The Bellydancer

I went out to dinner tonight with my Grampsy, Gran Lyla, Aunty Peta, Unca Rambo, Aunty Jen, and Aunty Lauren. Ate some mezze. Then i learned some wicked moves from te resident bellydancer. I showed her a few of my moves to. Keep a look out at Efes One for the bellydancer doing my patented stomping pirouette.

Big Girl

Breaking News ....
I visited daycare today (M was asleep) to check how M is going. Ai, the group leader this week as Suzanne is away, told me that M did a wee on the toilet! She's noticed one of the other toddlers doing wees on the loo, and today wanted to do one, too. Ai was changing her nappy, when M pointed to the toilet. Ai asked her if she wanted to go on the toilet, M nodded, and when she got there, she did a wee.
First very, very, very small step towards bladder control and toileting!

Germany pics

We visited Mummy's former host family, the Reinekes in Essen. Dieter and Inge picked us up from the Duesseldorf airport, and took us home to their house for dinner - yummy chicken soup followed by potato salad and sausage. A bit of wine (for the adults) from Lichti winemaker to wash it down with. We spent most of the weekend enjoying the luckily BEAUTIFUL weather in the backyard, and Matilda escaping next door to play with Carlo and his little play house (haueschen).

Inge provided lots of yummy food, as always, and Guido was able to come back for the weekend to meet Matilda. Dieter also loved playing with Matilda, and took us all to Gruga park on Saturday to some special play areas for Matilda to discover. Vielen Schoenen Dank Dieter, Inge, und Guido. Mwa! from Matilda (kuesschen).

Watering the garden with Inge

Cuddles with Inge after breakfast on Sunday morning

Joachim, Brigitte, and their dog Nele joined us for breakfast in the garden on Sunday morning. Dieter helped Matilda become friends with Nele.

Shwing Guido blocks (from Carlo next door's old toys)

Sweeping the ground ... that really was clean enough!

Italy pics

Checking out the pigeons in St Mark's Square, Venice

Dancing with Samuel from the US in St Mark's Square

About to head off on a walking tour around a little bit of Venice ...

Mmmm ... Gelato from Captain Cono!

Finally, a bonus for travelling with a baby in a stroller, we were able to use lifts a fair bit through the Vatican Museum, and this one had seats! How posh!

Matilda's room in the Aurealia Residence, Rome. We were upgraded to a two bedroom apartment! We had probably more living space in that apartment than in our upstairs at home.

On the carousel in Florence. The carousel runs 24x7.

Not happy getting off the carousel and being told you can't get back on ...

Matilda Lisa?!

St. Peter's Basilica, Rome

Researching what to do next after St. Peter's, while Mum and Dad talk to a nice American bloke.

Dance time!

Kid magnet ON at the Vatican Museum

A dog Matilda is happy to pat at the front

First proper taste of Gelato (refused ice cream in Paris, and at home until now). Eating Daddy's pistachio flavoured gelato.

Meeting the other monkeys at Rome Zoo

Meeting kids at Rome Zoo, on International Matilda Day (as declared by M's parents)

Chasing pigeons in St Peter's Square

Asleep ... can't remember where or why ... but who cares?

A couple more France pics

Matilda enjoyed sitting in the little seat in the bath at the Amiens Novotel

We found a fun playground near the Amiens Cathedral, where Matilda and Daddy played while Mummy washed our clothes in the laundromat.

Yummy food bribery on the way to Paris after our days in the Somme. Matilda was very much OVER driving in the car by this stage.

Farewell Merry Old England

Apparently its tme to leave England and Europe. I've had a fabulous time. Anymore Salt amd Vinegar chips?

Arriverderci Rome, Better Luck Next Time Paula

We said goodbye today to Rome and headed to Florence. Had an absolutely marvellous time staying at our apartment. Even if Daddy was a total space cadet with a head cold. Paula from reception made us really welcome. She thought I was wonderful and told me how she was going to eat me up. Mummy and Daddy kept telling me that was a metaphor. But I fooled her and escaped on her day off. See you next time Paula.