Weight: 13 lbs 14 1/2 ounces 20 percentile
Height: 24 3/4 inches 25 percentile
Head: 16 3/4 75 percentile
There is that Hart head slowly peeking again...
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Saturday, April 20, 2013
the expat life
It has started... My heart physically hurts for London. All day yesterday I have been missing my expat life.
I can't really pinpoint what triggered it or how the feelings became suddenly overwhelming. I just remember sitting on the couch, looking around a room in a house that is not mine, and facing Tim to say, "I miss London."
"Me too," was his reply.
"Like, a lot," I said back.
Before moving back to the states I started reading, "The Art of Coming Home" by Craig Storti, a book that KPMG gave us weeks prior to our move. It is recommended that even family members read it.
It was very interesting to say the least. Can you believe they have books on this? I was informed ahead of time by my expert expat friends about the roller coaster of emotions an expat goes through while living abroad. I didn't fully understand it, but I took their word for it. And sure enough, throughout the two years I would catch myself at those various high and low and twirly points along the ride.
Mid-coaster ride I had been prepped a bit about "reverse culture shock". Yes, there is such a thing. Again, I didn't understand, but I believed it.
So to finally sit down and read about this, so called "reverse culture shock", was eye opening for me. I wish I had the book with me so I can share some excerpts with you, but it is currently packed in a box on a boat sailing the deep blue sea toward LA.
I was very curious upon reading when reverse culture shock would hit me. Every expat has a different experience. How long will it take for me? How severe will it be? How long will it last? Will I ever be the same? Can "home" truly not feel like "home"? Where is "home"? And do I need therapy???
Ok, the last one is kinda a joke, but really, I did think it!
Fast forward exactly one month later from our departure date and I am finding myself throughout the whole day looking at old instagram pictures of London, seeing pictures of our old flat, and so desperately wanting to go back. I even had moments where I would close my eyes and envision myself there, looking out at our amazing view....
Maybe, it was the fact, that as my dear friend puts it, "...when the dust began to settle from the rush and excitement of being 'home'," that triggered this awkwardness of being stuck between two worlds. We bought our cars, settled our bank accounts, ran a bazillion errands, met up with old friends, went on a family vacay... and now the chaos and enjoyment of all the re-introductions of American luxuries has come to an end.
I know this sounds crazy. I don't expect you to understand. But I know my fellow expats totally understand and that's comfort for me to know, I'm not crazy.
So, yes, I cried at night in bed last night. Also laughing because the emotions were all so bizarre! Tim and I stayed up discussing our feelings about our experiences. After all he is the only one that can truly understand. He is having a hard time too and in different ways.
Today I'm better. But I don't know what tomorrow will be like. So if you ever talk to me and I seem out of it, I'm sorry. I guess I will have normal days and not so normal days as I try to figure out my "normal". So be nice to me, please. :)
I can't really pinpoint what triggered it or how the feelings became suddenly overwhelming. I just remember sitting on the couch, looking around a room in a house that is not mine, and facing Tim to say, "I miss London."
"Me too," was his reply.
"Like, a lot," I said back.
Before moving back to the states I started reading, "The Art of Coming Home" by Craig Storti, a book that KPMG gave us weeks prior to our move. It is recommended that even family members read it.
It was very interesting to say the least. Can you believe they have books on this? I was informed ahead of time by my expert expat friends about the roller coaster of emotions an expat goes through while living abroad. I didn't fully understand it, but I took their word for it. And sure enough, throughout the two years I would catch myself at those various high and low and twirly points along the ride.
Mid-coaster ride I had been prepped a bit about "reverse culture shock". Yes, there is such a thing. Again, I didn't understand, but I believed it.
So to finally sit down and read about this, so called "reverse culture shock", was eye opening for me. I wish I had the book with me so I can share some excerpts with you, but it is currently packed in a box on a boat sailing the deep blue sea toward LA.
I was very curious upon reading when reverse culture shock would hit me. Every expat has a different experience. How long will it take for me? How severe will it be? How long will it last? Will I ever be the same? Can "home" truly not feel like "home"? Where is "home"? And do I need therapy???
Ok, the last one is kinda a joke, but really, I did think it!
Fast forward exactly one month later from our departure date and I am finding myself throughout the whole day looking at old instagram pictures of London, seeing pictures of our old flat, and so desperately wanting to go back. I even had moments where I would close my eyes and envision myself there, looking out at our amazing view....
Maybe, it was the fact, that as my dear friend puts it, "...when the dust began to settle from the rush and excitement of being 'home'," that triggered this awkwardness of being stuck between two worlds. We bought our cars, settled our bank accounts, ran a bazillion errands, met up with old friends, went on a family vacay... and now the chaos and enjoyment of all the re-introductions of American luxuries has come to an end.
I know this sounds crazy. I don't expect you to understand. But I know my fellow expats totally understand and that's comfort for me to know, I'm not crazy.
So, yes, I cried at night in bed last night. Also laughing because the emotions were all so bizarre! Tim and I stayed up discussing our feelings about our experiences. After all he is the only one that can truly understand. He is having a hard time too and in different ways.
Today I'm better. But I don't know what tomorrow will be like. So if you ever talk to me and I seem out of it, I'm sorry. I guess I will have normal days and not so normal days as I try to figure out my "normal". So be nice to me, please. :)
Thursday, April 18, 2013
first bike
Due to this move and having all of Marisa's close friends in London, we decided to give Marisa a big birthday present this year versus having a birthday party.
It was fun to go shopping with Tim and pick out a bike just for our little girl! The first bike in our fam!
She was really excited about it. Especially the pink bell.
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, Marisa got glasses a week before our move back to the states! She loves them.
It was fun to go shopping with Tim and pick out a bike just for our little girl! The first bike in our fam!
She was really excited about it. Especially the pink bell.
And her first trip on the bike was to the local 7 Eleven for slurpies!
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, Marisa got glasses a week before our move back to the states! She loves them.
Happy 6th Birthday Marisa! We love you so much and so lucky to have you as our daughter. XO!
aloha!
We love any excuse to travel, obviously. Actually, no excuse needed, we just love to travel. And my sister's graduation prompted a wonderful vacation for us at the perfect time!
We did not want to come home afterwards and today we have all been suffering from major Hawaiian water withdrawls.
On our last day in Hawaii Natalie asked Tim,
"Can we stay in Hawaii forever?"
"Yep!"
"Fo-wheel?!!"
Oh Natalie, I wish that too!
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
On our last day in Hawaii Natalie asked Tim,
"Can we stay in Hawaii forever?"
"Yep!"
"Fo-wheel?!!"
Oh Natalie, I wish that too!
Monday, April 1, 2013
easter
Happy Easter, from The Harts!
(I just can't get enough of the mini dress shirt and tie. Oh my...)
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
another cross atlantic flight
What a week!
We have all made it safe and sound and finally back on American soil. It was a busy moving day, not one minute to spare, but the trip went really well. All 3 kids, even little Darren, were fab on the plane despite several setbacks. Like the fact that they had us originally seated almost all completely separated, or that they didn't have a car seat that was promised for me for a newborn and I was told that I would have to hold Darren the whole flight despite the fact that we bought a $1700 seat just for him so I DIDN'T have to hold him for 10+ hours, or that once we found 3 nice folks to switch seats with us so we can all be seated in one row to find that 2 of our tv screens were not working and 1 went out mid travelling, or that the kids' dinner I pre-ordered didn't go through. Yeah...
Luckily, our kids are flat out amazing, and Darren was small enough to be laid flat on the airline seat so I really didn't have to hold him the entire flat. Trust me, Virgin Atlantic will hear from us.
Again, all 3 kids have adjusted to the new time pretty darn well. Better than Tim and I actually. We have had several 3 am cereal parties in a row, but I think we are just about there.
Here is what we looked like at Heathrow.
I'm glad Tim captured a small glimpse of the circus we looked like going down the airport, because it was nearly impossible for me to photograph. Picture me pushing one of those big heavy carts with Darren in his carseat hanging from my other arm, Marisa pushing Natalie in the stroller behind me with my huge bag attached to the back and Tim picking up the rear pushing TWO big heavy carts filled with suitcases/boxes. We were a freak show I tell ya.
Now it's time to start tackling the long list of to-dos that accompany an international move!
We have all made it safe and sound and finally back on American soil. It was a busy moving day, not one minute to spare, but the trip went really well. All 3 kids, even little Darren, were fab on the plane despite several setbacks. Like the fact that they had us originally seated almost all completely separated, or that they didn't have a car seat that was promised for me for a newborn and I was told that I would have to hold Darren the whole flight despite the fact that we bought a $1700 seat just for him so I DIDN'T have to hold him for 10+ hours, or that once we found 3 nice folks to switch seats with us so we can all be seated in one row to find that 2 of our tv screens were not working and 1 went out mid travelling, or that the kids' dinner I pre-ordered didn't go through. Yeah...
Luckily, our kids are flat out amazing, and Darren was small enough to be laid flat on the airline seat so I really didn't have to hold him the entire flat. Trust me, Virgin Atlantic will hear from us.
Again, all 3 kids have adjusted to the new time pretty darn well. Better than Tim and I actually. We have had several 3 am cereal parties in a row, but I think we are just about there.
Here is what we looked like at Heathrow.
I'm glad Tim captured a small glimpse of the circus we looked like going down the airport, because it was nearly impossible for me to photograph. Picture me pushing one of those big heavy carts with Darren in his carseat hanging from my other arm, Marisa pushing Natalie in the stroller behind me with my huge bag attached to the back and Tim picking up the rear pushing TWO big heavy carts filled with suitcases/boxes. We were a freak show I tell ya.
Now it's time to start tackling the long list of to-dos that accompany an international move!
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
farewell...
Tomorrow I'll be on a plane back to America. A land I love so dearly. Yet, I will be leaving a big piece of my heart in London, which I have come to love, oh so dearly. I'm already crying. Crying of sadness and happiness. Half of me has the butterflies of excitement, the other half of me is kicking and screaming, resisting the change. We have created such beautiful memories as a family, as a couple, and as individuals that I will cherish forever. We have rubbed shoulders with some amazing people that have made a permanent mark in our hearts. We are definitely leaving as changed people. Better people.
You know when you go on a really amazing trip and when you come back you say to yourself, "Was that real? It seems like a dream! It seems so long ago!" That is my biggest fear upon our return. That the past 2 years will become a faint memory.
Here we are again, closing yet another chapter in our lives and opening another one. I guess that's life. And what a good life we lived here in London.
(Our view from our flat: photo courtesy of Shannon Ashton)
"When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life."
-Samuel Johnson
For fun, here are a few things I will miss:
-Looking out my windows every day and seeing London Eye to Canary Wharf.
-Patisseries and cafes
-The red bus
-Red telephone booths
-Greenwich Market
-Ye Olde Sweet Shoppe
-Borough Market
-Portobello Market
-Using words like lovely and darling and quid and rubbish and cinema and keen and fancy...
-Sweet Couture red velvet cupcake
-10% tips
-Ocado grocery delivery
-Big Ben, it never gets old
-black taxis
-my oyster card
-jubilee line
-scarves
-London at Christmas
-fireworks during the New Year
-European chocolates, the best!
-walks and picnics at Greenwich Park
Things I will not miss:
-Grey skies
-NHS
-crap customer service
-dog poop on sidewalks
-smokers
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
LinkWithin
