Wir sind hier!

We made it okay to Germany. Poor Vanessa was "that baby" on the red-eye flight over that refused to sleep and wanted to cry all the time. She's much happier now, though she's still on East Coast time. We just got back into Stuttgart from a trip to Münster to see Stephan and his parents. There were very kind and treated us to several tours of the city and several wonderful meals. Hopefully we'll be able to return the favor the next time they visit the US. Here's some of the better pictures we've taken so far.

We took this picture right before we left since Vanessa's 9 month birthday is on the 31st. She's gotten a lot bigger and a whole lot more mobile since the last picture with Miss Dee.
See what I mean?
Vanessa met another baby her age at the airport. Vanessa played nicely for once.
And she has definitely learned how to walk and smile.

She's so proud of herself (we are too)...

I actually get to hold her once in a while.
We had to switch planes in Atlanta. Vanessa practiced safe riding techniques by holding on to the pole while the train was in motion.
After we got settled in Germany, we walked around our hotel and found a fish tank. Vanessa loves fishies!
This was a beautiful clock inside one of the cathedrals in Münster that has been working for 500 years. The cathedral was mostly destroyed during WWII and they rebuilt it by using old pictures for reference. Münster is a VERY old city. It was established in 805.
Stephan took us to a castle which was the main building of his university. There was an international fair going on at the same time and Sarah managed to order some vegetarian Thai food in German all by herself.
This picture gives you a better idea of the size of the castle.
Behind the castle was a gorgeous botanical garden. Sarah's mom snapped a picture of us when we turned around.

Stephan was kind enough to take a picture of the four of us in front of a lake in the center of the botanical garden. Vanessa didn't think too much of the garden...

Vanessa is happy again, hiding behind the nightstand in our hotel room. Also, ever since she got to Germany she's been talking up a bluestreak. Yammering and singing whereever we go. And her new favorite phrase is dadadadadadada. I approve. :)