We're all going on a summer holiday

On the 24th August Ryan and I set out on a journey that we started planning at the start of the year. Many people told us were were crazy to set out travelling with such a little baby but we (despite having never had a baby, let alone travelled with one) told them they were wrong and everything would be sweet as. Well I'm pleased to say that we were right and everything was fine and I would even recommend travelling with a new baby.

Abbey had her passport photo taken at two days old - unfortunately for her she will be stuck with this picture for the next 5 yrs. And the passport arrived the week before we were to leave. We took with us a travel cot, baby car seat, buggy, nappies, baby clothes etc etc. I was sure I would forget something but I think if anything we may have taken too much. Abbey had so many beautiful summer dresses and with the English summer not looking at improving this seemed to be the only use they may get. At this age she didn't need a truck load of toys and it was great that we didn't have to worry about her running off anywhere.

I did wonder how she would take the heat and how my boobs would survive not only the need for extra hydration but also the 6wk growth spurt Abbey was likely to go through. We attempted before we left to get her to take cooled boiled water from a bottle but she has not been keen and still isn't. We survived and we did our best to keep her as much out of the sun as possible to avoid her getting too hot. In the process we ourselves returned from three weeks in the sun looking like pasty white brits... but hey, with a bit of luck we'll have less chance of skin cancer.

Flying - no problems here the flights were just under three hours and she slept most of the way. She didn't seem disturbed at takeoff or landing and wasn't interested as i did what i was told and tried feeding her to stop her ears from blocking.

I was grateful that on the return trip we had a spare seat next to us so when it came to changing her I just used the change mat and did it on the seat next to us. On the way over I had taken her to the toilet and used the fold down bench but it was quite a task. As you'll know there's not much room in airplane toilets and there's certainly even less when you're trying to change a baby. Our mums can recount numerous places where Abbey has had her nappy changed not all of them entirely appropriate but when your child has poo leaking out her nappy and down her leg and you're at the top of the dome of St Peter's Basilica what can you do!
Buggy - My mum brought a NZ Mountain Buggy over with her which has so far served us well. When looking at buggies we discovered that it would be cheaper for us to buy one in NZ and for my mum, with the extra baggage allowance, bring it over with her.

The mountain buggy was great at the Plitvice Lakes where we walked on kilometers of boardwalks, through the streets of Split and Dubrovnik and Rome. The sunshield a must, the rain shield thankfully not needed.

Sling - We took the trusty sling with us and it certainly was handy. In cities with many stairs - like Dubrovnik where there was 537 between the town and our accommodation not to mention the 700 along the city walls, on the mountian in Medjugorje and through the streets of Pompeii the buggy just wasn't suitable and we needed to have the option of carrying her with ease. I discovered one day as we walked the walls of the Old Town in Dubrovnik that she could sit quite nicely over my bag on my hip. She seems to be a lot more content when she can see what's going on and so we've got to master the front pack style of the sling.

Feeding:

I have to say I was totally grateful the Abbey and I have worked out this breastfeeding business. Without it I think travelling with her would have been just that bit harder. Being able to feed her when she needed it and not having to sterilise bottles along the way was a real blessing. Subsequently she seems to be so used to the breast now that I'm a little worried about how long it's going to take to get her used to the bottle again.

One of many photos taken of Abbey and I having a 'tit stop' -this one beside one of the canals in Venice.