early 2010 finally home

Finally everyday life started:
Matt not only got his visa [this procedure was one of the greatest challenges ever.. if anyone ever tells me that it is easy to immigrate in Austria, I can tell them some nice little anecdotes], but also started his job - and loves it. I graduated JKU and now have time to prepare for the birth, i.e. relax and linger around Gmunden. I love it!


Besides getting our life together, we managed to rent the most beautiful apartment in Gmunden [what am I saying? In the world..!] located down town.

The house was built in 1200 or 1300, but renovated in 2002. They managed to conserve the old times' charm but apply this century's standards, which makes it incredibly charismatic. We live on the top floor [without an elevator.. that's a nice work out every day] and have two floors with an awesome roof terrace.

For everyone who is not able to visit us any time soon, here is a little virtual guide through our place:

When you enter, you are standing in quite a small hall, that still allows us to store everything necessary,

At the end of the hall there are the toilet and the bathroom [contrary to the US it is perceived as higher standard to separate those two] with a nice tub that fits us both [and a half].

Right when you walk through the hall you enter our living/dining room.. it is huge and I just love it.
As you can see we already have a nice little library holding about 500 books and magazines.. which together with my collection of Gmunder ceramics not only are the only somewhat valuable things, but were also the most fun to move *phew*.. [remember: no elevator].

The paintings are prints from a New Orleanian artist and show Garden District [where we used to live] and Preservation Hall in the French Quarter [where we spent an evening of our honeymoon]. Now we have our own little New Orleans at home..
By the way, Gundi also likes to hang out at our couch.

Like every room the dining room is a combination of Ikea, the fleamarket and my father's handicraft. The table holds up to 10 people [at least, I'd say], wherefore we intend to throw regular dining parties at our place..

..since Matt is a great chef and now has all the working space and tools he needs.


On the very end of our living room we have a cute little guest room, which holds 2 people.. therefore you're more than welcome to visit us!

After walking up the stairs..


..you enter the kid's room on the right [photos will be blogged asap; by now it is still a construction site] and our bedroom on the left. Some don't like it when others see their bedroom, but since we are not these kind of people, we not only blog the pictures..


..but probably will regularly have people walking through it due to numerous barbecues and parties on the terrace [once the snow is gone].


That's it.. we both love hanging out here a lot; which is important, since I'll probably spend a lot of time in here once the baby is born. Speaking of which: how is she coming along?

She's growing [as am I] and kicking like crazy; especially when I chill in the tub or go to bed.. and although the picture does not look too bad, I feel like a barrel already. We'll see how this develops.

Since being pregnant is not only one of the most wonderful experiences [it so is!], but also a time full of exceptions, which my in-laws unfortunately can't share with us face to face, I am presenting one of the only delicate pictures of me in the web [that I know of *smile*].. and because we made our girl before being married, I am not exactly considered a saint anyway.

If I had photoshop, not only the censoring bars would be prettier, but you also would not see my double chin ;-). I blame it on the posture, tho..