Baby Update: 37 Weeks!

We've made it to 37 weeks and are officially "full-term!"  According to www.thebump.com - baby is the size of a watermelon!  This picture is me right after I got home from my prenatal workout class at David Lloyds (the gym we belong to).  If you're thinking I am looking a little worn out (and pasty white - man, I need a tan), you would be right!  Sleeping is getting tougher - just can't seem to get comfortable and there aren't enough pillows in the world right now to help alleviate that problem!  Also, contending with heartburn and peeing every hour on the hour doesn't help either.  Not that I am complaining - it's all worth it!  =)  Anyway, I've been taking classes at our gym with other expecting women - it's pretty fun and a great workout!  Also, it's great to talk to the other girls about how their pregnancies are going.  Our instructor/trainer is really sweet - she's had three children herself (and you'd never know it) and created this class because she wished it had been available to her when she was expecting.  A few weeks ago, I ended up being the only one who made it to class and she gave me my own private training session!  Was pretty great to have a one-on-one, catered workout!  In addition to the prenatal class, I go swimming just about every day - feels great on my back and is a great full-body workout. 

Baby Anna is moving around all the time - I'm not sure how there is any room left for her to move in there - but she seems to be the most active after meals and at night.  Dave and I have fun trying to figure out which body part she's poking around with - but most of the time, I think it's her butt!  =) 

Anyway, Dave and I are excited - could be any day now!  We will be sure to keep you all posted on our impending arrival! 

My new car!

After a great deal of research and even more searching, Dave and I finally bought a second car! Now that we have it, I am not quite sure how I ever lived without it (no more having to rely on public transportation)! It's a 2001 Volkswagen Golf TDI. It's a manual, four door with a hatchback and is a diesel - gets about 60 mpg! We've owned it for two weeks and I still have a half a tank of gas left (and that's after driving it to the gym every day and a shopping trip to Birmingham)!

While I miss the luxury of being up high off the road and the roominess of my Tahoe back home, this little guy zips around on even the smallest of British roads (and parking lots) - something you can only appreciate if you drive over here. Some dual lane roads here are the equivalent to one lane back home and most of the time there are cars parked on either side, making the road even smaller!  So the smaller the car, the better!  Luckily, the trunk - or as the Brits say - the "boot" while small, still manages to fit the baby's stroller perfectly!  So, we're all ready (and SO excited) for when baby Anderson arrives!  

Anyway, just wanted to update you on our newest addition to the Anderson fleet!

Baby Update: 36 Weeks!

We are at 36 weeks and still growing!  Gary, Dave's dad came to visit us this weekend - he had been in Bristol all week for work and stopped by our house for the weekend.  He snapped this picture right before we left for our favorite restaurant, Anoki!  As you can see, I'm on the phone - haha!  Ooops!  Had to update my Mom on my midwife appointment I had had earlier that day.  Speaking of, the appointment went well - I had two pages of questions for her that we went through regarding labor, delivery and all things baby!   Baby is growing well and her heart beat sounded great!  We are a week away from being "full-term!"  Dave and I and the grandparents are all getting excited for our little arrival! 

Happy Pancake Day and a visit from Gary!

The Brits celebrate Pancake Day right before the start of Lent and we couldn't help but join in on the festivities!  Pancake Day is also called "Shrove Tuesday" here and in the States we call it Fat Tuesday!  Anyway, Gary was in town for work and stayed the weekend with us - and we celebrated Pancake Day on Sunday so he could partake!  The pancakes aren't what I would classify as a typical pancake - more of a crepe consistency - but just as delicious nonetheless!  Chef Dave went to work and they were amazing!  He filled them with chocolate and lemon curd and a scoop of vanilla ice cream (gotta live up to the "fat" in Fat Tuesday)!  Here are some pics of our celebration! 

Chef Dave!

Gary enjoying his pancake!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day seemed a little sweeter this year - with our little one on the way - life just seems so full of love these days.  And marking one day just doesn't seem right.  I am so blessed to have such an amazing and loving husband and best friend and we are both so excited to welcome our little one into this world.  

Sometimes we sit around after dinner and reflect on our life, where we have been, what we have done, where we are now and where we are going - especially with this new and exciting chapter quickly approaching us.  We have such amazing family and friends and we feel so loved.  We get to live abroad and experience this life that not many even dream about.  And now, we are expecting our first child.  We are so blessed. 

Dave made sure to tell me that the red roses are for me and the white roses are for Anna - his two favorite girls =)

We have so many hopes and dreams for Baby Anderson - but one that stands out from all the rest is that we hope to provide her the same unconditional love and support that we both grew up receiving from our parents.  We love you little Anna, so very much, and we can't wait until you get here!  

Baby Update: 35 Weeks!

Baby bump update - we're getting huge!  =)

Thank you Aunt Carolyn!

Baby Anderson received another little package from Aunt Carolyn!  She is already so loved and it makes me smile and so happy that she has such a loving and caring family back home.  Thank you Carolyn - you are so sweet!  Can't wait to see Anna wearing this adorable little onesie! 

Long weekend in Glasgow, Scotland

Dave now looks after another facility - in Glasgow Scotland - and had to be up there for a day of meetings this past Friday.  I of course tagged along for the trip!  Also, Dave's old boss Bob Morley from Indy, who is British, now lives in Lanark, a small village in-between Glasgow and Edinburgh with his wife, Mackenzie (who is American), so we made plans to catch up with them as well! 

Dave and I stayed at the Crowne Plaza Hotel right on the River Clyde - very neat hotel if anyone is ever in Glasgow.  Anyway,  Mackenzie came and picked me up Friday morning at the hotel for a day of shopping, coffee and lunch!  We had a great time walking around the city centre - too bad the weather was less than stellar - a mix of drizzle and cold usually make me want to do nothing more than crawl back into a nice warm bed!  =)  Anyway, she and I had never met, so it was great to meet her, hang out and also to commiserate with a fellow American on our experiences here!

Dave and I had date night later on that night and ventured over to a little seafood place called The Mussel Inn.  It was amazing!  It had all the fresh seafood you could possible ever want or need - I ordered the seafood chowder and an order of fish cakes - not the best combination and I think I've met my seafood limit for the year, but amazing nonetheless!  Dave ordered the seafood chowder and a pot of fresh mussels - we were so stuffed!  

Saturday, we met up with Bob and Mackenzie and they gave us the tour of Loch Lomond.  The loch, which is about 45 - 50 minute drive north of Glasgow, is the biggest lake in the UK.  They own a 40 foot "boat" (I'd call it a mini-yacht) and wanted to take us out on it!  Despite the weather being a bit foggy and cold, we still had a great time!  The lake is beautiful!  

As you can see, the weather wasn't the greatest but it added a sort of mysterious element to the surroundings.  Needless to say, we were still thrilled to be out!  (Dave was really missing our boat and Dale Hollow at this point!)  

Sea plane ride for hire!

The Cameron House Hotel right on the banks of the loch - beautiful!

Captain Bob!

Dave!

Bob and Mackenzie

After venturing out on the loch, we headed over to The Camden House Hotel to warm up and grab lunch.  We spent the rest of the day visiting with Bob and Mackenzie and went to dinner at their favorite little Indian restaurant in a nearby town.  They were so sweet and hospitable!  We stayed the night at their house in Lanark with them and their two dogs, Prudence and Piper - very cute dogs!  On the way out of town last Sunday, we shot a few more photos of the beautiful scenery!  Scotland is so beautiful! 

Verbier Ski Trip for the Dad-To-Be

Dave and I were invited to go skiing with an old friend of mine from elementary school - Dorothy Touponce and her husband, Bob.  They live and work in Lausanne, Switzerland and we were able to visit with them and ski Verbier with them a little over a year ago. 

Because I'm too far along in my pregnancy to fly, I was unable to go and I urged Dave to go without me.  He had some reservations about leaving me home especially after the whole hospital/kidney thing, but I managed to talk him into it!  ;)  Plus, I had baby errands to run and he was only gone a couple days! 

Dorothy has a good friend who owns a chalet right on the Verbier mountain and was nice enough to offer to let them stay there for the long weekend - they could literally ski right out the front door!  Verbier is about an hour and twenty minute drive from Lausanne, so Dave flew from Birmingham into Geneva and took the train to Lausanne, then met up with Dorothy and Bob who then drove out to Verbier. 

As you will see, their pictures are incredible!  The views from the top are amazing and they had fresh powder both days!

Skiing above the clouds!

Dave and Bob enjoying a brew

Dorothy

Dave enjoying a steak after a morning of snowboarding

Bob and Dorothy

The crew - Bob, Dorothy and Dave

Dave, about to head down into the clouds!

Dave and Dorothy stopping for a pic

Toasting to Baby Anderson!

View from Dave's room at the chalet

Dave's room

Dorothy, Bob, Tully and Denali!

Hot tub!

Dave relaxing after a long, hard day on the slopes!

Dave had a great time and I'm glad he got to get a trip in before Baby Anderson arrives!  Thanks to Dorothy and Bob for being so hospitable and keeping my hubby safe out on the slopes!