Quite a few dogs, sticks, ducks....

In the morning we will be leaving another country behind. Germany will be behind us as we look south to a brief stop with friends in Austria, and then fly on to Italy where we hope it will still be sunny! We have been lucky with weather. We almost complained about the heat while drinking wine in the sun midday today. We did this while our little toddler was sleeping in her room...

I’m a fairly optimistic person, but even I didn’t think travelling with an 18mo would be as easy as it has been so far. Anya has been the most resilient of the 3, bouncing along behind Myra or I in the backpack. Yes, she has her tantrums, but so do we… 

I’ll forever be wondering what she is thinking and noticing. While us boring adults are comparing 12^th century architecture to buildings back home; comparing lush, green deciduous forests turning orange and red to our wild, grey bush; she may be thinking about that banana she ate in the car. Whatever it is, it’s a good long story with quite a few dogs, sticks, ducks, mums and dads in it. And a few clocks for good luck.

I may be a fool for mentioning it before our time here is over, but I have to mention sleep. Anya spent the first 11 months of her life trying to convince us that sleep is not necessary. All she proved however, was the contrary. When booking flights to Europe we thought we were probably headed back to a few months of sleeplessness. After all, travel is non-compatible with 2 naps a day and a set bed-time, not to mention a wee time difference! Awesomely, our wonderful princess daughter stepped up and has slept marvellously.

We throw everything at her. Weird foods at weird times. Set up her cot in the strangest places, including in cupboards, doorways and halfway under tables… She has learnt very quickly that the cot means it’s time to sleep, so that is what she does. While cycling along the Rhine she had to sit in a bike seat for the first time. At first she complained that she was “Stuck!”, but it wasn’t long and she worked out that this was just the new thing we did. She even fell asleep with her helmeted head bumping around against the bike seat arms and my backside. There are so many things we are doing differently every day. Our only routine is that we get up sometime, move around somehow, and eat a bit much along the way. We can’t even make up our minds which language to speak.

Our 19mo daughter is a champion. She’s my champion, and she is making travelling better, not worse. I have a very good excuse to try out a lot of different playgrounds. We can order another item from the menu which needs sharing of course. I can blame her for food stains on my clothes… But they are just small things. Anya is usually happy and she lets the world know about it. People coming towards us are often smiling, because they can see her süss little face and pigtails peering over my shoulder. She is delighted at the smallest things. It's amazing to watch her learning in a new playground, figuring out other kids, deciding that schnitzel is better than sauerkraut…

Myra does an amazing job keeping us organised. I’m not sure exactly what I do the best, but I have my part in our little ensemble. Meanwhile, the most resilient member of my little family has definitely earnt herself a lot of love, and I am oh-so-happy to give it to her.