Hi to all my loving Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents, and Great Grandmother,
I have had a very eventful week. Not only did I turn 3 weeks old, I did a lot of firsts this week.
Mommy and I took our first Swiss train ride to Bern (1.5 hrs away) to go to the US embassy. I can’t tell you too much about the train ride there, because it was at 6:45am and I was very sleepy. So we were in a “silence zone” on the train. It was very dark outside, so I’m not sure Mommy could see anything either. When we got to Bern it was very cold outside – we had trouble finding the bus we needed. Mostly because Mommy had been diligently reading her “basic French” book on the ride to Bern – only to get off the train and realize that Bern is a German speaking canton of Switzerland. All the signs were in German – so the French didn’t help much. We ended up taking a taxi as I was starting to get really hungry and wanted a diaper change too!
We got to the Embassy only to be given the third degree by the guards before being able to enter. They also kept the diaper bag – Mommy was smart enough to request that she be able to carry a diaper in with us! Then we had to take off our coats and walk through this big metal detector thing. Oh yeah – the good part – being that we were US citizens we got to skip to the front of the line. (Everyone else was there looking for visas to come to the US.)
Once inside all our preparation paid off – we had smooth sailing for all the things we had to accomplish. We left with my US birth abroad certificate. However, the US computer system can’t handle the French grammatics – so on all my US documents I will have to be Harper Noelle (no dots). Mommy had to swear to a few things (I thought swearing was a bad thing) and then sign some papers for me. I will have a social security number in a few months. My passport will come in the mail late next week or early the following week. We should have it in plenty of time to catch my first plane ride on February 2nd.
On the train ride home, Mommy was smart enough not to get in the “silence zone” – since I was both hungry and awake now! I did do a little crying on the train – I didn’t mean to upset any of my fellow passengers. We saw some beautiful countryside from the train, some with a foot of fresh snow. We also saw lots of cows – how else do you think the Swiss make such good chocolate? And a few baby red foxes.
When we got back to Geneva – Mommy and I took the tram (also a first for me) to check on my weight. I now weight 4.65 kilos – roughly 10 lbs 4 oz. I’m obviously having no problems with this breast milk thing – I’d prefer it in chocolate or strawberry flavor – but that has yet to arrive that way! I’m healthy and starting to get too long for my newborn clothes. After such an eventful day – we took the bus (another first) to get back home.
Mommy and Mama got really excited when a box came via la post (the mail) this week! I wasn’t sure what the hoopla was about – but they started working through some directions in French and soon were jumping for joy around the computer. It seams that we now have something called ADSL. I’m not sure what it really is – but it makes my mommies happy and they have been doing lots of things on the computer very fast!
Yesterday Mommy, Chance and I went for a long walk down to the Rhone River – it was the fist time I had seen a big river as well as ducks and swans. It was a nice walk down to the river – the trip back up was hard work! Chance had a great time with all the new smells. We will go again after Mommy’s legs have time to recover! I love going outside for walks – but hate to get my winter clothes on! I haven’t taken a trip in my stroller yet – because Mommy keeps forgetting to get the car seat out of the car! I really like the baby hammock (sling) – but both Mommy and Mama say it is hard on their backs – so I settle for a ride in the baby carrier strapped to someone’s chest! I can’t wait until I get big enough to face out so I can see the big wide world.
This week I have started to enjoy time on my Einstein mat and looking around at things. I get a bit of tummy time – but it is not as much fun! My mommies say I’m getting really strong and hold my head up on my own. I just know that growing is hard work and requires plenty of sleep and eating.
Well I guess that is all about my week – my fingers are tired from all the typing – I must head for a mid-morning nap now. Love ~ Harper
Friday, January 13, 2006
Lessons learned
Here are some things we have learned about parenthood in 20 days. (OK so I started this email when Harper was 20 days old – she is now 23 days!)
1.) No matter how many spit-up cloths you have strategically placed around, none are with-in an arm’s reach when you need it.
2.) Diapers are meant to be dirtied ASAP after a change
3.) Once Harper is sound asleep in your arms is when you desperately have to use the bathroom yourself
4.) Baby clothes are small so it won’t matter if you change outfits 4 times a day
5.) The minute you step out of the shower and get dressed in clean clothes is the minute baby spit-up is headed your direction.
6.) Holding a sleeping baby renews your faith in good things.
7.) Breast milk comes in two flavors 1 – “this is OK” and 2 – “the other breast is better”
8.) We are amazed by “baby dreams” – there is so much to dream about at 3 weeks old.
9.) Watching Harper “see the world” for the first time – helps you look at everything in a new light
10.) It is heart wrenching to hear her cry and not be able to “make it better”
11.) Chance loves and protects his baby sister – he can often be found sleeping in her room while she is napping
12.) Never wake a sleeping baby!
13.) A 1-wetwipe diaper is really good! A 4-wetwipe diaper is a doozy!
14.) Baby socks are the favorite food of the washer/dryer monster
15.) Baby hands and feet are irresistible
16.) There is so much hope in Harper’s eyes
17.) 2 AM feedings make for precious time together
18.) A Harper smile is priceless
19.) It is very hard to finish what you start with a new born in the house
20.) Harper was well worth the wait!
1.) No matter how many spit-up cloths you have strategically placed around, none are with-in an arm’s reach when you need it.
2.) Diapers are meant to be dirtied ASAP after a change
3.) Once Harper is sound asleep in your arms is when you desperately have to use the bathroom yourself
4.) Baby clothes are small so it won’t matter if you change outfits 4 times a day
5.) The minute you step out of the shower and get dressed in clean clothes is the minute baby spit-up is headed your direction.
6.) Holding a sleeping baby renews your faith in good things.
7.) Breast milk comes in two flavors 1 – “this is OK” and 2 – “the other breast is better”
8.) We are amazed by “baby dreams” – there is so much to dream about at 3 weeks old.
9.) Watching Harper “see the world” for the first time – helps you look at everything in a new light
10.) It is heart wrenching to hear her cry and not be able to “make it better”
11.) Chance loves and protects his baby sister – he can often be found sleeping in her room while she is napping
12.) Never wake a sleeping baby!
13.) A 1-wetwipe diaper is really good! A 4-wetwipe diaper is a doozy!
14.) Baby socks are the favorite food of the washer/dryer monster
15.) Baby hands and feet are irresistible
16.) There is so much hope in Harper’s eyes
17.) 2 AM feedings make for precious time together
18.) A Harper smile is priceless
19.) It is very hard to finish what you start with a new born in the house
20.) Harper was well worth the wait!
Sunday, January 1, 2006
Day of Firsts
Yesterday was a day filled with firsts for Harper. We ventured out on Harper’s 10th day with us. Yesterday, was our first trip out of the house – We all headed to the grocery store. We spent about 2 hours out on the event. Harper was all snuggly in the baby hammock and seamed to be enjoying the attention the cashier was giving her during our check out.
We came home from that, ate some lunch and recovered from that trip. Then we headed out for a family walk into the village. We walked up the street to the park. Again Harper was all bundled up and snug in the baby hammock. She dozed though our walk -- but seamed to enjoy the fresh air!
The other first milestone we hit yesterday was to have finished our first box of wet wipes. I guess it’s just the first of many. We will have gone through our first box of diapers by the end of today as well.
Harpers hair is already getting a little bit lighter in color and she is starting to spend a little more time awake. It is so much fun to watch her. Danielle brought a mirror to go by the changing table – Harper is fascinated by her little friend!
Thanks to Danielle and Greg we have made a huge dent in the chaos we call home! Harper’s room is mostly organized. We have a guest loft for visitors, a baker’s rack in the kitchen, a microwave stand, and curtains hung in all the windows. The windows on this apt are really big double doors – which is nice for some sunshine – but also let’s all the neighbors see what is going on during the evening. We often see horses going down the street. Our place is across the street from a horse farm. We also have a nice little park across the street and we are on the back side of a church. Last night there was some sort of service with the lights on inside the church – the stained glass windows were beautiful to look at against the night sky. So we still enjoy hearing church bells from our apt.
We are slowly making a dent in the rest of the boxes.
Just so everyone is on the same page – we made our flight arrangements for our trip back to the states. They are as follows: 2/2 fly from Geneva to Newark. We’ll spend 2/4 – 2/6 with the Millers in NJ. Flying to FL on 2/7, we’ll be in Englewood from 2/8 to 2/15 – flying from FL to Newark on 2/15 and then taking the night flight back to Geneva ending up back here at 8am on 2/16. We are then planning to go to Frickenhausen for the weekend 2/17 – 2/19. That’s the plan as it stands right now.
Hope everyone had a wonderful start to the New Year. We watched Little Women and were tucked snugly in bed by 10:30pm. Love ~ K , M & H
We came home from that, ate some lunch and recovered from that trip. Then we headed out for a family walk into the village. We walked up the street to the park. Again Harper was all bundled up and snug in the baby hammock. She dozed though our walk -- but seamed to enjoy the fresh air!
The other first milestone we hit yesterday was to have finished our first box of wet wipes. I guess it’s just the first of many. We will have gone through our first box of diapers by the end of today as well.
Harpers hair is already getting a little bit lighter in color and she is starting to spend a little more time awake. It is so much fun to watch her. Danielle brought a mirror to go by the changing table – Harper is fascinated by her little friend!
Thanks to Danielle and Greg we have made a huge dent in the chaos we call home! Harper’s room is mostly organized. We have a guest loft for visitors, a baker’s rack in the kitchen, a microwave stand, and curtains hung in all the windows. The windows on this apt are really big double doors – which is nice for some sunshine – but also let’s all the neighbors see what is going on during the evening. We often see horses going down the street. Our place is across the street from a horse farm. We also have a nice little park across the street and we are on the back side of a church. Last night there was some sort of service with the lights on inside the church – the stained glass windows were beautiful to look at against the night sky. So we still enjoy hearing church bells from our apt.
We are slowly making a dent in the rest of the boxes.
Just so everyone is on the same page – we made our flight arrangements for our trip back to the states. They are as follows: 2/2 fly from Geneva to Newark. We’ll spend 2/4 – 2/6 with the Millers in NJ. Flying to FL on 2/7, we’ll be in Englewood from 2/8 to 2/15 – flying from FL to Newark on 2/15 and then taking the night flight back to Geneva ending up back here at 8am on 2/16. We are then planning to go to Frickenhausen for the weekend 2/17 – 2/19. That’s the plan as it stands right now.
Hope everyone had a wonderful start to the New Year. We watched Little Women and were tucked snugly in bed by 10:30pm. Love ~ K , M & H
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