Saturday, May 9, 2009

Delinquents


Robert Doisneau, "La Pendule," 1957



As you may have noticed, our last (first) post was written at the end of November. It is now May. Let's just say that we're not the most prolific bloggers. We are planning to get into gear now, though, because the baby is due in one month and once he's here, we'd like to post tons of photos and updates for all of you. In the meantime, here's a synopsis of the past several months. A round-up of important events, sentiments, freak-outs and triumphs, if you will.

September
OMG, we're pregnant?!?!?!

October
OMG, we're pregnant.
We hate Paris!
We love Paris!
French bureaucracy is a nightmare!
Phew, found a doctor.
Oh no, he sucks.
Ok, now here's a doctor worthy of the title.
French bureaucracy is a nightmare! When will Angelina get her residency?
Nausea.
Vomit.
Nausea.
French is so hard, I will never learn it!
Um, should we tell our families about the, you know, baby?
NO, not until we have all this medical and bureaucratic stuff figured out.

November
French bureaucracy is a nightmare. It just is. No residency for Angelina, yet. No health benefits, either.
We're actually getting work done. Bravo to us.
Vomit.
Merlin just peed on Picasso's old house.
Actually, Merlin pees all over Montmartre, gleefully, every day.
OBAMA!!! Oui, on peut! (Doesn't have quite the same ring to it, alas.)
We're making great friends.
Teaching is going really well, despite the nausea.
Nausea.
Cousin Jonah comes to visit. He's the first to hear our news!
Colin is: walking Merlin in the morning, afternoon and evening.
Colin is: shopping for food, doing laundry, cleaning house.
Colin is: doing his research and meeting with his advisor on Skype.
Colin is: being the best, most supportive husband ever.
Angelina is: dry heaving.
It's Thanksgiving. We had a turkey dinner.
French bureaucracy is a nightmare (FBIAN).

December
Are we going to make it home for Christmas and tell our families in person about le bébé?
Magic 8-ball says: NON!
Because, duh, FBIAN. No have residency card, no can leave France.
Call Stelmachs to break the news about le bébé. Maria and Olivia scream joyfully while Napoleon howls neurotically and Witold keeps his cool.
Call Blundells to break the news about le bébé. While Graham howls neurotically, Jan keeps her cool.
Christmas in Montmartre. Lovely.
New Year's in Montmartre. Beautiful.

January
Winter in Paris. Gray, generally. A couple of magical snowfalls.
Second trimester rocks!
We're really getting into the swing of things!
Colin's friend Stephan comes to visit. It's Inauguration Day.
OBAMA!!! The French love us now. It's quite startling, actually.
Angelina is finally a legal resident of France. Maybe she can get her social security and health benefits now?
Yeah, right. FBIAN never fails!
But, guess what? It's a boy!
OMG. XY 4-EVA.

February
Our apartment is tiny. Where will we put the baby?
Eh, it'll work out.
Really?
Yeah, really.
WE HAVE SLAIN THE FRENCH BUREAUCRACY DRAGON. Residency and benefits galore.
Merlin loves Montmartre.
We take the train to England to attend cousin Gillian's gorgeous wedding.
(She looked stunning.)

March
Back to Paris with the Blundells.
The Blundells fall in love with Montmartre, too.
Angelina applies for a promotion at the University of Paris.
Will she get it? Please oh please oh please....
OUI!
We're staying for another year! Quelle chance!
But our apartment is so tiny! Where will we put the baby?
It'll work out.
Really?
Yes, really, stop it!

April
Time to get ready for baby. What do we need?
Time to develop this chapter. Where do I start?
Time to submit this paper. When will it end?
Shopping: check, chapter: check, paper: check. Go us!
We are so happy to be staying for another year.
It's spring!
Montmartre is so pretty, and Paris is incredibly gorgeous.
Baby is kicking!
Baby will be a soccer player.
Or a sumo wrestler.
Colin's really speaking French now.
Well enough to flirt with the young ladies at the bakery. (Bonjour, les filles!)
Witold comes to visit. Loves our neighborhood, especially the local eats. Boudin noir, anyone?
Baby's still kicking ALL the time.
Baby likes chocolate. Lots and lots of chocolate. Colin, go get me some chocolate.
Baby's got hiccups. Cute!

May
OK, seriously, what are we going to name him?
No, really. Be serious, Colin.
Colin!!!!!! We are not naming the baby Maxwell Blundell.
Ok, what about his middle name?
Colin!!!!! Get with the program.
Working is kicking our butts.
We're kicking back.
It's really, really pretty here in the spring.
Time for the third ultrasound. Baby's still a boy, and a plump one at that.
More chocolate, s'il vous plaît.
Birthing classes start.
These are useless.
These are so helpful!
I don't think I'll be able to do this.
I AM STRONG AND AMAZING AND I WILL DO THIS.
Fear. Confidence. Hormones. (And that's just Colin.)

One month to go. Allez!