Bonjour

This Monday Violet began her weekly French lessons.  Gene and I teach her Russian, Daycare teaches English, Dora teaches Spanish and now she can be quadrilingual by adding French to that list.  OK, so maybe I am getting ahead of myself, but she did say, "Salut" and "Merci" when we came to pick her.   

When in Rome...

When we couldn't figure out what to do for Valentines Day, we decided to use up an old airline credit and jet over to Italy to stroll the Piazzas, eat some Pasta and see the Pantheon.  It was a perfect 3 day getaway and except for the rain/snow, I wouldn't change a thing.

Day 1 (Friday, February 10th)

We arrive in Rome around 2pm and check into Residenza Canali, which is right in the center of town and about 100 feet away from Piazza Navona.   It was a super cute, clean hotel (without any frills) that was walking distance to just about every attraction.  After dropping off our bags, our first order of business was to go to the Vatican Museums, which was only going to be open a few more hours until shutting down for the weekend.  We were on a mission to see the Sistine Chapel, especially since I didn't get to see it the last time I was in Rome (2003?).  Completely jet lagged and barely walking through all the snow and rain, we finally made it to Vatican City.  The last time I was in the Sistine Chapel, I was only 9 years old so my memory of it was quite fuzzy yet I remember how grand and opulent it was, so I couldn't wait to see what my impression of it would be as an adult.  After walking through all of the Raphael Rooms and seeing the gorgeous frescoes, the Sistine Chapel wasn't as astonishing as I remembered. 

Raphael Rooms

Sistine Chapel

Don't get me wrong, its absolutely beautiful but I almost wished I saw it before seeing the Raphael Rooms, so I can be more wowed by its grandeur.  When we got to the actual Sistine Chapel, we were so exhausted from a 9 hour red-eye flight, a 45 minute walk to the museums (did I mention it was raining and snowing?) and another hour walk through the Raphael Rooms, that we sat down and fell asleep.  Yes, we sat against the wall of the Sistine Chapel, with our heads up and slept.  The worst part was when I woke up and looked over at Gene and saw that his mouth was wide open.  Talk about embarrassing!  Thank god the Pope wasn't around!  After a 20 minute power nap, we shuffled back (in the rain) to our hotel to freshen up and head out to dinner.  It was only 7:30pm (1:30am our time) but we were starving and too lazy to really venture out anywhere, so we ended up at a local restaurant a few doors down from the hotel.  Tre Archi da Loreto was highly recommended by our hotel manager and it did not disappoint.  He also explained to us that in Rome, you should stick to restaurants that are closed between lunch and dinner because those are the places that are cooking the food (vs. frozen).  After stuffing ourselves silly we walked back to the hotel and promptly fell asleep.

Day 2 (Saturday, February 11th)

We wake up and it's a gorgeous and sunny weekend morning and we are rested and ready to conquer the day.  Downstairs (in the hotel) they were serving a typical continental breakfast consisting of pastries, cold cuts, cereal, fruit and yogurt.  Being that I was pregnant and told to stay away from overly strong coffee and cold cuts, I had a moment of hesitation before saying, "when in Rome....".  We started off our day by walking through Piazza Navona and then down to Campo de' Fiori , which is home to the yummiest looking farmer's market with fresh fruits, vegetables, spices, olive oils, pastas and anything your heart desires.  

After buying some spices we walked to the Pantheon and then to the Trevi Fountain, where we both threw in some coins and missed.  Yes, we missed the giant 20 meter wide fountain that was right in front of us.  In our defense, it was windy and there was a barricade that didn't allow you to get closer than 30 or so feet.  I missed because I didn't throw hard enough (which made Gene laugh hysterically) but Gene missed because he decided to show off by flicking the coin, just to have it land 10 feet in front of him. Guess who laughed hysterically then?!?  Luckily there were many other idiots just like us as the outside edge of the fountain was covered with coins.  A legend holds that by throwing a coin into the fountain, you are ensured to come to Rome again.  I guess we will be visiting the outskirts of Rome.  

After visiting the fountain, we stopped by Tazza D'Oro and had some shots of espresso that were so insanely strong that the liquid barely poured out of the cup.  In fact, it was nearly solid and tasted like it needed a gallon of milk and a cup or two of sugar.  When in Rome... Have no fear pregnancy police, I had a decaf.  This also ensured me that I will be nice and sleepy for my afternoon nap which was soon to follow.  

We were walking back to the hotel when I turn to Gene and see that he has a grin from ear to ear and his eyes light up like a kid in a candy store.  I knew only one thing can make Gene this happy: fast food.  Lo and behold there was a McDonald's just a few feet away and I can see Gene getting more excited by the minute.  I knew we weren't going to get away without trying a cheeseburger or some other disgusting item off their menu, so in we went.    

Back at the hotel we wake up around 2pm, and walk to La Focaccia and have some delectable pizza before resuming our walking tour.

When we walked out of the restaurant, we were disappointed to find the sun gone and a snow blizzard in full swing.  The flakes were huge and beautiful so we weren't too bothered by it and began our walk to St. Peters Basilica, where I was looking forward to climbing the 320 steps to the top of the dome.  I remembered doing this as a kid and loving the adventure, so I was sure that as a 4 month prego I would enjoy it just as much.  Sadly, the dome was closed due to the snow, but we were able to go inside the basilica and see "the greatest of all churches of Christendom". 

A short cab ride later and we were back at the hotel to do our research before heading out to dinner.  This time we picked Osteria del Pegno, which was a cozy little restaurant with dim lighting and romantic music.   The gnocchi with wild mushrooms appetizer was very tasty but my sea bass was underwhelming.  Gene had the veal and potatoes, and that was a great dish as well.   I don't remember much about the desert but I do remember wobbling out of the place, so it must have been pretty good.

Day 3 (Sunday, February 12th)

It's sunny and gorgeous and the weather forecast expects that to be the case for the rest of the day. Finally!   We head downstairs and eat the usual continental breakfast before heading out for the day.  The list of places to see on our last day was even greater than before but luckily weather was on our side.  We walk through the center of town and past the Chiesa del Gesu, Altare della Patria, Capitoline Museums, Capitoline Hill, Roman Forum and finally arrive at the beautiful Colosseum.  

As luck would have it: CLOSED.We snap a few photos and continue our walk past the Arco di Costantino,Palatine Hill and Circus Massimo, until we finally arrive to the charming area of Trastevere. 

I loved the character of this neighborhood, with its medieval houses, narrow cobbled streets and a ton of adorable restaurants.  It was like the Cobble Hill of Rome (OK, maybe not quite).  We roamed the area for a bit, took some more pictures around Santa Maria and then decided to grab lunch in the area.  After looking on TripAdvisor, we found Osteria Ponte Sisto.  This restaurant was so incredibly delicious that I am STILL having dreams about their deep fried artichoke and pasta.  Seasoned to perfection, the artichokes were crispy and flavorful while the pasta was a perfect al dente with a creamy wine sauce and succulent mussels.  drool.  

Stuffed and exhausted we head back to the hotel to rest our feet and decide on our next adventure.  Seeing that we visited every attraction on our list, we decide on the next best thing: SHOPPING!  We walk about 15 minutes to Via del Corso and spend the next 2-3 hours shopping.  Gene bought a bunch of shirts and sweaters and I stocked up on make-up, since it's way too depressing to shop for clothes while pregnant.  After a long (and final) day in Rome, we decide to splurge on a nice restaurant (Ad Hoc) but after searching for 15 minutes we were unable to find it.  Hungry and ready to eat each other's heads off, we stumble upon Al Duello, which ended up being fantastic.  Our overall dining experience in Rome was really really good and I have to thank TripAdvisor for steering us in the right direction.  

 Overall, a fantastic time with a fantastic husband.  Happy Valentine's Day Gene!

I love you!

 LA FINE. CIAO.

Knock Knock

Who's there?

Baby #2!!!

Right around the 16 week mark, I began to feel Shrimp moving around.  This was a big surprise since I didn't feel Violet kick until 23 weeks or so.  However, with Violet, the placenta was in front of her (typically behind the baby), therefore blocking the kicks.  Also, they say that you feel the second baby kick much sooner since all the uterine muscles are weakened.   I almost forgot how enjoyable it is to feel those little pokes and prods.  It's such a pleasant reminder that the baby is well and continuing to cook inside.

Natural History Museum (Butterfly Exhibit)

17 Weeks (Part Deux) !

17 weeks with Shrimp. Ugh, so huge already! Depressing.  Oh, and this is sucking it in!

17 weeks with Violet, in a nearly identical outfit.

14 weeks! (Random Updates)

Weight Gained: 5lbs
Started Showing: 8-10 weeks
Prenatal Vitamins Taken: 3 (should be 98)
Things that I am not supposed to have but I did: herbal tea, cold cuts (from the Russian store so it's a double whammy), red wine, soft cheese (might have been pasteurized), sushi
Morning Sickness: Week 6-13 (a LOT more puking than last time. TMI?)
Cravings: None

The Top 10 Differences Between Your First and Second Pregnancies

Found this little comparison online....cute....and somewhat accurate...

10.  First Pregnancy:  You devour every single weekly pregnancy milestone update from BabyCenter.com and know exactly what kind of fruit/vegetable your baby currently resembles.

Second Pregnancy:  “How far along am I?  Um, let me see…maybe somewhere in the first trimester?  Wait, no, third.  I think.”

9.  First Pregnancy:  You diligently avoid all caffeine, alcohol, sushi and other supposed pregnancy no-nos.

Second Pregnancy:  “Make it a DOUBLE ESPRESSO.  And bring it up to the bathroom where I’m going to be snorting aspirin in a steaming hot bath.  Thanks!”

8.  First Pregnancy:  “Yay!  I’m starting to show!”

Second Pregnancy:  “Oh, God.  I’m starting to show.  AND I’M ONLY ONE WEEK PREGNANT.”

7.  First Pregnancy: You play French folk music and Learn Japanese CDs before going to sleep in hopes of giving birth to a multilingual genius with an IQ of 150.

Second Pregnancy:  Screw the folk music.  Nothing wrong with having a child of mediocre intelligence!  Because, let’s face it, you want to go to sleep as soon as you can when you already have a child with another on the way.

6.  First Pregnancy:  You feel the baby kick around 20 weeks.

Second Pregnancy:  You feel the baby kick around 12 weeks.  And why is that?  Your muscles aren’t as strong the second time around, so you feel it more. *SIGH*  A simple “you’re more in-tune with your body” would have sufficed.

5.  First Pregnancy:  YOU:  Guess what?  I’m pregnant!  FRIENDS & FAMILY:  Yaaaaayyyy!  This is the best news EVER!

Second Pregnancy:  YOU:  Guess what?  I’m pregnant!  FRIENDS & FAMILY:  Oh.  Neat.

4.  First Pregnancy:  You buy a ton of maternity clothes to show off that beautiful, blossoming bump.

Second Pregnancy:  It’s all about sweatpants.

3.  First Pregnancy:  You have outdone yourself with the nursery, which is beautiful enough to be displayed in the pages of House Beautiful.

Second Pregnancy:  You’re not even sure where you’re going to put the kid.  Put a blanket in a dresser drawer, perhaps?

2.  First Pregnancy:  You rub cocoa butter on your stomach every day to avoid stretch marks.

Second Pregnancy:  You quickly throw on your sweats to avoid looking at the stretch marks caused by your first pregnancy.

1.  First Pregnancy:  You and your baby are celebrated at a fun baby shower.

Second Pregnancy:  You are lucky if you have the time to take a hot shower.

Momnesia

I first heard the term momnesia when I was pregnant with Violet but lucky the forgetfulness was kept at bay.  Now being pregnant with number 2, it seems that my brain has completely turned into mush and I can't seem to remember the simplest things.  I am not talking about forgetting to schedule doctor appointments or buying milk, I am talking about borderline intellectual functionality.  I would probably equate my mental capacity to that of a 3 year old.  It's gotten so bad that I need a mental checklist for basic human functions.  In my head there is a constant conversation between me and me.  It goes something like this:

Anna, now you have to get dressed.  Did you brush your teeth?  Good job!  You should put on shoes, but make sure you do that after you put on your pants.  Yes, socks are also good during winter time.  Now that you're dressed, maybe you should find a jacket.  It's cold so you probably need a warm one.  Oh god, there are like 5 different jackets. How am I supposed to pick?  Hmmm, well, my shoes are black so what goes with black?  Does black go with black?  I will keep it safe and stick with all black.  Now I know there was a toddler around here somewhere.  I should get her dressed too, right?  She needs more black clothing.  How am I supposed to match all these different colors.  Blue seems to go well with orange. Great, everyone is dressed and ready to go. What do I need to take with me?Keys, phone, ID, wallet, umbrella.  Check, check, check, check and check.   And then I proceed to walk out without the bag that holds all that stuff...

Watch out baby!

I was standing next to Violet's high chair and feeding her yogurt as she was lovingly patting my stomach.  She had a big smile on her face as she was gently caressing my protruding belly.  Within seconds, her eyes narrowed into little evil slits and before I knew it her little palm made a fist and punched me in the stomach with all her might.

Feeling of the day: SCARED

Baby Elmo

Me: Violet what's in there? (pointing to belly)
Violet: Elmo!

Vegetarian Shrimp

Yes, I am well aware of what an oxymoron is but baby Shrimp has turned me into a(n) (almost) vegetarian once again.  First Violet and now Shrimp.  Actually, Violet still happens to be a vegetarian.  If god forbid I sneak some chicken into her food, forget it, it's war!
I went back and re-read some of my posts when I was pregnant with Violet and it seems that my food cravings haven't changed much since then.  Here are my recent favorites:

-Soup (especially chowders)
-Shrimp and broccoli (The cheap and dirty Chinese food kind with brown unidentifiable sauce)
-Iced Tea (drink by the gallons)
-Parfait
-Anything chocolate
-Salads

Here is the old post.

Shrimp

Gene came with me to my first OB appointment with excitement and anticipation to see the baby and hear the heartbeat for the very first time.  I was 8 weeks along and as I laid on the table, the TV flickered on and there it was!  A tiny little flickering speck that didn't resemble a baby by any means.  The doctor smiles and says, "There's your little shrimp right there"!  And that is how baby number 2 got the nickname shrimp.

Expanding the Klayman Clan

Yes, you read it here first, our family is growing!  Gene and I are over the moon excited to make Violet a big sister!  I am due in July!

I will be posting multiple blog entries that I have written over the last several months.

Fucky the Friendly Turtle

So the fucky fucky mystery has been revealed.  As I mentioned in my previous blog post, Violet came home from day care screaming fucky, fucky and we couldn't even begin to imagine what that could mean.    A few days later I came to pick her up from day care and Miss Marcelle mentioned that they got a new pet turtle by the name of Frankie.  When she said his name, Violet immediately screamed: FUCKY!  I guess we'll have to work on those R's and N's.

Say What???

Violet came home from day care yesterday and said, "Fucky, Fucky".
Disturbing or Hilarious?
Well, Gene and I couldn't stop laughing, so there you have it.