The Fellow

Axel, 2012

I really do like this little person.

Lately

London, 2012

England before Christmas is all about the food...planning old fashioned meals, fighting over picturesque tins of tea at Fortnum and Mason, hunting furiously for obscure ingredients (peeled hazelnuts), and sourcing meats at butchers that are older than time.

This obsession with cooking in a very traditional fashion makes things quite festive and funny. People take things like, say, bread sauce, very seriously. Suggest a short cut, and people are really undone.

The good news is we are probably not going to starve.

Notting Hill

London, 2012

We spent the day taking care of holiday errands on my favorite street in Notting Hill, Westbourne Grove. Boujis baby stores galore!

We started with lattes at Daylesford Organic and took a break for lunch at Ottolenghi; Axel charmed everyone along the way in his little woolly sweater. It's getting dark here at around 4, so the days fly by, but it's always fun poking around London in the rain.

Festive, Foggy London

London, 2012

Earlier in the week I was busy wrapping up the presents we (bravely? ill-advisedly?) lugged across the ocean and bustling to a few meetings with some English editors for work.

Axel's grandparents babysat while I did a little bit of last minute shopping as well.

For whatever reason, I find (window) shopping in London so much more fun than in New York.

Perhaps it's just that everything is new to me, but I love all the cozy wares at Jigsaw, the fabulous cook books at any old book shop, the pretty little tea tins in the traditional food halls...and, of course, the children's wares.

Axel really doesn't need any new clothes right this second, but wandering around the city set me off on a nostalgic English clothing kick and I couldn't help squealing over these little boys' rain boots from Hatley and admiring this handsome little rain coat from Seasalt. Tomorrow, we're heading to Notting Hill for more perusing.

World Traveler

Axel, 2012

What time zone am I in?

Nineteen Weeks

Axel, 2012

We have created a ferocious pear monster.

Last night, while the grown ups ate vacherin and pears for dessert, Axel got a taste of some of the latter. He approved, and consumed a quarter of a pear (pureed) without hesitation.

He looks a little worried in these pictures, but he was gripping that spoon in his little fist like Do. Not. Take. Away. My Pear.

Weekend

Scotland, 2012

Saturday night we attended a beautiful, traditional Scottish wedding in the school chapel at Glenalmond College (very Hogwarts, n'est pas?)

We had venison for dinner, followed by sticky toffee pudding in the school's grand old dining hall, and I sat next to a fellow named Rupert who told me stories of having been dropped off at boarding school at the ripe old age of 7.

On Sunday we took a turn around the gardens at Gleneagles, where we spied this giant golden eagle, who looked like he might have fancied Axel for breakfast. Then it was a long rainy drive down to England, where we arrived at Will's parents' house late last night.

There was a slight hiccup with our flight (which may or may not have involved us trying to check in at the wrong airport), so we ultimately decided a road trip was the simplest option. Our Scottish sojourn was a little harried thanks to getting sick and travel issues, but we are now showered and rested in London and glad to be mostly in one place for the next 3 weeks.

Tartan Baby

Axel, 2012

Both Will and I are recovering from stomach bugs so we haven't exactly been hill walking this morning. But Axel seems to have gotten a lesser version of it and is in high spirits, being very tolerant of the millions of tartan-themed photos I am snapping of him.

Yesterday we attempted a little tour of St. Andrew's, but it was bitingly cold and there was a nasty driving rain so we hunkered inside drinking hot chocolates (ah, getting nostalgic for my four chilly years here.) Off to a friend's wedding this afternoon.

We Made It

Scotland, 2012

After eleven or so years, Scotland feels mostly unchanged. The same boiling hot tea and lilting accents and chilly high-ceilinged rooms and quiet cobbled streets.

Yesterday we landed in Glasgow and then drove to St. Andrews, where Will and I first met (we got lucky on the flight as there was an extra seat between us, so Axel snoozed most of the way in his car seat.) En route, there was frost on the ground and cold looking sheep and small stone cottages; when we arrived, the town felt incredibly familiar.

There are some newer, slicker chain shops, but aside from that it still feels like the sort of place that's in your bones. I suppose university is such a formative time it can't help but make its imprint on you.

The baby is still on New York time so we are having a lazy morning at our hotel before meeting a friend to walk around town. I think when you travel with the littles you are somewhat at their mercy, and it's an adjustment to wrap your head around a slower tempo. But he got his first passport stamp and has been an all around stellar fellow.

That Was Fast

New York, 2012

I feel like our flights have crept up on us and that our New York Christmas has been condensed into an impossibly short period of time. It's insane to think that at this time tomorrow, we'll be arriving in Scotland. Axel's santa hat is packed, naturally.