Welcome Back!

We have returned from our trip to Australia, and Babykins officially has stamps in her passport.  It was a great trip, and Babykins once again reminded us why she's the best baby in the world.  Not only are we proud of the things she did - smiled and cooed at friends and family, napped like a champ, ate her first bites of chicken, and behaved beautifully while being babysat - we're also proud of the things she didn't do.

First and foremost, unlike all of the other babies around us on the plane ride home, Babykins did not throw up.  After having toddlers in the rows directly in front and behind us do some serious throwing up, I've never been so proud of Babykins ability to keep her food in her tummy.  She also avoided public meltdowns and held off on developing stranger anxiety and crawling abilities (two milestones that often pop up around this age) while traveling in another country and on small, enclosed planes.

Thank you for a fabulous trip, Babykins!  You were brave, well-behaved, and (as one soon-to-be father put it) a good advertisement for having kids.  As a reward, we're giving you 17 days of R&R before we test you one more time on the flight to Pennsylvania.

She Comes from a Land Down Under

Our little Babykins is Australmerican - half Australian, half American.  After 7 months of living in the U.S., we have taken her on her first trip to Australia.  On Friday we packed up our gear (all 3 of us packing into just 2 carry-ons and 2 personal items, thanks very much) and boarded Hawaiian Airlines for a 10 hour flight.

Here I have to admit...Babykins was by far the best baby on the plane!  She had a minor melt down toward the end of the flight, but after 10 straight hours stuffed into small seats and breathing recycled air, I was about ready to melt down, as well (although I managed not to cry).

Since arriving, she's met many of Hubbykins friends, along with new aunts, uncles, cousins, and her great-grandma.  She's been having a lovely time introducing herself to a new set of adoring subjects.  Who knew it could be so wonderful to have a set of, as Auntie MO would call them, minions on both sides of the globe.

This taste of travel has given Babykins a new inkling of her ability to slowly dominate the world, one cute smile at a time.  With the U.S. and Australia thoroughly conquered, she's starting to eye up small European countries.  Watch your back, Kate Middleton - Babykins has discovered it's nice to be Queen :)