6th February 2012

It's been so long since I've written in this blog, not by choice, but because at our new house we still don't have a land line and so we don't have internet connection. I have the internet on my iPhone but unfortunately there isn't good reception in or around the house. It feels like I've gone back in time about 20 years, I feel cut off from the world! The building site manager is so slow to get things done, of course we are in Italy but even so this is so annoyingly slow and I'm quite angry about the way things have gone since buying this house. I've learnt to suppress my anger though and it just turns to indifference. I don't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing but living here it's inevitable. 

My darling baby Flavio is now quite a big boy! He's an energetic toddler and is always on the go. There have been quite a few changes since I last updated.

He now goes to nursery in the mornings so I can finish my art course at my art college. He started at 17 months on the 3 January and it was quite an effort as he suffered from a bit of separation anxiety as he is only used to being with Mamma. When we started the first few days I went in with him to help him get used to the environment and the new people. He met his carer Sara and a few of the other babies in his group. He seemed to like it; a big room filled with toys and games, room to run about, other children and of course, Mum! But Mummy had to go away at some point and when she did Flavio cried. It took quite a few weeks to get over the initial goodbye Mummy desperate cry at the beginning of the day but the carers reassured me that once inside the nursery Flavio played and enjoyed himself so I felt better about it and I could finally get on with my course. 

I chose the nursery after looking round quite a few. In the town that we live in, even though we live in a green belt area, nurseries strangely enough didn't have gardens or big enough outside areas so I looked around a few in Rome but near our area and it was a toss up between the one we chose and another with a big green outside area with play parks and trees. I chose the one he attends because I think I liked the staff a bit more and their transparency regarding being able to go into the nursery at any time. The other one didn't let parents in past a certain time and you weren't allowed to look in through the windows at the children. 

Flavio attends music classes called AIGAM. He's the youngest one but I've noticed his passion for music from he being tiny and I wanted to give it a try because I think it's never to early to start learning as long as it's very relaxed. The more stimulation he gets the more his mind grows and he can become the person he wants to be.

He's starting to understand me and his Dad when we talk to him, in the two different languages. He understands English a little bit more than Italian but that is only because I talk to him more, spending more time with him. He watches baby tv in English and his favorite program me is Mice Builders which he LOVES.

Photos!

I'm going to put more photos on here as soon as we're settled in at home! We don't even have the internet yet and I still have to find my computer so as soon as I get it all sorted out there are going to be some of Mummy's fine photography!!!

First trip to the zoo!

We're back in England for a week at the Grandparents' and yesterday for the first time Flavio saw some 'real' animals! He loved watching the giraffes which is also the theme of his bedroom at home and he saw the lions first which he laughed at and pointed to. The weather wasn't perfect and he got sleepy in the afternoon so he didn't see it all but he was definitely impressed!
I bought him a squeaking monkey souvenir which he attaches to his quadbike and rides around the kitchen with! He now does stunts on his quadbike, standing on the seat with one hand on the handlebars!
The Gramps adore him! 

Growing up

He's growing up and already walking quite well. He just loves walking, he could walk for miles. If there's not a lot of room he'll just walk in circles! Whatever he does he has to be on the move.
He waves his little hand and says "Hiiii!" Even when people say "Ciao!" to him he'll reply with a cute little Hi!
I'd love to write here more often. I just wish I had the time, I wonder when I'll ever have time on my hands again to capture these little memories and enclose them forever in this blog. My baby is growing up and everything he does amazes me and gives me so much inspiration to record it here but after a while that little memory vanishes and doesn't have the same effect looking back with just little glimpses of recollection. I want to change it all into words and celebrate this beautiful time of my little angelcake and never forget what a blessing I've received.
He's become so affectionate, kissing and hugging and making sweet sounds whenever he sees a teddy bear or a picture of a little animal. He grabs me around the neck and kisses me with such force!
I love the person he's becoming.
I love our quiet times together.
I love spending all day with him and having his presence in every little thing I do.
I love lying in bed and remembering the day we've spent together when he's fast asleep in his cot and thinking that it's the only company I could ever stand that long.
He has his little tantrums too, his feistiness and his off days of course but I've learnt to handle these moments the best I can and I'm forever learning to teach him what I feel is the best way to go about certain situations.
Times are hard at the moment. We've just moved into our new house and we don't even have a sofa yet. I have to start studying again for the last year. I have so much to do but he is always the priority. I could never neglect him. Until he needs me, I'll always be there and even after that...

Flavio's first steps

Just a few minutes ago Flavio took his first steps while playing with Daddy! Maybe for the excitement of playing with his Daddy while Mummy finally relaxes for an evening in front of the computer (which never usually happens!) I couldn't believe it but when I went up to Flavio who was stood by the sofa and held out my arms he took at least four steps and then fell into my arms! I was wondering when it was finally going to happen: he seemed just so keen on crawling that I thought he'd just decided to skip that milestone!
It's such a stressful time at the moment we're in the process of moving house: we've actually moved but the house isn't just ready yet so the constructor of the house is letting us stay in a beautiful 'casale' in Tuscany which is really nice but I have all those boxes niggling away in my mind to be put away and I just want to have my house! Here we have no internet and I feel quite secluded even though there are a few other families around but I have to admit it is a beautiful place. The views are fantastic and the house is typical Tuscan style in a complex with a swimming pool and paths to take walks... There are only a few things missing on the new house like the bannister on the staircase and a couple of wash basins but they can't let us in until it's all finished.
I've just put Flavio to bed and I told him how proud of him 'Mamma' is that he's finally taken those first steps! He calls me 'mamma'. All day I hear 'mamma!' 'MAMMA!' At 13 months he associated mamma to me and started calling me all the time. It's so sweet and it's the milestone I've enjoyed the most until now! 

First kiss!

I can't believe what just happened and I feel so moved by it! Flavio actually kissed me! And once he started he wouldn't stop! I'd just finished changing him for the night and I'd put him into a fresh body suit and he was stood up on my legs hugging me. Daddy was sat next to us. I was telling him about how he always hugs me tight after his bath time and how cute it was and suddenly he looked right at me aimed for my mouth and gave me a big sloppy kiss on my lips! He made the kiss sound too! So cute to hear! Then he looked right at daddy for his reaction. We praised him for it and then he did it again and turned to see our reaction. Then he hugged me tight and kissed my cheek lots of times, sloppily with his tongue out but it was definitely a kiss! A cluster of kisses. Daddy asked for one too, and after a few smacks he got one too on his cheek. What an affection little darling at barely one year old! The funny thing is I didn't teach him to kiss or even ask for one! I love people who display signs of affection and now I'm so glad it seems Flavio is an affectionate person.

The summer holiday period is over and I'm back to update this little blog after a few weeks with no internet connection. We've been a few weeks by the sea and a week in the mountains. The rented apartment by the sea wasn't really classed as a holiday as the cooking and cleaning involved was quite hard work seeing as 'Dad' was working a lot of the time and I was completely alone! The week in the mountains in Val Gardena was a real holiday in a hotel where after long walks we came home to hot meals on the table!

Flavio has loved this holiday period and has learnt so many new things. He now crawls, marathon style. I never thought he'd be a crawler because he was never interested in being on his front and at eight months he'd pull himself up onto his feet. Well what do you know! At nearly 11 months he starts crawling after a few attempts at walking. He's stayed up on his feet for a few seconds but then falls right down as soon as he notices what he's doing. I think he'll be walking quite soon as he is crusading on the sofa and around the table. He recently started greeting people with the cutest 'ciao' and hand wave ever. At the restaurant of the hotel he'd greet everybody and he made so many admirers that at meal times everyone would ask for 'Flavio'. It's not really a hand wave. He opens and closes his hand accompanied by a sweet 'ciao' or even 'hi'. He's also started pointing. He points and says 'there' and you have to explain what it is or go there. He's become a Mummy's boy, he only wants to be in Mummy's arms and Daddy is getting quite jealous. Poor Daddy, he does try hard but I suppose Mummy is Mummy..

Flavio's first birthday is getting closer and it's come way too soon. I was dreading this moment, thinking I was going to lose my little baby but I have to admit I'm enjoying him so much more with every day that passes.