Springtime in Paris

It's April in Paris, and while there has been rain and chill, spring is definitely here and on the whole it's been lovely. Springtime is a special season for Perrine and I, reminding us of the April 11 years ago when we first started dating. And now for us it's also the season when Milo David was born (in May he will celebrate his first birthday). And in dull gray Paris, it's of course a time when things finally become green and start flowering again, a time when the café terraces fill again with sun-starved patrons, and a time when our lucky friends in the suburbs can finally enjoy their gardens and yards again.

We spent just such an afternoon recently in our friends Charlotte and Dominique's garden, who share a duplex with friends Perrine and Greg. Milo played with Perrine and Greg's son Victor, gave a big hug to his cute friend Anna (who didn't seem that into the mushy stuff), daughter of Charlotte and Dominique, sniffed the flowers, and took his first bike ride, which made his parents sniffle a bit themselves thinking how much he's grown in 11 months!

Victor and Milo

Spring brought us a visit from Auntie Lucie, who was passing through Paris after another great adventure, this time biking through Argentina. She returned from the airport with her bike still rolling, and with news from her time in Buenos Aires, where she was able to visit with my dear friend Magdalena, who I met when I was studying at the University of Saint Thomas in Minnesota. Lucie and Magdalena apparently got along like old friends right off the bat, and Lucie said some of her most enjoyable time in Argentina was spent walking the streets of Buenos Aires with her.

Lucie and Magdalena in Buenos Aires

Lucie brought back a gift from Magdalena for Perrine and I, a wide assortment of Argentina's most delicious dulce de leche treats, and a toy top for Milo as well (who still isn't eating candy just yet). Thank you Magdalena!

As it happens, another good friend who I met in my University of Saint Thomas days, Ken, hopped over recently for a visit as well. He brought good news from Nantes where he's made great headway with his swimming team and has begun to really love all the aspects of coaching, from identifying young talent to encouraging them, sometimes with tough love, to be their best. It was good to have a couple of my best buddies together.

Spring brought us a visit from Maminou Françoise as well, who got to see how giggly Milo still is.

With the passing of Perrine's uncle François, the brother of her father Jean-Guy, spring has been a time of many gatherings in Perrine's family, as people have come together to share photos and memories together, and seek renewal in the warm company of one another.

Together watching a slideshow of family pictures at Anne and Lucien's apartment

Perrine's aunts Adeline and Catherine, and uncle Jean-Loup

Milo with (great) aunt Anne

With cousin Paule

With cousins Paule and Olympe

Spring and sun couldn't have come too soon, because frankly Milo is so full of beans he can't stay inside very long these days. He crawls everywhere, pulls himself up to his feet and makes a disaster area of the living room every chance he gets, and prefers to stand in bed than to sleep in it. So spring walks have been good for us all!

Milo on the warpath...

Milo even took in his first jazz concert one day while we were taking shelter in a café during a spring shower...

Aaaah, April in Paris...