Good morning!

Mad Hatter

You know, Jake, if I were this cute I don't think I'd ever get upset!



(But I understand if it's hard to be a baby sometimes.)

Finger Lickin' Good

Jake has discovered that there's an alternative to his binky, and it's self-serve.

Don't Mess with Jake

(Hint: Check out his shirt.)

Jake's Best Friend

When Colin and I were little kids, both of us begged our parents for years to get a dog. We think Jake is lucky to have a dog from the get-go, especially one as smart and kind as Merlin. We were worried at first about introducing Jake to Merlin and took lots of precautions. Thankfully, he's proven to be a really good family dog. For example, he's very patient in the mornings when we're getting everyone ready to go out. He used to whine impatiently if it took one of us too long to get it together and take him out; now he understands that Jake comes first and has adjusted his expectations accordingly. He's also learned to stay out of our bed. In the past, he'd hop in our bed in the mornings to be with us as we woke up but now he knows that it's Jake territory exclusively. Most importantly, he's understood that it's important to be gentle and calm around the baby. Occasionally he'll sniff Jake but most of the time he's happy to lie down near him and relax.

What he doesn't know is that Jake's going to be a real boon to him in the near future. Once we start introducing solid foods to Jake and he starts dropping them onto the floor from his high chair, Merlin's going to see that there are some real perks to having this funny little creature around!

Our Morning Walk

Every morning we set out on a long walk through the neighborhood. Merlin loves it, of course, but it's also great for Jake. He enjoys getting out in the stroller. The louder and bumpier the ride, the better!


Off we go.


First, we say hello to Dhibi, our friend at the épicerie next door. We see him and the owner opening up his shop each morning. This is also where Colin gets the occasional Heineken to drink while taking Merlin out in the afternoon. There are no open container laws in Paris and it's been a hot summer!


Here we are walking down the rue des Abbesses. In the afternoons it's busy with teeming crowds of visitors, but in the mornings its blissfully calm. Since we live here, we get to complain about the tourists.


Like these guys taking up the whole sidewalk. Must be Americans!


Once we're in the clear, Merlin can take care of business.


Strolling on the rue Caulaincourt. This is Jake's favorite part of the walk. He never fails to nod off once we've turned onto this street.


See?


Occasionally we stop to say hello to Merlin's doggy friends. These guys were particular gregarious.


Although Jake gets his breakfast before we leave the house, we're too busy getting him, ourselves and the dog ready to go out. To tide ourselves over until we get back home, we stop at this bakery and get a sweet bite to eat on the go. (Life is tough, n'est-ce pas?)


Jake and Merlin patiently wait for us to choose between pain au chocolat, reine claude and raspberry clafoutis.


Once we reach the avenue Junot, Jacob is fast asleep and Merlin is happy to roam the wide sidewalks on his long leash. This is where Colin and I get to chat about non-baby things.


We also marvel at the charm of our neighborhood.


Some days, instead of getting a treat at the bakery, we stop for a breakfast of tartines and espresso at this little restaurant.


Here I am after having my coffee, looking much more alert than just a few minutes ago.


Soon after getting back on our walk we reach the park that surrounds the Sacré Coeur. The greenery is lovely and a welcome respite from the cityscape. Although we love Paris, we do miss nature sometimes.


But then, when at the end of your daily walk you pass something like this, you know that you live in a pretty special place.

So there you have it, a small glimpse of our mornings with Merlin and Jake in Montmartre.

That hair!

Check it out.


Looks like Graham's and Witold's genes are recessive!