As is always the case on vacation, it comes to an end. On our last day in Australia we encountered a rainy cold day. We started our morning having brunch with the Grossman's at our hotel. Siena and Mia played and colored. They had a baby-cino (cappucino without the coffee) and then played with baby Naltalie. Afterwards, and between the rain drops, we took another tram ride to the city and looked around. We visited Federation Square and then wandered around taking in the city. With a little energy burned off, we headed back to pack up and get ready for our flight the next day.
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| Baby-cino |
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| Mia and Daddy |
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| Coloring |
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| Relaxing Together - Mia, Natalie and Siena |
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| Holding Natalie's Hand |
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| Debi and Natalie |
Our trip was absolutely wonderful. Lisa did an amazing job of making sure our trip was well planned out and that the special events and sights were all captured. We saw an amazing new country and continent. We found Nemo. Lisa and I ate what will likely be one of the best meals of our lives. We swam at the Great Barrier Reef, hiked through rainforests and collected sea shells on our Magic Beach. We enjoyed two of the world’s most lovely cities. We made new friends in a faraway place. We rubbed the Porcellino’s nose. We simply took in so many special sights and experiences.
Our little girl is now officially a world traveler. She has been to 3 continents, 4 countries and has taken a few flights over 14 hours in length. By age two she has traveled, logged more air miles and seen more places than I did in my first 30 years of life. She will have some great pictures to look at as she grows older. She will no doubt want to go back and do some of these things again one day. Through it all she has been a great travel companion, no small feat for a 2 year old.
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| Federation Square |
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| A mode of transportation we didn't use this trip |
But at the end of it all, the best part of our vacation was that we spent time together as a family. For 14 days we spent all our time together and we grew closer and bonded in wonderful new ways. It seemed hard to explain when the trip ended, but a few weeks later as I write this final blog posting from our trip, it is very clear that Siena grew so much and in so many ways, not the least of which, was in her love for mommy and daddy.
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| Always smiling |
For me, I don’ think I have spent 14 straight days with my daughter just enjoying her and getting to know her since she was born. What an amazing little girl I have.
For both Lisa and I, being away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life where we could share more time with Siena provide us a chance to teach her things, learn more about her and most importantly enjoy her. Since our trip, Siena has begun talking more than ever before, she told us all the things she saw on her vacation as they happened and we learned how to understand all the things she was saying. I can still here her saying “looky look” as she pointed to the world going by and identified new sights. She grabbed our hands and dragged us to things she wanted us to see. She stopped, she stared, she studied and she asked us to tell her what she was seeing.
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| Looky Look |
Siena met children throughout our trip and was playful and friendly with all of them. She seemed to smile constantly using her little smile to light up every day. Siena now regularly asks for family hugs everyday and she gets them. In Melbourne Siena said “I Love You Mommy” for the first time, what an awesome memory that will be for all of us. (Daddy had to wait until we got back to California for his first “I Love You”, but it is something so special to hear it that I didn’t mind waiting a few more weeks). I don’t think it was an accident that Siena spoke those words, I truly believe she understands what love is now and that she has that in our family. Of all the things Lisa and I will ever teach Siena, teaching her how to be loving and caring may be one of the greatest things we can show her.
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| Packy Me Up |
I am already excited thinking about our next trip and when I can get more time with my family. I love my wife. I adore my daughter. My family is the most amazing thing in the world. Our vacation was pretty great too.
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| Such A Big Girl Now |
