York

Since we didn't go home for Christmas this year we decided to rent a cottage outside of York. York is around a two hour drive north of Leicester and we've heard it was a beautiful place to visit. We had a fantastic couple of days, relaxing, exploring York and celebrating Christmas.

Here are some pictures of the cottage and the area surrounding the cottage where we stayed.

The cottage was an old converted barn.

The living room

kitchen

bedroom

We loved having an wood burning fireplace.

The old barn that is now converted into two cottages.

Ours was the one straight ahead in the middle

The main farm house

On Christmas day we went for a long walk. The old farm we stayed on was at the end of a 2 mile country road. So we just explored the road and area around it.

This is around 2pm- looks like sunset.

We've had a ton of rain in the UK and most of the fields and rivers are flooded.

a pond?

No just a flooded farm field.

more flooding

The sun finally came out for a little bit

Me getting my 15 minutes of vitamin D. I had my sleeves pulled up hoping to take in as much as I could.

As we were driving around in the night we saw three barn owls. It was amazing to see! On Christmas day we saw one during the day and took a picture.

Christmas dinner-

Turkey, brussel sprouts and asparagus, mash potatoes, bread, stuffing. 

Wine for Kit and ginger ale for me.

Pictures from the city of York next!

baby bump pictures

We are having a baby! When I found out I was pregnant I was so excited. I actually took the test while Kit was gone because I couldn't wait. I called him on the phone crying and laughing at the same time. We were both overjoyed by the news, especially since we had been trying for awhile.

8 weeks

The first picture we took 

I was feeling very tired and sick at this point

the baby is the size of raspberry 

11 weeks

no change- still tired 

baby is the size of a lime

14 weeks

officially in my second trimester

barely there small bump

baby is the size of a lemon

I'm more exhausted than at 8 weeks but starting to get really excited.

We finally got to see our sweet baby in a sonogram  The baby was moving all over the place so we got to see his spine, legs, and arms. It was one of the best days of our lives. Kit and I held hands through the whole thing and were just amazed that there was actually a baby in there! It all felt so surreal. We found out I am due a week earlier than we thought- so May 14 is the official due date!

Week 16

starting to get a small bump, so exciting!

The baby is the size of avocado

We went to see the midwife again today. We finally got to hear the baby's heartbeat. 

It is amazing how fast his little heart is beating. The midwife said that everything looks to be right on schedule. I got all of my blood test results back and they turned out great. 

17 weeks

my bump is a little bit bigger

baby is the size of an onion

I'm still feeling tired especially after work but starting to have a little more energy on the weekends.

19-20 weeks

loving my sweet baby bump

baby is the size of banana 

I'm still tired but getting more energy throughout the day.

I can feel the baby moving and it is such an amazing feeling. I thought I felt the baby move around 18 weeks- the flutters- but I was never quite sure. Now I can feel little kicks. He always seems to be kicking on the left side of my belly. 

On Christmas Kit actually felt the baby kick and we thought that was the best Christmas present of all.

Just a fun- front view picture!

It's a boy! 

We found out on Dec. 21st that we are having a boy. Our scan went really well. He wasn't cooperating for the technician when she wanted to check his lips and heart, so we had to take a 15 minute walk and drink a sugary drink (is that a sign of stubbornness, lol).

Everything on the scan look good- thank God! 

I couldn't see the screen for most of the scan but Kit could. He said it was such a fascinating experience to be able to see his actual lips and heart. I did get to see his leg bones and arm bones which was cool. I also got to see him moving his mouth, sucking.

Kit and I are so excited it is a boy. I had a feeling it was a boy all along and I even had a dream about having a sweet laughing baby boy. Kit told me when we walked out of the room he wanted to shout- It's a boy! 

We went shopping for little boy clothes.

This last picture was actually taken two days before the one with me in the blue shirt above. I look much bigger in the bottom picture- maybe because of the scarf or maybe the angle. Either way- I am loving having a baby belly!

That is the baby pictures up to date for now. I hope to start posting more pictures regularly! 

Random pics from parents visit

Here are som random pictures I forgot to put in previous posts from my parents visit:

The joy on my husband's face when he is telling his Grandma's we are going to have a baby!

A yummy apple pie I made

Future Grandma and Grandpa

The Cow and Plough Pub outside of Leicester

me and dad at the New Walk Museum 

My parents at the Guildhall which was built in the 1200's in Leicester

and Clarence Hall in Wales-

picture taken for my Grandpa Clarence, he would have loved this.

A visit to the 16th Century

My parents wanted to visit Strafford Upon Avon, where Shakespeare lived. Kit and I had visited there in the Spring of this year and we really enjoyed it. There are five different houses you can visit and Kit and I had only gone to two so we were excited to see some of the other houses as well.

We went to Anne Hathaway, Shakespeare's wife's, childhood home.

We learned a lot about Thatched Roofs and how they would get animals living in them especially during the winter. If you had some extra money you would get a bed with a canopy on them so you wouldn't get animal parts in your mouth while you sleep. I always thought the canopies where just the style!

After visiting the house we took a walk in the woods on the property. The house, the garden and the woods made you feel like you were in the 16th century.

Next we visited Mary Arden's Farm, which is a real working Tudor Farm, where Shakespeare might have spent his days as a child.

spinning and basket weaving

Wood working room

We loved seeing all of the animals, they had chickens, horses, goats, pigs, cows and birds.

After we visited the farm we headed into Stafford upon Avon where we had some lunch and listened to some live music on the street

We visited Shakespeare's Birth place again 

It was a lovely day spent in the presence of Shakespeare.