Cheap Trick

Not this Cheap Trick

Although it is a great song.

I am trying to do a new blog design, but I am having a hard time doing it from scratch at the moment.
Because of small things like the baby, the move, and work...

And what does my mom want done first? Thank you notes and birth announcements...so the blog design got the Tijuana version of a facelift.

Please don't judge me too harshly.

Our first week as Expats

Okay, so our first week as expats was something.

On my first night walking into my apartment. I almost broke down crying.

***please keep in mind I hadn't slept in 36 hours, I was nervous as all hell, and I wanted my mom!***

We drove up to the apartment building in a hired van that stuffed all 13 of our bags and a screeching baby (she hates her carseat) unceremoniously in the back. It was a long disjointed drive through the industrial parts of Vienna while it was gray and rainy at 9pm. I dozed off to sleep and woke up in a weird, old, dirty apartment building and was told to walk towards the front door. It was dark and rainy and gray...we went up four flights of dark, grimy, and gray stairs. To a door that was dark and gray.

I walked into the apartment and it seemed dark and grimy and gray.

Of course, it wasn't. Kdubs had done his best to scrub the construction dust away and spruce it up, but the furniture was all weird looking and didn't feel like home and I was sooo tired. I just sat there...quiet and still...and completely overwhelmed. I LEFT MY HOME FOR THIS SHIT SHACK.

After daylight and some rearranging by me and the in-laws it is definitely feeling more like home.

Here are some pictures:
our entrance "hall"
the sunroom/drying room/secondary office
the dining room and official office
the den with the Romanov castoff gold counches (they looked so dingy but now i realize that is brocade)
The three part bathroom
The really nice kitchen (it really is bigger than our american apts.)
with one exception...our tiny fridge.

So there is your tour of our apartment. I have spent 90% of this first week going from store to store trying to get what we needed. I have a lot of it done but still some fun challenges ahead, like Tylenol, ironing board, light bulbs. The people of Austria seem pretty nice (except the bitch that works the checkout line at our grocery store-seriously someone must put a hot poker up her butt every day for how miserable she is). I love the tram system because it is a lot like DC, and I am starting to get a feel for this. We'll see how week 2 goes without my in-laws helping us out.

Helpful in-laws! they do exist. More to come on that.

We are here!

This is the view from my back window.

We are living on the grounds of a Schloss (schloss Neuwaldegg), which is like an estate/castle. We live on a fourth floor walk up, which is not as bad as it sounds, so far. It has been quite an adjustment the past few days, but the baby and I seem to be coming through fairly unscathed (KNOCK ON WOOD!).

Here are some things I will be blogging about in a bit:
Traveling overseas with an infant.
What to bring when you move overseas.
What to do when you first get moved in overseas (hint: don't panic).
What I like and don't like about living here so far.
More pictures of Cdubs.

Why am I laying this all out!?! Because I searched and scoured blogs for this information so I am going to pass on what I have learned.

What else to look for: Hopefully a new blog layout and more updating. My in-laws are with us for 2 weeks, so I wont' be truly avid until then.

Thank you for all your prayers and well wishes. I hope that this adventure keeps us all entertained (safely!).

My Momma Loves me so

Cause she makes me my favorite meal before we leave:
Quiche! She seriously makes the best quiche, and since Kdubs has no tolerance for dairy, this is a big treat for me.

I always eat the filling first, then the crust cause that is the best part!

You will also see in this picture...a wine glass that I drank to help me get over my nerves and help me sleep (yeah that didn't work) and Cdubs snow boots cause we got snow yesterday (not that we went out in it...i figured I'd get enough of it in Austria.

In case you were wondering...can't sleep...too much going on in my head. But quiche makes me happy

Pic of Cdubs for your viewing pleasure

One of our outfit shots for dad.

Packing and more packing

Endless amount of packing and re-packing.

Guess it has to end by 3pm on Sunday, right?

One Week

Exactly, one week till we leave for Austria.

There is so much to do! I have a lot to pack and a lot to get in order.
I am very nervous and very excited to see Kdubs.

I think the baby senses all the "turmoil" because she is not eating or sleeping as well as normal.
Hopefully, this is a great call for me to calm down and trust that God will take care of us.
I keep saying, "I'm not moving to Africa...it will be okay if we forget something or if something happens."
But saying and believing are two totally different things.

I hope to roll out a new layout soon to commemorate with our new adventure.

Pictures of Cdubs

the night before Dad leaves.

you can tell her thoughts about the situation.





check out my boots! This picture was taken before feeding so explains the face. She doesn't scream THAT MUCH, I swear.

And that giraffe just said something mean to her...I won't repeat it...but he deserved the tongue lashing he's getting.

One of my favs. She is sporting the newest in infant fashion-the snugglie-turned toga look. It is very hard to pull off.

And she knows she does.

showing off her new hat and gloves for Austria. The accessories say "i'm cute and preppy" the look on her face says, "sup, bitch."

Lovin' the new hat.