If you can’t read German or have never seen a pregnancy test, the above photo might be confusing…

but to confirm,

YES, I am pregnant!

(And for some reason, at first, here in Budapest we could only find German pregnancy tests).

I announced the news yesterday on Instagram and was overwhelmed by the love and excitement E and I received from all over the world! This is one lucky little babe already.

I am just over 16 weeks pregnant–the baby is expected to arrive at the end of November, around Thanksgiving (in America, anyways). Which means we exclusively refer to it with all the fall fruits and foods we can think of, including Lil Turkey.

Anyway, that’s why it’s been so quiet around here! I can’t believe my last post was in APRIL!!

Mostly the radio silence is because the first trimester left me nearly comatose every day. The fatigue and morning sickness (or, all-day sickness, really???) really threw me for a loop. I was so nauseous all the time, that some clothes I wore during that time make me feel ill. Our spring break trip to Macedonia–two days after we found out I was pregnant–is still hard for me to think about, even though it’s a beautiful country. I just feel sick again at the memory!

Add the “morning” sickness and fatigue to teaching every day?? I practically had to crawl home and not move again once I got there.

Tomorrow is the last day of school (so many feelings!!) and while I love my job and my students, I am so grateful for a break. I do not understand how teachers teach until right before they have the baby.

^^one of my first-graders drew this picture of future me…pregnant and in London. Apparently he thinks I’m British, ha! 

Although I shared not long ago that we would be staying for another year in Hungary, after our little surprise turkey news, E and I decided that going back to the States–for the time being–would be better for us.

There are a few reasons for this:

First, family! It would be nice to be a little closer to at least ONE member of our family when our little babe arrives.

Secondly, the healthcare here is decent–dare I say better than in most of America, unfortunately?–but even at the private clinic we go to, there is quite a language barrier. We always have to furiously Google both during AND after the appointments to figure out what exactly is happening. There is also a protocol in Hungary (and perhaps in the States?? I’ll find out soon!) for prenatal care, and with the language barrier, half the time I’m not even sure why they’re taking my blood or giving me another ultrasound. Since it’s my first pregnancy, I’m a bit of a hypochondriac, and I already had a small complication at the beginning of the pregnancy, I really want a doctor who can help me understand my pregnancy and baby.

Another reason we are leaving is because our visas are tied to my job here–and since I would get at least a year or so off with maternity leave, this would also impact our visas and make it harder to stay.

Another minor issue? Even if we did have the baby here, it wouldn’t have Hungarian citizenship since we are both American–a perk I did want to give my child, but doesn’t seem to be happening this time around :).

So, what’s next?

Next, my parents come to visit–they arrive TOMORROW, in fact!–and we are going to Poland! After they leave, E and I will be traveling some–Lviv in Ukraine, Amsterdam, Scotland and Iceland, to be exact!

That will take us into the middle of July, and we’ll fly back to the States then. We’ll stay with my parents for a few weeks, and then…who knows!

A big fat question mark is still in my mind about where exactly we are going to have this baby and what we’re going to do. I’m planning on teaching online for the rest of my pregnancy and then taking time off to enjoy my new baby before getting another job. E, who works for himself from home, will probably find a more full-time (but hopefully still remote!) job that will give us benefits (because healthcare, besides the English thing, is NOT A PERK OF MOVING BACK TO THE UNITED STATES).

But really, we have no idea what will come next.

And that goes for parenting!

Truthfully, my first trimester was so rough, emotionally and physically, and my pregnancy was quite a surprise–and along with the fact that we have to leave my beloved Europe–I have been so up and down about this new adventure of ours.

Now that I’m feeling a bit better, with a summer of family and travel is ahead of us, and now that I even have a little baby bump!, it feels more real and more exciting.

I am so excited to show our little one the world! We hope to live abroad again and give our child that experience, but first we will have to adjust to being parents. Whoa!

I hope you’ll join me for this next chapter in our lives, too :). Thank you so much to everyone who has reached out and shared their excitement with both me and E–it means so much to us!

Do you have any questions about my pregnancy? Do you travel/live abroad with a child? Share your wisdom!  

The post Schwanger’d + A Little Life Update appeared first on Amy and the Great World.

Our anniversary!

To celebrate, we are, what else??, traveling! I’m so excited to leave the Czech Republic and explore more of Europe. Even just for a weekend.

Follow me on Instagram (@amygreatworld) to see if you can guess where we are! Let the games begin.

But first, a little throwback.

E and I met in college when we were just 18. Babies! We started dating about a year after we met, but had a turbulent on-and-off relationship for most of our early twenties as we both traveled and dated around (hey, it happens when you’re young!). Four years ago, we got back together for keeps, moved to Denver together, moved in together, and now, we have moved overseas to the lovely Prague!

Then (when we first started dating):

and Now, eight years later:

Happy Anniversary, E! I am so grateful for everything that you are. I’m so happy we are following our dreams out in the wide world together. I wouldn’t have it any other way. XOXO.

The post Happy Anniversary to Us appeared first on Amy and the Great World.

While I plan on fully enjoying my new city of Prague, there’s also so much else to see in Europe. Besides last summer and a few other quick summer trips, most of my time abroad has been spent in places other than Europe, so I am excited to travel, well, everywhere! Below you’ll find a list (in pictures!) of the places I can’t wait to visit most in Europe.

(disclaimer: I definitely expect this list to keep growing throughout the year!). 

I’m only a little ambitious…

Maybe a year won’t be long enough?

(click image for source)

AND so.many.more. I have to stop now or I’ll never stop!

If you’ve been to Europe, what were some of your favorite experiences? 

Linking up with Adelina for #SundayTraveler!

The post Travel on My Mind appeared first on Amy and the Great World.

As I’ve mentioned before, I love these quizzes, but don’t expect them to be accurate. Some of them I wish were accurate, although I don’t really care to be an astronaut (except that I’d get to go to space. If that’s all it entailed I would probably like it. The part where you need to be an engineer…not so much). Buzzfeed has also told me I should move to Australia and London, that if I were a cereal I’d be Trix (gross!) and I should up and move to Greenwich Village in New York City already.

(Can you see where I’m going here?)

However, in this case, Buzzfeed had a moment of clairvoyance, as this was my test result:

It’s accurate because, this August…

WE ARE MOVING TO PRAGUE!!!

I am so excited, and terrified, and a little freaked out at the amount of stuff to do before we leave. Small things like sell everything, save money, and you know, finish my degree. Whoa.

Mostly, though, I am thrilled that my dream of living abroad is finally coming true. I’ve already starting planning everything we need to see while we’re there. We don’t have too many details yet–not even how long we will be staying–but I’ll keep you posted as we find out!

In the meantime, I’d love to hear any tips from those of you who’ve been to the Czech Republic. 

I hope you all follow along on this new adventure!!

XOXO

(Just so you know, the blurb about why I should move to Prague is also surprisingly accurate, considering this is based on which Harry Potter character I would be–Ron Weasley–and which 90’s trend I miss the most–butterfly hair clips. I am a “bit” disorganized and I’m always the first to crack a joke, mostly because I’m too awkward to do anything else. Does this mean I’ll fit right in???).

**all images courtesy of Buzzfeed**

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So, I thought I’d share my list of the Top Destinations for 2014.

You know, since I know everything, I’ve been everywhere, and I’m clearly your travel expert.

(I know, I’m delightfully witty and hilarious).

I actually haven’t been everywhere (but can I?) nor do I know everything (just ask my Research Methods professor). However, I did compile a list of some of my favorite places–places I can’t wait to go back to–and places I have yet to visit but hope to this year, or at least someday soon.

Enjoy!

(I tried to pick my top 14 but…that was impossible. So, I rounded up!).

This country, while tiny, seems adorable and full of gorgeous views and pretty castles. Apparently, you can also accidentally run into the king at the grocery store! A quaint, unique place to visit in Europe.

I only spent several days in Laos, in Luang Prabang, and was intrigued by the country. I’d like to go back into more rural areas, and maybe stop in Luang Prabang for another crepe or two :).

Well, if I can’t go see these cherry blossoms in the spring, I hope you can!

I’ve heard that Macchu Picchu might be shutting down due to the sheer volume of tourists. While this might not be a terrible thing, as I think it should be preserved, you should still go and see it while you can!

Thailand is kind of the perfect destination: delicious food, historical cities, perfect beaches, smiley people. I would encourage you to go during the Loi Krathong festival, where they send these lanterns into the sky.

Iceland is gaining more recognition as a must-see destination…so go before everyone finds out!! I obviously adore Iceland and am counting down the days until I can go back…and maybe catch a sight of the elusive Northern Lights?

See what I mean with America’s amazing backyard? This place is awe-inspiring.

Especially if you love diving, I’d highly recommend a visit to Cozumel. The island has beautiful visits, endless amounts of island drinks, ruins and some of the best reefs in the world.

Although my feelings about China are complicated, I certainly hope to go back again one day.

I’m not sure I need to explain Bruges…I mean, just look at this picture! It’s a wonderfully preserved medieval city in Europe and it’s the image of Europe you always envisioned. And, wafflesfrieschocolatebeer galore!

I’ve wanted to visit these ever since my father and brother did several years ago. Another diving paradise…and just paradise in general.

I recently read this article about Argentina and now I’m dying to go.

Had to throw in a plug for my home state! It’s beautiful, rural, with many national parks, national forests, and other preserved wilderness.

If I was a celebrity, I would buy a winery in this picturesque valley. I wouldn’t mind retiring there, either, drinking wine and wandering through the vines.

Despite what this picture may lead you to believe, I am not a Lord of the Rings junkie (although I definitely enjoyed the stories!) but I just liked this picture. Like Iceland, I love the ideas of tiny island countries surrounded by ocean.

I feel like Scandinavia is the quintessential winter destination.

You know my love of Scotland (I’m still plotting how to move there). 2014 is also a big year for the country!

Reasons to visit Victoria? It’s a short ferry ride from Seattle, its university is full of bunnies, it has this garden, and it’s just charming. I also saw whales on the way to Victoria from the ferry, and my life was kind of complete.

Last summer, through my program, I would either have ended up in China, India, or Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka (another island…I’m noticing a pattern here) seems like a true vacation spot: beaches, jungles, ruins, and you can’t forget the elephants!

South Africa has also been receiving a lot of attention as a new vacation spot, for good reason.

Slovenia is a recent addition to my must-see list, because, look at this picture!

**All photos are my own, or you can find their source by clicking the image.**

I hope you enjoyed my list. What are you top places to visit? I would LOVE to hear them!

The post Top Destinations for 2014 appeared first on Amy and the Great World.

We had a great Thanksgiving or “Friendsgiving” with all of our friends. As it was taking place in my apartment and I was running around like a maniac, I didn’t take any photos except these ones:

Friends episodes: a bonafide Thanksgiving tradition. It’s as old as the Pilgrims.

This is probably a blogging faux-pas, but I can’t be too concerned as it WAS a holiday :). I snagged a picture of our turkey as it was roasting away, and a few shots of our friends as they were gathering around the table. PLUS, the beautiful flowers E gave me for the holiday.

And speaking of holidays:

Happy December! This month is certainly up there in terms of my favorites.

Although Thanksgiving is over, I’m working on carrying that grateful attitude into more aspects of my life, and more times in my life. I find it incredibly easy to be grateful during this season because I love it so much, but don’t you think we should learn to be grateful for everything we have, all the time?

With that, I’m shutting my computer and I’m going to live each moment of this decorating day–it has officially begun! In the spirit of unplugging, I’ll just share this with you: awesome photos of snowflakes that I’m not even sure are real.

Here’s to a month of so many things to be grateful for, including you and this blog :).

XOXO

The post The Sunday Paper: December! appeared first on Amy and the Great World.

That means I am fully immersing myself in the holiday spirit, starting with my…

Holiday Bucket List! 

(can you tell I love lists yet?)

I’ll be traveling between Denver, Washington state (Seattle-area) and Mexico for the month of December, so I’m looking for ways to celebrate in allll of these…if you have any other great ideas, leave me a comment

• See the Denver Zoo Lights

• Have our annual Holiday Potluck with friends
• Wear 29 days of Christmas socks (yes, I have that many…it’s an addiction)
• Buy a fun-ugly Christmas sweater
• Wear fun holiday outfits
• Do one Christmas craft

• Decorate our apartment and porch
• Watch holiday episodes of my favorite shows
• Watch the holiday classics (including Love Actually, Christmas Vacation and Die Hard…of course)
• Go ice skating
• Go to one Black Friday sale
• Go on a see-the-Christmas-lights drive
• Donate a meal to the food pantry
• Buy a gift for a child from the Angel Tree
• Visit the Georgetown Christmas Market in the Colorado mountains
• See Frisco’s Wassail Days (also in the Colorado mountains)
• Go skiing
• Find a candelight service (it’s tradition!) in Seattle
• Visit Leavenworth near Seattle
• Sing and/or listen to holiday music non-stop
• Bake many holiday cookies
• Host a (our first!) fabulous Thanksgiving dinner
• Sit in a coffee shop with a festive drink and watch the snow/cold.
• Eat at a fancy restaurant with a festive special
• Have a just-the-two-of-us Christmas with a festive meal
• See the Nutcracker at the Seattle Ballet
• Enjoy Mexico with my family over New Year’s
• Document all this with my camera…but also remember to put it away (and all those other electronics) and enjoy the moment.

Do you have a Holiday Bucket List?

The post Freestyle Fridays: Holiday Bucket List appeared first on Amy and the Great World.