Open House

My parents have been with us for almost two weeks. They seem very happy as new grandparents. Weather in San Francisco has been kind, so walks with their granddaughter are now a daily routine. Mom cooks us delicious dinners, such as cold beets soup- chłodnik, pierogi made with Polish flour and yummie pomidorówka, to name a few. Dad even helps with ironing clothes. And on the weekends, the parents accompany us... to open houses.

On Saturdays and Sundays those interested in buying real estate can visit, without scheduling an appointment in advance,  houses put up for sale, so called Open Houses. I noticed that when female real estate agents arrange them, snacks are usually served. Once there was even champagne :)

We have been looking for a place of our own for at least two months, and it is not the easiest task.

Every listing we analyze in terms of, among others, the proximity to work (if it is quite far away, how long the public transport or car route would take), proximity to parks, preferably with a playground :), shops or major streets, the degree that it is a family friendly neighborhood, the quality of nearby schools, the amount of outside space - tiny garden, balcony, for we live in sunny California ..), the presence of central heating (in the evening it gets quite cold in the city) or wooden floors or carpets (often encountered here ...),  parking spaces, the steepness of the street on which we could live, the presence of stairs inside and outside, very popular in San Francisco (remember, we are now using a stroller). Not all homes have the ability to insert a washing machine.

And of course the price. In order to buy a decent two-bedroom apartment, with a normal size bathroom, you have to put a minimum of one million US dollars! Probably that's why morgage brokers, offering favorable loans are sometimes present during the open houses.

The properties are usually sold at a much higher price, and often as a result of a bidding war. The one, who offers the highest price, gets the property. It is not easy. We hear stories of foreign investors who overbid easily residents' of San Francisco offers by offering cash, where locals need to get bank loans in order to pay.

We have already seen many apartments. Although some were really very nice, nothing has yet spoken to us 100%. I do not think that we are very picky. 

The advantage to seeking accommodation is exploring neighborhoods and charming hidden alleys of San Francisco. However during the weekend we are planning a house tour outside the city- in Berkeley. Maybe there we will have more luck :)

One of the listings:

http://sfarmls.rapmls.com/scripts/mgrqispi.dll?APPNAME=Sanfrancisco&PRGNAME=MLSPictureDescriptions&ARGUMENTS=-N133124321,-N433545,-AE

Dzień Dobry Baby!

Close to three weeks ago I went to my evening prenatal yoga class, and a few hours later, a bit unexpectedly, I was admitted to the UCSF Mission Bay Birth Center. Several hours later, we welcomed our beautiful daughter Rose.

A professional team of nurses, midwives and anesthetists  helped me in this intense, but also amazing, experience.
At the very end we were orchestrated by a large group of people (all women), but even so, the atmosphere was intimate and friendly.

Dean, of course, was with me all the time. He could stay overnight at the postpartum ward, where we spent the standard two days and nights. Honestly, I wish I stayed there  a little longer. We had a single room, beautiful view from the window, three individually customizable meals, caring nurses helping with the newborn - this is the way to labor!

Rosie and I could, however, be discharged from hospital quickly. Before leaving the hospital, we had to prove that we had made an appointment with the pediatrician. We also had to show our car infant seat.  Some trivia: in California, even those parents who do not own a car need to present one.

Before leaving the hospital, we were pleasantly surprised that  we can count on one more postpartum home doctor visit, and its costs were covered by our insurance.

Now we are adapting to life with Baby - the number of changed diapers a day is really not a joke! We are also waiting for the arrival of my parents. It's time for Rosie to hear more Polish:) 

Pancakes for breakfast 

             Hospital provided professional photography        

                                          services.

Lovin' the stroller

Nap time

Daddy time:) 

H.xx

Happy Poland's National Day!

On May 4, on the balcony of the City Hall of San Francisco,  the Polish flag was raised. It was very nice to participate in this official event, organized by the city of San Francisco and San Francisco-Krakow Sister City Committee.

To celebrate the Polish Day the Polish Consul flew from Los Angeles. In his speech he mentioned the important dates in May in the Polish calendar: the Ratification of the Polish Constitution, the Polish accession to the EU, and the day honoring the Polish diaspora.

There was a Polish Birthday toast to San Francisco's Mayor Ed Lee. Guests invited the Mayor many times to finally come and visit the beautiful city of Cracow. Let me add that he is the first American of Asian descent to be elected for the office.

The elegant International Room in which the toasts took place reminded me of the years when I worked in Warsaw.
Although sometimes I would like to go revisit that time, I know that soon equally important challenges are coming my way:)
  

                                     

                 Yummy butter-cookies prepared especially for the occasion. 

With the San Francisco Mayor:)

Beautiful City Hall interiors.

Strike a pose in City Hall:)

Na zdrowie!

Waiting

At the end of next month, the little one is expected to arrive. Baby's layette is now prepared and the hospital classes are almost over. During one of them, while watching videos of few labour experiences, I even started crying. We have now a few weeks to relax and to close all the pending tasks. Recently, for example, we were wondering whether we will need a doula. These women help during labour, by massaging the spine, or by mediating between the parents and the medical staff. We decided that for now we will stick to ourselves.

Last Sunday we went to the Polish Mass at the Church of the Nativity. Interestingly this Church closed in the mid-90s, but after two years of parishioners' intensive prayers by the empty building, the Bishop of San Francisco was persuaded to re-open the temple the Polish as well as to the Slovenians and the Croatians.

Mass went on smoothly and was in a nice atmosphere. We even had the opportunity to attend the baptism of a local little parishioner. In the end the priest invited everyone for cake and coffee. It was nice to speak in Polish, make new acquaintances and watch the kids go wild.

The second part of the day passed just as pleasantly. French La Boulange in a huge shopping mall Westfield Center has again met our culinary expectations. After the meal we went to the cinema to see Women in Gold showing the long battle to regain works of art stolen in Vienna from a wealthy Jewish family during World War II.

After watching this moving film we rode the escalator to the top floor to see another version of our stroller - this time adapted to traveling. And we again agreed that there is nothing more we need...except, well maybe...?   

After returning home,  Dean prepared a delicious dinner: salad with tuna, mayonnaise and avocado, fried eggplant and gnocchi with tomato sauce.

Ahead of us another "waiting'' week. Filled mainly with regular visits and the hospital tour. I am also attending a class to learn about programs managing and recruiting new employees. This, of course, is not in the hospital.

Luckily I also have plans to attend prenatal yoga classes. I hope that I will still fit in my sports outfits:)

                         
 H.xx

                               Happy and delicious Easter!

I send my wishes from the charming town of Pacific Grove, located right by the Pacific Ocean and about two hours from San Francisco. There isn't as much Easter ambiance as in the Bavarian style city Leavenworth (check out my post from last year), but we like it here a lot. Yesterday evening was very windy, but the sunset was simply awesome! 

The popular beach towns Carmel and Monterey, which we had a chance to visit two years ago, are nearby.

Today's Sunday breakfast was lacking traditional boiled eggs or ham, but the egg quiche was served. We also ate, prepared earlier by us from my Mum's recipe, a vegetable salad recipe, sałatka jarzynowa.

Our holiday weekend is also our Babymoon- the last relaxing trip before the birth of our little one.
Yesterday evening we have started a movie named Babies, showing how different and similar the first few months of newborns around the world, can be. Coincidentally in the there is even a family from San Francisco.

Tomorrow we might go to the local Farmer's Market. Maybe we'll find more decorated eggs and glazed lambs :)

Wesołych Świąt Wielkanocnych!

                               

 H.xx

Baby Brain

- You will l be a great mom -  a kind barista told me one day at Starbucks.
- You think so? - I asked.
- Yes, because when  I asked if it's your first child you smiled!

Such words mean a lot when one is about to be responsible for a Baby. Meanwhile, we are intensely preparing for the upcoming changes:

* About once a week I still go to yoga. It helps me mentally and physically. What's better than lying in a pre-natal savasana  after an hour-long stretch? Instructors also pay a lot of attention to the importance of breathing. Every week I also go for a swim to a nearby pool.

* Visits to the doctor proceed without problems, and our test results do not deviate from the norm. At any time I can send a personal message to my OB/GYN. I can count on professional and friendly responses regarding issues like hand swelling.

* On a recent doctor visit I received a prescription an electric breast pump. Interestingly, the changes made by the Affordable Care Act imposed an obligation on insurance companies to reimburse the costs. Mine already has reached me by mail and fortunately came with instructions.

*As the baby has grown a lot- it's been almost 7 months-I can now only fit in plus sizes or in clothes from the maternity department. While I still have energy, I am supplying myself with extra attire, which I hope be enough until May :)

* I need to get on with reading specialist baby care books. At the moment I'm not doing as well as I could. Maybe it's the Baby Brain syndrom. I just cannot concentrate that well. I also don't want to add more stress to myself. I hope that the upcoming Great Expectations parenting classes will be good motivation. We start this week with an infant care class.

* Every day, thanks to the applications on the phone, I receive a bit of information on Baby's and my development. Today I learned that Baby is almost 16 inches, and I will be prone to more mood changes...poor Dean.

* We also had to choose a pediatrician. In the US it is the hospital nurse who arranges the first appointment with a specialist, designated by the parents. Apparently, no one visits mother and Baby at home, as is commonplace in Europe.

* Of course, we spent much time on compiling Baby's registry.  After some extensive research and solving dilemmas like whether we really need the changing diaper pad furniture, we have successfully made an online Amazon order. By the end of the week, the stroller, crib and a number of other necessary gadgets will be delivered.

* We are still waiting for diaper samples from the Tiny Tots website. If we like them, we will, for a small sum, order a  weekly delivery of new and clean diapers. #makelifeeasier :)

Next Sunday we are throwing Dean's birthday party and my mini Baby Shower. Easter holidays will also be our chance to Babymoon ... Stay tuned. And now let me go back to sorting Baby's and my clothes.

                              

H.xx                                      

Bay Bridge 

Our high-rise is located near the port of San Francisco and the Embarcadero-a waterfront located just by the bay. This splendid promenade runs under the great Bay Bridge, which connects San Francisco with nearby Oakland. It was opened in the 1930s, around the same time as the Golden Gate Bridge. The project was supervised by a distinguished engineer Ralph Modjeski, son of the Polish actress Helena Modrzejewska.

The bridge has two levels, and it eases the city's circulation. Unfortunately it does not ease the work of the experts. The old construction, which partially fell down in the 1989 earthquake, required an extension and constant maintenance.

For Christmas, the Bay Bridge is always illuminated. Last year, the residents appreciated the Bay Lights display so much that it will be displayed permanently from 2016.

Take a look how the Bay Bridge presents itself: 

Credit:SFWeekly