All packed up and ready to go

So my suitcase is officially packed and ready. After coming back from the clinic and realizing that the little man could decide to appear on the scene at any moment I decided it might by wise to get everything ready for him. Now we're officially ready to leave for the clinic at the drop of a hat. The suitcase is full of clothes for him and me, blankets, hats, thermometers, massage oil, ipod and speakers for labor, etc. etc. etc. Each day I think of something more that I should add in order to make everything as comfortable and pleasant as possible. I better stop before it gets too full. In France, or at least at our particular clinic the average hospital stay after birth is 5 days. In that time they take care of you and the baby and help you learn how to bathe him and breastfeed and even offer you post-natal physical therapy classes. And everything is completely free and paid for by the national health care system (unless you want a private room... that's a bit extra). Crazy! When I had to stay in for two nights two weeks ago and have all the sorts of tests done on me I owed the clinic exactly 0€. As an American I'm completely in awe of the healthcare system here. The French state even gives you a cash bonus just for having a child... something like 800€! Vive le socialisme!


This kid has already got so many cute clothes. They'll probably only last him a few weeks but these two pairs of pyjamas were just too adorable to resist. The second one has an elephant on the front though you can't tell too well from the photo.