Travelling for work

I currently have reduced working hours due to "allattamento" or lactation, which allows me to leave work 2 hours early, until my baby is one year old. My problem is that once this period is over, and I resume normal work hours, I will also be expected to travel again. I put the thought off since it seemed so distant, but now that it is getting closer and closer, I am starting to panic. I don't know how I can possibly leave my baby for a whole week. Is that not traumatic for the baby? I think things like that should be eased into, should be done gradually. Unfortunately employers don't give a shit, and just want to get the work done no matter what. We'll see what happens, for now, I am in total panic mode.
In other news, my diet is moving forward, I have started counting calories since Friday, and am doing well so far. Desperation has led me here. I tried watching what I ate, and made moderate changes to no avail. I hope this second phase works since I have no clue what to do after that!!!
Any post baby diet stories out there??

To diet or not to diet, that is the problem

So I'm supposed to be on a diet. I hate that word. I'm supposed to watch what I eat so I can lose the baby weight I am having a hard time shifting! Having a four day weekend does not help. I tried to make healthy choices and limit my dessert intake to just one day a week. I stayed on track with the dessert, but there were two days where I could've made better food choices. I have not weighed myself, and will resist the desire to jump on the scale until the time is right...whenever that is. For now, my aim is to get into my pre-baby pants, muffin top and all!
Spring is definately in the air and I realize that I need to be a little more strict with my food intake if I am to don a bikini this Summer.
On another note, I decided to give baby a breakfast not too different from mine this weekend. I mixed some oatmeal with water and formula, and added a baby biscuit in the mix. The result was a grey blob of food that did not look appetizing but didn't taste too bad. Needless to say, baby was not a fan. He took a bite, made a face, took another bite, made another face, and then looked uninterested. I took that to mean that it was not such a hit.
I went to see a movie this weekend, The kids are all right. Was quite entertaining. I have lots of movies I want to see but I have to pick wisely since my free time is limited.
The Rome marathon took place on Sunday. I live in the center and don't understand why residents had to remove their cars from via del babuino for this marathon. There is a major shortage of parking space in the center, even when we can park on via del babuino, so the idea that we had to go elsewhere was beyond frustrating. I am getting fed up with this city that is becoming my biggest source of stress!
Well that is my rant for the day.

Stroller bable

What is up with the Bugaboo? For those who have no idea what a Bugaboo is, it is the baby stroller of the moment. It can be seen all over Rome, and all the hip and happening parents seem to have it. I was very close to purchasing it, when my very wise husband convinced me that the Inglesina was the way to go. I have to say, no regrets there! Firstly, the Bugaboo is way too bulky and big to fit into most elevators, and is a lot heavier too. I already hate folding up the Inglesina since it is easy, but not the easiest of things to fit into my little car. I would have to leave the house half an hour earlier to deal with the Bugaboo, I imagine.
Moving on, I am now looking for the appropriate car seat for baby since he is outgrowing the one we have. This is not easy. My car is not Isofix friendly, so must find something that can be used with seatbelts and Isofix for when we eventually get a new car.
Any advise on car seats? Please feel free to share.

Starting a blog

Starting a blog is a bit strange. I don't really know why I'm doing it, I don't know if anyone will ever read my blog, and I am not really sure I have anything interesting to post. I have some ideas on why I am doing it. Maybe it's a new way to connect with people, maybe it's because I have a place where I can say whatever I want. I guess I am still discovering the why.

Anyhow, I am off for the weekend tomorrow and I am sitting here making a list of all the baby things I have to take along. It's a long long list, one that makes me miss the good old days of just throwing something in a bag and getting on a plane. I would not trade what I have to go back to the old days, just want to be clear on that.

On another note, I am desperately trying to loose the baby weight. It's been 9.5 months since baby arrived. It has been very hard considering I've never had a weight problem or a problem losing weight. I have to say I have majorly cut out some things from my diet and the scale is not budging, so I decided not to weigh myself for the next few weeks and see what happens.

Sunny Sunday

The sun finally came out yesterday and we made the most of it by going to lunch at the beach. It's only 40 minutes away from the center of Rome. I wrapped baby up and we managed to eat outside! Baby had so many new things to look at and study, so we were able to eat without interuptions.
I often hear people say that Rome is not a child friendly city, and it's true, but every now and then I stumble upon something that surprises me. In villa borghese, near the kids cinema (Cinema dei piccoli) there is a ludoteca, a place where kids can read books, interact with other kids, and also do some arts and crafts. Next time the sun comes out, I will go check it out.

Customer service...or lack thereof!

A month back, I left my son's cardigan at the shop where it was purchased since the zipper was broken. This was quite an expensive cardigan, and for that reason I took it back to the shop. I totally forgot about this, and decided to pass by to see what was up, since I hadn't heard back from them. Surprise surprise, it was in exactly the same state, and exactly in the same place it was a month ago. Instead of apologizing and trying to make it up to me, the sales lady gave me excuses about her "sarta" (tailor) not being well, and her not knowing where to take the cardigan to get the zipper replaced! I told her there is no excuse for this kind of service and that being in the children's clothing business she should have known that a cardigan that has been sitting there for one month, probably doesn't fit anymore, since babies grow FAST. I walked out, and decided to do the only thing I could do, never go back again. I will also tell as many people as I can to shop elsewhere! The shop is called Calico Lion and it is on Via delle Vite in the Spagna area.