Melarancio

The search for a rental in Rome this Winter may finally be over. We found this charming little place which sits in the same neighborhood where Federica grew up, just blocks from a park where she used to play and near where her family now lives. The name literally means "appleorange". Maybe it was the inspiration for the interior colors?
The apartment is a converted attic in a building that Italians call "Liberty" style, which from what I can gather is a italianate form of art nouveau. Besides the great location, we really like the terrace, and given Rome's relatively mild Winters, we may even get to use it on sunny days. We also like that there is an elevator, so that Sofia won't have to tote her stroller up four flights of stairs.

Melarancio

Che bella pancia!

The photographer who did Fede's gorgeous 8-month photo shoot, Hiroko "Coco" Saita, is using one of Fede's pictures on her commercial website. Here is a preview linked picture (click on "people" if you'd to follow the link to see her site). We're looking forward to seeing the rest of them, and sharing them here.

Sofia gets a check-up

This week was our last twice-monthly check-up. Beginning next week we will have weekly appointments. Today Sofia is at 35 weeks, or to say it another way she is an estimated -5 weeks old. She weighs around 5 1/2 pounds, (2.5 kilos). Her crown to rump length is around 13 inches (33 cm), her total length is around 20 inches (45 cm).

For a foetus, Sofia has a pretty strong heartbeat.

Sofia moves - videos

It may be hard to see anything on these videos, which weren't large or sharp to begin with, and after being shrunken down and compressed for web streaming aren't particularly clear. But we spent an hour or so yesterday trying to capture on Fede's tiny camera some of Sofia's Rockettes routine. Hopefully you'll be able to see a little bit of it here, and if not at least you'll get to see Fede's belly bounce when she laughs, which is just pretty awesome.

La Mammina

This picture was taken about a month ago. When Fede wore this shirt downtown the other day, a group of teenage girls pointed her out and one of them asked, "Is that what I am going to look like some day?" A few more people asked how much longer it would be. This lovely belly is now officially enormous.

Hawaii

Fede hapai, bra!

Hawai'i

Here's our last chance to get out see another part of the world before la scimmietta joins us. Next time it will be the three of us!

Hawai'i

A mermaid, a mammina, a surfer girl, a happy couple.

Hawai'i

Pat and Wayne in Egypt

To celebrate fifty years of marriage, these two toured Egypt together. Congratulations guys!

Pat and Wayne in Egypt, continued

Pat and Wayne in Egypt, continued

Our new address

We seriously thought about staying in the downtown apartment. In the end though, it wasn't the best place for Federica, Sofia, Argus and me to start this new chapter in our lives. The apartment was just about perfect for one person, but in the past year we've grown into a clan. First Argus joined up last Spring, Fede last Fall, and now Sofia is on her way in late Summer or early Fall. It's been an exciting year that's brought a lot of changes, and we needed some room to grow.

The house is in the Queen Anne neighborhood of Seattle. The views may not be quite as dramatic as we had before, but there are some pretty nice ones here too. Three times more space doesn't hurt either. The second picture below is the living room, followed by the master bedroom and Sofia's room.

Our new address - continued

We liked how open and light the house was. The living room - shown immediately below, is very open and has a two-sided wood-burning fireplace which it shares with the dining area. Next, the master bedroom with its unique window. Second from last is a sun deck. Last, another view from the master bedroom.