some words on a sicilan summer

Ciao family, friends and fellow bloggers! I wish I had access to more photos that we have taken on our yearly Sicilian summer trip; I sent the previous photo from Gio’s phone as he left for the airport. I only have my film camera and Gio has the rest on his phones; meaning who knows if you will ever see them- sorry, but it could be true! Making plans to come to Sicily was in our minds, but there were plans to travel to the states earlier in the summer and arriving in Sicily just as summer would be drawing to a close; however, our plans quickly changed and before we knew it we bought a flight leaving just a few days later! Giovanni is headed to Korea for work soon and with nothing to do in Milan but sweat, I chose to stay with the kids in Ragusa to hang out with Italian family and play in the Mediterranean. While here we have gotten a lot of Sun time, eaten the BEST fresh ricotta cheese, collected beautiful sea shells, indulged (at times more than once a day) for amazing gelato or granita (a granita is like a slushy, but as in true Italian style like eating/drinking an iced fruit or nut just picked from a tree- pure BLISS, some of our favorites are: toasted almond, pistachio, ricotta, pear and coconut with chocolate pieces) taking walks to admire Ibla (the oldest part of Ragusa)or along the board walk at night with the rest of the beach goers, homemade fresh ravioli thanks to Zia Maria, shopping the sales, playing with cousins and kittens at the farm house, wondering the local markets and celebrating birthdays with Nonni! It is such fun to listen to Charlotte speak Italian that is improving by leaps and bounds converse with everyone here, she pretty much refuses to speak to me in Italian, but that is ok by me. Isaac too, has quite the growing vocabulary! He seems so advanced for being 16 months (today he is 16 months, really already?) but what else would you expect his mother to say. We are truly enjoying our time here. Even if we miss Giovanni.

the past 2 weekends

I have been holding out you! Rude of me right? We have been doing a tiny bit of traveling around here and I have not shared any of it with you. Don't hold it against me, I have been lazy and not in the "sharing mood".Please understand, I am sure most all of us go through that from time to time!
I came to my good senses and figured who ever you are that checks up on us here probably wants to see what happenings are going on around here and how the kiddies are growing. I hope not to disappoint!
This last weekend we were in Como to see our friends Ilaria & Alessandro get married! The ceremony was held in a beautiful church decorated with white flowers and candles, perfect! The reception was in a villa off of Lake Como just past Belliago. The kids were a bit under the weather and spent most of the time sleeping... so don't mind the "glazed eye" look they are givin!



(first 3 images were taken by our friend Marco, he has a MUCH better camera then I do, Sorry! this is the biggest I could get them!)



The weekend before that we went to Torino! It was a QUICK trip, but fun to be back! Giovanni and I met 6 years ago Sunday, June 5th, 2005 in Torino & we just happened to be there again on SUnday, June 5th, 2011!!!
Here are a few highlights of that little get away! (P.S.) our friend Cary came with us) After a quick trip to Porto Palazzo (Europe's largest open air market) buying plump, juicy cherries and some yummy asparagus for a STEAL we then walked around the center.
One place I had always heard about but had never visited in my many trips to Torino was a little cafe called La Biscern. Supposedly they have some phenomenal hot chocolate (among some other drinks of which we did not try due to the alcoholic ingredients). This place is truly storic!When we first walked into the square where it is located we saw a few tables outside with people enjoying their drinks... and a line of about 10 people waiting to sit! It was quite tiny inside, maybe 10 little tables crammed with chairs around them green walls lined with silver cups and teapots. Glass jars filled with candy and yummy gianduia chocolates(a hazelnut chocolate, think nutella flavor)! Most people popping in to try a glass of something and leaving again quickly. We were among this group. You can see Charlotte enjoyed it!






There are more adventure to share, but I am too tired right now... until hummm, i dont know, soon!

Isaac's Birth story

Isaac is nearly 1 month old and before anymore days pass I want to write the story of his birth down. For all of you who are curious and also just so I have it down somewhere.
It is normal that during the entire pregnancy to have contractions, that is just what your body does to prepare for REAL labor. 2 weeks before his due date (due March 10, so this was Feb. 25) I started feeling stronger contractions, all day long there were moments when I would need to sit and take a break from whatever I was doing.I thought that I might be slowly starting labor.
I don't remember many braxton hicks or false labor with Charlotte, with her when I started feeling uncomfortable and unable to sleep the contractions progressively got stronger and harder to deal with, but that also took a full day before anything happened and she was born a full 24 hours later (4:20am). During that pregnancy I knew when I went into labor. This time around was VERY different! But because the first is what I had imprinted on my brain I thought that some if not most all of the labor and delivery would go pretty much the same way. BOY was I WRONG!
Okay, back to 2 weeks before the due date.... I had a friend over and we had been working on some crafty projects. She left around 4ish. Char's and I headed out to the diaper factory. While on our way home Gio called me and said he had tickets to a fashion show if I wanted to come to the center and Char's was welcome. I debated going since I had not been feeling at 100%, but then again I had never been to a fashion show. I raced home changed and we ran to the bus to meet Gio. After going out for drinks and appetizers we saw the quick fashion show and headed home(see all the fun we had). I told Gio later that I thought the baby was not going to wait the full 2 weeks!


Fast forward to Wednesday March 2. In the morning Char's and I ran a bunch of errands. Grocery shopping, stopping to buy some paint for a few projects, and on to the fabric store. I was just about done, we were looking at buttons when all of the sudden Char's saw someone coming in the door and took off running right under everyone's legs! I threw all of my stuff at the counter bumping into people as I try to dodge my way out to grab her! There was an older woman already 2 steps ahead of me (not too hard to out run a VERY PREGNANT woman)who got a hold of little Charlotte before I could, thank goodness, and handed her over to me. I was both embarrassed and frightened for what could have happened (the store is on a VERY, VERY busy street. The woman behind the counter was kind and pulled out a stool for me to sit on and catch my breath, I was sweating like a pig by now and someone else brought me a cup of water. The comment was made about having this episode start my labor. I laughed it off. Through out the rest of the day I felt fine. More of those contractions I had been having all week, but nothing unbearable.

The next morning I woke up around 8AM. Showered and changed the bed sheets, started a load of laundry and started feeling contractions a bit stronger, but told Gio to go to work. "If anything happens I will call you" I kept saying to him. "I am sure it will take all day for anything to really happen". I called my friend who was going to take Char's when we needed to go to the hospital, I told her that I was not sure when, but I was sure today was the day, she was already at work and just said to keep her posted. She could meet us at the hospital or come to our house.
About 20 minutes later I changed my mind about Gio leaving me and we called another friend to take Char's, I think we both realized we did not have much time.
I jumped back in the shower sitting on a stool working through contractions (maybe a bit in denial about how active my labor was) . Gio was gathering things around the house (my bag had been packed for a month ready to go), pillows, Char's bag, medical forms, ect... he kept telling me to get dressed so we could get out of the house. I was feeling the contractions REALLY strong now and could barley even find clothes to put on. We all loaded into the elevator and while on our way down I could smell Charlotte with a smelly diaper. I sent Gio out to get the car (as I could not imagine myself in full, active labor crossing the busy street we live on stopping every few min.s for a contraction)as I returned upstairs to get the wipes we forgot. (this was just about 10AM)
By the time I got down stairs I knew that getting to the hospital in time was going to be cutting it close, I was already feeling to push! Lito, our doorman was watching Char's while Gio ran to get the car, I think we scared him the most! While I was having another contraction and holding onto a door handle he kept saying "where is Giovanni"????
Into the car and down the street to drop Char's off, back on our way. contractions getting stronger and closer together, my water breaks in the car and traffic is ridiculous!I feel a little bit of relief, but start crying because Gio starts weaving into oncoming traffic as if we are in a movie, lights are out and there are policemen and women trying to direct traffic, Gio unrolls his window and in a mix of English and Italian yells that I am in active labor. We pull up to the hospital ER and leave the car with everything in it (maybe even the keys, who cared at this point). Gio finds a wheelchair and someone working at the hospital who gets me in front of the elevator that is supposed to take me up to labor and delivery on the 1st floor. While we waited for the LONGEST time for the elevator to arrive I kept having the pushing sensation, finally up to the right floor a nurse came out to see what is going on. She takes one look at me asks if this is my first baby and says she will be back after she is done doing whatever she is doing to check on me (I will never forget the look on her face, "i don't have time for you right now" look).

I got up from the wheelchair and made it into the lobby bathroom telling Gio that the baby was not waiting and he was coming NOW! He called for the nurse again and she came running out with two other nurses. They convinced me to sit back down in the wheelchair and wheeled me into a delivery room where more nurses and doctors came in. They moved me onto a delivery bed and with in minutes (at 10:30am)Isaac was born! What a rush! I was able to hold and cuddle him until Gio cut the cord and they took him for a bath and a few tests.
Gio of course had to go move the car and get my bag. I had some alone time with my new little boy. I looked at him with wonder, awe and much gratitude as I thought about the miracle of life. The little miracles that have occurred during the months that I carried him. Prayers that have been heard and comfort sent when it was needed. What honor it is to be a mother! To share in the creation of another little body and to have the privileged to help the spirits that dwell in those bodies to understand who they are and their full potential! What a glorious responsibility!

(Gio did not have much time to pull out the camera to get pictures, but here are a few shots of Isaac in the early hours of his life and meeting his big sister)!

for your viewing pleasure

I asked a friend who studied photography here in Italy to come and take a few pictures of us as a family before our next addition. I wanted to capture my GROWING belly and Charlotte as well. These are a few shots I have seen so far. I am happy with how they came out! Looking forward to seeing the rest!
We are getting closer to the "due date", March 10 and counting down to Saturday when my parents arrive!!!

Enjoying Sicily at Christmas time

 

I know I am behind on blogging about our time in Sicily over the holidays, but really I am in "nesting" mode and trying to figure out just how we are going to add another little body into our 1 bedroom apartment! However, I wanted to share with you a few pictures from our trip. We had a good time and really enjoyed the warm weather in Cefalu' and Palermo!
More to come about baby preparation..... stay tuned!

Rome Temple Groundbreaking

On the occasion of the Rome Temple groundbreaking we headed to Rome Friday returning to Milan on Sunday afternoon. Giovanni is involved with the PR for the temple and helped the world report people with interviews, ect... Charlotte and I got to hang out with the cousins for the short stay and enjoyed being with family, and being apart of this historical event even if it was a fast trip.

something new, well to some of you

 

What's new?? We are going to have a new little one arriving in March! I am about half way through the pregnancy and feeling great! Yesterday we got to take a peek at our "little" during an ultrasound! It was exciting!! Even Lottie was saying "baby, baby"! Gio and I are undecided about finding out what we will be welcoming into the world come spring, so I had the Dr write the BIG Answer down on an index card and seal it in an envelope, that way if we get really anxious we can open it up and know! Excitment is the best word to describe what we are feeling!

Postcards from PARIS

Almost last minute we decided to head to Paris for Easter Weekend to visit with friends and enjoy all of the blooming beauty that spring offers! Leaving Friday night we arrived a little down due to Gio loosing his phone on our first flight and being unable to track it down (sad), however we were so happy to be on a mini vacation and see our dear friends that 1 phone less was no big deal. We spent our time relaxing and walking most of the major sites. When we spent 3 months there 2 years ago I was able to "see and do" most all the touristy things- (Gio unfortunately worked)so we just wanted to take it easy. We watched some movies and Gio got in a few games of Chess with Richard! Our gracious hosts treated us so well while there- THANK YOU Elaine and Richard we Love you!
Check out a few of our memories below. Have you been to PAris? What was your favorite memory?
Highlights:
*Trying Escargot and liking it!
*Charlotte eating a chocolate Easter egg 4 the first time
*Playing on the lawns at Trocadero and enjoying the view of the E. tower
*Brunch nearly everyday
*Chess matches
*Eating Crepes on the streets
*Great weather
*showing Charlotte around