The Hansen's Adventures...: April 2006

For Amy and the iVillage girls...

Here are the Kiddie Kandid photos I have on my computer here... these were at about 4 1/2 months

10 Months!

Oh my...where has the time gone?? Noah will be 10 months old tomorrow! I made this little slideshow for his birthday. Hope you enjoy!

http://www.photoshow.net/watch/Bw6YH5tX

Lost in Translation...

There are so many things that get lost in translation...

We went to the pharmacy to get some Tums or Tums equivalent. Ted asked for antacid and she handed us something that could be in the Tums family. She sorta spoke English, so I asked her if I was to chew these. As she pointed to her mouth, she told me to smell them...

Driving soon????

I took Noah to his 9 month Well Baby check up. Okay, so we are a little behind and it is closer to his 10 month...

He is 68.5 centimeters (almost 27 inches) and 9,070 grams (almost 20 pounds). He has gained about 2 pounds in the last 3 months and grew about an inch.

The doctor said that he is average for a German baby (as far as their charts go). She said that they are close to the same as the US charts. However, I just did the US chart myself and I have a small boy.

It says that he is between the 5%-10% on his height and 25%-50% on his weight. Hmmm...we are going to need to stretch him somehow...

She didn't measure his head.

He is more advance compared to a German baby as far as mobility goes. He can sit up from lying down, he crawls, he pulls himself up on everything, he walks along the furniture and walls... He also has the "catch yourself so you don't fall flat on your face" reflex. She said he can be running any day. Thought that was funny and scary all at the same time.

We are going to continue to get Noah's shots in the states for as long as we can. 12 months has a lot of required shots, so we are going to knock those out when we are home for his birthday. I think I may run into a problem at about 15 months. We'll see...

Noah is still on an food strike. The doctor told me that he needs to be eating some meats for the iron. Well, I tried to give him some beef baby food. On the second bite he gagged and then puked. Fabulous! So, I tried to spoon some more in and he totally refused. I don't understand why I was surprised. Have you ever continued eating something that just made you puke?

Heidelberg, Germany

On April 8 we headed down to Heidelberg, Germany for a day trip. Noah and I had already been to Heidelberg with our friends Jamie and Alley and Ted had gone in 2000 with David, Suzanne and Katie. So, this was our first trip together as a family.

Our first stop was the Shloss. We drove up the winding road to the Shloss parking in time to see the last free spot taken. We continued up the road to find a free, yes FREE parking spot on the road. Score! It was fantastic!

The schloss a.k.a castle was built around the 1400s. This castle has endured fires, attacks and natural elements and is still standing...sort of. From the terrace you have an amazing view of the city and the Neckar River.

So, they have the "biggest wooden barrel in the world to have been filled with wine." The sucka is BIG! They must of had some crazy parties!

We had the option to pay for a tour of the interior. However, we chose to poke around in the free German Apothecary Museum. It has a bunch of stuff relating to the field of medicine. Apotheka's are pharmacies. Anyway, it was pretty neat seeing how they used to make drugs back in the day.

Once we were finished exploring the castle, we hiked down the ten-degree cobblestone incline (well decline to us) to the city below. To those who know us, we never really carry cash. However, we now live in a pro-cash society. So, we find ourselves on a hunt for an AMT whenever we are out. Today was no exception. It was nice. We were able to walk along the entire main shopping area of the city.

We stopped at the MObile...cell phone store because they had Dummy Handi (like display cell phones) for sale for 2.50€. We thought Noah would really like it...and he did. He didn't let go of that thing all afternoon. It was 2.50€ well spent.

We then walked down to the river and then up to the Alte Brucke (old bridge). There we had some amazing views of the castle and the area. After that it was time for some ice cream, coffee and beer. Great combo, but it is pretty much all that we eat. Noah had his first taste of ice cream. He didn't love it, but also didn't hate it, so we will see...

Oh, Noah’s Dummy Handi…not such a safe toy. When he finally dropped from where he was perched high in his backpack, buttons flew off. These are very small, choking hazard buttons. So, as they fall off, I throw them away. Soon, there will be no phone left…

Ted and Noah trying to get inside the barrel.

The BIGGEST wine barrel ever!

The descent from the castle

Noah and his new favorite and not-so-safe toy...

Noah's ice cream 'stache

Entrance of the Old Bridge from the Old Bridge...

View of the Neckar from the Old Bridge

View of the castle from the Old Bridge

Guten Tag von Noah!

Hey everyone! It has been a while since I posted. My mommy and daddy have been taking me to some really cool places lately. It has been really fun!

During the week my mommy takes me to some play groups that she found. I really like crawling over other kids and playing with different toys.

Recently we went to a play group in Frankfurt. All the babies there were younger than me, so my mom kept me trapped, so I wouldn't crawl on them. After the play group we went to the playground and I got to ride on my first swing. I really liked it! We have been looking for one in our neighborhood, but can't seem to find one.

We also went to an Easter Egg Hunt. I had so much fun with my new friends in the sandbox.

I am getting bigger everyday. I had a really bad week with those dumb teeth. I think the worst is over because I now have two top teeth and my mom says that she can see two more.

I went on a food strike last week too. All I wanted were my bottles. I am starting to eat my food again, but I sure do like those bottles. Maybe someday I'll eat table food. It just makes me gag so much...

Here are some more pictures. Hope you enjoy!

Love, Noah

Another one of me on the swing...

I like to TP the bathroom...

Proud of my accomplishment!

Grandma! Help me! They dress me funny!

Watch out Hugh Hefner!

Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany

Last weekend we traveled to the state of Bavaria to Rothenberg ob der Tauber. It is a well-preserved, fortified, medieval town on the Romantic Road. It is also called a tourist trap. We loved it! If anyone comes to visit, this little town will be on the options of things to do.

We went with our wonderful traveling companions, Shelly, Eric and Brennen Meiworm. When we arrived we parked outside the city wall. On the weekends only residents and hotel guests are allowed to drive within the city walls. We stopped and had a true German lunch at the first restaurant we came to. Ted had Sauerbraten and spätzle and I had Neuberger brats with sauerkraut. Noah had apfels and bananes. All with beers, yummy! Well, Noah had wasser (water).

After lunch we were approached by a man with a carriage that was pulled by two of the devil's messengers. To all that don't know, I am deathly allergic to horses. I can't really stand by them without suffocating.

One time, at band... no really when we were on our senior trip..woop woop... we took a day trip. It included snorkeling in the ocean and then we continued on to a little village and took a horseback ride up to a waterfall. Then we had lunch in the village. After that we hopped back on the boat and drank all the way home. Well, if I would have died that day the coroner’s reported would have said stupidity as the cause of death.

The horse ride gave me hives all over my body, especially my legs. I don't recall not being able to breath, that side affect must have come with age. Anyway, the combination of the previous nights of drinking, the allergic reaction to the horses and the little to drink on the boat home caused me to pass out on the top deck of the boat (there was a place to lay out). I slept all the way home and when I woke up I have the worst sun burn EVER!

Anyway...back to Germany...everyone wanted to go on the ride, so I thought...it can't be that bad we are outside...wrong. About half way though the ride I thought I was going to die. My eyes were red and I couldn't breath (uhhh..I also forgot my inhaler...). I got off that carriage and said that I would meet up with everyone later...somewhere. I wasn't really thinking... Ted got off with me and thankfully Shelly and Eric were kind enough the keep Noah.

I spent the next 10 minutes in the restroom trying to regain some sort of normal breathing pattern. Once I am away from those beasts for a while I get better.

So, after that we had a wonderful day. We explored almost every corner...well, it is more of a circled walled city, so we explored every area of the town. We were on the wall, in the wall around the wall...don't think we went under the wall, but you get the idea. It was so much fun!

By the end of the day we were ready for a local treat...greasy balls a.k.a Schneeballen. They are a pie crust like dough that is shaped in a ball and then deep fried. They then smother it with powdered sugar, chocolate goodness or other things that would make your heart skip a beat...or stop for that matter. It was a perfect ending to a perfect day (minus the whole dieing thing...)!

All of us before I almost died...this could have been my last picture...ever!

A blacksmith in the town center

Noah sleeping with Freddy in the backpack...

Brennen and a cannon that is still in the city wall

The view through a hole in the fortification...

Cute German houses in Rothenburg

Sorry!

Okay, so I posted the pictures last night, but didn't have the energy to write the narrative. Sorry to all who are worried about me and thanks for the concern... but you all know that I am a big exaggerater and maybe it wasn't that drastic... oh, but it was me being stupid...

Köln, Germany

Köln or Colognen is one of the more popular places to visit here in Germany. Cologne is located Northwest of Frankfurt on the Rhine River.

The Cathedral is one of the big attractions in Köln. It took more than 600 years to build (it was completed at the end of the 1880's)! A lot of pictures of Germany feature this cathedral.

We took the 509-step hike to the gallery located in the 515 foot south tower. It is the highest church tower in the world. Ted had Noah on his back the entire time.

Before our hike we had lunch at a riverside cafe. The Köln area brews their own type of beer called Kölsch. It is a "special combination of ale and lager, meaning it uses two different yeasts. Served in small thin glasses (only 2dl or 6 ounces at a time), it must be drunk quickly while cold as it acquires a stale taste rapidly... but when fresh, it is among the finest styles of beer in the world." And it was yummy! Ted and I really enjoyed it! We weren't thinking and didn't bring any back, so I guess we will have to go again!

Noah is really getting to like his backpack. He had fun hiking up the stairs and also napping in the pack. After our hike we stopped and had ice cream and coffee (what else would you want after a good workout?). Noah streached his legs by walking from chair to chair at the outdoor cafe.

We had a really great day in Köln and plan to go back this winter. They have a great Christmas Market and also some neat meseums.