Taking a bath

Bath time from Michelle Marie on Vimeo.

Allow me to make up for this morning's rambling laundry rant with this cute video where Dylan actually responds to me in English. The bathtub is pretty much the only place I have a captive subject!

Weekend excitement

My sheets (bottom) basking in the morning sun and snow

Another weekend of toddler birthday parties. We took a lot of pictures of Dylan but none of them came out as he was running around like a maniac. He doesn't stop for a second when there are other kids around and lots of toys to play with.

I haven't had a laundry post in a while so I thought I'd share my weekend strategizing. I've had sheets I've needed to wash now for about two weeks (I mean, we have other sets so it's not like we are sleeping on dirty sheets but still...), but there's no room to hang them in the house. It's been raining, snowing or really cold out so I haven't been able to hang them outside. Word on the street was that Sunday was going to be sunny and perhaps even hit 5 degrees Celsius (41 Fahrenheit). I put the sheets in Saturday night on the automatic timer to get them going early in the morning even though it meant we'd be awoken by the spin cycle as the washer is in the bathroom and directly behind our bed. It was also a risk as if the weather report was wrong, I'd have wet sheets and nowhere to hang them. I've been burnt like this before, and it means I have to take the wet sheets to my mother-in-law's house and ask her if I can hang them in her basement, which I hate doing because then she feels compelled to iron them when they are dry and that makes me feel guilty. In any case, my calculated risk paid off and I was able to get the sheets hanging out at the exact moment the sun was rising over the balcony Sunday morning. They were dry (enough) by 5:30 p.m. when the sun was going down. I have no idea what I will do when I have access to a clothes dryer. Knowing me I will still hang a lot of things on the drying rack and find something else to complain about. Hee hee. Though sheets and towels (or anything that has been vomited on or soiled in any other disgusting way) will be washed and dried immediately.

Say hello to immigrant 210032005

I got the confirmation yesterday. Next stop: Naples for the formalities. Would they doubt the validity of a marriage between two people who have been together 11 years and have a child together? I wouldn't think so. I also can't think of any reason Cristiano wouldn't pass his "medical exam." I'm kind of suspecting it's just an easy way for the consulate's doctor to pocket 180 Euros for the visit and an extra 10 Euros for every extra vaccination they feel he should have.

So now on to Naples.

And the next stop after that?????

My mother-in-law had a breakdown out of the blue the other day and begged me "Please don't go. Please don't go." In tears. Grasping my shoulders. My heart truly breaks, but what can I do? Help.

Handsome

We told everyone that Dylan will no longer be at playgroup after Feb. 15. His favorite teacher Lucia was super sad but said she was happy for Dylan. She knows the preschool where he will be going, and she thinks he will thrive there. I hope so!

Aquilone

Back in November we applied for Dylan to go to preschool part-time in the mornings from Monday to Friday. They called us a few days ago to tell us that Dylan had been accepted but they only had full-time, so we had to make a snap decision. We went to tour the place and were really impressed. The teachers are super sweet and know their stuff. They were already giving me tons of tips on potty training (which they said they are more than happy to help with) and getting him to eat better. There's a room full of balls and a room full of tricycles, which I'm sure will be Dylan's two favorite rooms. His group is called Aquilone (Kite) and he will be among the youngest as the kids are from 24 to 36 months. His teacher assured me that there are other kids his age and he will be just fine. Even the cook came out to say "hello" and we were very impressed with the all-organic menu with the food cooked fresh right on the premises. We start orientation on Feb. 15 and I will stay with him at least part of the time for two weeks. Starting March 1, he will stay all by himself from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. My little kite is flying away. It's bittersweet. I really hope he likes it.

In other developments, Spouse IR-1 201b's (aka Cristiano!) Green Card application was accepted at the Embassy and we are "this close" to getting his Green Card. Now the path has been cleared for us to go to Naples for the interview and physical exam (for "the immigrant" not for me). I was notified today by mail. He said he feels more American already! I've been tearing through the house looking for the baseball hat we bought him this summer to go to the Cincinnati Reds' game...

Then I applied for my first job in North Carolina. It's something I'd really be interested in doing. Maybe they'll hire me over the Internet? Who knows?

Sick days

Dylan touching something germy (or "playing," if you will) at a birthday party last Sunday. I realize looking at this picture that his sweater needs to be ironed. That gives me mamma guilt. I bet a dad wouldn't a) notice or b) care. Not fair!

Dylan was home aaaaaall week, which meant mamma was home too playing nursemaid and unable to get much work done. I think the three toddler birthday parties from last weekend were the culprit. Word on the street was that, like Dylan, many of the kids from party #3 were vomiting by Monday morning. He had a high fever for four days and though the vomiting had subsided by Thursday, he was still listless and lying on my chest whimpering. I finally got him in to the pediatrician on Thursday afternoon and she told us that he also had a bad ear infection. Ouch. No wonder he was soo, soo sick. Poor little guy. We got him on antibiotics right away and this morning he is good as new and wants pizza. However, Cristiano is now vomiting, though fortunately, he vomits in the toilet and not on himself, me, two comforters and the couch. I'm using the last of my Lysol stash to spray this place top to bottom.

The good thing about Dylan being with me 24/7 for five days is that his English exploded and he began to favor English over Italian. Wee hoo! I was also able to watch some U.S. TV on the Internet and totally got hooked on Mad Men. I so rarely watch TV (when your kid goes to bed and gets up when you do, there is no "me" or "couple" time at night) and I had forgotten how much I like watching television. If the TV is on around here, it's usually tuned to Backyardigans, Little Einsteins or old episodes of Pippi Longstocking, which they play constantly here and which is Dylan's absolute favorite. Dylan laughs his head off at Pippi.

More birthday pics

We had THREE toddler birthday parties this weekend. Mamma mia.

Birthday Bash!

I asked for a car-themed cake, and I think they did a pretty good job

This morning we had a birthday party for Dylan in an amazing play space in Milan. I will definitely take him back there. Fun was had by all - except maybe Dylan who threw tantrum after tantrum and was in "time out" half the party. He was putting the "terrible" in the Terrible Twos. To be expected, I guess. Below is a video of Dylan, Luana and his buddy Sara from the beach playing in the "0-5" room.

Dylan's Birthday Party from Michelle Marie on Vimeo.

Dylan's 2nd Birthday!

We had a mellow celebration at home last night as the big party is this weekend in a giant play space in Milan. Unfortunately, Dylan got sick in the middle of the festivities and today he is home with me. I called the pediatrician and she said it sounds like he's got the same stomach bug all the other kids have and to give him probiotics. Poor little guy was up all night doubled over and crying. He already seems a bit better today and should be on the mend for Saturday.

Birthday pizza made with love by mommy

Wow, a new book!

The new bowling game is perfect for our corridor. The Prince Valiant bangs are not as much of a success

Carrot cupcakes (I cut myself out of the picture as I was not camera-ready)! Dylan must have already been feeling a bit sick here.

La Befana came again this year!

The pagan witch who brings candy (or coal) to boys and girls all over Italy swooped in on her broom and left a stocking full of candy for Dylan this morning. Now that I'm a mom, I like candy-based holidays much less than I used to. I would have skipped the early morning sugar fest altogether if Dylan hadn't already been "prepped" by his cousin Luana and others and knew he was supposed to get loot. We are just thankful that the Befana was the only one lurking around the house last night. Two nights post-break-in, and we are not sleeping well. It could be that I found muddy boot prints on my pillow case. Nothing like knowing criminals entered through your bedroom window and were in your bed to kill the urge to sleep. And did I mention that we later realized they took the coins from Dylan's piggy bank? We keep realizing other things that are missing (a cell phone that looked new but didn't work - enjoy that guys!), and it's all just really creepy.

In other news, did anyone notice Dylan's super short bangs? Cristiano thought it'd be a good idea to "trim" them with his razor the night before we left for Budapest. He will no longer be cutting Dylan's hair!


P.S. Mom, if you are reading this, I tried to email you back, but your mailbox is full!