The Hill Family

We have traveled all over while we have lived here, but haven't really seen Germany. So we decided that a road trip would be easier with one than with two. So, we rented a car and drove all over Germany. I was a little bit worried considering that we were within 7 weeks of my delivery date when we started, but everything worked out great Our first stop was Hamburg Of course, if you know us, you know that we stopped at a few soccer games. Here we are at Hamburg Europa League game. Simon finally saw his favorite player of all time, Van Nisterooyl. It only took him 4 times and 3 different teams. Lüdbeck It is now a little city, but it was once home to the Hanseatic League, which is a huge trading alliance during medieval times. Schloss Schwerin You can't tell from this picture because of our cute Auburn, but it surrounded by water and just takes your breathe away when you first see it. Cologne This is the enormous Cologne Dom in the downtown. It is the largest church in Germany. O...

I guess I had forgotten all of the things that need to be done to prepare for a new baby. We have also been trying to prepare Auburn for the the baby as well. Auburn now refers to herself as "big girl" (she also calls herself Auby). We took her "bink" away a few months ago. She was only using it for sleep. The first night she was furious, but then that was it. She asked for it at naptime for the next few weeks and then, nothing, no more bink. She started sleeping in her big girl bed last week. There has been no problems with that transition either. Simon asked her the other day if she wanted to sleep in the crib of the bed and she said "big girl bed". I know that there will be some jealousy, but so far so good. I started buying newborn diapers, washing all of his clothes, moved the crib up to newborn and put boy sheets on and packed my bag for the hospital. I can't believe how fast this pregnancy has gone. We are only 3 weeks away.... This is the be...

When the weather finally started to warm up, Auburn and I have been spending more time at the park. She LOVES the swings and asks me to go every single day at least two or three times. Our conversation usually goes something like this: Auburn: swings Jodi: We can go to the swings after your nap Auburn: slide Jodi: yes, and the slide Auburn: weeeeeeee (she says it with such enthusiasm, it is way cute!) Jodi: yes, the park is fun Auburn: fun Today she even told Simon all of this on the phone while he was at work. It is hilarious. After our trip I will try and take some pictures of her on the swings.

and so it continues.....

Auburn is our little chatterbox. She has about 100 words or so in her vocabulary. She names things everywhere we go. When she gets dressed she tells me what we are putting on, shirt, pants, socks, shoes, scarf, coat ect... If she doesn't know the name for something then she wants you to tell her. She will usually tell me what she wants like hold, side (for outside), eat, walk, play and nap (yes she tells me when she wants a nap). Most of the words that she speaks are English, but she also will say some things in Spanish. (Simon speaks only Spanish with her). Auburn also gets some German at church, playgroup and the nursery at my German classes. The other day she came home and was saying "super". We were a little confused, because that is not a word that Simon and I use with her. "Super" is a word that many Germans use and we figured that she must of learned it at the nursery. She even says the word like a German. I went to the store and Simon played...

Simon and I went to the Germany vs. Argentina soccer game here in Munich a few weekends ago. We went with some of our friends. Believe it or not, this is the first time we have ever left Auburn. She was asleep the entire time and didn't even know that we left her. Thanks to my friend again for babysitting! Although Germany lost, we had a great time.

The first week of January we took a trip to England. We spent a week in the Manchester area, saw four Premiership soccer games and just had a great time together as a family. Yes, it was cold, but it was a lot colder in Germany. This picture is a little out of order. We headed down to a few little cities, Shrewsbury and Chester. These cities are famous for their Tudor architecture. I think Auburn is eyeing the shopping possibilities. We headed to Old Trafford, home of Manchester United. This is Simon's favorite soccer team, and now mine as well. We actually came here back in 2006, but it was so awesome we had to come again. Man U won 4-0, thanks to a German hat trick from Rooney just for Auburn. We headed to the Peak district on Sunday to see the area. This is not Stonehenge, but similiar rock circle called Castlerigg Stone Circle. The whole area was just beautiful! We went to the National Media Museum in Bradford. I got to give the evening news and Simon and Auburn did the ...