Pink!

On Tuesday, we finally managed to fix an appointment with a gynecologist (I'm already in my 23rd week and the last time I saw a doctor was in August). So yesterday, we went to the hospital for another ultrasound. I don't know if you can make anything from them, but I post some photos here anyway. The two photos on the top show the baby's head and the one on the bottom left either one of the arms or a leg (it all looked a lot clearer 'live'). I have no idea what the one on the bottom right is supposed to be. But.... everything is OK!!! The baby seems healthy, is growing well and weighs about half a kilo by now. (I'm not going to tell you how much I weigh by now!)

Anyway, and this might be the news you are really waiting for, near the end of the examination, the gynecologist confirmed that the baby that has started kicking in my belly is clearly a girl (her words: "una bella femmina")! I don't have to tell you how happy I was to hear that after all the blue clothes, toy trains and toy cars, we will also have tiny dresses, dolls and flower necklaces. Hooray for pink!!!

My mother

On the 2nd of November (the day we drove back from Abruzzo), we also toasted to my mother who passed away exactly 2 years ago. How things have changed since that day! We can only imagine how happy she would have been playing with Auro, holding Zita , while eagerly waiting for the third grandchild to be born...

The photo I've posted was taken in Aarschot, in the year 2006, when my mum and I went for a bicycle ride.

Far and away

 

Last weekend we were invited to stay in the house of Remo's boss/colleague. So, on Friday, we left (almost right) after lunch, to arrive in Abruzzo 12 long hours later (we were stuck in traffic and lost about 3 hours). The region of Abruzzo lies to the east/southeast of Rome and is not a very touristic region, but known for its beautiful and unspoiled nature. Since we arrived at 2 in the morning, we didn't see just how amazing (and isolated) the place was until the warm autumn sun of Saturday brought out its full splendor. On Sunday, unfortunately, the weather changed and we were confined to the beautiful, but somewhat cold house. So, instead of going out for walks, we lit the fireplace, roasted chestnuts, talked, watched TV, ate and drank a lot. Auro, as usual, took on the task of entertaining  all of us and did a great job. We thank Marta (the daughter) for sharing her old toys and playing with him while we were resting lazily in front of the fire.

On Tuesday, we drove back to Genoa (less than 10 hours this time!) and, even though we enjoyed the beautiful nature and the clean air of Abruzzo, we were happy to see the thermometer read 15 degrees when we entered the city.

Our hosts

The house

The home-made pasta