parking... And there are signs and reminders everywhere to stay on the left.

I could understand it on our rented car (many tourists come from parts of the world where you drive on the right) but presumably the locals should know? Entering Cork was harrowing, only because we ended up right inside the city centre with no real idea of where to go. Fortunately we were able to park the car and walk around.

After lunch, we got back in the car and drove to Blarney. Here are some facts about Blarney and the Blarney Stone that we hadn't anticipated: they charge 10 euro for the privilege of kissing a (presumably unhygienic) rock that has been kissed by strangers for years...and there's not much else to do in Blarney.

So we went along to Bunratty, (immaturely making fun of the name: 'Bunratty, heh heh') but got there too late to go inside the castle.

All that was left to do was have dinner at the local pub, check in to our hotel, check out a mere 12 hours later, and fly home...

We had a lovely trip. Ireland is comfortingly familiar from both an American and British perspective. Born as a Cassidy, I feel an automatic affinity for the Irish. And now that I live in the UK, Ireland's rolling green hills and full breakfasts are similar, though not the same. Looking forward to our next trip to the Emerald Isle. But maybe Northern Ireland for a change?

not-so-restful rest day

2011-09-28T13:14:00.000+01:00

The painters have finished! In 14 days, they painted the bedroom, living room, hallways, and spare room (S prefers to call it his office, but I think Junior might find it useful as a bedroom fairly soon.) They stripped back the wooden banisters and trim and re-varnished everything. They fixed the window sills, inside and outside. They painted the doors, door frames and edging. They even re-painted the wood covering the hole in the ceiling that leads to the attic.

The good news is that we love the new colo(u)rs. We chose a very pale green - almost white - for the main walls and used a slightly darker light green for feature walls in each room. The banisters have gone back to their original dark color. We had intended to make them lighter but as it happens, several coats of varnish scuppered that plan. I would be upset if they didn't look so much fresher than before; plus the dark wood gives a nice contrast to the clean, bright walls. We also chose a glossy white for the doors and trim. I hadn't really thought about the difference between glossy and matte before, but I like the extra sparkle.

During the painting and sanding, however, we discovered that the flat was virtually unlivable. We spent the first four nights camped out on/in our bed (the only piece of furniture we still had access to) amid the dust and paint fumes before fleeing to Brighton for the weekend.

After one night back from Brighton, S cleverly decided that it wasn't worth putting our health (and Junior's) at risk any longer. He booked us into the local Holiday Inn Express - certainly for its convenience, not for its glamour! Facing the ugly, hated Colliers Wood Tower, and undergoing refurbishment of its own, I can't see how they can justify their prices, but at least it was clean...

Living in a hotel and eating out every night was beginning to wear thin, though. The painters finished their work yesterday and recommended that we give the final coats a day to finish drying before beginning on the carpet tomorrow. So the flat is resting in its semi-completed state.

Living room, still not very livable

Bathroom, AKA closet

Kitchen, almost completely inaccessible

Spare room, the only empty space left

Which brings me to the title of this blog. The flat is resting, but I'm not. Some combination of eating out for two weeks, Junior churning in my abdomen, and a possible stomach bug (?) kept me up all night. The midwife didn't think it was anything serious but recommended that I not go to work today.

Of course, after nine nights and a lot of £££, we had chosen this morning to leave the hotel. That left me with several options: extend the hotel reservation for one day/night; go home and rest as much as possible; or go to work after all.

Between daytime TV at the hotel but no internet, or internet but not much else at home, I chose to come home. I restocked the kitchen with a few essentials that don't require much prep and would be kind to my tummy (milk, bananas, yogurt, bread). I changed the sheets on the bed. And I'm catching up with hundreds of articles in my RSS feed. Not the most restful day ever, but far better than the chaos of my office.

I'm looking forward to having the carpet installed so that we can put everything back together again. All in all, several weeks of inconvenience is a small price to pay for a virtually new flat but it feels longer than that. I just hope Junior likes his home as much as we do!

preparing for junior

2011-09-11T20:38:00.000+01:00

living room shelves

We remodeled our kitchen a few years ago. Then we remodeled the bathroom last year. We have always intended to work on the rest of the flat - new paint, new carpet, fix the windows - and we started researching the project in March just before we found out I was pregnant. We would have done the project anyhow, but with a little one on the way, we decided not to wait.

bedroom shelves

One of our main objectives has been to use our small space better. Perhaps there is a better way to arrange the furniture. Perhaps there are better shelf options. Perhaps our choice of colo(u)rs will make a big difference.

We also want something that is easy to clean and maintain. Even without a baby to consider, neither of us is particularly good at cleaning on a regular basis (I admire people who can do it daily or weekly, if that gives you any indication).

apparently the walls were both lighter and cleaner at one point

So we decided to hire an interior decorator, not that we didn't think we could figure it out on our own, but we figured that a professional might have some other insight or expertise to offer. After several months of contacting people, it boiled down to a woman whose style sense was more traditional and posh than ours, and a man who can best be described as a hipster. We went with the hipster.

As the clock kept ticking, we entered the summer months. We went to California for two weeks. Just as we were ready to kickstart the project in August, we found out that the hipster was going on holiday for most of the month. We spent the next few weeks on our own, finding a decorator/builder, sourcing carpets, choosing paints, and generally doing the things we expected the hipster to do.

what's left in the bedroom

We are now ready for the project to start tomorrow. Or at least, we are as ready as we'll ever be. I used to wonder why so many people wait until they are six or seven (or even eight) months pregnant to move, remodel, paint, etc. Now I know: they may not have a choice!

In the meantime, S has been a superhero, carting books and valuables up to the attic we never used before. We have filled every inch of the crawl space in the bathroom with clothes and other essentials. We are anxious to see what tomorrow holds - where will they start? Will we have to move out? Have we packed enough?

Stay tuned for the continuing adventure!

California, baby...

2011-07-31T19:32:00.001+01:00

S and I spent two weeks in Berkeley and Lake Tahoe with my family. Unlike our usual trips, where we spend most of our time focusing on sightseeing and scenery, the major themes for this trip were people, food, and relaxing.

At 18-20 weeks pregnant, this was Junior's second trip abroad before birth. Any worries I had about a ten-hour transatlantic flight were allayed by the comfort of Premium Economy seats on Virgin, and a relatively easy pregnancy so far. The effects of jet lag and altitude sickness in Tahoe were not worse than usual. Even better, I had the benefit of support, hand-me-downs and advice from my sister and best friend, who had babies within three weeks of each other in April and May.

This was The Baby Trip.

It was so nice to see my sister and brother-in-law as proud new parents, not to mention my parents as doting grandparents. This small (but rapidly growing!) person has taken over everyone's heart.

But if one baby manages to attract the attention of every adult in the room, two babies and an energetic 3 1/2 year old is almost unbearably cute.

I wouldn't normally post a video of someone else's child(ren) on the internet, but this is too funny not to share.

At the park, H discovered the curly slide - an upgraded plastic version of the metal one I used to play on when I was little. With determination and enthusiasm, he climbed up and slid down again and again...

And we did manage to do some light hiking and exploring as well.

Memorial Point near Incline Village, Nevada side of Lake Tahoe

Eagle Falls near Vikingsholm Castle, California side of Lake Tahoe

Snow in Tahoe Meadows

Above Lake Tahoe, near Brockway Summit

Stow Lake, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

Stow Lake, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

It was a great trip and I miss everyone already... A bit scary, but mostly exciting to see what lies ahead for us with Junior. I had such a good time reconnecting with friends, family friends and family. Thank you to everyone who came to our party and a special thank you to everyone who kindly gave us gifts for Junior. It's becoming more real everyday!

The Week in Planes :: 16

2011-05-31T19:27:00.000+01:00

Simple Simon, 24.05.11
Foldability: good
Flyability: good

Wombat, 26.05.11
Foldability: good
Flyability: so-so
Design: why call it a wombat if there are pictures of kangaroos on the wings?

Delta Dart, 30.05.11
Foldability: slightly difficult
Flyability: OK

slowly changing wardrobe

2011-05-31T19:19:00.000+01:00

Never been so happy to wear a shapeless sack! (Or leggings, for that matter).

Thanks, Gap!

tinydarling

2011-05-26T20:42:00.000+01:00

Announcing... Junior at 12 weeks!

Or so we thought. At the scan today, we were surprised to hear that they think I'm actually 12 weeks 4 days already. Accordingly, they have adjusted my due date to 4 Dec.

Everything is normal; there is a very low risk of Down's (which was the main point of the scan). Junior is measuring just over 6cm.

The sonographers were kind and informative. They spent nearly 45 minutes with us (mostly because it took a while to get the baby into the right position to measure the back of the neck) and let us listen to the heartbeat. It was amazing to watch it jump around, roll around, stretch and contract (mainly contract). Hard to believe there's a small person moving inside me. It does look human, or at least, humanish. We could see a face, 2 hemispheres of the brain, 2 arms, 2 legs, torso, heart, bladder, and stomach.

I also have a fibroid, which is currently measuring larger than the baby, probably why the baby wasn't stretching very much. They're not worried yet, and it is well-placed at the top of my uterus, but they'll keep monitoring its growth.

Speaking of hearts, I was invited to participate in a cardiac study of pregnant women: they are comparing a heart condition called left ventricular non-compaction (LVNC) in black and white women. It seems that black women develop this condition during pregnancy more often than white women, so they are trying to see why there is such a big difference, as well as looking for ways to treat it. I thought it would be interesting to know more about my own heart, so I went for an ECG and ECHO before the scan. Everything was normal and I got to listen to my own heartbeat while watching it throb on the screen - eerie, but cool. I'll go for another ECG and ECHO when I have my 21-week scan at the beginning of August.

So happy that everything is going well..and I'm looking forward to the 2nd trimester. It's beginning to feel a bit more real everyday.

The Week in Planes :: 15

2011-05-21T16:39:00.000+01:00

Glider, 16.05.11
Foldability: good
Flyability: good

Drone, 17.05.11
Foldability: so-so
Flyability: not great

Starship, 20.05.11
Foldability: OK
Flyability: good

The Month in Planes :: 8 Apr - 13 May

2011-05-15T16:25:00.000+01:00

You may have noticed that I have fallen behind in posting the Week in Planes. Never fear - I'm still folding them and taking pictures with instagram; I just haven't blogged about it for a few weeks. Some of the initial excitement wore off once the models began to repeat, but that also means I am getting better at folding them. Here are some highlights from the past few weeks.

Wombat, 10.04.11

Flying Fish, 11.04.11

Predator, 14.04.11

Sideslip, 16.04.11

Loop, 19.04.11

P-51 Mustang, 25.04.11

Piggyback Jet, 29.04.11

Arrowing, 03.05.11

Ladybug, 05.05.11

Double Eagle, 09.05.11

Flying Mantis, 10.05.11

B-2 Spirit, 13.05.11

Secret Knitting Project

2011-04-30T20:26:00.000+01:00

Dear Bébé,

As I write this, you have not joined our happy family yet.

I do not know if you are a boy or a girl.
I do not know your name.
I do not know if you have red hair with blue eyes
or
brown hair with green eyes.

But I do know that you, like your Mom and Dad, will be a
loyal Giants fan.

Heartfelt congratulations to my sister and brother-in-law on the arrival of their son last Tuesday. They successfully kept the gender a secret, which made it slightly difficult to plan a knitting project in advance. One thing was certain, though: this kid would have baseball and ice hockey in its DNA.

I wanted to make a plush toy for them, and found this seal pattern on etsy. I had some orange yarn (which my sister had actually sent over xmas to encourage me to crochet a goldfish...) which seemed fitting for the Giants' mascot, Lou Seal.

I think it came out quite well, especially for a first attempt (I loathe frogging...)

Next, I used Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran to knit the Classic Cashmere Sweater from Erika Knight's Simple Knits for Cherished Babies, my go-to pattern for baby sweaters. Stockinette gets boring fast, though, so I designed a 'SF' logo for the front:

The finishing touch was a pair of Garter Stitch Booties from the same book.

The photos don't do the yarn - or dare I say, the creations? - justice, but the real star is my nephew. I've seen him on iChat but I can't wait to meet the little man in July.

Big kiss to everyone in California! xo

Rhodes Road Trips

2011-04-25T18:23:00.000+01:00

The easiest way to explore Rhodes is by renting a car. We drove down the East Coast to Lindos first.

We stopped along the way at the Seven Springs, which were slightly disappointing:

Sign helpfully says, 'The 7 Springs are at your left.' Wow, that's it? Good thing there is a sign because we definitely would have missed it.

We continued down the coast, and reached Lindos around 1 PM.

The main attraction is the acropolis which looks out over white-washed houses on one side, and the Mediterranean Sea on the other. We decided to go straight to the acropolis before lunch; fortunately we got there before it closed at 2:40! Not quite tourist season, apparently.

Lindos was beautiful, despite the threatening rain cloud which kept following us.

The next day, we drove down the West Coast to the Valley of the Butterflies. We had the place mostly to ourselves and enjoyed an ambling walk through the trees.

Mountain crab?

Continuing on, we visited the acropolis at Kamiros and had a late lunch on the beach.

S's parents go to Greece every year for their holiday. Having been there at last, I can see the appeal - but I still preferred the perfect weather of April rather than the heat of August/September.

Happy 5th anniversary, S!

Symi Island

2011-04-25T17:51:00.000+01:00

Symi Island is a popular day trip from Rhodes, accessed either by ferry or high speed catamaran. We chose the faster option, which just meant I had slightly less time to wallow in my seasickness getting there. Oof.

It may be their 'Pride' but it was my nemesis...

Thankfully, the pace of life is pretty slow on Symi so there was no pressure for me to recover quickly. We spent a while walking around the scenic harbour.

Symi's fortune was made by sponge merchants (no, really) and most of the old houses date back to their heyday. We took a long walk up through the houses, many of which are currently being repaired and/or sold.

Work horses bringing supplies down the hill...

...and back up again

Greece's most forlorn donkey?

Later in the day we walked around the other side of the harbour, where we found a shipyard and a beach. The Lazy Days was enjoying a peaceful retirement.

By the end of the day, I was finally perking up - just in time to go back to Rhodes. Fortunately the boat ride back was smoother. Next time, I'll look into helicopter options, though...

Rhodes :: Old Town & New Town

2011-04-17T20:31:00.001+01:00

We spent a week on the Greek island of Rhodes (also known as Rhodos, Rodos, or Ρόδος), which lived up to its sunny reputation.

The Colossus of Rhodes, considered to be one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, was said to stand above the harbor. These days, the harbor boasts two statues of a stag and a doe - according to legend, the deer scared the snakes away from the island. Personally, I agree that the deer make a better mascot. But the main attraction seems to be the fishing, which attracts lively groups of men who manage all to talk at the same time (a gift we observed in many of the locals.)

Lighthouse seen from the Gate of St Paul

Rhodes Old Town and the Palace of the Grand Masters are surrounded by a dry moat, effectively two sets of walls that protected the people within.

I half-expected to see a scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail played out above the turrets. Alas, no Trojan rabbits...

Inside the Old Town, a series of narrow streets appear to be designed for maximum confusion - it is easy to get lost - while providing shopping and cafes for eager tourists.

Preparations for Easter

Our idea of relaxing is walking around (with SPF 50 sunscreen) taking photos, exploring back streets, and enjoying mellow lunches in shady spots. However, Rhodes also appeals to beach bunnies and underage lager louts who drink beer out of oversized boot-shaped glasses.

Just south of the New Town is the acropolis of Agios Stefanos, more commonly known as Monte Smith.

We also visited Rodini Park, which was largely deserted on a Wednesday afternoon...

...except for a peacock who proudly displayed his tail for a passing peahen.

And throughout the week, as the weather got better and the tourist season got closer, the beaches began to come to life.

The Week in Planes :: 14

2011-04-08T20:25:00.000+01:00

Trojan, 05.04.11
Foldability: good
Flyability: good

Harrier, 06.04.11
Foldability: OK
Flyability: so-so

Swept-Wing Fighter, 08.04.11
Foldability: difficult
Flyability: good, stable