Things have been hectic here as we prepare for Alex’s baptism in Rome this weekend. Tomorrow, my family is flying in from Portland and Michael’s family is arriving from New Jersey; in addition, we’ll have a big group of friends and family from Italy joining us. I’ve only been to Rome once in the past year which is a shame because it’s one of my favorite cities in Italy!

Last September, I had an appointment at the U.S. Embassy in Rome to write a declaration saying I was the same person listed on my passport and on my marriage certificate. Pesaro needed this information to grant me residency and since Italian women don’t change their last names when they get married (I had NO idea about this), they needed documentation that I was the same person since my last name is now different from my maiden name. It was a long process that took several months to correct. I wasn’t amused at the time, but now I can chalk it to another interesting cultural experience. Anyway, we’re visiting the Embassy again tomorrow to apply for Alex’s American passport. Wish us luck!