It's a girl!

Colette was born last Thursday evening at the very civilized hour of 7:45pm. We are back at home now and enjoying the customary parade of visitors and endless stream of phone calls from every French person we have ever know wishing us well.

My favorite comment so far has come from the mouth of my self-proclaimed French Mother, Odile, "Well yes, ma belle, babies are a lot more fun going in then they are coming out!"

Whose side are you on?!

Dear unborn child,

We had discussed a 40 week stay. Yet here we are at 40.5 weeks and I find you dilly-dallying down there with what appears to be zero intention of holding up your end of the bargain. Frankly I am a little disappointed in your behavior at this point.

I don't want to make this in to a whole France vs America thing but I know that you know that in America we say that pregnancy lasts 40 weeks and that the French claim that pregnancy lasts 41 weeks but come on now... whose belly are you in?

This is surely going to be one of several stands that you are going to need to make throughout your life. Will your first word be no or non? At the age of 16 will it be more important to you to have your drivers license or have the ability to order a glass of wine at a bar? Will you eat your pizza with a fork and knife or will you use your hands? Will you say things like see you at 15h or see you at 3pm? Will you bake your cakes using cups or the scale? Will you blast past your American due date (the 4th of August) in favor of your French due date (the 11th of August) just to prove a point to your mother?

All I am saying, sweetheart, is that the early bird catches the worm. And I know you may be tempted to listen to all of these laissez faire French people surrounding you who have a tendency to be vague with deadlines and say things like "Your internet will be switched on sometime during the next 2 to 12 weeks" and "Let's meet at 10 and by 10 I mean 11". I can only imagine that the French's religious attachment to the idea of not doing anything in the month of August except drink rose and tan themselves on the beach is also throwing you off... but what sort of attitude is that to have?  May I remind you that you are half Campbell and we are a family of go getters who start as they mean to continue and who (with the exception of your mother and grandmother) show up on time.

So let's get this show on the road!

Love,

Your Mother.