Back from Italy

Topher on our morning walk.  He was sad to see us head off to Italy without him but managed to keep himself well rested and fed while we were away thanks to the careful attention of our cook Sebastian and his family.  

In Italy standing on the land we just bought near Castelnovo ne' Monti in the Reggio Emilia region.  Housebuilding begins this summer!  We hope all of you will come for a visit.

Standing on the road just above our land.  The weather was horrible most of our visit but we were able to capture a bit of the view for you here.  In the background is the famous "Pietra di Bismantova," a fantastic rock formation that sits in the heart of Castelnovo ne' Monti.

Once back in Delhi we had to deal with the sudden heat of summer that arrives like a freight train in April.  We quickly introduced Giovanni to the swimming pool at the American Embassy.  We now head there once he wakes from his afternoon nap, often inviting one of his pals along.  His girlfriend Matilda (an older woman at 7 months!) even comes in a pink swim outfit just like his own.  What a cute pair!

We had a fantastic 10 day trip to Italy! Giovanni handled the 9 hours of flying quite well, though he did enjoy practicing his new high-pitched squeal for much of the time (to the delight of our fellow passengers, I am sure).  We spent our time in the idyllic town of Castelnovo ne'Monti, which is about 2.5 hours south of Milan in the Reggio Emilia region.  Here is where Paolo spent much of his childhood running free with his best friends Angelo and cousin Willy.  Both men still live in the town so we were able to enjoy many days and evenings with them and their families. We stayed with Paolo's aunt Louisa and uncle Renato who took excellent care of us, filling us with homemade pasta, endless bottles of wine and laughter.  Giovanni was a huge hit with his Italian family and seemed to thrive in the cool temperatures and fresh air of Castelnovo.  We spent most days on walks through the rolling hills, drives and strolls in town.  

Paolo and I were lucky enough to get some "insider info" on some beautiful land coming up for sale near his family's home.  We bought the land and plan to begin building a house this summer- a place for vacations, visitors and, someday, retirement!  It is so easy for me to picture senior citizen Paolo hanging out in the town square with his childhood friends, playing bocce and debating Italian politics.  Maybe by then I will have finally mastered the Italian language?  In between the ground-breaking this summer and our senior moments we do hope many of you make your way to Italy for a visit to the Belli home.  We are at the edge of an enormous chestnut forest so after a day of chestnut gathering we will entertain you with local cheese, wine and prosciutto.  For you more active types there is skiing (alpine and nordic), running trails, rock climbing and bicycling options aplenty.  Hope to see you in Castelnovo very soon.

We are now back in Delhi for another month or so before we make our way to the US.   We are still not sure of our arrival date as we are awaiting (still!) approval from the World Bank for Paolo to work from DC for one month.  We will be staying in Georgetown and will be quite busy introducing Giovanni to the USA and to all of his friends and family there. We will have to leave dear Topher behind for the month of June while we are in Washington.  He will certainly miss us, especially his new brother Giovanni (Topher rarely leaves his side these days), but we are reassured that he is so well loved by Sebastian and his family who will live here at the house to care for Topher.  He will never lack for company, special treats, and cool air conditioning.  We do hope the month passes quickly for our dear dog.  

Enjoy the coming month of May- we have Paolo's birthday to celebrate and the hottest temps of the year to contend with (often 120 and above in May!).  After nearly a year away from the US I am eagerly awaiting my homecoming.  I cannot wait to see as many of you as I can.  All of my love, Clara

Off to Italy!

Here we are out on an early morning walk.  Gio, Topher and I head out before the heat arrives (hence the strawberry cap).  On this morning we ran into a photographer waiting for the zoo to open so he decided to capture a few images of these strange Western beasts.

  I attract quite a bit of attention on these walks as the Baby Bjorn is a strange contraption to most Indians and they find Giovanni's chubby cheeks quite tempting to squeeze!

Sorry to be out of touch for so long.  It has been a wildly busy March here in Delhi.  Giovanni took his first plane trip, Topher had his first shave of the summer and we had houseguests nearly every day this month. This coming week we have more guests, I host a baby shower and we leave for Italy on Thursday.  Phew!  Somehow while all of this was happening spring came and went.  Now we are right smack in the summer heat: ceiling fans are spinning, mosquitoes are buzzing and Gio is sporting some cute sunhats.  Lately these hats have become even more important as over the last two weeks our son has gone completely bald!  We now think he might be blonde, which would be quite exciting for me as so until now he has looked nothing like me.

Our trip to the south of India earlier in the month was an exciting one where we visited Chennai and Pondicherry.  Giovanni handled the flights quite well, though the first one troubled his ears a bit as the cabin pressure was not well regulated.  Maybe it was not smart for us to start Gio's airplane experience aboard an old Air India plane!  We brought Sebastian and Victoria along with us so that they could visit their villages; it was such a treat for us to visit them over the weekend and to see a bit of rural India.  Giovanni was a huge hit wherever we went. His cheeks were pinched countless times and toes tickled by many we passed.  When I had him out in the stroller women and men would just reach in a grab him to cuddle and bounce him about.  I was at first quite startled by this but soon got comfortable and was touched by the warmth and openness of this baby-loving population.  Giovanni took it all in stride and seemed to love the attention.  Luckily he has no stranger-anxiety yet!

We will be flying to Italy this Thursday night for Giovanni's first trip to meet his Italian family.   I will try my best to write soon after our return April 8th.  Meanwhile I hope you enjoy the coming spring wherever you are.  Big hugs to all, Clara

Hair in mid-shed (now there is nothing but a bit of a tuft at the back!)

Meeting children in Sebastian's village.

February 26: Spring is here!

The heat has returned to Delhi seemingly overnight.  We  said goodbye to our space heaters and fleece jackets and quickly had to face getting our ceiling fans checked and summer clothes aired.  Spring is about a week long here and is lovely while it lasts with flowers and trees in vivid bloom.  By mid-March we will be back to sweltering conditions.  I will be especially sad to see these cool mornings and evenings disappear.  My walks with Giovanni in the parks will have to be replaced by strolls in the mall during the midday heat.  I will have to revive my mall-rat days spent at the Millcreek Mall in Erie, PA.  I wonder if there is an Orange Julius in Delhi?!

All is well with Giovanni the Giant.  (Our pediatrician has nicknamed him the "BFG" from the Roald Dahl book about a Big Friendly Giant.  He is quickly approaching his 3 month birthday and 20 pounds- not sure which he will reach first.  He still has a bulging belly, rippling thighs, a double chin and those adorable (to his mom at least!) cheeks.  In short, he is a handsome devil. He is drinking less these days (his choice) so maybe his rapid growth will begin to regulate.  His sleeping and smiling are the biggest changes we saw this past month- both welcome developments!  He sleeps quite regular night hours now- from 7 until about midnight and then another 5 or so hours.  We hope the midnight feeding will fade away in the next few months but it is a fairly easy one to manage since he falls immediately back to sleep once he is finished.

The smiling is wonderful and increasing in frequency and intensity each day.  He greets Paolo, Sebastian, Victoria and me now always with a big grin. Today was the first day I noticed him beaming at Topher.  After nearly 3 months of diligent face-licking and napping beside the crib, sweet Topher deserves this adoration!

We welcomed my parents a few weeks ago and had a whirlwind visit with late night feedings, tours around Delhi and a weekend trip to a tiger preserve.  Though we did not see any of the elusive cats, we saw plenty of deer, antelope, monkeys, peacocks, crocodiles (ick!) and other creatures.  Giovanni was well cuddled by his nonno and nonna who are already eagerly awaiting their next visit with their new grandson.  For now they are recovering back in Dallas from an exhausting trip.  Next to use our guest room will be our matchmaker (and one of Paolo's best "men"!) Judi Cochran who arrives in less than two weeks.

I had 8 friends with their babies over for coffee and Sebastian's cinnamon bread yesterday morning.  It was quite chaotic but fun.  Gio cried for part of it- overwhelmed a bit, especially when he saw his upstairs neighbor (an older gentleman at 6 months!) honing in on Gio's girlfriend Matilda.  I will have to coach him to bring out his innate Italian charm for next week.  This is a group that meets every Wednesday, and I have become quite close with many of them.  All are from the UK but me so I feel quite honored to be included.  

Paolo returns from Calcutta today after 4 days away.  We leave next week for a long weekend in Pondicherry (southern India).  Please send sleepy thoughts to Gio for the plane trips.  These are pratice rides in preparation for our trip to Italy next month!  Love to all, Clara 

2 Months Old...almost!

2 Months Old!

In our garden about to start our morning walk.  The stick is to ward off the many stray dogs we encounter along the way.  Most are gentle but there are a few aggressive ones who don't like Topher walking across their territory.  One wave of the stick sends them running.

Giovanni began smiling this week... in a BIG way.

These shots were taken while on a walk in Lodhi Garden.  

Enjoying some time in my bouncy seat.

                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                     

In the park outside of our house: elephants appeared today to help with the tree pruning!

Giovanni will hit his 2 month birthday on Friday, which will also be the first day he spends with his grandparents, Jim & Jerry Zurn ("Nonna" and "Nonno").  Mom and Dad are in Calcutta right now visiting with their good friends the Mukerjis and will fly to Delhi Thursday evening.  You can imagine they are quite excited about their first grandchild and he is gearing up to keep them busy with feeding, burping, changing and cuddling.  I am thinking of taking a week-long nap so they can properly bond with Giovanni!  It will be such fun for us to show Mom and Dad our lives here in Delhi and to introduce them to our extended family of staff and friends.  And the weather seems to be cooperating though the fact that it is already in the low 80s during the day makes me fearful when the real heat arrives in April!

We are settling into our new roles as parents and figuring out how to function on a few hours' sleep each night.  Giovanni is starting to sleep for longer stretches so the dark circles under our eyes may start to fade...or not.  His record is 5 hours which he did three nights in a row.  We are encouraging him to stretch it to 12 hours tonight but I suppose we cannot set the bar quite so high.  Many of you have noticed that our son is a rather hefty fellow.  We think we may have a football player in development.  Paolo's boss has suggested that we not bother investing in his education but instead put all of our energy and savings into his training for the NFL.  I would support this but will only allow him to play for the Steelers!  

Paolo and I in the midst of planning a few adventures with Giovanni in the next few months.  In March we are heading to Pondicherry (South India).  This will be our first plane flight with him! Later in the month we are hoping to go to Italy so that Paolo's family can meet their newest member.  In May we will be joining my sister Molly and her husband Tucker in the Maldives.  I cannot complain about that one!  And finally, we will be heading back to the US for the month of June, so many of you many finally get to meet Giovanni then.

And Topher?  He continues to be a happy and healthy fellow with only a few warts to show any sign of aging.  A few of the neighborhood children and I are busy planning a party for his 8th birthday  (Feb 15th) with a tennis ball cake and plenty of other goodies.  Topher accompanies us on long afternoon walks and has become an expert at walking alongside the stroller without getting tangled in its wheels.  Once Giovanni falls asleep we find a bench in one of our colony's parks so I can sit and throw a ball for Topher while his brother naps.  I am cherishing these walks as soon the heat and mosquitoes will make them far less pleasant.  

That's all for now.  It may be some time before I write again as I think my parents are going to be keeping me busy...plus I have that week-long nap to try to fit in.  A big hug to all.  Clara

Has it really been 7 weeks??

With my two boys on the couch... Topher likes to be as close as possible to his new brother.  Not a moment of jealousy ever.  

Naptime.... 

Becoming a bit more alert each day.  Currently a huge fan of lights.  Hair styled by Clara.

Jan 22: This is unlikely to be a long or particularly well-worded posting.  I am taking a rare opportunity to sit down at my computer as Giovanni is taking a rather long nap-  he is finally sleeping for longer periods now.  I know it has been a very very long while since I last wrote, but as those of you parents out there know, a newborn consumes 200% of your day.  The idea of sitting down to update this blog was just a laughable one for the last several weeks.

Giovanni continues to thrive and gain weight steadily.  He is a voracious eater and lets us know every few hours that mealtime is NOW.  He has developed an adorable little dimple on his chin and his belly and thighs are full of folds- fun to squeeze and kiss.  He is becoming much more alert now and loves his activity gym and crib mobile.  He is fascinated by lights and is beginning to smile at familiar faces, including Sebastian and Victoria who have been, as always, invaluable help for us.

I recently had to spend two nights in the hospital with (sorry for the grim details ahead...) a breast abscess that required surgery.  Needless to say I have had a nightmarish time trying to nurse and have had to give it up after a monumental struggle.  I have had 5 different infections but this last one ended things for good.  This is the main reason I have been so out of touch with all of you and with this blog as I have been in horrible pain for the last 6 weeks.  It has been such a blow to have to switch to formula but I am making peace with it now.  I am certainly learning to accept curves in the road these days (such as assuming I would deliver Giovanni naturally and then ending up in the OR enduring an emergency c-section!).  Needless to say, these changes are hard to accept but I am constantly reminding myself that I am grateful for such a healthy child and these other troubles will soon be forgotten.  For those of you who have had to live through all of this with me, thank you for all of your support and caring.  I feel like my old self is finally returning now that the pain is finally fading.  I had no idea how devastating chronic pain could be.

My wonderful brother Andrew was here for 12 days this month.  He lived through a lot of my troubles with me and knows more about breastfeeding than any single man should.  He was a rock for me as the time he was here was when I was at my worst.  In fact, I went to the emergency room right after he left for the airport.  Andrew helped me with errands, bathtime, and kept me company when Paolo was at work.  He carried Giovanni in the Bjorn all over Delhi and did some coaching in the fine art of belching.  I miss him terribly but do have my parents' visit to look forward to- they arrive Feb 5th!  I cannot wait for them to finally meet their first grandchild.  Dad ("Nono" has even been studying Italian to prepare for his first visit with his grandson!).  

Delhi is lovely this time of year with blue skies and crisp temperatures  Everything will start blooming soon and the heat will begin to build by the beginning of March so we are enjoying the chance to wear sweaters now!  Topher is in heaven in this weather and even has his full coat of hair.  We will have to shave him again soon  but for now he is hairy and happy.  He loves that I am home more now and never leaves my side.  He has his favorite dog bed in Giovanni's room and spends hours in there with us.  There seems not to be a jealous bone in his body.  The only thing that seems to upset him is when his brother has a real crying fit (fortunately rare!).  At these times Tophs grabs one of his toys in his mouth and gnaws away- his own pacifier!

That's all for now.  I hear stirrings on the monitor.  A big hug to all.  I will try to write again before another month passes.  Love, Clara

Giovanni's Arrival!

Giovanni's first nap with his father and older "brother" Topher.

Asleep at the hospital... practicing some boxing maneuvers on himself.  

Our first outing as a family- a walk in Lodhi Gardens.

As most of you know by now Giovanni arrived in the early morning of December 6th.  Just for fun I went through labor and then "opted" for an emergency c-section as he never descended from up in my ribcage (called an "obstructed labor").  Giovanni emerged perfectly healthy with a full head of hair weighing 8.8 pounds.

I am afraid I do not have the time to write in great detail about all that has happened in the two weeks since our son arrived, nor do you really need/want to hear the details on breastfeeding, pooping, umbilical cords falling off, etc... I will spare you that.  Just know that Paolo and I are finding ways to cope with a very big challenge but even the sleepless nights and long crying bouts cannot dampen our moods when we look at this little creature.  He is, at least in his parents' eyes, a wonderful gift.  

Many have asked how Topher is handling his little brother.  Some even speculated he would be jealous or feel replaced.  As always, Topher rose above expectations and has remained the noble and gentle creature he has always been.  Giovanni's crying lures Topher near so he can attempt to calm him with his tongue (the licking is sweet though he is perplexed why it does not stop the crying!).  Topher is reluctant to leave a room if Giovanni is in it and even sleeps on the side of the bed closest to the bassinet.  

Look soon for more pictures and perhaps even more interesting text. In the meantime, happy holidays to all.  XOXO.  Clara, Paolo, Topher & Giovanni 

Birthday and no baby...yet!

"Happy Birthday, Madam!" From left: Sebastian (cook), Ram (security guard), Johnson (driver), Victoria (Sebastian's wife and our housekeeper) and Paolo (nervous father-to-be) singing to the birthday girl....



We are still waiting for this baby to make his move. So far he seems quite content in his little swimming pool...safe from terrorists, cold weather and mosquitoes (yes, those last two somehow exist at the same time here in India!). Today is my birthday and Paolo and our staff are busy making it a special day for the "roundy" lady on the couch. Flowers are all over the house, a special rice dish is simmering and a chocolate cake is cooling.

At some point we PROMISE to have news for all of you. He cannot stay in there forever, can he?

In the meantime, keep checking back. Thank you for all of the well wishes, especially those of you who were worried about us after the attacks in Mumbai last week. For the geographically challenged (believe me, I understand!), Mumbai is quite far from New Delhi- a two hour flight- but we still were unsettled by the savageness of the attacks and that they were clearly targeting foreigners. We are hoping this will prompt India to take a harder look at its security measures. This is a wonderful country in many ways and is certainly resilient. Take a look at Jon Stewart's Daily Show for a funny (yes, believe it or not, it is!) take on the attacks. Here is the link:

http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=210920&title=Mumbai-Tragedy

Warning: This is not for children's ears!




Off to eat cake.... Hugs to all. Clara