Nick and Jess were consummate hosts - from collecting me at the airport (where I was delighted to surprise them with the news of my pregnancy), to introducing me to some of Melbourne's best nooks and crannies, to morning coffee in their gorgeous backyard, to wandering around an indoor market, to an evening at the footy! They also gave me excellent suggestions of places to check out while they were at work.
I don't mean to be inanely repetitive, but the joy and freedom I felt by being able to get around unencumbered by a pram and an 18-month-old was truly wonderful. Suddenly small boutiques, shops with ornaments or potentially breakable items on display, trams, cafes, and general aimless meandering on my part became accessible options. Don't get me wrong - Margaux was significantly on my mind; I was just enjoying some 'me' time.
I had a delightful catch-up with my cousin Alison and her son Levi at a quaint little cafe just around the corner from Jess and Nick's place. It was so lovely to spend some quality time with her, especially as she wasn't able to attend the upcoming brunch we had planned.
The above-mentioned brunch was held at Aunt Jane and Uncle Maurice's place in rural Victoria. There was a lovely group of one aunt, one uncle, seven cousins, and four niblings (apparently it's the collective noun for nieces and nephews, not a snack). What started as brunch turned into a day-long celebration of family, which was absolutely perfect. Of course I couldn't tell them about my pregnancy, even though I was dying to share the news!
After an uneventful flight home that evening I was more than ready to give my little Poppette a cuddle.
It turns out she had had an absolute blast with her Aussie grandparents... check out the photos from this post back for proof! Thankfully she was very happy to see me, too.
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