On Turning Two

Yes our sweet not so little bean has indeed turned two. I have a two year old! That To me seems so old!
We originally wanted to have a garden pot luck party like we did last year, but it called for rain… all day. So Marco and I really quickly had to think of a plan B. A place where 50 give or take people could stay… comfortably, and that was not our house. Marco thought about renting the recreation room at our neighborhood church, so we immediately called the priest and  60 euros later, it was a done deal. It was perfect because its literally right behind our house, granted I had to go back to the house about 10 times, for tape, string, the camera, and cake… oops.
It turned out a great party, so much food (jeez Italians are intense about eating) and at a certain point all the kids could run their sillies out, out in the front (fenced in) courtyard of the church. The highlight of the beans day was probably walking up and down the church steps, throwing stones down a drain pipe, and wiping boogers on his Mamma.
His birthday party wasn't actually on his birthday, the weekend after Marco had to work in Croatia, but he could stay through his real birthday.
On the 28th of May we went out on Nonno Giorgio's yacht, got a fish lunch to eat on the boat, and later even got to shove sand in our ears. When we got home Nonna and Mirco where invited for Marco's oh so famous homemade pizza, and Mamma's not so famous carrot cake. By the time we opened presents Luca was over everything and just wanted to rip the wrapping paper in tiny tiny pieces. I was more excited about the actual presents. In his defense it was 11 two hour past his bedtime. Id say, it was a pretty darn good day.
 Luca and I have been a team for the last month, or so, Marco's season of work has come, so that means a whole lot of Mamma:) Ok beware I am about to have a brag rant here, but Luca is seriously such a chill, yet full of humor little bean. When Marco has to go away it sucks, but I never have to worry about being on my own with him. I mean, we are hardly ever really alone alone. We love to go meet up with other baby friends (Luca now officailly plays with other kids… before he tolerated their appearance, now its legit play, and he loves it) and Mammas. Nonno comes if hes not working and takes him on dates, and if Nonna is in town he has a little one on one with her too.
He usually takes great naps, but sometimes he just is not having it and decides to recite an unknown dialogue in bed that last an hour. I surrender and get him. Those days I dont have a "rest" time, but you know what? He is always such a trooper and hilarious. I swear he may look like a Hinderberger, but he is all Ceccarello inside.
At night he has been waking up a lot… usually he is absolutely DYING for water, but I have noticed he wakes up a lot when the 101 (so not kidding) year old woman who lives by herself (again so not kidding) and in the apartment right below us, goes on her nightly rampage and redesigning her furniture marathon. I swear this woman is WAY too old to be shoving chairs or couches or god knows what all over her house. we also hear the occasional crash and grunting or swearing. at 4 am in the morning it sounds like our floor is paper thin… what the hell does she do every night?!? Two nights ago We all woke up after a very nice snooze, I totally though to myself, wow i slept amazingly maybe old crazy pants died. That morning walking down the stairs I met her son, with an ambulance man in the hall. Crazy pants died that night. Dear lord. I felt terrible. BUUUUUT I will not miss her rampages…
Anyway with that off my chest lets get back to the crazy, sweet little bean. With all this praise...
don't get me wrong, he is a toddler, he is two, and he does have tantrums. With that said though, I can always talk to him at eye level, and we come up with a solution. And if he for some reason bursts out crying and I ask whats wrong, and he responds basically that he has no idea, I again at eye level tell him to kindly stop crying and a good cuddle takes care of everything.
Luca and I cannot wait for a Swiss family vacation and an August month with Gam and Pops.
Before we go "away" Luca I are are going camping at the beach with Nonna and Mirco. I will let you all know how our adventures go. Looking forward to September too, having a family of 3 under one roof is pretty darn sweet as well.

organic gold from our garden

overexcited Mamma

Luc's favorite park… it has water

like father, like son

 no shame

sweet summer

Add caption

LB was so excited to imitate Papa'… he decided watching his father was so much safer

Luca and his strawberries

and his spray bottle

it looked so much nicer on pinterest

perks of having a hubby that likes to go fishing

playing with dirt with Mirco and Nonna

wrapping paper is so much more exciting than the actual present

evening bubbles…

on the yacht with Nonno Giorgio

Luca's second cake… carrot

puzzles and circus tents

boys and big machinery 

birthday party present un wrapping

no caption neede

Communicating

So here I am, a Mamma, a wife, a homemaker, and so much in between. I live in an environment  that I was not raised in, a world foreign to my ear, and sight. It took and is still taking time for me to go with the rhythm, and the speed of this country, to feel less of a "stranger" and more of an "Italian".
But my question is, what is an "Italian".
Someone who eats a lot of pasta? Who adores pizza? Are they loud? Do they love to hug and kiss and wave their arms about? Do they use hand gestures that look like they might me telling you to eff off?
yes. yes that is all so true. But there is so much more truth to all.
I am beyond grateful and blessed to be able to experience the full Italian life. Granted I live in the north,  and apparently there is a HUGE difference between north and south. I wont get started in that, trust me its confusing, I still don't get it.
Anyway Italy has so much to offer, and as much as I would love to move back to the States, living in Europe, truly has it's benefits.
So many people ask me (all the time) where would you rather live? Where is it better to live? I always give the same response. No place is better, just different. I love how in the States, you have so much space, the friendly neighborhoods, the ethnic foods (sorry I had to put that in… Italian food is amazing, but once in a while a nice pod thai…. )
In Italy for example, I use my bike ALL the time, as in, its my car. Marco and I have one car between us. By choice. We live walking distance from everything. Parks, stores, cafes, muddy puddles, dog poop (yes all the incredible joys to a toddler)… and whats so great is that everyone bikes everywhere. I love the atmosphere, the yelling of people who sound like they are pissed as hell, yet really they are just telling a neighbor about how cheap they bought a branzino at the fish market that day.
I could really go into detail about the positive and the negative aspects of both worlds, but I am not writing an essay, I just really truly believe you (well…I) am more happy and content when I see the positive in life.
I feel so fortunate to have an amazing husband who works hard, and is awesome at it too! I have a more than incredible son who lights up any day. A sweet (but little… which is fine… for now) apartment. And I have the most enjoyable, satisfying, gratifying, and challenging job ever. I would never chance it for the world. So basically what I am saying is that I truly could live anywhere (well, I think I might have to define anywhere, but you get what I mean) because I could not be happier with where my life led me now.
My Mom just left after a beautiful 10 days here. Being close to family after not seeing them for some time is beautiful, but at the same time you know the visit ends...
Luca now talks, yes, full sentences, clear, and so on point (sometimes even too much). The problem is he speaks 99.9% Italian. My mother gave me a hard time (not to rant her out or anything) but she did get me thinking. Why? And how? Since I am a stay home mom, I, well, am with Luca a lot. like 99.9% of the days. You get it. So when I am with him I speak english, he understand fully, but responds in Italian. If I tell him to repeat what he says in english I get jibberish or a repeat in Italian. I do admit, when I am in situation, like swim class or at the park, with friends, I speak Italian, cause I do not like to be that "rude biatch that wont even speak our language" plus lets me honest its just so damn easier…
Luca though sometimes while my Mom was here would find himself in a situation where he was not too familiar with. Why the heck does this woman not understand me?!
It sucks I know, but there are other things that suck way more in this world. I am not worried about it, hes not even two yet, and since we are in the States for more than a month each summer, hes gonna have to get his bum in gear and start talking english or else no one will give him what he wants. Hear that Luca! So here's to communication and positivity!

Welcoming differences and Obstacles

So many things to welcome. The sweet and the sour.
Example. My son is very particular in, well… Everything. I needs to have things a certain way. If he sees that the washer door is opened, he will stop whatever he is doing and shut it, than proceed to continue whatever is was that he was doing. If there is a piece of paper placed in a spot where papers clearly are not placed. He must put it in its right spot. Teeth brushing must be done in the same spot everyday, goodnights must be said to everyone animal in his room (that takes about 10 minutes), hands can never be dirty. Ever. SO… I sometimes think, WHAT have I created? The answer is unfortunately way to obvious. A little me.
The frustrating thing is  I know I have a really annoying problem, and I have been working on it since i can remember, but when I had Luca I made a promise to myself that He was NOT going to be OCD and I was not going to let my obsessiveness get in the way of him being a child and me being a mom. I go out of my comfort zone, and let me tell you its NOT easy, but I try not to let him see it. I want him to get dirty I want  him to make a mess. I try to make cleaning up a game. Well, I think I am accepting that I have to just welcome Luca for what he is. A little me, and make baby steps each day… Like yesterday I successfully got him to play with chalk. The key is, not to try too hard.
I am also welcoming so many culture differences (nice way of putting it). Just because Italian babies have to have hats on in 70 degrees weather, or have to have warm yogurt (god forbid I forget to take the yogurt out of the fridge 5 hours before his snack time and actually give it to him…COLD)
I have been living in this amazing country long enough to know its culture and its differences from where I am from and what I am used too. I tend to compare things to from what I know, and from my experiences, but why? There is no better, there is no greater. Each person/ country or whatever, has is traditions, hardships or wacky ways, and I love it. I know that I can weave both cultures together and make my own, with what makes sense now.
Again, I am welcoming its differences and say, thank you. This is what makes the world turn. Not judging, not anger, not frustration. Dont get me wrong I have plenty of those feelings too, I am again human, but it makes so much more sense to stop for a second breath and say is it really worth it?  Most of the time its not. Negative feelings are so nice to push away and kick in the bum!
This blog post may make absolutely no sense at all to anyone but myself, and for that I do apologize, maybe this is a little too close of a look in my head (now you know what its like to live in it)
I guess what I'm saying is that you can have your shitty days of course, but do you really have to flip out about little differences or tiny obstacles? I see so many Moms or Dads or whoever, freaking out at or with their kids over something as big as running too fast… At a park. Really?! First world problems at its finest.

I swear hes happy. He's got a stick to touch the mud

Venetian selfies

awesome new park near us. score.

pretending hes totally not sh*t and afraid to touch the hand made play dough

I will forever be in awe and in love with this face

playing with lentils is in LB's safety zone. No messy business and hands to wash. I swear i do not encourage his OCDness

walks with stick. Its a boy thing.

flirting in fancy hotels. Luca not my husband...

Our Little Bean after way too many chocolate eggs and Easter goodies. 

fresh baked cookies and playing in Nonno's garden. Life is sweet

you WILL look at the camera