travelling with a toddler

it looks like a BOMB went off in my hotel room! despite my best efforts, my room is a complete disaster. our already tiny room is crammed with a playpen and a stroller. our huge suitcase is on the floor and our overflowing garbage can is sitting on the desk b/c s pulled my starbucks cup out of it yesterday and tried to drink out of it. s put j's shoes in the bathroom and mine in a drawer. complete chaos.

s has her other front tooth now! she seemed to handle it alright, however we've had a few temper tantrums that can be most likely attributed to teething. although many of the tantrums are a result of s asserting her independence.....pushing her stroller as opposed to riding in it is a perfect example. if only she could walk in the right direction. so inevitably i scoop her up. i'm not sure what people think when i carry her down the street with her screaming her face off, one arm threaded through her legs so i can get a good hold on her. i swear all these babies i see happily riding in their strollers must be sedated.

off to london today. got a 5-hour train ride from edinburgh to catch. can't wait to walk up and down the isles with s!

glasgow, edinburgh

we spent our first week near glasgow, staying with j's fam. we got a chance to eat, drink and relax! with all the chaos prior to leaving for the UK, it was well deserved. j and i got the opportunity to go for dinner, just the 2 of us, and do some shopping! a special thanks to anutie l and my mil. we got some curry, as i had a craving, bought some new clothes (to account for all the rainy days that i hadn't planned for) and had tea at The Willow Tea Room (http://www.willowtearooms.co.uk/buchanan.htm). the tea room was fun....i wish i got a better picture of it. tea sandwiches aren't my fave (kinda boring), but the atmosphere was amazing! our room was all black and white and the chair backs were black and taller than i am, so that when you sit down you feel almost like you're caged into your table. the servers were wearing black dresses with white aprons, similar to a maid costume. oh, and the tea was good too!

we arrived in edinburgh by car yesterday. wow, is it busy! we walked up the royal mile a few times, which is VERY touristy, but worth while, none the less. we went a neat little restaurant last night called the dogs. sloane was soooooo exhausted that she passed out on our way in. i was so excited that i got to eat a meal without chasing her around that i didn't take any pics. there were dog statues, paintings and ornaments everywhere. there must have been some actual dogs somewhere too, b/c i saw a dog dish. i had barley risotto and j had lamb. delish! toffee pudding for dessert, which is my latest food addiction. did i mention, i'm wearing leggings almost everyday, so if my jeans are getting snug from all these indulgences, i am unaware.....however pushing a stroller uphill is a great workout!

today we went to the edinburgh castle, which was over half an hour to get in, but worth the wait in the end. i am not much for history, but it was quite impressive. i won't try to describe it, let's just say it's big and castle like, with beautiful views.