A Picture Holiday

It was ever so cold when we set out in the middle of the night but our little girl, all bundled up nicely for her first holiday, first flight, first christmas, was all warm and content, and on her best behavious. Not one wah on the plane either. What proud parents we were!


What followed was a wonderful time, full of people, friends and family, to hold Tari, and free Mummy's and Daddy's time and hands up. There were so many of them!


So what does Mummy do with free time and free hands? Put her feet up and grab a glass of wine? Exactly.


We met Martha from the other blog as well. Yes, she's real, all flesh, blood, smiles and little pats on Tara's head; not just a virtual character, weird as that seemed at first.


Positively adventurous: Tara's first proper swimming session in a posh lukewarm salt water bath. She loved it - particularly the bit where mum and dad don't want her to keep licking the salty water off her hands in case it kills her. Positively hilarious: mummy licking across her face.


The second time round Tara just caught a cold. Didn't kill her either, though. Neither did the salt water she kept insisting on licking off everything and everybody.


What follows in the build-up to the big event is a visit to the toy shop. Tara, sadly but cheaply, sleeps through it. Will she repeat that mistake in years to come?


The big day arrives (they always do). Tara assists Claudia in getting die bunten Teller ready, there are so many sweets to share out - odd, really, given the fact that mummy had been raiding the secret supplies for days on end, and her appetites are ravenous.


Presents, hurray! Santa Claus has generously shopped in Germany and Spain (See? sleeping through the toy show didn't actually do anyone any harm! It can be repeated in years to come!). At some point through the ceremony mummy realises that she has forgotten all Tara's presents upstairs, and they are not wrapped either. But never mind - all Tara really wants for Christmas is...


... the wrapping materials! Indeed - we seem to feel quite passionate about plastic bags!...

...and won't let go of our beautiful slobbery dripping wet bag whatever we do for the rest of the night (here: studying a map of the world with Opa Didi). Jingle Bells, jingle bells, plastic bags are great!


Aaaawww... I think all we want for Christmas is a new baby every year. So cuddle, so cosy, are they collectible?

Now, a few days after the event, and mummy has successfully raided all the bunte Teller. We need new sweet supplies - and what else could we want but more and more and more banana cake still? So banana cake it is! Just perfect when you're working so hard at rolling over with Kerstin down south.


All good things end (they always do). So back home we go, and little Christmas mouse Tara does come with us, a fully experienced travel baby now. And see the new plastic bag? Mum and dad have leart a trick or two about entertaining baby when friends and family are not around to help.