hey...I'm right here!

wait, what's my name again? no joke...I was on the phone with the bank yesterday and I literally forgot my married name. I am finding it hard to tell if things are getting foggier or clearer these past weeks.

Giada has started to teeth, and 'lord almighty' can those gums bite hard! She's also started to roll over which means I can't abandon her on her changing table to catch a pee. I have to waddle, knees together pigeon-toed to her play-rug, bend over trying not to squeeze it out, then make a mad dash to the lady's before she's rolled herself out of her room and down the stairs.

Meanwhile, Adam has found a school that is affiliated with an American college, and has now enrolled there instead of the original school. What's great is it means we can get more money, BUT it also means complicated paperwork, and confusing Italian protocol. At the same time we are trying to wrap up the last of our dual citizenship paperwork in time for our 6 month in advance appointment at the Consulate. (inhale exhale inhale exhale....which leads me to...)


my ass is totally kicked. I have been training to train (yes I said that) to become certified in Pilates. I feel like overdone pasta and I still have to lift 13 pounds over and over everyday. I AM excited though and I am hoping that this is a good move for our move (yes I said that too).

Oh yes...Giada took the big plunge! She was Baptised on the 18th of March, so now she's going to be perfect forever, right? Really..she was so good...the only baby that didn't cry, and she slept during most of it. I cried a wee bit...can I still blame that on hormones? haha Laura flew in (the god-mama) and was delayed a day from snow, but she made it nonetheless...what a great girl! I just have to say...Laura is so freaking naturally beautiful and I wish I had curves like her! (don't mind the hair in this pic...I'm in transition for God's sake)


Okay so back to our move. We are SOOOO F-ing excited that the day is drawing near! Despite depleting our savings just a little, it's all coming together. We have plane tickets, passports, the visas are in the working, and our Apt is reserved. We'll soon be selling most of our furniture, and then we'll have an enormous garage sale. It feels good to be downsizing, but I am going to miss this life (4 BR house with 3 bathrooms [hey we don't own it so don't get any ideas...we're as broke as the next guy], the ocean a 10 minute walk, and in the middle of the woods). In about 2 1/2 months we'll be boarding a plane with 3 suitcases, 2 boxes, a dog crate, a carseat, and a stroller, and heading for Rome. From there we'll rent a van and drive our sorry asses to Florence, hoping we've taken the proper route to avoid $500 in fines, sleep, go to Ikea, and pray we remembered everything. More stuff will arrive in a few days, and then hopefully we'll be off to see more of Italy before classes begin!

Is this REALLY happening?

PS: anyone had any experience driving from Rome to Florence, or the reverse? any advice would help! our uncle did it last summer and got 4 tickets!