Farewells, Hellos, Adventures, Celebrations, and Emotions

I will be captain obvious and say that much much time has passed since I made my presence here. And as you all my assume much much has happened since my last post.
Now I have to write a novel, but I won't. I will paraphrase, or try to at least, and next time, I won't let a lifetime pass by between each post.
So here goes. I apologize in advance.
Marco Finally comes to Baltimore.  I don't even need to explain our happiness, Luca was off the wall. literally.
Marco, Luca and I leave for a week long road trip to New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and Colorado. Ending in Santa Fe for a fairytale wedding.
We flew in and out of Albuquerque and rented a car for a week.
the trip was amazing, for all three of us, it was needed it was an eye opener, it was perfect.
We come back to Bmore, basically say our goodbyes (dinner with these friends here, dinner with those friends there) and hugs and tears all around.
We arrive back in Italy (side note... Luca and I have been away for almost 4 months...) and settle back in the grove of Italian Life. It's good.
Luca starts preschool after a week. Smooth. He likes it, we all have a good feeling about it. He did though twice want to go, but wanted me to stay. Tears were involved but passed quick by legos and blocks.
He also is doing more than fine with the language. He only speaks english now, but only after a week at school he already is making  HUGE progress.
My next blog, will be an update on Luca and only Luca.
I just turned 30 and its weird.
its good just weird. I mean I'm 30! I remember thinking that 30 was basically 50. Now I realize what a brat I was.
Marco organized a sweet celebration with friends and on my actual birthday took me out on the lagoon to fish and cake.
Im not complaining.
On that note, I give myself a D- on this post and will make it up to you all!
xoxo

renaissance festival bound. stoked.

this is a terrible photo, but can you please look at Luna, thats her signature pose. she lives for belly rubs. and killing innocent birds.

we probably watched the giraffes for close to an hour

at the hospital feeling like 1 millions bucks. long story but so not worth telling.

feeling like 1 millions bucks leads to emergency appendectomy. and a flawless picture. 

the night Papa' came. after 3.5 months of separation.

testing out his ring bearer setup

afternoon on the porch with many many tomatoes ready for canning 

Italians... New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and Arizona bound

very very very windy Petrifies Forest 

this boy and this landscape

Grand Canyon

ham

our many many many restaurant adventures

if they could stay in water. all day. all night. they would

rains market day... back in baltimore 

Grand Canyon

too many restaurants. omg my hair.

they are pretty stinkin cute

required Family Grand Canyon picture

i was leaning with my whole weight. it was intense

hotel room cuddles 

Durango Colorado

Monument Valley, Utah

Santa Fe, NM

with the view at this ranch you would be laughing too

I had to go through so many amazing pictures, these are only a handful 

family picture fail

Just me and my main squeeze

the ever so stunning newly married couple 

smiles after an amazing wedding 

he thought the world needed to see this serious situation 

ta da!

back in Italy and already face first in gelato

sundays on his bike

no caption needed

I was more emotional than he was

he was so excited about his symbol on his locker

beach day with my boys

halloween party at our favourite ludoteca. He was a pumpkin, like last year, and probably for next year too.

a mini ice cream cone, on Mamma's birthday. that face though

not a bad birthday 

lunch at Ikea, I could make that a weekly tradition.

watching men cut trees. If only luca had this to wake up to every day

Luca in underwear out on a lake in PA with my second cousins son.

Ten Fest. He got 2 feet off the ground.

Luca Narrates

This post is in pictures. Pictures narrated by Luca himself.
Summer is coming to a close, which is obviously bitter sweet, but it also means we can actually start a countdown to when Marco comes!
Summer has been treating us as summer should, and we are so grateful to have been able to savour all that it has given us. Mealtimes out on the deck, sandbox pitstops all day long, water water water, in any way shape or form. Picnics at parks, concerts at parks, playing in parks, running in parks. Catching fireflies, releasing fireflies, listening to cicadas and grasshoppers "growling". Ice-cream devouring, and best of all running around naked outside and inside 99 % of the day. (Luca, not me, even though I was temped many times)
I also had a huge milestone and went away for the first time by myself since Luca was born.
And I seriously could not have dreamt it going better on both our ends. I had a fabulous weekend in NYC with my dear friend celebrating her becoming a bride,  and Luca had a blast back in Baltimore with Gam, Pops, Zia and it happened to be the same weekend that my brother was in town, so three cheers for Zio too!
Marco comes on the 30th, then Luca Marco and I fly out to Albuquerque 3 days later and we have a mini South West road trip, ending for my friends wedding  in Santa Fe.
Then back in Baltimore for a few days, and goodbye America.
I hope Summer has treated everyone as sweet as it could.
Now lets welcome the crisp cooler, and cozy fall!

Luca doing cartwheel. Mamma whats a cartwheel?

me and Emerson and Ada listening to as bedtime book

Luca and Ada and Emerson ready to ride to the park!

Ada and Emerson, now Luca and Zia

Luca hiding under some cushions (making himself comfortable at a cafe... notice he even took off his shoes)

Luca and Claire and Becky, a little cushion and some more books 

luca at the park and now Mamma at the park

Emerson and Luca riding on the horse

Luca jumping through the sprinkler

Luca making an airplane and Luna and steps and even Pops

now Brigit Making a stipe (no idea how he knew it was Brigit) taken on my ladies craft and sushi night...

Luca playing with some dough... lets just pretend (it was cornstarch and water)

luca at the science center playing with water 

Luca in some water... now Mamma move on, I want another one

Now Gam and Pops and Luca and Claire in aunt Claires pool. Where is Zia Mamma?

Luca and Pops at the ocean

luca watching some lawnmowers. (All day everyday, especially considering the house was on a golf course)

Zia and me eating (apparently Pops and Gam are not pictured)

Luca hang upside-down and Carter. Carter's Papa is there. we stepped into the bushes

Carter and Luca running. Now poopoo and Carter

Luca and baby... Mamma, and ummm Porter!

now Porters Mamma holding me. (in Aiken visiting my cousin, his wife and their sweetest baby) 

Zia and me eating Macaroni and cheese (???) Asheville for the day

sitting into a little tiny chair

Luca clearing pops car (right before it was sold, obviously because it was sparkling clean)

Chuck and Luca playing

luca and me, no no, just me playing

luca playing with buttons and Boom

luca playing with something like a puzzle 

luca and Gam going around a tree at the train station. we are going to the fair.

I looking at the tiny tiny tiny tiny little pigs

luca loking at the horses

watching the machines (he even has his ear protectors on)

Luca and Micky puzzle

Fire, Mamma, thats going to be a fire

Luca was at-aunt Claires house

watching some drums

me at the fair!

me on the horses. I  like to go on the ferry go round!

Luca getting a picnic. (labor day)