Pint sized pleasures

With every child, a re-set button. A family "start again" switch that begins the moment that little stick comes back with two straight lines. The re-set is a do-over in all things: the happy [first smile, first tooth, the wonderful cuddles and coos], the dull [picking up bite-sized bits of food off the floors of "family friendly" restaurants, the interest in baby excrement as a window into baby's health] and the awful [sleepless nights and nights, the constant scan for choking-sized objects, the inflexibility of an infant].

Our decision to spend the beginning of this summer in Europe was a family "thumb of our noses" at that re-set button. After all, if we wait until Rachel, now 10 months, is ready for real adventure, then Maddy, now 9-years-old, will be ready for high school. Plus, Michael and I have been in a little bit of a holding pattern for nine years, and it was time to do something different. Many friends have asked me, "how can you travel across the world with four young children?"; my answer: how can I not?

But, a catch. While Michael and I have spent the past nine years going through baby and baby and baby, this is Rachel's first go around. And sometimes she lets us know: enough.

Last week, on our fabulous adventure to Varazze, we pushed Rachel a bit. Unfortunatly, on the night before our arrival, Rachel became sick with a very high fever, and by the time we reached Varazze it was clear we had a sick kid. But, there was no time for a sick kid: we were ready to have fun with the Italian side of the family. A big party was planned, and lots of great times ahead! So... we kept her up for the marvelous party [she finally fell asleep at 11:00 pm after a dose of Tylenol and Advil and a lot of walking about with me]; I said no to my siser-in-law's offers of a high chair ["It's just for a couple of days - let's not go to the trouble!" I said with a laugh]; and naps? ["She'll nap in the stroller! She'll be fine!" I said as I waved away cares with my hand]. Of course, she was fine, and she trooped through it all, but by the last night in Varazze, enough was enough. Rachie woke up every half hour to nurse, and she left with a rash all over her body, tired and red eyes, and a continuation of her [now low-grade] fever.

Two days "home" in Toscolano-Moderno, and we finally have our little one back. Normal nap times, properly mashed up food fed in a proper high chair, and asleep in her crib by 7:00, Rachel is happy and healthy again. Seeing her blossom at "home" we knew: Venice was off. Our plan to celebrate Michael's 40th birthday in grand [or at least semi-nice] Venetian style was off the books for the Braun gang. Taking the car 45 minutes to Brescia, then taking a two hour train ride to Venice, then hopping from one water taxi to another....just to walk around the historic city of Venice...is for parents without infants. We have already asked so much of her.

So, we are stuck a little with a baby's routine. But, I'll tell you: it's a glorious thing. What a unique way to see a country! In the time some people see most of Europe ["Ten countries in ten days!"], we are becoming part of this little town. Yesterday, the grocer asked Michael's name and today I was addressed as Segnora Braun; we have our favorite ice cream place [having had the time to try all the ones around here, and there are many]; the old ladies who seem to walk around as much as we do now address me when they see us; I know the city inside and out and am even beginning to notice when flower beds change around town. And, really, we don't do much. Especially when Michael is working, we shop for food [Maddy went today and bought some things by herself: you'd think she'd won the lotto she was so happy], we try and speak Italian, we have little day trips [around Rachel's naps], I have had oodles of quality time with the other kids, and I get to be a mother here. Of course, all of this is a less intellectual experience than one could have[a seeming consequence of motherhood], but it is satisfying nonetheless. We have gone deep, and I have little Rachie to thank.