37 weeks in Geneva.

 

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, we were supposed to have our 37 week appointment with our doctor in Geneva on Friday, but it was cancelled because one of our doctor's other patients went into labor. Unfortunately, (or maybe actually fortunately), we didn't get the message before showing up, so we ended up spending the day in Geneva regardless.

 

{Christian Louboutin}

 

Despite still being a little warm for my taste for the end of September, (it went up to just about 80 F), we had a gorgeous day to window shop... 

 

{37 weeks and a day}

 

...and to take our usual bump pictures at Jet d'eau.

 

 

Being a Friday we were also able to check out the wares at the weekly Friday Book Market in Place de la Fusterie...

 

 

...where I found one of my favorites, "Nadja" by Andre Breton.

 

 

Ever on the hunt for new places to eat in Geneva (that don't require a bank loan or the promise of our first born child as payment), we decided on a pizza place in Place du Molard called "Molino." It wasn't as good as our favorite spot by Gare Cornavin, and it was a little more expensive, but the taste combined with the atmosphere and people watching made it worth it. We will definitely return here for lunch in the future.  

 

{Rebels}

 

 

Another reason why we'll be back? Real Italian espresso. When we first moved abroad I had these envisions of the most amazing coffee I'd ever have, all the time. Not always the case in France or Switzerland, especially when it comes to espresso. Doc is especially a bit of an espresso snob, and had high hopes for what was to come when he heard our waiter speaking to other patrons in Italian. He was not left disappointed.  

 

{Les Genevois}

 

 

And in case you were wondering just how expensive eating at a restaurant in Geneva really is, here's a snapshot of a bar menu. Yes, a BAR menu. That Club Sandwich costs the same as the pizza I ate just a few doors away.

 

 

Oh Louis Vuitton, you always have the keys to my heart, especially when you start detailing your bags and hard case luggage with Swiss flags and the Geneva canton shield.

 

 

After a little bit of final shopping for Homekid at Zara (seriously how cute are the items in the Zara Mini collection?!) I was totally pooped and ready for some Netflix and pyjamas. It's hard for me to believe that we're coming to the end of this journey - the end for bump pictures, the end for trying to make non-maternity clothes work, the end of my feet swelling up after being on me feet for an hour...but I'm also so looking forward to meeting this little one, who already seems to me to be a total goofball like his/her parents. I'm also looking forward to being able to return to my active self, indulge in a glass of wine over lunch in Place du Molard, and being able to walk up stairs without feeling short of breathe. It's just hard for me to fathom that I could literally go into labor tonight, or not for 2-4 more weeks. I just hope that whenever Homekid decides to arrive that it's after a good night's sleep. Is that too much to ask?

 

A la prochaine friends...

 

Honey  



Styling the Bump: Studs and the Bump

{37 weeks and 3 days}

 

It's been a rough couple days here in SwitzerFrance for this mama-to-be, as Homekid is doing all those things he/she is supposed to be doing at this point. Moving, shaking, kicking, punching...essentially making mama super uncomfortable.  

 

 

We had our first prenatal class on Thursday night, and then went into Geneva the following morning for a doctor's appointment that wasn't meant to be, (another one of my doctor's patients went into labor early that morning, cancelling our appointment), all of which left me so tired on Saturday that I just spent the day in bed.

 

 

I'm feeling a little better today, which meant a trip to the garden center was in order. We started our winter garden this afternoon by planting two different types of lettuce, with hopefully a third type next weekend. That is, if this kid decides to wait long enough for us to get the plants in soil...we're officially full term at this point, so whenever you're ready little one...

 

 

Jean vest: 36point5, from a little shop in Manhattan Beach, CA, non-maternity (similar here)

V-neck tee: Truly Madly Deeply from Urban Outfitters, old, non-maternity (similar here)

Skirt: Mamalicious Jersey Maxi Skirt from ASOS maternity

Flip flops: Havaianas

Turban: Porridge from Anthropologie, old (similar here)

 

Hope you've all had a killer weekend!

 

A la prochaine friends...

 

Honey



DIY: Propagating Rosemary

{Never mind the dust bunnies. Whoops.}

 

I'm excited to share another propagation DIY with you all today, especially since I was pretty sure this one didn't work. That is, until about 2 days ago.

 

At the end of June I decided that we needed more rosemary. But I didn't want to buy it, and wasn't feeling much like planting seeds. So I decided to try to propagate my own with a branch from our current rosemary plant. Low and behold, with a little patience, it worked! It was really easy too, the hardest part was the waiting for something, anything to happen.

 

Want to propagate your own rosemary? Here's how!

 

Propagating Rosemary DIY:

 

1. Find a rosemary plant. Cut off a sprig (mine was about 6 inches long).

 

2. Remove leaves from bottom 1/3 - 1/2 of sprig. Make sure enough leaves are removed so that there will be no leaves under the water line.

 

3. Put in a small jar on a sunny windowsill. (I used a glass yogurt jar.) Fill with water to just below the bottom most leaf. Refill water as necessary.

 

4. Wait and wait and wait. Curse at it a bit. Forget about it for awhile. Remember it exists on the windowsill and curse at it again to do SOMETHING. Eventually, after roots begin to form (for me that was about 3 months) pot in soil.

 

 

This little guy is getting potted this weekend, and I can't wait. I've been in serious fresh rosemary withdrawal as of late.

 

A la prochaine friends...

 

Honey



What's in my hospital bag: SwitzerFrance Style

 

Well, between the sparrow incident a few days ago and the fact that I'm 37 weeks along tomorrow (bonjour full term), I figured that getting my hospital bag packed would probably be a good idea. Since this is our first baby, I'm not sure how I did, but I figured I'd share it with all of you and see if anyone has any other suggestions or thoughts. Something to keep in mind: I'll be delivering Homekid in Switzerland, where a typical hospital stay is 5 days (for a normal delivery without complications). Being that we have US health insurance, we're still not sure how many days I'm going to get - I'm hoping the full five, but I imagine at least three. Fingers crossed. So keep that in mind as I have to pack for a longer-than-typical-American-hospital-stay. All I've had to go on so far is the above list which the hospital gave me, but besides that I'm flying a bit blind. I'm interested to review this post after Homekid gets here to see what I would do differently next time.  

 

 

1// Petit Bateau pyjamas 2// Petit Bateau newborn hat (similar here) 3// Bobo Choses knit pom pom hat (last year, but new beanie styles here) 4// Petit Bateau Striped Cardigan Sweater (similar here) 5// H & M long sleeve organic bodysuit 6// Candy Kirby Designs Leggings 7//Petit Bateau socks  (similar here) 8// UGG "Boo" Infant Booties 9// Bobo Choses long sleeve onesie (last year, similar here)

 

 

1 & 2// Aden & Anais Star Swaddles 3// Sakura Bloom Single Layer Linen Sling in Maple (I'm hoping the midwife can offer up some baby wearing tips while we're at the hospital, as they actually offer a class on it there for new moms.) 

 

 

1// ASOS Maternity Skater Dress In Floral Print (to go home in) 2// Three nursing shirts - the chambray is vintage from my mom, and the tanks are MAMA 2-pack Tank Tops from H & M Maternity (Not shown: 2 nursing bras from H & M, as required by the hospital, leggings, and boots)

 

 

1// Bassetti Kimono Robe (similar here) 2// Vintage Rose Pyjamas from HUSH 3// HUSH pyjama pants (similar here) 4// Bio Granola Bars 5// Bio Fig and Apricot Bars 6// Coconut Water 7// Swiss Chocolate 8// Slippers (6 euro at Migros and required by the hospital)

 

Not shown: Toiletry bag

 

 

Papa doesn't need much, as he'll be able to leave and come back as necessary. 1// Cuban cigar to celebrate with 2// A good book for when Mama and Homekid are resting

 

So that's it, that's my bag. Have I forgotten anything? Any of my expat mamas want to weigh in on what they had in their hospital bag that was helpful?

 

A la prochaine friends...

 

Honey



Evening walk.

 

It's been a couple of weeks since Doc and I have been able to go for an evening walk, thanks to my increased fatigue levels and his busy work schedule. By the time he gets home from work it's either getting dark, or I'm half asleep watching "Family Guy."

 

 

I've been mentioning how much I've missed our evening walks lately, and Doc was determined to get me out for one last night. And he knew just how to do it.

 

"Wanna go see if the figs down the street are ripe yet?"

 

 

Done and done.

 

{36 weeks and 5 days}

 



 

We're fortunate that there are two public fig trees in our village, and they're not far from our house.

 

 

And luckily I had my number #1 fig picker with me.

 

 

We've had some weird weather this summer, so the figs (and other local fruits for that matter), are coming in a few weeks late, but it doesn't make me any less happy.

 

{Where's Waldo Doc?}

 

{The fig and the bump}

 

 {Half of our evening's harvest}

 

 

I may not be doing the same 5 miles walks I was a few weeks ago, but evening fall walks to pick up some dessert are just as fruitful (ha!) in my book.

 

A la prochaine friends...

 

Honey



Styling the Bump: 36 weeks

{36 weeks and 2 days}

 

We're in a weird weather state for my maternity wardrobe, as it's too warm for a lot of my cute clothes, but I'm getting a little bored of the same maternity tanks and leggings.

 

 

So it was time to get creative. Same old same old, with the addition of my grandfather's retro bowling shirt from the 1940s/50s. I may not be able to button it all the way, but I think Poppy, whom I'm named for (though that's a story for a different post), would be proud that I was rocking it on Saturday.  

 

 

Leggings: ASOS Soft Touch maternity

Tank: ASOS maternity

Button down: Vintage

Hat: Goorin

Sunglasses: Ray Ban Wayfarers

Flip flops: Havaianas

 

A la prochaine friends...

 

Honey