On a walk

...wearing two different shoes.

Rascal

Visiting our friends in Minneapolis/St.Paul

Zoe and I are in St. Paul, MN, visiting the Corradini family. I met Fabrizio, Catherine, Nicola, Antonio and Alexia when I was living in Oxford. I was the worst waitress England had ever seen, so I decided to stop that and pursue one of the other options for people who couldn't work legally in the UK which was babysitting. I helped out Catherine while she was very pregnant with Alexia by hanging out with Nicola (4) and Antonio (2). I held Alexia the day she was born. Then I went back to the states for a few years and they called me when they were about to move to Italy and needed help as at that time Catherine was very pregnant with Raffaele. I also held Raffi the day he was born.

They moved over here last summer intending to stay for a while, but things went "tits up" and they are moving back to Belgium this summer. It's been 5 years since I've seen them and I figured if I didn't get up to visit now that I'd go another 5 years without seeing them.

Here is a picture of me and Alexia in Italy in 2003, and then Alexia and Zoe yesterday.

She's serious about safety gear

My mother's day date to Starbucks

17 months

Dear Zoe,

Bean! Yesterday you turned 17 months old. We didn't throw a party or anything because now that you're a KID you only get birthdays once a year, ok?



I really can't believe how much you are talking. A friend told me that her daughter had 70 words by the time she was 18 months...so I started to count how many words you say and then that got boring. You know A LOT of words. Some of your favorites are: please, chip (you like the salty over the sweet, baby!), duck, hi, car, outside (which just sounds like siiiide), shoes and water. It seems like you could say a few things one day, and then suddenly you could say 100 things. You don't waste time, Senorita.

Here's a video of some of your talking with a little bit of your sweet dancing action thrown in. Pretty amazing.


At least twice a week your Grandpa David (Buppa is what you call him) comes over to play with you or you go visit him at his place. You guys have a special relationship - you always have. I really love to see you doing your thing together. He follows your lead and you guys have the best of times. Just makes me want to melt into a puddle on the floor.

Here you are taking your duck for a walk together today.


Every single morning, you head for the door and say "siiide?" because you want to go outside. You LOVE to play outside. Once out there, it's only a matter of time before you say something that doesn't really sound like swing but I know it means swing because when I say "you want to swing?" you nod and head for the back yard. You swing for probably 90 minutes a day, no kidding. You can't get enough. I don't blame you, it's good stuff.




I can't wait to see what fun we have this next month. We are celebrating Jack's 7th birthday, going on a trip to Minneapolis/St. Paul and then Jack and Josie get out of school for the summer. You'll be glad to have them home more.

I am enjoying every minute of every day with you, my sweet bean. You are the light of my life...


xooxoxoxoxo
Mama

p.s.
please stop pooping in the tub. thanks.

Hi?

What the?

A sheep on a bike? That is bullshit.

Buckethead

Lovin' her baby

I really have to get our scanner out and scan in some of Trav's toddler pictures. This one looks just like him.