Julia Elise, also known as Bocephus, Sheep, Bobo, and a plethora of other names is now 16 1/2 months old. She celebrated her first birthday mostly in Chicago's O'Hare airport, delayed on our trip from St. Louis to London. Albeit frustrating at the time, in retrospect, it is quite fitting seeing how much this little girl has traveled.
To Julia, I dedicate this post.
Julia,
Your first year of life has been the most unique year of mama's life. Dada moved to England to start a new chapter in all of our lives in November of 2009 while you were busy growing in mama's belly. On December 30, big sister Lexie and mama moved into our new home in Somersham. Your adventurous life began from there. Before you were born, you traveled to both London
and Paris. You were due to be born on the 6th of March 2010, and mama began seeing our midwife, Sharon, at our local surgery to prepare for your arrival. I should have known from your impromptu but amazing delivery that these would be key characteristics of you! You made your grand entrance at the Rosy Hospital in Cambridge, which happens to be mama's favorite city in all the world. 
You came home with mama and dada about 7 hours after your birth. This once again parallels your personality as a quick recovery is a key trait of yours. Big sister and Nina eagerly awaited your arrival home with much cuddles and love.
and Paris. You were due to be born on the 6th of March 2010, and mama began seeing our midwife, Sharon, at our local surgery to prepare for your arrival. I should have known from your impromptu but amazing delivery that these would be key characteristics of you! You made your grand entrance at the Rosy Hospital in Cambridge, which happens to be mama's favorite city in all the world. 
You came home with mama and dada about 7 hours after your birth. This once again parallels your personality as a quick recovery is a key trait of yours. Big sister and Nina eagerly awaited your arrival home with much cuddles and love.We took our first trip as a family of 4 a month later. We visited York which has proved one of my favorite holidays within England. 
As a result of this trip, mama and dada realized we really could manage and ENJOY life and traveling with two children, and we have never thought otherwise!
As a result of this trip, mama and dada realized we really could manage and ENJOY life and traveling with two children, and we have never thought otherwise!In April, Mawmaw and Pawpaw arrived to meet you. They were here for your baptism at St. Ephraim the Syrian Orthodox Church in Cambridge.
At the end of May, we took a wonderful family holiday staying in Bath, Bristol, and Southeast Wales. We also made a quick stop to see Stonehenge.
Visiting the Roman Baths in Bath
Stonehenge
Julia and Lexie at Tintern Abbey in Wales
Taking a break in the King's chair inside Caerphilly Castle, Wales
Some meerkats at the Bristol ZooWith July came your next adventure up North to Scotland. We spent a long weekend in Edinburgh, exploring the Royal Mile and in the slightly less touristy gold capital, St Andrews.
At the end of July, we traveled within England once more, this time to Lyme Park and Liverpool. You behaved as well as ever, making mommy and daddy very proud!
Our next holiday came in August and September and was your longest trip yet. We flew on a big airplane to America to visit our family and friends there and introduce many of them to you for the first time. There you enjoyed loads of cuddles from Nina, Mawmaw, and Pawpaw. You met your Aunt Kay, Aunt Christy, cousins Erin, Harry, Matt, and Brody, GG, Grandma Huniak, Uncle Nick, Aunt Megan, Tori, Drew, Scotty, Uncle Phil and Aunt Anna, Elijah, and Abigail, and lots more extended family and friends! You also attended church at our home parish, Nativity of the Virgin Mary and attended your very first St. Louis Cardinals baseball game.
With October came daddy's birthday, more travels, and a more mobile baby. We drove down to Dover England, took the ferry to Calais, France, and drove to Brugge, Belgium, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg, Trier, Germany, and drove back through the Champagne region of France. It was in our German hotel room that you crawled for the first time. You went from one side of the room with mommy to big sister Lexie on the other side. We were all so proud of you, and you were quite pleased with yourself as well!
For your first Halloween, you dressed as a sheep and Lexie was "Lexie Bo Peep." We celebrated with a party at home with many of our American friends here in England and even managed to do a bit of trick or treating.
And then came November, with our biggest European excursion yet to Rome, Italy. We had heard rumors that Rome was not kid friendly, but boy were the rumors wrong! Everyone there loved you! At each cafe and restaurant we visited, the servers continually came around to talk and play with you, their "Bello bambino!"
Finally, it was time for some down time. We spent Christmas and New Years celebrating quietly at home. All 4 of us enjoyed the time together!
With 2011, came another visit from Nina and more travels together. Nina arrived in February and helped us celebrate Lexie's birthday. We took a trip to France visiting Rouen and many of the D-day sites. We learned the French's secret to keeping their kids quiet an well behaved... the baguette, which you loved!
When it came time for Nina to return to America, you, mommy, and Lexie all went with her! We were able to visit family and friends once again and be there for Uncle Nick and Aunt Megan's wedding. We also celebrated your 1st birthday there at Mawmaw and Pawpaw's house.
Over your first year of life, you became quite the cheeky adventurous little girl, and we wouldn't have it any other way! My hope for you is that these experiences are only the start to an amazing adventure-filled life!
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