Of France, trains, and the third trimester

I may never be able to convince myself to splurge on maternity pictures, but I do have pictures like this. 

France was fabulous. The journey there was epic and exhausting and filled with mishaps, but we arrived! Disneyland Paris was Disneyland...just with Euros, benigets (but otherwise sub-par food), and copious amounts of cigarette smoke. Paris, itself, was delightful. The city is beautiful in its ancient opulent way, and quite different from England. For instance, the French designed and implemented boulevards, which I prefer to England's cart sized roads.

A couple notable facts about Paris! 

The security is multi-layered and detailed. If you're opposed to baggage searches, visible weapons, and security checkpoints, you might not want to tour Paris. We loved it, as it was organized and intentional. I've provided a visual for you right here. Also, my adorable preschooler and his squint. We did discover that my freckles, customer service smile, baby bump, and propensity for chatting makes even French security relax, but S's cold, hard German face has the opposite affect. I knew my freckles would come in handy one day!

While security is abundant, public restrooms are not. You haven't lived until you've run around the Arc de Triumphe and the adjacent train station, searching for a functioning bathroom. We eventually found one....at the Eiffel Tower. Everyone--grown man, preschooler, and pregnant lady--survived the lack of amenities. Next time, however, we know to just duck into a cafe for a toilet break and espresso.

So trains...

While in France, we also discovered how trains worked. I didn't realize I didn't understand them until I needed them. Perhaps the biggest perk to beginning Europe travels sans children is the ability to live and learn without the worry of how the experience will affect your offspring. It's likely also easier to plunk down on the floor of St. Pancras when you're not six months pregnant, or deal with the Eurostar being so late that you miss your connecting train...BUT, everyone is kinder with you if you take a tiny human along. Not that we have any idea of how that works. ;)  On a related note, it IS possible for the Eurostar to double book your seats. Apparently, it is not common at all, but quite possible.

On the English home front, Lando, who is now FOUR, is thriving in nursery school. He absolutely adores his teachers, friends, learning, and the structure that nursery gives him. He also is adding a British accent to certain words, and it's as darling and hilarious as one might imagine. We usually walk to nursery since it's close and English roads and parking make walking preferable. I did hate my life just a bit when we had to walk through a snow storm in early March, but ideally, that time has passed.

"She gets to sit with me?!"

This little girl is showing up her big brother in the bump gains department, but I'm slimmer, lighter, less swollen, and in so much less pain than last time. I actually love the predominant bump, since that's one of my favorite parts of pregnancy. She's due in less than 12 weeks, and we are simultaneously relishing our last months as a family of three while anticipating her arrival. We also picked up a second vehicle in honor of her impending arrival--or perhaps we grew tired of sharing--and Landon is thrilled about sharing the back seat with a sibling. I'm still thrilled about the epidural, and S. is thrilled that he gets another darling to spoil.

In closing, we STILL miss tacos, free parking, and sunshine, but Europe does make for cool pictures!