Design Dolcezza

What a year was 2007! That's Thomas in blue at 24 days.

What a difference 2 months makes!

On the left, Thomas in January and on the right, at Easter.

More photos coming soon!

In the meantime, I will catch you all up on his statistics:

Age: 8 months, 1 week

Weight: 20 pounds

Height: 28.75 inches

Head: 18.75 inches -> big brains!

Oral fixation: Thomas has four teeth and it seems that some more will be coming soon, as he has been suffering much of late.

Petite Cuisine: He has begun his foray into eating solids. We began with terrine de foie gras, which continues to be his favorite, and his parents' too. He has also enjoyed thus far: pear, avocado, peach, goat cheese, oatmeal, kasha, beans, green beans, lentils, pork, chicken, duck, apple, carrot, rice, sweet potato, mango, peas, squash, broccoli, necatarine and many spices. This list may seem peculiar to some, but you must understand that I make all his food.

Motor Skills: Thomas has mastered the pincer grasp and changing objects from one hand to the other without much thought.

He also has been scooting backwards for the past month, but on Friday he surprised mamma and papa` by crawling forward; his stomach never touches the ground. He has become quicker and quicker, so I have to keep a watchful eye on him as we haven't completed babyproofing. He also is pulling himself to a standing position by using whatever is around him for support. Will he be walking by 9 months like I did?!

• And where's the nearest metro and RER train (and my bus to the Louvre)?


• Why can't I get a smoked salmon sandwich for three bucks?


• Where's the reasonably priced duck or rabbit?


• Why can't I get a cheap, yummy crepe or perfect pastry on every corner?


• Why isn't fresh, delicious Escargot in the shell a hot appetizer at every restaurant (and where's the Badoit mineral water, anyway)?


• Why are all these people walking around dressed in t-shirts and shorts? (Note: we never wore shorts in Paris, nor did we see any of the French wearing them.)


• Who are all these ill-bred, poorly trained dogs trying to attack me? (Note: French dogs never barked at me, or even gave me any notice.)


• How come when I walk around town, I don't see any workers picking up the litter daily from the streets?


• How come the park isn't lined with flowers?


• Why are the sidewalks so narrow?


• And just how can I be sure of the time at night when I can't see the Eiffel Tower sparkling hourly from my terrace?

When we got back, I spent almost three full days getting my project done for the deadline, unpacking, doing laundry and housework, and dreading my return to the classroom. Not an easy nor a happy transition.

Next week, I take another graduate class, then it's two weeks till I'm back teaching....

But the wonderful thing is that our baby will be here in less than two months!

I had said that the Loire valley castles were better than Versailles... well, Fontainebleau surpasses them all. It's magnificient, all the furniture is still there.... you could move in so easily. Got to see Josephine's bedroom, Napoleon's hat, his bathtub, and the desk where he crafted his world-changing Napoleonic Code... and where he ultimately signed his abdication before his exile to Elba. A special exhibit described how Fontainebleau actually began the modern idea of tourism."

The grounds are spectacular as well. We spent many happy hours there... all bittersweet as our time in Paris is coming to an end.

When we returned to Paris and got out our metro stop, we dined at the cafe that was right at the top (though, regretfully, we had passed it by every other time). I had calamari (the best ever!!!) and lapin provencale (tasty bunny; the special of the day). Tom had escargot (of course) and magret de canard au miel. Desserts were mousse au chocolat and tarte tatin.