Baby Paperwork and...Shopping!

Today was an adventure! I spent half the day with a dear friend who went with me to ask questions at the US Consular office in Geneva as well as the etat civil (state office) regarding paperwork for our baby's report of birth abroad, American passport, social security number and Swiss birth certificate. After a very curt conversation with an American official and a two-part conversation in French (translated by my helpful friend), I think I have our questions answered and can proceed with the paperwork. Of course, we won't be able to file anything until the baby is born and we decide his name (aren't you just so curious as to what the name will be?!), but I plan to have everything else in order before his due date.

According to the information I had received from our birthing clinic and on websites online, it seemed that we were going to have to re-order certain documents as well as have them translated into French for the birth certificate, but the person we spoke to today said that we don't! This is a huge relief and answer to prayer. There are a few complications with my last name being spelled differently on several of my own documents (marriage certificate, passport etc.) because not everyone seems to agree how to translate an "Umlaut" (the two dots above the o in Höltje) into English. However, it seems that we'll be able to get around this for the baby. It is also a bit tricky that Olli and I have different nationalities, but this will be an advantage to our little one so we will work it out so that he can claim both nationalities. Olli will have to make a special trip to the etat civil after our baby is born to take care of this on a special form in the presence of a representative, but at least we know that now and can plan for it!

As a celebration, and because I'm an excited mommy-to-be, I went shopping afterward! One of the baby stores in town was having a sale so I had to take advantage of it. There are only two times per year when stores in Switzerland, and most of Europe for that matter, put several items on sale--for you Americans who are used to stores running sales all year round, I'm not exaggerating. The sales usually occur at the beginning of summer and at the beginning of winter. This store had some of their baby clothes on sale so, needless to say, I bought some things. It was exciting to get them at 30, 50 and 70% off! I also bought a night-light for the baby's room that has a green shield with a bear, giraffe and zebra on it. It was the only one left and it goes perfectly with our nursery theme so I bought it even though it wasn't on sale. It probably wasn't worth the 30CHF I paid for it, but that's Swiss prices and I felt like it was a rare find so I got it anyway. The entire outing was a special treat, remember?!