~~ ThE wEeK WiTh ALesSanDrO ~~

So Monday was my first day all alone with Ale. I was a little nervous going into the week although he is a very easy kid to get along with. When his parents left we went to the window and waved but as soon as he saw them he started crying...I was really nervous at this point because I couldn't do anything to calm him down. Even giving him his sucker didn't help, but he eventually stopped and only a few times ran to the door and cried for a few minutes. He was pretty easy because they left at 9:30. We went to the park across the street around 10:30, Giulio's parents surprised me at the park so they stayed with Ale and I went home to make lunch. After they got home and Ale napped, his Nono and Nona came back to pick us up and we went to the studio. We got gelato around the corner (for like the 4th day straight...whoops). There's the little guy in his new outfit!!!!

Tuesday was a little better with the same routine. Ale is starting to understand me when I talk to him in English. He understands sit, stay, come, wait...kinda like training a puppy. It's kinda funny. I talk to him, in my best Italian that I can, and then repeat what I say in English hoping that he can understand. Every day he gets better. He has "Sit" down for sure.

Wednesday was fun because in the morning we went to the job site of the spa that the studio is designing. I took Ale to the park across the street and we played on the slide. He wouldn't go down by himself at first. I was getting dizzy going up and down about the first 100 times before he would go by himself. I barely fit on the slide so I was glad he decided he would go alone. After that he chased the dogs in the park. He LOVES them. Dogs and birds are his favorite. He tries to make the noises and its pretty funny. His fishy face is the best though. We got coffee and a coronetto and then we went home and I made lunch and put Ale down for a nap. We went to the park when he got up and then Fabiana got there and told me that we were going to an exhibition of a wood sculptor. I was excited.

We went to the studio and then had to drive through the city center to get to the exhibition. The traffic was crazy. We drank free wine and looked at some pretty sweet things. www.giusepperivadossi.net Afterwards the traffic was so bad and we had to drop Giulio off at the studio to get the scooter. He then stopped and got pizza for us!!!! YUMMMM!!! I was excited. He got home right after us because the scooters get through traffic a lot faster then the cars, because they are nuts. He came in with three boxes. WE EACH GOT OUR OWN PIZZA!!!! IT WAS AMAZING!!! Mine was a specialty. Half had cheese and mushrooms, a quarter had prosciutto, and the other quarter had olives and artichoke (Fabiana ate my olives). Giulio also rough home some Fried green olives stuffed with some kind of meat...he told me not to ask what it was so I am guessing it is like our hotdogs...just eat it and don't ask what they are made of.

And that brings me to today...Ale and I went with Giulio to run some errands this morning. While he was in these crazy fascist era buidlings Ale and I went around in the huge park. There was a sculpture with cows on it and we stood there for about 15 minutes "mooing" at it. The park workers probably thought I was crazy. It was funny though. After that we stopped for "breakfast." It was 11:00. LOL! Ale and I spent the rest of the day together after his nap. He had a snack when he woke up so I gave him cereal. He LOVES it. It's only been the third time but he loves his "Special K," Italian style.

Fabiana got home while he was eating his second snack of the afternoon, and started packing for their trip. We could figure out how to set up the port-a-crib. Why are those things always so difficult to figure out. They make you feel so dumb.... Giulio got home and they got all packed up to go. He made sure I was ok to stay alone and showed me the ropes for the weekend. I am in charge of feeding the FAT cats...and I mean that in the nicest way possible.
--->Kika Chotto is the biggest one.
--->
He also showed me how to turn off the gas so I don't blow up the place. It was kind of sad when they left. I will be fine though. Giulio is going to quiz me on Monday night when they get back and ask me all of the touristy things that he expects me to go and do. Sunday morning his parents are picking me up for a Roman Easter breakfast. That is their big meal here, since they are supposed to fast from Good Friday until early Sunday morning. I am excited that I will be able to celebrate with people I know. It is going to be hard for me since it's my first holiday without my family. They are here with me in spirit though.

Anyways....I have to pack up my bag to head across town for the night. I am going to have dinner with Stefania tonight and then go out. Only 2:30min til dinner and it's currently 7 here. UGH!!!! Tomorrow will be a day to be a typical tourist for me. Watch out you Italians :)