gifts – Drew and Jen go to London

What’s That?!

Jen — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:28:24 +0000

Thanks to Graham, Emily, and Kerry for Peanut’s new toys!

I can’t wait to see how Peanut reacts to theseâ€“they are brilliant stimulation for the senses! Â This book, of course, is completely perfect eye-catching contrast.

So is the peacock(?), but the peacock also reflects, crinkles, rattles and has lots of different pieces to grab… We consider that Graham is probably an expert on what babies really like; this must be the cool thing to do this season! Thank goodness we have the inside scoop from someone in the know.

Sending love to the Mitchell family for this fun gift!

Mama Got a Massage

Jen — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 19:04:23 +0000

This girl (the one who is not me), her name is Elsa.

She takes photos. Lately, she takes a lot of photos of my growing belly.

Well, she had this brilliant idea to send me for a massage.

Did you know that there is such a thing as a table for pregnant ladies who want a massage?

Yes. There. Is.

Thank you, Elsa. I feel new.

www.drewandjengotolondon.com

Overflowing

Jen — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 21:54:59 +0000

Gifts have arrived from a threesome in Tennessee.

From where I sit it looks kind of like this: Two people crashed into each other. Two people held hands for a while, a little confused about the whole thing. Love happened. Love made two into three. Love is overflowing.

Love is melting their brains until they send indescribably cute pjs from across the ocean.

Now I am melting from cuteness overload. Yes, the cute animals are on the tooshy and there is room for the nappy on the sweet tooshy.

And I am having a contraction over the shoes.

Which is why it’s good that there is a baby carrier here in case Peanut decides that this is the moment for trying on the shoes.

And an excellent reason to have a Moses Basket stand for the Moses Basket that the baby will dream in.

‘I don’t know where it all begins / And I don’t know where it all will end / We’re better off for all that we let in’ (Emily Saliers, Amy Ray)

Thank you Joanna and Mark and Baby Girl Montgomery. (correct me if that name is wrong, hahaha!) Peanut is a lucky, loved, and stylish baby.

www.drewandjengotolondon.com

In The Beginning

Jen — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 22:54:57 +0000

Most people want to know if the nursery is ready for Peanut’s arrival. I am happy to say it is now…

My friend Suki has kindly passed down to us her precious Moses Basket!

Photo courtesy Elsa Konig

There is something really special about knowing a family loved this bed. A family that wished and wanted and celebrated a miracle have given us a treasure.

I think it looks completely at home in its new place.

This is exactly where Peanut should dream.

Until Peanut is old enough to have a room, we have shelves to store the sweet little socks. And by ‘sweet little socks’ I mean of course ‘baby stuff’.

The guest room closet is slowly being taken over by sweet little socks. Really, our whole flat is being taken over by sweet little socks. I don’t think we mind a bit.

www.drewandjengotolondon.com

Love On Loan

Jen — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 13:00:41 +0000

I am sure that you remember our friends Ade and Mel… Well, they introduced me to Pauline, a mum from Ealing. Pauline has lent us these lovelies until we can pass them along to the next bundle. (I think Mel’s mum is hoping for more grand babies!!)

This play mat really is a lot of fun! The elephant ear is crinkly and something makes a squeak… It has dangles and lights and music. Oh. my.

These seats are supposed to be magnificent for play time, feeding, and letting mummy visit the loo/have a shower without baby in her lap…

Thank you Pauline! (And thanks to Ade and Mel for the delivery! We hope you make Breakfast Casserole for your family soon!)

www.drewandjengotolondon.com

Pre-Push Pampering

Jen — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 13:00:31 +0000

Some sweet ladies at work got together and decided I might spontaneously go into labor if they didn’t intervene. They are taking me to lunch on Thursday and they have presented me with gift vouchers for my local Aveda salon.

And look at that precious hat from my colleague who just moved to Hong Kong! Super cute.

I am struggling to decide exactly which combination of services to purchase! The hat will be easy to figure out, haha! I think.

www.drewandjengotolondon.com

Thanks Jane and Quinn!

Jen — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 19:51:49 +0000

Our sweet friends Jane and Quinn sent a package!! You might remember them as the second guests at the Huddleston B&B. (Somehow all I got were photos of beer…)

It’s adorable! We are so excited for Peanut to wear this super cute onesie while we read Richard Scarry together. Mummy and Daddy can enjoy home made tex-mex (and then everyone, including baby, will need gas relief)!

We continue to feel loved and lucky to be so well looked after from near and far. This baby is already tangled up in a big network of love!

Look!

Jen — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 11:00:45 +0000

Our friends Ade and Mel have been very good to us while we have lived in Londonâ€“and they have always been welcoming to our friends, too. Ade and Mel have recently had a precious new addition to their family and when we made our announcement they were keen to put together a load of goodies for us to borrow. It’s fantastic!

This is just some of what they sent…

All of a sudden we had lots of what we needed to bring Peanut home!

Photos courtesy Elsa Konig

When Peanut has outgrown these things another family will be thrilled to see this package of goodies! We can’t say thanks enough for the help. It’s lovely to know lovely people.

www.drewandjengotolondon.com

Blessed

Jen — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 12:07:38 +0000

Sometimes it gets hard to say ‘thank you’; sometimes it doesn’t feel like enough. Peanut is next to ready for this world and I think the world is ready in return. We keep getting reminders that we are not alone in this despite misleading appearances. You have seen pictures of the Peanut gear that we’ve unpacked, but gifts have been snuck into our pockets and come via email too. It’s a bit overwhelming to be on the receiving end of such generosity.

Thank you.

We don’t know what else to say or how else to let you know that we are grateful that you are as excited about Peanut’s birthday as we are. Well, except that we’ve got a guest room with your name on it.

Photo courtesy Elsa Konig

www.drewandjengotolondon.com

Back on the Island

Jen — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 07:50:46 +0000

Despite the mileage traveled (8500+ miles) and the difficulties of the past two weeks, Drew returned home with presents for me. They are the perfect kindâ€“simple, straightforward, useful, thoughtful, and just right for sharing. Good man.

Martha White and Criscoâ€“I don’t know how to make North American Southern-style biscuits with anything else. My mom and dad made sure that an appreciation for these treats was instilled in me and Granny Young made sure I understood the importance of Martha White flour.

[Drew also brought home a precious hand written recipe from Granny Huddleston for Chocolate Gravy. I don’t have permission (yet) to give that out, so you will have to trust me.]

Then there were these… Hot diggety. Old El Paso Taco Seasoning, for the Relatively Low Drama Baby Mama who has specific, but simple needs. I am pre-preparing some taco/burrito filling for freezing without a doubt. When Peanut arrives I need to know that taco night can still happen.

P.S. Vegetarians, this seasoning packet works wonders on beans, soy crumbles, I would assume seitan, refried bean dips, soups and dressings just as it does for your carnivorous counterparts…

Before he had unpacked his suitcases, this happened.

Have mercy on me.

[Look, that’s Kassi and some of Kelsey on tv!]

What is cuter than this?

Yes, we will attach the rain shield. We just never know…

My uterus aches.

This is definitely on the list of Top Ten Most Precious Things I Have Seen In My Life.

www.drewandjengotolondon.com