Kaia 18 months

We had Kaia's 18 month appointment last week...here's how she "measured up" :)

Weight - 26 pounds (only 3 pounds more than her 12 month apt.) - 70% for weight! The doctor asked me if she ever sat still. You can guess what the answer was :)
Height - 34 inches long - 95% for height
Head - 18.75 inches - 75% for head circumference

This is sadly our last post on our blog for a while. We are packing up the computer tonight and we will be in transit for a few weeks!!! I took Kaia on a walk through our little town of Ensch for some last pictures. As you can see it is very beautiful and the vineyards are amazing! I am sad that she will not remember this place where she was born and spent the first year and a half of her life but I know we will be back to visit soon!

AIRPLANE

One of Kaia's FAVORITE toys is a Pan Am airplane that Kristian's parents got him when they both worked for Pan Am Airlines. Kaia sees it and signs "airplane" then flies it around the room making the airplane noises that her and her father have perfected. She likes to land it on the ottoman and once it comes to a stop, she smiles and signs "all done". It's too cute!

"Dada's" Day

We spent Father's Day enjoying our neighbor's company and sitting outside all day (grilled hamburgers and homemade ice cream was also nice) . Kaia was attached to Kristian as usual so capturing pictures of the two of them together wasn't anything new. Last year Kristian was gone for Father's Day so this was his first one with Kaia. We hope we get to spend many more with him at home!!!!

Day 1 - Car Trip and Neuschwanstein Castle

ROAD TRIP!!
Since we couldn't make Italy happen, we decided to go to Garmisch for four days.
We have been to Garmisch in the winter to ski but everyone raves about Bavaria in the Summer (Bavaria is the region of Germany that Garmisch is in). It was absolutely stunning. We had a great time and it really felt like we got a good fill of Germany before we head out in three weeks. This land is so amazing and we will forever miss it. It really has felt like home!
Please excuse all the landscape pictures (I know most of you only check out this blog for the Kaia pics) but everything was so pretty I couldn't stop snapping the camera.

Neuschwanstein Castle
This is one of the most famous castles in Germany. Right on the Germany and Austria border, this is the castle Walt Disney modeled his after. Ludwig never completed this castle in his lifetime but it was still quite impressive. Even though we couldn't take pics inside, the views from the windows were amazing (and we could take pics of that). The hike up to the castle was really fun (and a lot of work for K who backpacked with Kaia) and there were many shops along the way. Kaia's favorite was the horse drawn carriages. As the horses would pass, she would let out a "Naaahhhhhh" for everyone to hear!

For more history and info and pics visit:
http://www.neuschwanstein.com/english/index.htm

The Hotel
The Edelweiss Lodge and Resort is so nice! Our room was great, the food was delicious and it is the perfect place if you have kids...especially crazy ones that like to run! The view from our patio was simply breathtaking and K and I spent a lot of time outside enjoying the view and waiting for Kaia to fall asleep :)

Kaia in the Hotel
Kaia loved the Edelweiss resort! She made fast friends with everyone there. She smiled and laughed at everyone who she came across. She loved running up and down the LONG hallways and she signed "water" everytime we passed the waterfall at the front desk.

Day 2 - Biking and Lake Eibsee

Our Bike Ride
On Wednesday it wasn't raining so we rented bikes and a trailer for Kaia. Kaia really enjoyed riding and kept saying "wheeeeew" throughout the ride. We rode for 2 hours and got caught in the rain a couple times. The highlight of the trip, stopping to see the cows. Kaia no longer says "Baaahhh" when she sees a cow. It is "MOOOOOOO" and anytime she hears a cow bell she Mooos!! The cows here are so cute and all of them have a cow bell on so we had to get Kaia one as a souvenier!

Lake Eibsee
This is one of the lakes in the Garmisch area and it is so pretty!!!
We had such a good time hiking around it and Kaia LOVED the ducks! She quacked and tried to pet them.

Day 3 - Linderhof Castle

Linderhof Castle
This was apparently the only castle that Ludwig completed during his lifetime. The inside was UNBELIEVABLE (no pics allowed). It was a very nice tour despite Kaia throwing her binky everywhere and her parents being so nervous that she was going to break one of the 3,000 vases inside (which they made sure to tell us that our insurance company wouldn't cover any breakages before the tour began)!!
For more history/info on the Linderhof check out:
http://www.destination360.com/europe/germany/linderhof-castle.php

After visiting the castle and enjoying our 3 days in the Bavarian region of Germany, Kristian really got into the German mood (all he needed was an Alp horn - and believe me, if he would have seen one, he would have bought it!!). Here are some fun pics!!!

Day 4 - Munich Germany

Munich
Despite a little rain, we had such a good time shopping and sight seeing in Munich!

Hofbrauhaus House
Definitely the highlight of our trip to Munich! We did all the typical German things....eat pretzels, drink German beer, dance to some German music and eat brats and sauerkraut...oh yeah, we also sang some "Omm pa-pa's" with some drunk tourists :)

Kristian in mourning

I think Kristian was a little sad that our Bavaria trip had ended! I wish that this photo had background music because you would hear traditional German music playing from the cd we bought at the Hofbrauhaus in the background!! :)

Kaia 18 Months

As you can see we have our hands full!! Although she is VERY busy and active and RARELY slows down, she is such a loving and sweet baby. She constantly hugs and kisses us and has a true love for "mamadada" which has become one word and her favorite thing to say! She is talking up a storm and still loves to communicate through sign language.

Gestern (yesterday)

Kaia was being super silly (not that that is any different from any other day) so I started shooting as usual. She also thinks that climbing is the greatest thing now...I thought we had escaped that milestone but IT'S HERE (she climbed on top of her dresser to read books and as you can see her new favorite place to sit is on top of the ottoman!!).



SHE'S 18 MONTHS TODAY!!!!! More pics to come!

Where Daddy goes, Kaia goes! What Daddy eats, Kaia eats!

It is almost like watching a miniture Kristian following him around (his own "mini-me"). She LOVES her Daddy and when he is home, no one else matters! The first thing she says when she wakes up is "Dada" and it's usually the last thing she says before falling asleep. Her whole face lights up when he walks through the door after work and she laughs non stop at everything he does. They are truly adorable together!

Fun Ones

Sadie and Kaia have become good friends. She likes to sit on the couch with Kaia (when she is still which isn't often) and cuddle up with her. She doesn't mind the first couple of kisses Kaia tries to give her but after about the 6th one, she is over it :)