Ok so I probably should start this e-mail with an apology for the subject. I swear it was a moment of inspiration and not me googling "baby birthday puns".

Anyway tomorrow it will be a year with us. The goal was to celebrate it tonight. Unfortunately sickness derailed the plan and we settled for an early bed time and tomorrow we'll try again. We need to figure out some lactose-free treat for him. It's a bit tough as everything(and I mean everything) here has butter. I think we will fall back on the centuries old one of grapes.

We also have utterly failed at getting him to blow out a candle. It will be a team effort tomorrow.

Tomorrow is also a big day for me as I make my final assault on the French prefecture for my visa replacement. Think of me as it will be round 39 of David vs French Bureaucrats. I can be more stubborn! You'll have to deport me before you lose this battle!

Mahalo,

DJ

PS: I also wrote a little letter to Gaël that I am sharing. Well as you can see it's for him, but it's really to everyone. My actual open letter to Gaël would go something like this:

My dear firstborn,

You are getting close to working age and as such I expect you to start contributing to the family income. Diapers and powdered lactose free milk are not cheap, and you monopolize both of them. Also while we are on the subject, could you somehow figure out how to use a toilet? Congratulations on reaching your first year, please enjoy the enclosed lactose free biscuit.

(Yes I included a letter within a letter in a postscript about a letter - this newsletter is getting out of control - the unsubscribe button is below)