{i heart London} England Travel Photographer

Okay, so I wanted to share more of the images I've been working on recently for my London coffee table book. March of 2008 was the last time I traveled beyond the US, while I was 12 weeks pregnant. Of course, Brooklyn arrived in October of 2008...so my international travel has been put on the back burner since then.

I actually had planned on going to Europe in the spring of 2009, but I decided that before I knew what it would really be like to travel 12 hours on a flight with a 6-month old. I always had visions of continuing to travel with her internationally and she would go where I went, strapped in the front pack (ohhhh...I miss the days when she was small enough to fit in the sling or snugli). We have traveled quite a bit to Texas and Washington together (in fact Brooklyn went on her 12th flight this past weekend), but those flights are only 3 hours or less. And let me tell you that there is nothing more stressful so far in parenting than trying to keep a temper tantrum throwing toddler confined on my lap during a fight. It's pure torture. By the time we exit the plane...I am hot, sweating, and wondering where the nearest bar is (not like I'd go...but trust me, the thought is there). Brooklyn actually did really well for 3/4ths of our flights this past weekend, entertained by new books, stickers, iPhone kid apps (thanks Brandi for the awesome ideas) & Yo Gabba Gabba on a borrowed DVD player (thanks Dana). It's just that last half hour when you have to return the seats upright, put tray tables up, and put electronics away...when things start getting ugly. I hear it eventually gets better, closer to 3 or 4 year olds. So it may be a couple more years before I brave a 12-hour flight across the Atlantic to continue my travels.

In the meantime, I'll miss it terribly but live vicariously through my images and new projects. That cute little girl is worth it, for sure!

Now, on to London! I love this city! I first went to London in 1997 when I was going to school in Spain. It is very reminsicent to Seattle to me, especially the weather! And as much as I love Seattle & London, you know how I feel about that dark & dreary weather. I need to remember to plan my trip next time in the summer. I was in London on Easter of 2008 and it SNOWED! And it was cold! Yes, I know snow and cold usually go together...but 10 years in Southern California has spoiled me!

These are all of the sites that remind me of London...the red photo booths, the London Eye, the Bridge, Big Ben, and the row houses. I'll share the complete book, just as soon as I finish it.