And you thought you knew your face.

Our friends Mick & Jess (+little Archie) spent the week-end here and during dinner we got into a conversation about the mugshot that is going viral at the moment. Who knew it was illegal to be that hot?!

Although there was some protesting from the men at the table, it was at least agreed that the incredible symmetry of this guy's face was notable and probably contributed to his appeal (and also his generous lips, clear blue eyes, perfect nose, chiseled cheekbones... but I disgress).

It made us wonder whether we simply weren't symmetrical enough to go viral too.

It reminded me of a photo series (http://www.julianwolkenstein.com/index.php/project/symmetrical-portraits/) I had seen a little while ago where a bunch of random people were photographed front on. Their portraits were then chopped in half, defining a right side and a left side. Then two portraits were made. One by mirroring the right side, and the other by mirroring the left side. Two strikingly different faces were born - sort of how twins who would have grown apart might look.

The experiment highlights the lack of symmetry in humans and also tests the theory that symmetrical faces are more attractive generally. Sometimes they are, but just as often, they definitely aren't.

We decided to replicate this experiment and although the conditions are far from perfect (lighting especially), the experiment was amazing... and hilarious, shocking, terrifying and just generally fascinating.

AND I finally know which is my better side!

Have a look for yourself, but I warn you, once you start looking, you might find it hard to stop.

Soon but not yet.

Hugo will start speaking soon. He walks around practicing strange new sounds which aren't used in either French or English. They are funny curly sounds for which his tongue performs quite a dance in and out of his mouth. He brings all his sounds together into funny little sentences that no one besides him can understand. Soon, those sounds will turn into words but not yet.

Soon, Hugo will have a mouth full of teeth but for now, we still get to enjoy his adorable gummy smile with only the two bottom teeth who were brave enough to venture forth.

Soon, Hugo will be able to run but not yet. I love his flat-footed attempts. His steps are so tiny and just can't seem to move fast enough. We let him run around naked for a little bit after his bath while I just delight in the adorable perfection of his body. His round tummy always leading the way, the jiggle of his butt-cheeks and thighs when he attempts to run in the impossibly vertical way babies do.

Soon, he'll be able to do another million things but I am glad there are moments, even short, when it feels that time is a little bit suspended and he seems to just plateau for a while. I just want to take it all in now because I know that soon, I'll blink and Hugo will be a little chatterbox, running away from me and biting "la vie a pleine dent" (taking big bites out of life).

Soon, but not yet. 

Another perfect visit.

Wish you were still here.

xox, L.