It turns out we left Japan with one belly full of more than just sushi - a few cells were beginning the incredible journey of becoming a human! We are thrilled to share that we are expecting our little one in the second half of July!
Last weekend, we traded ramen for tagliatelle to celebrate our babymoon on the shores and mountainsides of Lago Maggiore. A five hour train ride from Geneva, it was far enough from home to feel like a real get-away, and close enough in case Greechy (the pre-birth nickname for our little guy) decided to come early. From Switzerland’s Verzasca Valley to Italy’s charming Cannobio, we utterly enjoyed our final pre-baby adventure. Thank you, again, to everyone who contributed to our Adventure Fund last summer - you helped make this possible.
Pictured below, the majestic Verzasca Valley, and Alex embracing the frigid glacial melt.
The next day, we embarked on a long, slow climb up to the top of Monte Carza overlooking the lake. Emily is not as fast as she used to be, but with 10 miles behind her, she was thrilled to take in the stunning lake/mountain views and explore the forest of dancing beeches. Along the way, we met a German couple with two little boys who told us it would be just as fun to hike once the baby arrives - a welcome perspective as we anticipate how much our lives will change in a few short weeks.
After our strenuous hike, we spent the next morning visiting Villa Taranto Botanical Gardens with its impressive collection of plants from all over the world. Alex recalls how much we enjoyed watching Japanese tourists admire the maples last fall!
Cannobio’s charming nooks and crannies, including the view from our hotel balcony and the dramatic cliff next to the Ristorante Grotto Sant’Anna, made for idyllic wandering as we continued brainstorming Greechy’s real name. Alex captained our sunset sail that evening, and Emily joined as crew once he had remembered how to tack!
As we prepare to welcome the newest member of our family into this wild world, we have been asked by family and friends about how they can help. We are fortunate to have a community in Geneva that has passed along a number of baby essentials, and parents who have schlepped, shipped, and treated us to others. We have also put together a registry with a few more items that would help us get started. We share here without any pressure or expectation. We will be able to receive items purchased on the Amazon France registry directly thanks to a friend who lives just across the border while the items on the Babylist registry would be shipped to our parents in the U.S. who will then bring them to Geneva on one of their upcoming trips. In addition to these items, we would love recommendations on your favorite children’s books. Thank you all!
And stay tuned. We will visit the U.S. in October/November. Let’s be in touch so we can introduce you to the newest member of our family.