Family Boulangerie Walk.

 

If you remember from way back when I was pregnant (ehem, less than 3 weeks ago that is), I loved to go on boulangerie walks with Doc...

 

 

...because what better motivation to get a pregnant woman to walk a little over two miles than to promise her buttery, sweet, nutella filled boulangerie treats?

 

 

Well today, we went on our first boulangerie walk with little Miss Oswin Jade.

 

 

We said hello to the neighbors...

 

 

...looked at the pretty leaves...

 

 

...and waved at the cows grazing on the Jura.

 

 

Ok, I did all that.

 

 

Oswin, the little bugger, slept the whole time.

 

 

Not even the smell of fresh baguettes and croissants would rouse her from her little cocoon of comfy-ness.

 

 

But that's ok, I know it's gotta be hard work being a baby.

 

 

And even harder work being a papa who takes the night shift so that mama can sleep. He really is a keeper.

 

 

How's the weekend shaping up in your neck of the woods? It's sunny and 73 degrees F today, so I'm hoping to get out for another walk to pick up some fresh cut flowers for little Miss Oswin's room...

 

 

...because all little girls should have fresh cut flowers in their room, don't you think?

 

(And I think that their mamas should as well. Hashtag that one "we deserve it." )

 

A la prochaine friends...

 

Honey 

Mama and Oswin: First Solo Walk

 

Let me be the first to say that this may seem like a small feat, but it was actually a big deal to me. Oswin is the first newborn I've ever been around, let alone caring for, so every new thing takes a bit of planning for this new mama.

 

 

For instance, today was the first time I've ever had to put her in the stroller. I think I've got some work to do.

 

 

Those straps just don't look 100% right to me. I didn't realize it until looking at these pictures. She didn't seem to mind though as she slept the whole walk.

 

 

Oswin being my only experience with babies/newborns also causes me to overthink other aspects of everything we do, including our walk today. Does she need a heavy blanket? A light blanket? Is that hat warm enough? Is she going to be too warm? What if it rains? Etc etc etc. Things veteran mamas probably don't have to think twice about, but I spend 30 minutes trying to decide between two different hats for homegirl. Hashtag that one "new mama problems."

 

 

Delayed or not, we got out for an almost 2 mile walk, and it felt great. Something I hadn't really realized? Postpartum recovery is hard. Between recovering from labor and delivery and taking care of a newborn, I'm just exhausted. I felt it on this walk, a walk which is typically a very easy walk for me. Patience is something that does not come easy for me, and getting back to my active pre-pregnancy self is going to be a major test of exactly that.

 

 

Also, pushing a stroller is hard work.

 

 

It's been unseasonably warm lately (today was a high of 72!), so our leaves are only starting to change colors. I really hope that we get the full fall effect on our landscape this year, despite the lateness of our cold weather getting here, because I really want some yellow, orange and red leaf goodness, rather than the leaves just turning brown and falling off.



 

I think Oswin wants that too. C'mon mother nature, let's give baby girl a festive first fall, ok?

 

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



34 weeks and my favorite donkey.

 

{34 weeks}

 

Today was a struggle to get out the door for our morning walk. I've felt pretty lazy all week, as it took me a few days to recover from the combination of being the sober friend at Salon des vins over the weekend, and a doctor's appointment on Tuesday morning...

 

 

...add to that the 80 degree F temperatures we've climbed back up to this week, and I've been pretty pooped. But Doc convinced me that walking the 2+ miles for a pain aux chocolat would be worth it, and wouldn't you know it, he was right.

 

 

With today being the start of my 34th week of pregnancy (!!!), I'm really beginning to get a little antsy about this whole delivery and labor thing. It's crazy to think that if Homekid comes as early as I did, he/she would be here in 3 weeks instead of six...or if they come as late as Doc, I'll be pregnant for another eight. At the moment I'm more nervous about the idea of this kid showing up in the next three weeks, as I've realized that even though we've been making progress on the nursery and procuring necessary items, we need to step up our efforts a bit.

 

 

And let's not even talk about the whole needing to pack a hospital bag thing. I've decided that is going to happen this weekend, even if I'm not mentally there yet.

 

 

Even better than coming home with pain aux chocolat? Seeing this guy, my favorite donkey in St. Jean de Gonville. He's just the cutest, isn't he? THOSE EARS! Is there any animal with better ears than a donkey? No, there is not.

 

 

He used to have a friend, another donkey, but his friend was nowhere to be seen. So it was just him and the cows. Poor little floppy eared guy (or girl?). The cows just don't understand his plight...

 

{He/she got camera shy}

 

But not to be too outdone, coming home with treats from the boulangerie was a nice start to our Thursday...

 

 

...and yes, those are little chocolate looking mice for sale. Because I want to be able to play a prank on someone and then eat the prank. That can really be their only purpose, am I right?

 

 

Back to my little floppy eared friend - he's always with this herd of cows, but it doesn't seem like they ever let him play in their cow games. Poor guy (or girl) is always cast off to the side, a lonely outsider in the French mountains...

 

 

...and with that last diatribe, this is the look I got - Doc's "enough with the donkey" face. Excuse me for caring!

 

A la prochaine friends...

 

Honey