Hello grandma!
The toughest part about having a baby overseas isn't the language barrier or the unfamiliarity with the health system. The toughest part is being so far away from family. When I was put on bed rest both our families wanted to come to help out, but there really wasn't much for them to do. But now that the baby had arrived both my mom and G's mom were scheduled to come visit. They had decided to stagger their visits so they could help us out as much as possible.
My mom came out first, just four days after we came home from the hospital. We went out to the airport to pick her up and on the way home Madeleine went on her first train ride. That day was also the first time we saw Maddie suck her thumb. I was so happy my mom was here, both to meet Maddie and to help us out in those early days. For me it was important to have help just to get out so I could build my strength back up after being on bed rest for three months and after the cesarean. This was my mom's fourth trip to Geneva, so there wasn't much sightseeing on the agenda, but I was still determined to be sure she had a fun 10 days with us.
We were off to a busy start. On Saturday we went to watch my netball team play in their first tournament and then we spent the afternoon in the neighboring town of Carouge. The next day was Mother's Day! It was so nice to be able to celebrate my first Mother's Day with my mom, especially since Madeleine is her first grand child. We had a wonderful day which we spent down by the lake.
Monday was a holiday in Geneva, Whit Monday (or Pentecost Monday), yet another religious holiday. We decided to sneak into France so we could take the Télécabine (the cable car) up to the top of the Salève mountain that overlooks Geneva. I was a little nervous taking Maddie into France without a passport, but there was no one at the boarder so we just walked right over! (Needless to say, we made it back to Switzerland with no trouble).
The rest of the week was spent running errands and showing my mom a bit more of Geneva. We went out to the Clinique Generale-Beaulieu to drop off a book for the wonderful nurses that work there and to show my mom the hospital. I also has one final appointment with the gal who runs the psychology study at the Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève Maternité (or the HUG) - the place where I was on bed rest for three weeks. We also met up with my friend, "Chill Out" for coffee at Starbucks (the hip place for all the new moms in Geneva).
The big event of the week though was getting Madeleine's passport picture. It was quite an endeavor! The US Embassy had recommended a photo shop in town that specializes in infant passport pictures. We went there on Tuesday, but Maddie was fast asleep and after about 30 minutes of trying to rouse her we left. The requirement for the photo is her eyes have to be open, mouth closed, and both ears showing, which can be quite a challenge for a baby.
The next day we returned... and she was again fast asleep! We decided to go to Starbucks around the corner to wait her out (so when she woke up we could get the photo), but after two hours she still could not be woken up and we went home in defeat! That afternoon when she was wide awake we jumped on the bus and practically ran down the street with her to make it to the shop before she drifted off again. The guy in the shop saw us and despite having several waiting customers in front of us, he swooped over and picked her up to get her picture taken. Viola! It was done. :)
That weekend we all participated in a "Geneva for Obama" gathering where we took a photo for the "Bridges for Obama" project where Obama supporters all over the world take group photos on bridges in support of the campaign. It was a bit drizzly, but we were there! That afternoon while G ran up to the Balexert mall my mom and I accidentally got locked out of the flat. Unfortunately it was pouring rain by that point, but we were only locked out for an hour or so... never a dull moment around here.
The 10 days sure did go by fast, and before we knew it we were headed back to the airport. My mom has never been so sad to leave Geneva before; she didn't want to leave little Madeleine. But we will be moving back to California in just six more weeks, so grandma will get some more Madeleine time very soon! :)
Three generations
Look, it's my new bouncy chair!
Our little family in Geneva
Out by the lake on Mother's Day
So very sleepy
It's time for a bottle
Drying off after bath time
In front of the Clinique Generale-Beaulieu
A good spot for a nap
Smile for the camera!
Just me & my bear
Up at "Le Salève" overlooking Lake Geneva
Look - There's Geneva!
Hanging out
My mom came out first, just four days after we came home from the hospital. We went out to the airport to pick her up and on the way home Madeleine went on her first train ride. That day was also the first time we saw Maddie suck her thumb. I was so happy my mom was here, both to meet Maddie and to help us out in those early days. For me it was important to have help just to get out so I could build my strength back up after being on bed rest for three months and after the cesarean. This was my mom's fourth trip to Geneva, so there wasn't much sightseeing on the agenda, but I was still determined to be sure she had a fun 10 days with us.
We were off to a busy start. On Saturday we went to watch my netball team play in their first tournament and then we spent the afternoon in the neighboring town of Carouge. The next day was Mother's Day! It was so nice to be able to celebrate my first Mother's Day with my mom, especially since Madeleine is her first grand child. We had a wonderful day which we spent down by the lake.
Monday was a holiday in Geneva, Whit Monday (or Pentecost Monday), yet another religious holiday. We decided to sneak into France so we could take the Télécabine (the cable car) up to the top of the Salève mountain that overlooks Geneva. I was a little nervous taking Maddie into France without a passport, but there was no one at the boarder so we just walked right over! (Needless to say, we made it back to Switzerland with no trouble).
The rest of the week was spent running errands and showing my mom a bit more of Geneva. We went out to the Clinique Generale-Beaulieu to drop off a book for the wonderful nurses that work there and to show my mom the hospital. I also has one final appointment with the gal who runs the psychology study at the Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève Maternité (or the HUG) - the place where I was on bed rest for three weeks. We also met up with my friend, "Chill Out" for coffee at Starbucks (the hip place for all the new moms in Geneva).
The big event of the week though was getting Madeleine's passport picture. It was quite an endeavor! The US Embassy had recommended a photo shop in town that specializes in infant passport pictures. We went there on Tuesday, but Maddie was fast asleep and after about 30 minutes of trying to rouse her we left. The requirement for the photo is her eyes have to be open, mouth closed, and both ears showing, which can be quite a challenge for a baby.
The next day we returned... and she was again fast asleep! We decided to go to Starbucks around the corner to wait her out (so when she woke up we could get the photo), but after two hours she still could not be woken up and we went home in defeat! That afternoon when she was wide awake we jumped on the bus and practically ran down the street with her to make it to the shop before she drifted off again. The guy in the shop saw us and despite having several waiting customers in front of us, he swooped over and picked her up to get her picture taken. Viola! It was done. :)
That weekend we all participated in a "Geneva for Obama" gathering where we took a photo for the "Bridges for Obama" project where Obama supporters all over the world take group photos on bridges in support of the campaign. It was a bit drizzly, but we were there! That afternoon while G ran up to the Balexert mall my mom and I accidentally got locked out of the flat. Unfortunately it was pouring rain by that point, but we were only locked out for an hour or so... never a dull moment around here.
The 10 days sure did go by fast, and before we knew it we were headed back to the airport. My mom has never been so sad to leave Geneva before; she didn't want to leave little Madeleine. But we will be moving back to California in just six more weeks, so grandma will get some more Madeleine time very soon! :)
Three generations
Look, it's my new bouncy chair!
Our little family in Geneva
Out by the lake on Mother's Day
So very sleepy
It's time for a bottle
Drying off after bath time
In front of the Clinique Generale-Beaulieu
A good spot for a nap
Smile for the camera!
Just me & my bear
Up at "Le Salève" overlooking Lake Geneva
Look - There's Geneva!
Hanging out
posted by Swiss Miss | 01:53
1 Comments:
I love the pics that show how her sleeves are too long and hide her little hands... that happened with Donovan, too. Just wait, you'll be amazed in a few weeks when all of a sudden her clothes ACTUALLY FIT and you won't believe how much she's grown! =)
BTW, I'm impressed with all your outings with baby. I think I was afraid to go anywhere with him for WEEKS after he was born...
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