Still settling in and trying to make this apartment more of our home. We've been out and about, picking up household necessities. Wednesday was our first metro ride of our stay... Paris is all coming back to me and things are already starting to feel familiar. The hardest things for me to tolerate here have always been the smog and the cigarette smoke which is still unbearable. If I could fashion a little gas mask for Emmett to wear while we're out, I would.

Dealing with French bureaucracy has not been fun. We spent an entire day running around the city, standing in long lines in hot and stuffy rooms, being turned away, standing in line...only to be turned away again and then finding offices closed for the day at 1pm.



On a happier note, we're having fun rediscovering old haunts with Emmett. We spent part of the afternoon in the Place des Vosges on Friday in the late afternoon, eating an almond croissaint and a chocolate eclair from a local boulangerie. Emmett had an early dinner al fresco by the water fountain. People have been so adoring of Emmett -- on the metro, in restaurants, at the park. It's so wonderful to see that side of Paris.

I joined a mothers' group here called MESSAGE: http://messageparis.org/public_website/index.html

The women I've connected with via the members-only forums have been so generous and kind. Any time I post a question, I get several helpful responses within minutes. It's been a hugely reassuring resource. One woman loaned us a Pack n Play for Emmett to sleep in until we leave and even offered other baby necessities if we needed them. Another woman offered to make a doctor's appointment for me in French because I need a medical certificate to participate in a 6K race around the Eiffel Tower next weekend. I also received a long email from another woman telling me where to go to buy reasonably priced diapers and baby items.

Overall, we're happy to be here. I'm already feeling sad to leave in December.