Run, Colton, Run!

Colton is all boy and all action - so fun! Yesterday was a beautiful day in Florence so we spent most of it outside. In this video we were in the city center, at Piazza Duomo, and we decided to let Colton out of his stroller to stretch his legs. We didn't realize until we caught him on video that, given open space to run in, he's gotten pretty fast!

Daddy's Boy

Colton has really grown more attached to Ross and I over the past couple months. He has definitely been making me feel good by sitting in my lap often, cuddling with me more, wanting to be held by me a lot, and (shhhhh, don't tell Ross) choosing me as his comforter, cuddler, holder, helper most of the times he has a choice.

BUT, Colton also loves Ross. It often seems like he's trying to be just like his Daddy. Like just the other day when Ross left his hat on the floor. Colton put it on and enjoyed wearing it around the house.

Just like daddy.

These first three pictures make me laugh. If you just take a picture of Colton he will usually stare at the camera. But if you count to 3, you get a smile! :)

This is a new trick for Colton - turning the lights on and off! He is already tall enough to reach the switches. This makes for some "fun" times in the dark for all of us.

Little, happy boy.

New

Well, I tried something new yesterday. In an effort to connect more to the people and culture here, AND to give Colton a chance for a little socialization, I joined a 9 week baby & mamma music "class." Yesterday was the informational session. I was there with 3 other moms - one Mexican, one Croatian, and one Cambodian - and their children who are all around 18 months. The class is led by an Italian woman and conducted entirely in Italian.

It was interesting. The Italian "teacher" leads us all in traditional Tuscan children's songs, shows us the hand motions, and tries to help the children play simple instruments. In the end, though, it was a time for 4 crazy babies to run around, hit each other with things, and play. I am hoping that as the weeks go on Colton somehow magically "gets it" but, either way, we'll have a good time getting out of the house together.

Though we had fun, Colton did throw 3 or 4 fits during the class. Yes, I have the child who throws tantrums. Tell him 'No!' and you're in for it! He is prone to hit people when he's upset (a problem I've been trying to work on at home with little success) and he batted at a little boy who took an instrument from him at one point. In my humiliation I figured that this is how he'll learn what is acceptable social behavior and what isn't... I hope.

So, we'll see how that goes. Thankfully things are getting back to "normal" around here. Colton is mostly better after a week with a bad cold and low-grade fever. He's still growing like a weed, still enjoying more cuddle time than ever before, and making Mommy feel good by asking often to be held/played with/read to, etc. No matter the trials, we are ever more in love with our strong-willed, fun, crazy, sweet, little boy!

Now, here are some pictures to leave you with. They were taken last week after one of Colton's nighttime baths. So fun!

Mommy and Colton - taking a cuddle break.

Colton is always on the move - and he's very focused.

He sort of looks like a little Grim Reaper - but colorful. :)

Love his sweet little profile.

"Ok, enough with the pictures. I'm ready for bed!"

Hospitality

Have you ever heard of Vietri? I hadn't until I moved here but it's a company that sells really cool pottery - dishes, serving/cooking things, and other household items. Many of the girls I work with here collect it. I go, every so often, with them to various markets to look at the pottery but, until recently, had no idea what I was seeing. I finally realized that, in the U.S., it is expensive stuff! The good thing for us here in Italy, though, is that we can buy it at a fraction of the price.

For example: This platter (pictured below) was given to me as a gift for Christmas from a co-worker, except in green. She paid about $12 for it but it sells in the states for around $75! What?!? Yup, good deal.

Anyway, I went today with some girlfriends here to the home of a woman who sells this pottery. These girls are looking for specific pieces for their collections that they could not find at the markets. This woman, Maria, goes twice a week to the market in Pisa but only takes a fraction of her inventory each time. Her garage is full of it and she told my friends they were welcome any time to see what else she had.

Maria is an older woman, maybe in her late 60's, and as sweet as she could be. The trip to her house today reminded me of what I love about the Italian culture...

HOSPITALITY!

Maria met us in her driveway at about 6pm tonight and spent almost an hour in her garage with us, showing off her vast inventory. As we all decided on our purchases and began paying, she insisted that we come into her house for biscotti. Even though Maria is allergic to gluten she had made this biscotti by hand today. She said she often cooks things like cookies, pizza, pastas, sweets, etc. even though she can't eat them because, well, she has cooked them her whole life and she enjoys having them around should company arrive!

She ushered us into her house, set the biscotti before us, and poured us drinks. Though she had a bad back she insisted that we sit at her kitchen table. There were only enough chairs for us but she would not allow anyone to give up a seat for her. She pulled up a low stool and sat nearby. She talked with us the entire time we ate. She insisted, repeatedly, that we eat more cookies. If we stopped eating she would ask, "What is wrong with my cookies? Don't you like them?" We would then reassure her that they were fabulous - which was totally true - and eat another. she asked about our families, how and what we cook, and told us all about her children and grandchildren. As she talked with my friends, who she knows better, she stroked their hair or patted their shoulders or kissed their cheeks. Everything about her exuded love and friendship - even to four strange American girls who can barely understand her and are 100% different than she is. Really it was just a bunch of little things that all added up to one big, warm feeling of sweetness. Kindness.

It was refreshing tonight. Nonna Maria (as she called herself) reminded me that living here, though often different and difficult, is good. I'm thankful, so thankful, for her hospitality.