These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things

Raindrops on roses and chocolate on babies...

Ok, maybe that's not EXACTLY how it goes, but those are definitely some of my favorite things!  Eli and I made his first chocolate chip cookies tonight.  Well, he watched, and I made them AND ate them.  A BIG thanks to my friend Beth's parents for bringing these chocolate chips over the Atlantic to me!  I may let her sample some of them tomorrow when she visits us!  I love how Eli is actually drooling in the picture...  :o)

So you know how I've been talking about the paint peeling, and it being a big ordeal to get a wall finished?  Well, I decided to show you exactly what I was talking about:

 

How sad is this?  This particular spot is becoming quite a hassle.  We have sanded and painted it a couple of time, and it keeps getting bigger.  It doesn't help that it's on our basement level floor, so I'm sure there is moisture.  I think Jeremy is at his wits end.  There may end up being a strategically placed picture here!

Also, this THING was in my diet coke pack we just got at the grocery.  Can anyone please tell me what it is?  I'm a little scared of it!  Maybe it's an Austrian Cousin It?

 

Splishin’ & A-Splashin’, Movin’ & A-Groovin’, Rockin’ & A-Rollin’

I know that's the longest blog title ever, but it seemed appropriate.  This was a very eventful week for the mister Eli.  Not only has he learned how to grab objects, but he has also discovered splashing in the tub and rolling over to his belly and back!  I can’t say I’ve seen the rolling over first hand.  All I know is I will put him on the floor for tummy time and leave the room for 30 seconds, and he will be on his back again.  I’ve tried setting up the video camera to capture this, but he somehow knows he’s being filmed!  The hands and feet are quickly becoming favorite objects of interest as well.  How can a kid hit so many milestones in one week?!  This growing up thing is hard on mommy…he’s supposed to stay a baby forever, right? 

Speaking of bath time, I think I am finally becoming a pro at it.  There are a few rules of engagement that one must follow:

• Do not use a sprayer or pour water over certain areas unless you are prepared for a shower yourself.

Do you notice the stream shooting up too?

• Have a wad of toilet paper ready to absorb that shower to avoid unsatisfactory water to pee ratio.
• Do not touch the ears unless you want to witness Meltdown 2009.
• Singing is optional, but well received.
• You may wash in between the toes, but curling is enacted to make it a challenge.
• Once out of the bath, cover lower half immediately because lightning CAN strike twice.
• Lotion is a nice addition, but must be accompanied by “Oooooooooh” sounds.
• Head openings of all clothing must be stretched to full capacity.  If sight is covered for more than 2 seconds #3 happens.
• Do not bathe at night.  Contrary to popular belief, it does not relax, but energizes baby!

Well, it appears that we had some good luck today.  We went to reapply for our residence permit and to apply for Eli’s first one.  We were prepared to be sent home a couple of times like last year, but I think we got it on the first try this year!  Eli apparently didn’t like all the bureaucracy though because he promptly filled his diaper when the meeting began.  That’s my boy! 

We are coming along with the house, and I think we’ll be done by the end of this week or the beginning of the next.  Jeremy has been painting like a pro, and I have been, well, watching….Eli, that is.  :o)

I would like to ask for prayer for a dear friend of Jeremy and me.  Her name is Pat, and she is like a grandmother to us.  She was previously diagnosed with lung cancer (as a non-smoker), and she got through it with flying colors.  Now, she is battling Acute myelogenous leukemia, or AML.  She is undergoing chemo right now, so your prayers for strength and healing are much needed!  Her sweet little granddaughter (and by little I mean taller than me now) was my flower girl in my wedding…aren’t we sweet?

 

I have some updated photos of Eli you can see by clicking here!  Enjoy! 

Happy 100th!

Hard to believe, but this is our 100^th post here on The Vienna Wilsons.  A lot has happened in the almost two years we’ve lived here, and I’ve had a great time keeping you guys updated on what’s happening with us.  In honor of this momentous occasion, I thought I would give you guys a top 10 list of what I have learned living here…most of them I feel are really good life lessons:

1. Have Patience – Living in a foreign country is like swimming naked in a lake.  It can be a wonderfully fulfilling experience, but you always risk having a critter get under your skin.

2. Don’t Be Afraid To Try New Things – Jer and I learned this really quickly.  Our tomato paste and mayo comes in a toothpaste tube.  Things are different overseas, and you’ll fail miserably if you try to maintain a life like how you had before.

3. It’s OK To Miss Home – I think it’s perfectly healthy to miss home every so often.  Jeremy and I thrive best when we are able to visit home a couple times a year to recharge our batteries.  Even ET loved Elliott and life on Earth, but he needed to get home in order to survive.  ET was a smart cookie. 

4. I’m Really Country – It’s hard for Austrians to understand me.  Apparently, I have an accent.  Who knew?

5. God Is Everywhere – We were really sad to leave our church in America.  It was something we feared the most – not having a church home.  But, we were welcomed with open arms at the International Chapel.  We have been ministered to in every way possible!  God is awesome!

6. Different Is Not Necessarily Bad – We have learned a LOT of new ways to do things.  We now know how to recycle every single piece of trash known to man.  Sometimes being forced into something different is good...except for no air-conditioning…that’s bad.

7. Contrary To Popular Belief Americans Are Very Modest – Seriously, have any of you ever seen a woman squat down by a bush at a bus stop to urinate in public?  Or seen a couple having sex on a billboard advertisement?

8. Being An English Speaker Is Handy – I’ve often wondered how difficult moving here would be if I spoke Spanish or French instead.  English truly is the universal language, and I am very grateful Austrians are willing to speak it!

9. Never Give Up – I think a lot about that cartoon where a bird is trying to swallow a frog, but the frog is reaching out of the bird’s mouth to strangle him.  Jeremy and I empathize with this frog.  Try getting a residence permit or driver’s license here, and you’ll know what I mean.

10. Being A Mom Is Awesome Wherever You Live!

 

p.s. I know I need to update our blog photo.  I promise next month when the flowers are blooming we’ll be going back to Schönbrunn Palace to take a family picture with Eli on the outside of me!

Happy Days

But crying at night!  Eli is teething now, and his nights are not so good.  He had been sleeping through the night for some time, but now he is waking up two or three times crying.  I get up and give him some Orajel or Tylenol, a pacifer, and he drifts off to sleep.  I hate seeing him in pain!  I'll just try to picture his beautiful pearly whites he'll have some day!

 

As you can see he is starting to hold himself up!  I actually got him to sit up by himself for about 10 seconds.  It's nice to know that he won't kill himself throwing his head back when I pick him up anymore!  He's growing so fast...before I know it, he'll be walking!

 

Well, it looks like I'm going to be starting a youth choir at church!  I'm a little nervous about this because leading music is not my forte (no pun intended).  There was a big need in having a more active Sunday School class, rather than just sitting and listening to a lesson.  So, we'll be having skits and choir.  I'm excited, but please keep this program in your prayers!

And now to leave you with a little video of my boys having a good time...

Eli's Room & Easter

We have finally completed Eli’s room!  It’s been such an on-going project with the moving and defunct wrist.  I think it looks great, and Eli seems pretty content with it too!

 

We are in full speed ahead decorating mode now.  Jeremy has been a busy bee painting, and we have gotten a lot done.  We’re still running into lots of problems with the walls basically peeling off when we paint, but we’re working on it.  It makes progress go really slow.  Our bedroom is basically done, and the kitchen is next on the list.  It’s nice to finally see everything coming together! 

The weather has been beautiful here.  It’s absolutely perfect!  Now if it would only stay this temperature, it would be great.  The lack of AC here makes summers hard even though it doesn’t get as hot as good ol’ Tennessee.  Here is our beautiful tree blooming in our backyard.  Can anyone tell me what this tree is?  I love it!

We had a wonderful Easter on Sunday.  The church service was great, and it was nice seeing everyone after a time away!  Afterwards we went to our friend Terry’s house for a great meal and great fellowship.  Eli had a great first Easter, and he loves his bunny that the Easter Bunny brought him!  I can’t wait till we can do Easter egg hunts with him.  Our grass is tall enough in the backyard now that it would make finding eggs impossible!  :o)

Also, here is our new (to us) car!  It’s an older model Mazda 626.  We found it on Ebay Austria, and we’re really pleased with it!  It runs really well, and the interior and exterior were in great shape.  I’m sure Eli will put more wear and tear on the inside once he gets older though!  

 

 If you want to see more pictures of Eli's room and Easter click here or watch the slideshow below!

Celebrating 3 Months

The past three months have been the best in my life!  Eli has so thoroughly enriched our lives.  God has blessed us beyond measure with our little bundle of joy!  We did a little photo session today to commemorate the event!

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine.

You make me happy when skies are gray.

You’ll never know dear how much I love you.

Please don’t take my sunshine away!

That is Eli’s favorite song sung by his best friend, Ella the Elephant.  

She kept us both happy tonight when we had our first blackout in the new house.  Jeremy was playing an opera, so Eli and I huddled around the candlelight (which mesmerized him) and played with Ella.  Lots of fun!

So tomorrow we’ll also celebrate Eli’s first Easter.  It will be off to church and Terry’s for lunch.  I’ll post pictures afterwards!  Happy Easter Eve!

Good Friday

It's Friday, but Sunday's coming...

Bouncy, Bouncy, Bouncy

This video will explain the title...

How can anyone resist that cute little laugh?  I certainly can’t, but I’m a little biased.  Eli is slowly starting to get over jet lag.  I think he may be teething now though.  He’s drooling like crazy, and he’s gnawing on his little fists like there’s no tomorrow.  I wish I had gotten a picture of his face after his first taste of Baby Orajel…yum.  He also had his first set of immunizations on Monday, and that did not help matters.  He was a little fussy and more tired afterwards.  He was a champ and only cried for a few seconds.  I almost cried more for him though!  I also got a shot myself, and he laughed at me when the doctor was done.  Obviously, he doesn’t share the same sentiment I do! 

Tomorrow Jeremy and I go and pick up our new (to us) car.  If you’ve been reading, you’ll remember from a previous blog that our little Nissan Note was totaled.  We will now be driving an older model Mazda 626.  We’ll be so happy to finally have a permanent car to our name.  The shocker about this car is I won it on Ebay Austria!  I always rocked Ebay.com, but now I’m the Ebay.at master!  We’ll post pictures of the new wheels once we shine her up real nice.  :o)

And of course, I can’t leave you without the newest picture of Eli.  Here he is enjoying his new Tummy Time Mat from the States! 

If you're interested, you can see more pictures of our trip to America by clicking here!