my mom is coming...for good!

I am so thrilled to share that my mom is moving to Madison! Last week she was here for three days to close on a new home she bought here (that's it in the picture - isn't it cute?) and then flew back to Maryland to put her house on the market. She'll be here for good as soon as it sells and our fingers are crossed that will be very soon. Things in her neighborhood have been moving quickly so we're hopeful it will only be another month or so.

I'm so excited to have her close (only three miles away!) and there are so many things I'm looking forward to doing with her once she's here. And Matteo is beyond excited that she is coming to stay for good. I'm also looking forward to having an extra pair of hands around to help now and then. Do you know that in the last two years Matt and I have gone out together without kids exactly twice? Once was to our friends' wedding two summers ago and, most recently, we went to a movie while visiting my Dad in Park City...LAST JULY.

Welcome to Madison, Mom! Wisconsin - and all the wonderful things it has to offer - is waiting for you!

five months

Vincent turned five months old last week. He's been rolling over for about a month now and when he's on his belly he can turn himself around. He's also almost sitting up by himself.

This is the age where taking these photos gets a little challenging. Toward the end, Matteo heard Vincent's protests and came in to offer some moral support.

back to school

It's back-to-school time! Yesterday was the first day of school for Matt and Matteo. Vincent started going to daycare last Thursday for half the day and today is his first full day.

Here's Matteo - first day of preschool:



He's in a mixed age class of 3-5 year olds and has three new teachers. He loves it! I walked him up the stairs to his new room yesterday and he sauntered right in like he already owned the place. I talked with his afternoon teacher at pick-up yesterday and she said he had a great day. He picked up on all the class routines right away and loved it when the older kids introduced themselves to the little ones as the 'classroom helpers'. She said she watched his face as they introduced themselves and she could just tell he was thinking to himself, "I want to be a helper one day!"

His lead teacher called last night and left a message, also giving him a very good report. I love that she took the time to do that. He's in such a great place.

Vincent is also in a great place. He has the same teachers that Matteo had and they are so wonderful with little ones. The lead teacher told me this morning that he laughs and plays all day. Here they are together, and here is a shot of him playing in the room. Can you see his little head there? (Yes, I'm the weird mom lurking outside and watching through the window after I've said my goodbyes.)





Here he is yesterday after a walk. He loves being outside. Whenever he is fussy, as soon as you wheel him outside he calms down. Since he was tiny he's always loved sitting in the stroller, looking up at the leaves and watching the world around him.



Here is a shot of Matteo from three years ago, at almost the exact same age in that same buggy:



After I picked him up yesterday we took another walk around the neighborhood. He napped and I stopped for an iced coffee and a cookie at our favorite coffee shop. This has been our routine for the last several months but now the boys are both in school and I'm back to work full time.





Goodbye summer. I have to say that you were especially awesome this year.