...walkin' in a winter wonderland...

So this post isn't exactly about Mark... but Ben, Mark, and I went on a short weekend get-away to Garmisch (which is in the German Alps), and I thought you might enjoy seing some pictures!

We got lots of rest together, despite some nights during which Mark decided he needed to eat every 2-3 hours. We enjoyed the delicious German breakfast, took naps, went swimming, had coffee and cake in a German cafe, and hiked in the snow together. We walked around the Eibsee, which is a beautiful mountain lake at the foot of the Zugspitze. See for yourself how gorgeous it was...

We were there with Ben's Dad, Larry, in October 2005 (when I was pregnant with Mark already, but didn't know it yet!). That time it was Autumn, with bright yellow leaves and turquoise water.

This time it had snowed quite a bit, but it wasn't too windy, so the hike was pleasant. It took about 2.5 hours, and was absolutely breathtakingly beautiful! Mark slept most of the time, bundled in a snow suit, and tied onto Ben's tummy. Anyway. Here are some pictures I took while we hiked.


I like how the snowy branches frame this view of the lake.

I think I will watercolor this picture...

Ben especially liked this view, with the sun glinting on the water through the clouds.

Mark is almost too heavy for me to carry him like this for
very long... but Ben didn't mind one bit, and Mark loved it!

All the pictures were taken in color... they look black-and-white though!

Here is the view from the highest point of the hike.

Getting into EVERYTHING

Why hello there! Uhm, yeah. I am helping my Momma clean. That is my story, and I am sticking to it!

My Momma hasn't had time to take a lot of pictures, among other things because she is busy keeping me out of trouble! Yes Sir! I have reached that age! To get an idea of how fast I can scoot/crawl now, I got from one end of the room (where my Momma had put me and my toys) to the other end (where there was a very interesting trash can filled with all sorts of goodies!) in the time it took my Momma to load and start the washing machine today.
I have also learned the valuable skill of "fishing." Possible locations to apply this skill are: the top of the couch while lying on the floor, underneath the couch, anything behind a person's shoulder while they are holding me and not paying attention (several plants on various window sills have found a fast demise this way), my Momma's backpack that she left open (which I understand as an invitation), or any other place I can reach into where I am not sure in advance what my grabby little hands will find! Another method of "fishing" is to pull on any cable I find, and see what is on the other end! Most educating!

That's right. I found my Dad's hiking stick. How do you like my pole-jumping pose?

That's it for now. I got tired of chewing on my Momma's (freshly showered) big toe, and am now unfolding the laundry she folded a few minutes ago...

Being a Marsupial

Sorry that it has been a while since the last post... my Momma and Dad have been busy! Last weekend, we were on a mini-vacation with some friends in Bad Herrenalb in the Black Forest! We all (9 of us) stayed in a cute bead-and-breakfast type place, and relaxed, hiked, went swimming, ate good food and enjoyed the time together. On our hike, my Dad got to carry me in my Mayan wrap for the first time! I loved it! It wasn't as soft and cuddly as when my Momma carries me... (my Dad has rock-hard abs) but I was waaaaaayyy high in the air! And I got a good-sized nap, too.

In this picture you only see my hat... I am fast asleep. My Dad is making a silly face because he doesn't like posing for pictures.

This is me chilling out with Dad after my nap. My Momma thought Dad looked funny with a rucksack on his back, and me on his front. Nothing funny about that. I thought it was JUST RIGHT!

This is me getting dedicated at church on January 7.

Oh yeah. And this is me flirting with my Momma. Right after this, she tried to video me flirting and being cute. Instead she got a video of me spitting up on the rug and slapping my hand in it! Haha! I am definitely my father's son! (He has never spit up on video, but he enjoys foiling my Momma's attempts to get nice pictures of him). Yeah, I know. My smile is still toothless. Haven't felt any teething pains in a while, maybe I won't ever get teeth? My Momma sure doesn't mind, at least as long as she is nursing me...!

More about the "Gkeeh" and me!

So I still am not able to sit without holding on to something... the doctor said this is nothing to worry about; that this is because I am so tall, so my torso is long, and with my heavy head on top, it is more difficult for me to balance! Also, because I love moving/wiggling/scooting/rolling around so much, the doctor said that I am probably just not interested in sitting still.

BUT in further news, my Momma and Dad are pretty sure that I now have a first word. Yes, I know. This is early. And guess what the word is? It is "Gkeeh!" ...which I say again and again when the kitty is in view. I wave my little arms towards him and say "Gkeeh!" At first my Momma thought that this must just be a coincidence. But it has happened often enough now that they think I am intentionally saying it.

I love the kitty, and he loves me. Playing with him is almost as fun as playing with my Dad or my Momma!

Here I am touching the tips of his whiskers. It makes him shake is head and sneeze.

Kisses anyone? Ohhhhhh, yummy! Kitty fuzz! Yep, yep, I love our "Gkeeh!"

Crawl - Roll - Scoot - Roll - Scoot

My little world is expanding! My Momma has given up putting a blanket down for me to play on... because it only takes me a few moments to roll, scoot, or CRAWL off of it! I am still not very good at crawling... I can get my tummy and butt off of the ground and into the crawling position, but I usually only go about two crawl-steps before collapsing back onto the ground. At the very least, this gets me to move forward though!
I am getting very creative: if I see a toy that is out of my reach, I first try to stretch and reach it. If I can't, I get it by a combination of rolling, scooting, and my brand-new crawling skills. This is fun!
Hi! You were calling my name? Sure, I will smile!
Ooooooooh... I know these two people! I am getting better at turning the pages. I don't have to just wave the book around to have the pictures change. Sometimes it is upside-down, but that doesn't bother me.
Of course I haven't forgotten that books continue to be delicious.
Quick! Take a picture before I collapse!
Yep, I am definitely my Dad's son... this mouse is one of my favorite toys!

My Kitty-friend Merlin

Well, first a short update from the food-sector: I have decided that I really LIKE eating "real" food for lunch! My current favorite is mashed rice with carrots or pumpkin. I eat TWO portions worth of it, and am then so full that my Momma doesn't even have to nurse me at lunch anymore! When I see my Momma mixing my food, I make little fish-mouth movements, and let her know I am happy by waving my arms and laughing. I have tried some noodles, and nibbled on some stale bread crust, too.


So here I am in my baby bouncer, which my Momma or Dad put me into to feed me, because I can't sit up yet on my own. I have already eaten, and as soon as my Dad finished feeding me, the kitty plopped down where he had sat. Oh boy, do I love the kitty! Whenever he comes near me, I get excited and laugh, and I like watching him... but nothing is quite as fun as cuddling him!

When I am feeling cuddly, I rub my head on people. Well, when I rub my head on the kitty, he rubs back! My Momma sometimes has to get fuzz out of my mouth afterwards... but that doesn't stop me from trying to lick him...
Uh oh. All this grabbing the kitty's belly fur might not be such a good idea afterall. Look at my hands. They are furry! Am I turning into a kitty, too?

Oh, he is soooooo soft... *grab*
*giggle* Heheh, that tickles! Stop licking my forehead, kitty!



Well, that's it for today, folks! Hope you have all had a good start into the year of 2007!!!