Some glimpses of our days in DC

We are more than halfway through our time in DC.  Paolo flew back to Kiev last night so now Gio and I are on our own for the next two weeks.  We are spending our days going to swim lessons, playing in the parks around Georgetown, visiting friends and family and indulging in treats we miss in Ukraine (Starbucks egg sandwiches, Sprinkles cupcakes, ice cream from Thomas Sweet and 5 Guys hamburgers).  Gio loves going over to our old house to hang out with Nonno and Nonna (Happy Birthday, Nonno!! 69 years old today!).  On Friday we move to our good friend Micki's house so we can take care of her Bernese Mountain Dog while she and Annie go on vacation.  This will be good practice for me since we will have a BMD of our own in about a month! Friday is also the day Uncle Andrew arrives for the weekend.  Gio is going to be in heaven!  He has so much showing off to do for Uncle A, including his newest trick of being able to simultaneously burp AND fart.  Really, a mother could not be more proud. 

Here are some shots from the last week....

Checking out the cowbells in our garden (photo courtensy of Nonna)

Sandtime at Nonno & Nonna's

Jonah's Treehouse (photo courtesy of Hedvig)

Another Hedvig shot!

Back to the sand....

Taking a break from cupcake munching (sticker placement courtesy of Gio)

This "Big Digger" at Rose Park must be visited DAILY.

A haircut at last....

I requested it very short!

Post haircut, it was off to buy new shoes....size 10!

Close ups of the new hairdo!

Searching for planes

A post-dinner giggle.

Back to Rose Park- we have only missed one day so far!

Brunch at Carlo & Doerte's,  Notice which kid is NOT at the kid table....

After the meal, the real fun began...

5 boys under the age of 4?  Chaos!!

What?! Another cupcake???

A visit to Montrose Park with Gio's Godpapas Tim & Jay.  Massive stick collecting....

A visit to Potomac School is not complete without some time hanging out with the llamas.

We hope all of you have a fun St Patrick's Day tomorrow.  Be well and stay in touch.  Hugs from all the Bellis. 

Puppies Are Born!!

Our breeder announced that the first litter (of two expected) was born last week- 10 puppies on all!  The mother is Lunchbox- one of the wonderful dogs we met on our visit in January.  Looks like Gio will be a big brother soon- probably around the first week of May.  Here is a link to see them at 1 week old....

 http://www.torredovarda.com/Qpups.html

In DC!

We have been in Washington for one week now.  It is such a pleasure to be back in familiar territory.  I get giddy just going to Safeway!  It is such fun to be able to read all of the labels and to see the aisles filled with our favorite things.  Gio has been eating watermelon like mad, along with edamame, ravioli and his beloved egg sandwiches from Starbucks.  We are spending a lot of time with Nonno, Nonna, and Bisnonna (Grandfather, Grandmother and Greatgrandmother).  Gio was thrilled that Nonno and Nonna kept his sandboxes filled out on the patio.  He has been busily emptying the sand all over the garden and tromping it into the house.
Here are a few shots of Gio's first week back in DC.  I will try to be better about photographing our time in the US.  We can feel spring in the air here.  Love, Clara

Doing some balancing at Jonah's Treehouse.

Playing with my new parking garage.

I spend a lot of time watching the planes come in and out of  National Airport.  We have a perfect view from our apartment here in Georgetown!