Our Walks in Weil

Our village here in Germany, Weil im Schonbuch, has the most beautiful walking trails. Jeff, Lily and I try to walk every day and enjoy the beautiful scenery in our town. Kastor especially loves the wide open fields. He can run and chase the ball for hours. He also gets to meet and greet all the German pooches. Here are some photos of our walks over the last few months. Lily is so energetic, we don't even bother to bring the stroller anymore. She just walks everywhere and manages to keep up. She even has her very own "chuck-it jr." so she can be just like here daddy and throw balls for Kastor. She does really well on our walks, she even knows her way straight to the playground. Our only difficulty is getting her to leave the playground and walk back home. The weather has been so beautiful this week (in the high 60's) so we've been out a lot enjoying the trails and sunny weather. We are trying to soak up every last minute of our time here in Germany.

Lily's Big Girl Bed

Well, the time has officially come. We would love to see our little monkey confined in her crib for a little longer, but with baby P2 arriving soon we had to start the transition. On Saturday March 24th we decided to take the big step and start moving Lily into her new room and into a "big girl bed."

Our office was on the third floor next to Lily's nursery so we decided to move it down to the first floor into the guest room and put Lily in the office closer to our room. Getting the office cleaned out and moved was a big task, but it's finally done. We only have a few more months in this house before we pack out (either July or August) so we decided to just set Lily up with the basics in her new room. That was REALLY hard for me to do as I am in a complete nesting stage and wanted to go crazy with paint, decorations and new furniture. However, my very practical husband reminded me there would be time for all of that in Virginia. Doing it now would truly be a waste of our time and money. So....we were very fortunate to have some sweet friends give us a twin bed (complete with bedding) for Lily. Here are some pictures of Jeff and Lily setting it up. We also brought up the guestroom dresser and bought a small bookshelf and shelf from IKEA. It is very functional at this point and of course, I have added a few little girl touches.

As of today, we are still finishing up the room. All her clothes are in the drawers and closet and all her toys and other items have been moved from the nursery. We are trying to do everything in her new room (getting dressed, reading, diaper changes) to help her transition. She lays on her "new bed" and reads books, but she is not sleeping in there yet. Jeff still need to install a shade for the very large window so we can darken it up a little in there. She is use to sleeping in pitch black because of the wonderful German roladins (shades).

We also have been busy getting ready for baby. We have organized , washed and put away all the 0-3 month clothes and are freshening up the nursery. It's looking a little bare these days with out all of Lily's items in there. It's been kind of a sad transition for me, as I know Lily is no longer a baby. However, I'm excited that she is independent and will be able to help Mama with the new baby. She is also such a ball of fun now that she is chatting up a storm. I guess it's good I'll have a new little snuggle bug to fill my need for baby time.

With only eight weeks left, Jeff and I are feeling a little more organized. We still need to prepare the crib once Lily is transitioned to her new bed and get out the swing and other baby items. We just want to wait a little longer as we're sure Lily will find a way to make all the baby items her personal jungle gym. I will post more pictures of Lily's room once we complete the last few items on the to-do -list. Just keep your fingers crossed that Lily can figure out this whole big girl bed without too much trouble.

The Kouhoupt's in Germany!

My sister, Aaron and Cailyn arrived on Sunday March 11th, for a two week vacation in Germany. We were so happy to see them on our side of the pond. The only downside, the two weeks flew by so quickly. Despite a few colds, we all had a great time hanging out together.

The first week was very full. Cailyn adjusted to the time change quite well, better than her Mommy and Daddy at least! We started the week out with some local site seeing. We mostly relaxed, let the girls play and took them to the park in our village. Lily and Cailyn played so well together, they were two peas in a pod.

On Tuesday March 13th, April and Aaron flew off for three romantic days in Paris, France (I'll post pics when April sends me some). They had a fabulous time visiting the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame, the Champs-Elysees and much more. They even took an evening boat cruise around the city. Paris with out a toddler is much more romantic. However, we were having just as much fun back here in Deutschland. We hosted a playgroup with seven kids, attended Kindermusik class and did some fun arts and crafts projects. Cailyn hardly noticed her Mommy and Daddy were gone we were so busy. Well, except for the occasional "Why did my Mommy and Daddy go to Paris?" question. She was truly an angel while April and Aaron were away and we were so happy to have quality time with our niece.


April and Aaron arrived back just in time for the annual Stuttgart Spring Bazaar. It's a yearly bazaar (market) with vendors from all over the world. April and Aaron bought some really cool pieces, including a chess set from England and some Polish Pottery. I also bought more pottery, Italian wine and a new piece of furniture for the house. Jeff and I were sad to see the bazaar come and go as it will be our last one.

Unfortunately, Lily came down with a really bad chest cold so we had to cancel or weekend trip to Garmisch and Castle Neuschwanstein. We insisted April, Aaron and Cailyn still take the day trip to the castle, as it is one of the most beautiful sites in Germany. They decided to go on Sunday and lucked out with beautiful weather. They toured the castle, hiked to the bridge for a magnificent view of the castle and enjoyed the local sites. They had a great time. We felt really bad we couldn't go with them but our Lilybug was just way too sick.

The second week Cailyn caught Lily's cold so the girls were a little more home bound. The first week we had beautiful Spring weather, but the second week Winter reared it's ugly head and we received more snow. We decided that we would just stay in and let the girls get better.

Monday night we hired a baby sitter and the four of us went to the local Mineral Therm. It's a large complex or indoor and outdoor mineral pools. It is very relaxing. The four of us had a great time swimming and just enjoying some adult time. We ended the evening with some dessert and good conversation.

On Tuesday April and Aaron watched Lily for the day so Jeff and I could take a day trip to Munich. We had been wanting to tour Dachau (WWII concentration camp turned into a Memorial site) for a while, but didn't want to do it with Lily. It was a sobering and very emotional experience. After we toured Dachau, we drove into the city and enjoyed a very leisurely dinner at the Ratskeller. The food and company were wonderful. Thanks for a great day honey!!
On Wednesday, April and Aaron took the same trip to Munich while I stayed home with the girls. They also toured Dachau and then did some site seeing around Munich. April said that she really loved Munich and wished she had more time to spend there.

Thursday we spent the day shopping for Ritter Sport and Beer Steins. It was hard to believe that their time here in Germany was already over. Friday morning we awoke to a snow storm so Jeff drove them to Frankfurt to catch their flight. It was sad to see them go, as we had had such a great time being together for two weeks. Did I mention, we also played cards a few nights? The four of us are die hard card players so it was a real treat.

Thanks so much April, Aaron and Cailyn for taking the long trip and spending time with us here in Germany. We had a blast!!
We love and miss you!

31 Weeks and Counting

Well, I am finally in the home stretch. Less than nine weeks until our new baby girl arrives. Things have been hectic with this pregnancy, but I still feel blessed to be experiencing the miracle of life again. I won't lie, with nausea, headaches, the stomach bug and finally a massive chest cold, the last 8 months have been very difficult on me (and Jeff). I am ready to have this baby and get back to myself. I know all the difficulties are worth it, as I will have a new little bundle of joy to smoother with love very soon. Jeff and Lily have been so wonderful this entire pregnancy. Jeff has spoiled me with back and foot massages, and he always knows when I need a big bowl of ice cream to cheer me up. Lily has been really sweet too. She kisses my belly and says "baby". She also says "big sister" but she still isn't sure why Mommy's belly keeps getting bigger and bigger.

Jeff and I have finally started getting ready for the baby. No name for sure yet, but we have been transitioning Lily out of her crib and onto a big girl bed. We have also been slowly getting out all the infant stuff and freshening up the nursery. The great thing about another girl...we're all ready. Lily's clothes are even the right season so P2 will be showered with lots of hand-me-downs.
I wish I could post some 3D ultrasound pictures, but she wasn't cooperating at our visit. She was using my placenta as a pillow so the doc couldn't get a clear shot of her face. We are going to try again in a few weeks so hopefully we'll have some pictures to share. Other than that, everything looks great. She is moving around and kicking like crazy. Dr. Voss says she already weighs around 5 lbs....no small babies for me. I have started the CTG (monitoring of the baby's heartbeat) and attending the doctor's every two weeks. The time is really starting to fly now....finally!!

Lily at 23 Months

Here is a snapshot of Lily at 23 Months. She is such a busy little girl as always. Jeff and I are amazed every day with her growing vocabulary and independence. Here are some highlights of Lily:
-She has a head full of Shirley Temple curls, but always pulls out her barrettes
-She is a good eater, but doesn't eat as much as she once did. She usually eats a mixture of fruits, veggies, meats, pasta and bread. However her favorites are fruits (apples and mandarins are her favorite), spaghetti, pancakes, noodles, peanuts, mac and cheese and hot dogs. Of course she LOVES sweets too. She especially loves cookies and cupcakes.
-She almost speaks in sentences
-She loves her bath and asks to take one every night
-She still sleeps in her crib, but we just set up her big girl bed this weekend and we're working on transitioning her over
-She can count to 13 well, but throws in 17 and 18 at the end
-She can almost sing her ABC's unassisted. She especially loves to sing them with others
-She can jump....and wants to do it every where
-She loves to sing songs. Her favorites: ABC's, Twinkle Twinkle, any Wiggles song, Itsy Bitsy Spider, The Wheels on the Bus
-She attends Kindermusik, playgroup and play dates weekly and loves the social interaction. She plays and shares well.
- She doesn't like to listen to Mommy when I say "no"
-Her buddies include, Anika, Gabi, Jacob, Solden, Wyatt, Emily, Jon, Amelia and Truman
-She can be VERY deviant at times
-She is not potty trained yet, but talks about the potty and likes sitting on it
-Her favorite books are Polar Bear, Polar Bear, PJ Time, Wiggles Story Book, Goodnight Moon
-SHE LOVES DORA THE EXPLORER!!! and Diego too!
-Her favorite movies are Monster Inc. and Finding Nemo
-She is very curious and wants to check out everything for herself
-She wears size 2T or 24 month clothes and size 4 diapers
-She loves to color and do arts and craft projects....however, her attention span is very short
-She loves taking walks with Mama, Dada and her doggy. We don't take the stroller any more because she loves to walk
-Her bedtime is 7:30 and she usually sleeps straight through the night until 7:30 or 8 am
-She is a complete copy cat. DH and I are constantly impressed with how well she can pronounce words
-She stills loves Sesame Street and Elmo
-She loves to put on her coat and shoes and "go bye bye's"
-She loves to play dress up and she loves to play with sports balls...a little girly and tom boyish too
-"Oops, Sorry" is one of her most popular phrases
-She eats well with a spoon and is does pretty well with her fork
-She kisses my belly and calls it baby
-She is going to be a great big sister!!!
So this is our Lily. She turns two on April 19th. We are planning her a Dora the Explorer Party at home with all her friends. I may do a Dora Luau, just to add a little something extra to the party. I already have most of the party supplies and the favors. I am still working on the craft, food menu and the invitations. We were trying to pick a date based on Jeff's busy work schedule and it looks like it's going to be Sunday the 22nd. It should be a great time. It's so hard to believe that my little baby is such a big girl. I am so proud of her and happy to be her Mom. Although having a toddler is exhausting and very overwhelming at times, I can't imagine my life with out Lily. She is such an amazing little person. We love you so much sweetie.

Our New Nephew!

Welcome to the world Lucas Lee Parenteau. He was born on March 12, 2007 @ 4:14PM at Mercy Hospital in Portland, Maine. He was 6lbs 15oz and 19 inches long. We love you so much Lucas, we can't wait to meet you. Trevor and Breanna, you are going to be a great big brother and sister!

Winter Vacation, Southern Maine

PART 2:
Here are some of our favorite memories from our Southern Maine trip:
-Eating eggs with Bre every morning
-Seeing all the cousins together after 14 months apart
-Hugging all our family and finally being together
-Josh and Jeff watching all 5 kids (minus the mess)
-Pedicures with girls
-Parent's Night Out
-Laughing really hard at dinner, couples night out
-Shoveling snow with Trevor
-Sliding down the drive way
-Tucking in all my nieces and nephews for bed
-Bridal Shopping with Little M
-Snow Blowing the drive way (says Jeff)
-Football, Wrestle, Tackle
-Guys Night Out with Bretty
-Watching American Idol (in HD) with Cindy and Josh
-Watching the kids play on the slide and trampoline
-Playing board games with Trevor and Veronica
-Watching Bre load and unload the dishwasher
-Hearing Lily say her cousins, aunts and uncles names
-Witnessing Veronica's endless energy
-Sharing my pregnancy with Cindy and Amy...again
-Samuel's pants always falling down and his big hat
-Hearing all the kids laugh and talk
-Josh's french toast
-Lily's first haircut
-The Valentine's Storm
-Seeing Lily with her great grandparents
-Playing with Gammie and Gampie Prager
-Seeing Cindy and Josh's new house
-Shopping at Target!!! (a few times)
-Witnessing Kevin prepare for an international trip...hee hee hee!
-Just being together for a week

Winter Vacation, Northern Maine

Although our trip home was bitter sweet, we still had a great time spending time with family. I decided the best way to journal it was with a slide show (one for Northern Maine and one for Southern Maine) and a list of some of our favorite trip memories. We hope you enjoy.

Favorite Memories:
-Seeing April and Aaron at the Boston Airport after five hours of delays(with a total of 26 hours of traveling)
-Spending some quality time with Grammie Rose before she passed
-Grammie Rose rubbing my belly and Lily kissing Gram
-Playing bowling on the Wii with the family (I bowled a 212!)
-Hugging my sister every day
-Watching Lily and Cailyn play together
-Seeing my Mom beam with pride over her store
-Attending Cailyn's dance class
-Lunch at the Ray's...yummy!!
-Shopping with Mom and April for hours
-Sledding on lots of snow
-Seeing a lot of my cousins, aunts and uncles after years and years
-Reconnecting with Missy, Roberta and Lisa
-Jeff plowing snow with Dad
-Being there for my Dad when he needed us
-Watching Lily get to know her family better
-Dad's spaghetti
-Seeing Aaron and Cailyn all dressed up for the Father Daughter Sweetheart Dance
-April, Aaron and Cailyn bringing Lily to a Valentine's Party
-McCarthy's subs (Cindy's now) and Whoopie pies!!
-Seeing April and Dad's new houses and all Mom's renovations
-Dad and Lily playing 20 questions
-Hanging in Mom and Barry's basement playing pool and watching Dora
-Everyone seeing me big and pregnant
-Hearing Cailyn say "Lily is my best friend"

Lily's First Haircut

While we were in Southern Maine, Lily finally received her first haircut. Although her hair was not super long, the curls were a bit stringing and we decided it was time to clean them up. So on February 15, 2007 we headed out in the blistering cold to a Salon called Snip It's. It is a children's hair salon that looks like a Fun house on the inside. Cindy had heard of the salon and recommend that we give it a try. I was a little anxious, as I wasn't sure if Lily would cry or not. Well...I couldn't have been more wrong. Lily loved having her hair cut and I have the pictures to prove it. When we walked into the Salon, the hair dresser met Lily and I at the door and explained the process. Lily was given a bracelet for a prize after her hair cut. She was also seated in a really fun chair and given a remote to watch what ever she wanted on the TV. They also had an unlimited supply of animal crackers and lollipops, which Lily took full advantage of. Lily immediately chatted up the hair dresser while she was busy cutting and styling. Lily had a ball and her cut and curls are cute as ever. Her free prize was some stickers and she also received a picture and certificate reading "My First Haircut" (perfect for the scrapbook). It was such a fun experience, I just wish we had a Snip It's here in Germany for her next cut!

We're Home!

Well, it was a bitter sweet trip back to the States. We had three weeks at home to enjoy time with our families, but I also had to say good bye to my grandmother. She passed away Februaury 4th. Jeff, Lily and I flew out a week earlier than planned to make it home before she died. We arrived just in time time to spend a few quality days with her and then she passed. Rest in peace Grammie Rose. After the funeral we were able to spend time with each of our families....a week in northern Maine and a week in southern Maine. There wasn't a lot of time for blogging so I wanted to get a quick post up to let everyone know we are home. We arrived back in Germany yesterday morning and slept in our own beds last night for the first time in weeks....auh!! We are all pretty tired today, but happy to be home. It's been a rough month for the Prager clan, as Jeff and I each lost a grandmother within three weeks of each other. Thanks for all the emails and notes of support. It means a lot to us. I promise to update with trip details and pictures very soon.

Ask and You Shall Receive

I guess I spoke or posted a bit too soon. That little dusting we had Tuesday turned into several inches of snow yesterday. We truly have quite the Winter Wonderland. Jeff was even sent home yesterday for a snow day. When he got home the three of us bundled up and ventured outside for some shoveling, sledding and ball chasing (Kastor enjoyed the white stuff too). Lily loved being outside and riding her sled. She was so excited, yelling "SNOW" every few minutes. Here are some pictures of us finally enjoying some Winter weather.