Yes! We are finally going to move to a bigger place, where Madeleine will get her own little room and lots of space to start learning to crawl and cruise. She'll have to learn how to sit up and roll over first, though she is sitting up better and can sit in a tripod position for a couple of seconds by herself before toppling over.
R. and I love Paris. I always thought it was such a dream to live here when I was a teenager, and I was lucky enough to live that out. I even had an email address (pigeons on my windowsill) in reference to those Parisian pigeons we see on postcards. There's always something to do, any time of the day, tons and tons of secret cafés, delicious restaurants, romantic strolls, after having lived here for 6 years almost, I still discover something new every time I go out.
Well this is going to be the last week as a Parisian. A part of me is sad to leave, but I know it's time to turn the page, and start something new and very exciting...........actual suburbian parenthood? I've always been a city gal, I grew up in the 3 major cities of Taiwan, so I'm very used to all the practicalities that come with it, like enjoying food any time of the day (eating, in taiwan is a national sport). When I first moved to Paris I thought about how dull it must be to live in the suburbs....well look at me now, moving there!
Our little 40 m2 apartment was just getting too small and cramped with Madeleine's gear and equipment. It was just getting to be a bit much living in a small space with a ton of stuff all the while feeling tired with a young baby. Our neighborhood in Paris (the 11th district) unfortunately does not have great parks, so our strolls in the hood were more about bad air quality and noise pollution. That was taking a toll on me too. So in a sense, I am glad to be leaving, but will miss the convenience and charm Parisian lifestyle has to offer. If we had our way, I think we would have stayed, but moved to a more family-friendly district with big parks and lots of open, green space. But it is just pretty impossible with both of us having part time jobs.