Corri, Corri, Corri! (run, run, run)

Today was a gorgeous sunny day and perfect weather for running the Florence Marathon.  We heard the race being announced while still enjoying the warm comfort of bed but then decided to get up quickly so that we could see the start of the race.   It was a very chilly five degrees outside so we rugged up and made a beeline to the bar for our morning cappuccino and pastry before walking along the river to the Ponte Vecchio and watching the first runners come past.

There were 9000 competitors and even the Florence mayor took part in the race, finishing in 4.11 hours.  The winner with a time of 2 hours, 9 mins & 52 seconds was of course from Ethiopia, as was the second place runner and third went to a guy from Morocco.  The first woman was also from Ethiopia and the first Italian to cross the line was a Florentine local woman who was also very impressively the  third woman to finish overall.

Getting around Florence was quite difficult with the main roads through the center blocked off for the runners.  We had to do some major detours to get to the Duomo and having the pram with us didn’t help matters either.  Matteo was very well behaved, either sleeping or admiring the blue sky as we pushed him around the city.

I went for a run/walk with Matteo the other morning.  As nice as it was to run again, I did feel very unfit and heavy.  I have lost most of my pregnancy weight so I’m sure the my breast-feeding boobs are to blame for the last few kilos.  So uncomfortable!

We came home after the marathon for a very lazy afternoon.  I have nearly finished packing the suitcase for our trip to Australia on Thursday and I am hoping that Matteo is well behaved for the 24 hour journey.  Last Friday he had the worst wind and spent most of the day screaming.  If we have a repeat of this behavior,  we will not be very popular with our fellow passengers at all!

I am very excited about showing Matteo off to all of my friends and family though and I must admit that I am also looking forward to the warmer weather.  It will be so nice to not have to pile so many layers on Matteo as getting those little arms into a heavy jacket is not the easiest task and I’m sure he hates not being able to move as freely either.

We went and looked at a day care / Asilo Nido last week.  I then came home and felt a bit depressed as the idea of sending Matteo off to day care makes me feel quite sad.  If I could, I would like to stay at home for a few years.  I am certainly in no hurry to return to work.  Not that he will be going for a while as most of the day care centers here don’t take babies before they are 12 months.  We have to sign up to the private and public day care centers on the first of February and not before.  Tomorrow I am calling a place that takes babies from 6 months and so will try and visit before we leave.

Well, It is midnight so I might try and get a few hours sleep before Matteo wakes up.

Buona Notte!

Lisa x