Paris- Scenes from around the town

My first crepe in Paris- not the last

Loved the look of the metro station- this is how we got around

This bridge is covered in these locks- the bridge of love

Shakespeare and Company- AWESOME bookstore

Best Gelato ever

I had to add this- we saw alot of these around the city with me and my pregnancy issues. Yes, it looks like a spaceship and it is very frightening to use.

This boy ate a croissant every morning- yum

Loved all the cobblestone

Blowdryer broke in Europe= gross hair. I loved the views from this river

Arc de Triumph- amazing. Just as amazing is how the traffic navigates itself around it.

Macaroons- YUM

Art's Square was SO FUN to walk around. We should have gotten our portrait drawn.

The buildings around town just blew me away. So beautiful

Amazing Christmas Trees in all of the shopping centers

Paris- Eiffel Tower

We went to the Eiffel Tower twice 

We had to see it once at night and once during the day 

you HAVE to do both 

I just started tearing up when they turned that "sparkle" on 

It really is as spectacular as I imagined it to be

Europe on a budget

We were so blessed to be able to go to Europe

Weeks before we went I saw that Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds recently went and thought "what a life"

We didn't travel like them:)

However, we still had fun- here are a couple of tips 

1. Decide ahead of time what you want to spend money on

It's so easy to go crazy over in Europe

The Euro and the American Dollar are different

If food is important to you- then spend money on food. 

If a fancy hotel is important to you- then spend money on that.

To us, the attractions are what were important to us. 

2. Where to stay

We spent under $500 for 12 nights of lodging through airbnb.com

It is not a hostel and you can choose anything from sharing a room to having you own house.

This was our place in Vienna- way nice and right off a metro stop.

3. Transportation

We took the subways everywhere. If you are there for a few days buy a multi day pass. It was only scary when we used it late at night- every other time I felt very safe. Just pay attention to when the doors are closing (we watched a lady get her face smashed in the closing doors). It is a fun place to people watch. We only have to take a taxi once in an emergency. 

4. Food

In Paris to eat at a restaurant it is outrageous! From what I can tell the normal prices were 10 euros for breakfast (croissant, coffee and an egg), and up to 50 euros for dinner. Yikes! We hit up a lot of Pizza places and food courts in the malls. So we didn't eat typical French Cuisine (which I am ok with) but had our share of crepes and gelato. We were able to eat at a pastry shop daily and other than that hit up a grocery store for breakfast.

Vienna, the food is MUCH cheaper. We were able to eat three meals a day for under 20 euros for us both. We ate at a lot of street vendors (didn't get sick once) and ate at a restaurant once- for 15 euros. Plus, the food is MUCH better there.

5. Attractions

For museums, if you are under 25 in Paris and 26 in Vienna there is usually a student deal for you to take advantage of. Also, if you really like audio tours, many of the places let you upload the audio tour on your phone, which can save you up to 8 euros in some places. 

6.Other tips and tricks

 I wish I had hand sanitizer

I wish I had inserts for my shoes- you walk a ton

Bring snacks- we had nuts and beef jerky to keep up going inbetween meals. We were able to get it through the airports just fine.

Figure out ahead of time your cell phone situation- we didn't miss ours

To block out noise in apartments, youtube has a great white noise video for 10 hours

Tylenol PM was a great friend

Netflix and hulu do not work over there- so bring movies to help in the middle of the night with jetlag

Be patient- it is hard when you don't speak the language and French people won't help you

Starbucks and McDonalds always have Wi-Fi and a bathroom

Bring Kleenex- will be used as TP as well

Every airport is different- Paris is VERY strict on the weight of your baggage, even your carryon

International Flights are not as bad as I thought

BO is a real thing- bring gum to chew while on the subway (pregnancy nose)

take TOO many pictures- you won't regret it

take it slow if traveling while pregnant- I had my moments

Enjoy every second

For the next week I have posts coming with pictures- stay tuned if you want!

Here's to 2013

We are back... almost!

It has been a crazy and amazing 3 weeks

I can't wait to post pictures

but for now... as I sit here in bed so sick from the craziness of the 3 weeks away

I am so excited to start this year

I have a feeling this will be an exciting year

full of change

but especially full of love 

can't wait for our little baby to come

actually I feel like I have to say that... I can wait until May- we have lots to get done before this little one makes an appearance. 

 This year will also bring so many other surprises

one starting tomorrow is our new place to live!

Can't wait to get it decorated to show all of you!

Also, trips to NYC and Dominican Republic 

As well as the looming decisions we have before us in our little family!

Yay 2013, we are glad you are here

WHY!?

Why is it that as I am getting ready to see all these beautiful things

 I get crazy TRAVEL ANXIETY 

not sleeping, clenching my jaw (sorry dad) and just crying all the time!?

 I get nervous about the flight, our housing, my clothes, being pregnant while there, making it home for Christmas. 

Why can't I just sit back and look forward to this anyone else have this problem- or am I totally nuts!?

My first snowman

We had a little snow storm out in Provo a few weeks ago-

 and I finally made my first snowman! 

As you can tell I was quite excited 

and we decided to get creative

 with the supplies we had in the house.

Questions Answered

Since announcing the baby's arrival many of you have asked questions... so here are some answers

When are you due?

Middle of May... one appointment it was May 22 and the second was May 16th

What are you having?

Not sure yet

maybe this Friday we will find out

Are you wearing pregnancy clothes?

jeans with elastic on them... what do you think

Are you going to keep working after the baby?

I am! Still trying to figure out how, but we are. 

I have heard it all from people on this answer...

I am doing that is best for me and my family 

How have you been feeling?

I have not thrown up too much... whew

I have been tired a lot and have had really bad headaches

however... that being said... it's much easier to go through it knowing it is for a reason

Was it a surprise? (I get this a lot you nosey people:))

Actually I say it's a blessing

In July my thyroid dr said it would take us "a few years" to have kids

hypothyroidism means you have low hormone levels

well uh... that was not a good thing to say

it took about 6 weeks after that

I truly feel this is a blessing, since who knows how my thyroid issues will affect future pregnancies

Babymoon?

Yes! We head to Europe on Dec 12 and also the Dominican Republic in February

Names?

Yup- you can ask me in person since it changes quite often

I am just sad T doesn't like the name Norah (sadface)

We are very excited and feel very blessed. 

I truly hesitated this and even announcing our little "shnug" (as T calls it)

there are so many things that can go wrong

and our heart truly goes out to so many of our friends and family who are having a hard time getting pregnant. So on that note- I probably won't post a ton of belly pics on here etc.

If you would like any of that crazy stuff (it still freaks me out to look down)

you can follow me on instagram at laolsen