The Holiday, Day 2

Written by Shannon Leigh

To see more go HERE...

Day 2 we did a lot of sight seeing... and a lot of walking.

We got to see the Tower of London and the remains of it's moat.

We walked on the Tower Bridge and I fell in love with it's detail and color.

We saw the glow of St. Paul's Cathedral

The Millennium bridge.

And we walked and walked and walked.  And sat to rest every once in a while.

We rode the London Eye all the way around.  

And enjoyed the view from the top.

We visited Trafalgar's Square and went to the National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery (which I LOVED).

The Holiday, Day One

Written by Shannon Leigh

We left Chicago at 1 pm which meant we landed in London at 7:00 am.  

We watched the sunrise in the air. 

We headed to our hotel and praise Jesus that our room was ready for us.

 

We took a much needed nap.

We ate our first English meal (we weren't expecting much, based on the rumors).

We were delightfully surprised.  So far so good.

Upon exiting Westminster Station, we saw Big Ben and heard him chime.

We saw the Houses  of Parliament up close and saw her towering walls.

We imagined swimming in the moat that surrounded the Jewel tower, a medieval structure that dates back to 1365.  It was used to house Edward II's wardrobe.  Imagine that.

We admired the arches (and the other tourists) at Westminster Abbey.  

We snuck down a side street that looked like a movie scene at MGM.

We tread the Westminster bridge.

We stole a moment together over the Thames.

We had the best hot chocolate at a restaurant called Fish and Chips.  We enjoyed each others company more.

 

We watched in awe as the London Eye made its way around.  

From Westminster Bridge we saw the glowing lights of the houses of parliament.

Week 18

Written by Shannon Leigh

The whole of week 18 was spent in the South of England...  

traveling, 

sleeping on trains, 

sightseeing,

photographing, 

sleeping on trains,

laughing,

talking,

Reading Persuasion by Jane Austen in full,

sleeping on trains,

speaking in fake British accents,

eating,

& 

 OH the walking.

As tired as I was, I wouldn't change any of it for the world.  I'm gonna go ahead and say that anniversary #2 is one for the record books.

Thanks Matty, I love you WAY more now than I did 2 years ago (and not just because you took me to the UK).

Week 18 was pretty significant for Peanut and I.  He/she started moving like a little alien trying to break through my skin.

It seemed that every night at the same time, the little booger would feel the need to escape and try to crawl it's way out...

Matt even got to feel it... which we are now obsessed with.  

Every time I feel it move, I stop, grab his hand and put it on my belly.  We spent most train and airplane rides in that position. Me concentrating and anticipating where I'm going to get punched next and Matt's hand palm down on my belly .

We are enjoying this new development immensely.

Last week Peanut was a bell pepper... a BELL PEPPER people.  He/she is getting so big.

Better get started reading the 489 blog posts that are sitting in my google reader... After all of the laundry is done of course.

Home. But out of commission.

Written by Shannon Leigh

24 hours of no-sleep-travel...

{Grandad's scanned slide: Lambert Air Field 1969}

And only 6 hours of sleep last night.  Shoot me.

Updates to come.  

Brace yourself.

17 Weeks

Written by Shannon Leigh

Matt and I are officially on vacation for TWO whole WEEKS!  I love that our wedding anniversary happens to land in the fall.  Hmm it's like I planned it that way or something.

We leave tomorrow for our anniversary trip that we are lovingly calling our babymoon.  I can't even tell you the excitement that is floating around our house.  Lot's of packing and charging of batteries.  We are going to be hitting London totally prepared.

Anyway, this week Peanut and I are 17 weeks along.  I cannot believe how fast it's going and how much Peanut is growing.  I had a appointment last Thursday and I got to hear the baby's heartbeat again.  It was a little difficult for my doctor to find it... seeing as every time she got near the little guy with the doppler he'd swim to the other side of my womb.  It took us 10 minutes JUST to get a good listen.  The doctor keep laughing at us.  I am not surprised at all that we have an active baby.  I am feeling movements a little bit more regularly now.  

Maternity clothes still are fitting right but I definitely feel like I am looking pretty pregnant now.  

Matt and I plan to stay up all night so we can sleep on the plane tomorrow. 

We are praying everything goes well so we have a jet-lag free first day in England.