Monday Musings: Itty Bitty

We made man size calzones, and calzones for hungry big boys, and finally a little itty bitty calzone for a little itty bitty person.



A pinch of pizza dough, a dollop of tomato sauce and a sprinkling of mozarella is all it took to put a big sparkle in his eyes, and earn a happy "Mmmmmm" from this little Wild Thing. Of course he sampled the dough before it was ready to be baked, and he somehow managed to grab a handful of flour with his itty bitty fingers and trail it through the kitchen and living room. The dog even inherited half of his calzone when we weren't paying attention. And when his lips were covered in tomato sauce, guess who he came over to for a big hug? Before I could grab a napkin he grabbed me and turned me into his personal napkin (again). Yes this happens, sometimes daily. Nothing says "I love you Mamma!" like a lip print of tomato sauce on your new jeans.

And yet I wouldn't trade these days for anything. Soon he won't use me as his personal napkin anymore. Right now his needs are few, his wants are simple, and I can meet them all. I know when he needs a cuddle and when he wants to be tickled. Right now I am in his every horizon. Later, only a few short years from now I will not be his center, I will be peripheral. His wants will become more complex, and I may not be able to make all his dreams come true. But right now, right now we're tight. So I will take those messy kisses, the messy floors, the diapers and even the frazzle brain that comes with being with a toddler 24/7. This time is fleeting.

Honestly

I am thrilled to have been given the "Honest Scrap" blog award by KC of The Shock of the Old . Grazie mille KC!
Upon accepting the award I need to divulge ten honest things about myself and then pass the award to "a fellow blogger whose blog’s content or design is, in the giver’s opinion, brilliant.”

My ten honest things:

I much prefer to read rather than watch television. I love the feeling of relaxation I get with a quiet moment and a book in my hands.

My cooking dramatically improved upon moving to Italy. It was there that I had the time and plenty of inspiration to take an interest of mine and turn it into a strength.

I am full of strange inconsistencies. For instance, I love to be a night owl, and yet I crave watching the sun rise in the mornings... but above all as a parent of a toddler the last 18 months of my life have been punctuated with very little sleep- and sleep is what I crave most!

I am very creative and come up with all kinds of different and fun ideas of how to fill my time. But drat it, real life intrudes with things like cleaning and laundry.

Time management is an area where I could definitely use improvement (see above).

As weird of a path my life has been, I probably wouldn't change even one single thing of which I had a choice! But I also like to look back and say "What if?"

I carefully guard and nurture my dreams because if they don't come true, I don't know what I'll do!

Physically, mentally, or spiritually, I am always on some sort of crusade for personal improvement.

I know I have many new things to learn, and I welcome them.

My life is full of blessings, and I am grateful for them. When I strive for better things, it does not negate the fulfillment I find in my life.

And here is an extra: I tend to "over think" things. While thinking of things I love to tell you all about it, and so I end up talking your ear off! (But you already knew that, didn't you)?



Seven is my lucky number, so here is a list of seven truly brilliant blogs I am bestowing this award to.


Cherrye at My Bella Vita
Michelle at Bleeding Espresso
Rowena at Rubber Slippers in Italy
Gail at Fort Rock Glimpses
Piccola at Life in la Citta' de Rosas
Shirley at Bocconcini e Pomodorini
Jeni at The Passionate Palate

Rodeo Bronc, I feel your pain!

Early this morning I brought the little Wild Thing into bed with me when he woke, and after a little cuddle we fell back asleep.

Suddenly and without warning I woke again. The Wild Thing was on my back bouncing up and down and squashing my kidneys. Bounce, bounce, bounce, then a high screech as he pitched himself off of me and onto the bed. "Good, game over." I thought to myself and tried to resign myself to the reality of waking up.

Bounce, bounce, bounce! "Wheeee!" he said as he flung himself off me again.

"Ugh." I said.

Bounce, bounce, bounce! "Wheeeee!'

This is way too much for a mamma to take before her first sip of coffee.