All moved in!!

Wow, what a busy weekend!  Okay, maybe it’s been more like a week…  Last Tuesday, Richard and I pretty much finished packing all the boxes.  Of course, when we were actually moving things out of the house I was amazed by how much we missed.  But I digress…

Wednesday was a major laundry day for me, so all we took were clean clothes.  Then, that evening, mom gave me some new maternity clothes that she wanted me to try on!  (LOVE HER!!)  Between our adventures Wednesday evening, we got a phone call from Dave (the guy who’s been our mortgage stuff).  He tells Richard that they’re missing a document from the closing attorney and that we might not be able to close on Thursday.  He tells us “maybe Friday, maybe next week.”  So we’re standing in our kitchen staring at our home in boxes, thinking about the help we had lined up for the weekend, and remembering his mother’s incoming flight on Wednesday.  I was worried about how on earth we were going to manage such a tight schedule if they changed closing until next week!?  Dave told us to go ahead and do the final walk through on Thursday morning and he’d let us know what he could work out. 

*pause for dramatic effect*  as Richard put it…

Thursday morning, we enthusiastically show up for the final walk through.  Within ten minutes of being at the house we got a phone call from Dave.  We’re a GO!!  Well, we’re a go as long as the notary shows up…  We get to the parking lot and the notary is there!!  Woot!!  Two and a half hours, several phone calls between the mortgage guy Dave and the closing attorney’s office, and two hand cramps later – we held the keys in our hands!!  Really, the closing wasn’t that bad.  We all joked around and it was very relaxed.  My closing with South George had been so formal, I kind of liked doing the way we did for this house. 

Thursday evening, Richard’s friend from work came out and helped load up our mattress and box spring (among other odds and ends).  Then we headed off to the new house.  We pulled the stuff from the cars and rushed off to Best Buy.  Why, say you.  Well, a few days back… last Tuesday, I think… Richard and I did a little appliance window shopping.  The new house does not have a functional washer and dryer, so we made plans to purchase a set once closing was done.  We’d also talked about a new fridge, since the one at the new house is TINY and has broken shelves.  Best Buy was having a sale: 15% off select washer and dryer pairs and 10% of any two kitchen items, 15% off any three kitchen items, or 20% off any four kitchen items.  We were able to combine the sale items to get a brand new washer and dryer set, a new refrigerator, a new glass top stove, a new dish washer, and a new over the stove microwave/vent for UNDER $3,000.  Holy crap, right!!  I know!!  They won't be top of the line, obviously.  But they're good pieces.  And, granted, we weren’t crazy about spending such a huge chunk of our savings right out of the gate, but to replace all of our appliances with ones that work and aren’t totally ghetto… We felt it was worth it.  Because of some sizing issues, however, we weren’t able to make the purchase Thursday night.  So after hours of running around, I just couldn’t take it anymore.  I demanded dinner and bedtime.  Lol!  I did get a foot massage that night.  :o) 

Friday, Mom and Diana were coming over to the new house to help me clean.  After a couple of phone calls and some discussion, it was decided that I’d meet them at South George to collect some boxes before heading over to the new house.  While Mom and I were loading things into the car, she mentioned that she, my sisters, and daddy had come up with a new plan.  They thought it would be super nice to get the whole house moved on Saturday and surprise Richard.  Since he was only able to get Sunday off, wouldn’t it be cool if we could just spend Sunday unpacking and enjoying our new home.  Awwwww, I have such a sweet family!!  Friday night, Richard and I met at Best Buy again – this time with the measurements and information we needed.  Our new appliances will be delivered and installed on November 1^st!!  While we’re at dinner that night, he tells me that he’s got a surprise for me.  He said one of the part timers at work was looking to pick up a Saturday shift, so he gave his away.  He’d be able to help move small boxes on Saturday.  Hahahaha!!  What luck!!  I filled him in on my family’s plan and we had a good laugh about the coincidence. 

So, Saturday arrives!!  We get up bright and early and head out to South George.  My dear friends, Bethany and Terri and Jere, were able to come out and help as well.  We had all of South George loaded up on my brother-in-law’s box truck in about an hour.  I ordered some pizza to be delivered at the new house and we caravanned off!  Everyone was just amazing and wonderful and sooooo helpful!!  I feel so blessed and humbled and grateful to have such amazing people in my life.  Moving, without being able to move things, was really stressful for me.  I felt completely useless and frustrated.  I did have one tiny little breakdown and had to go have a quick cry.  I blame the hormones.  Abe and Richard went up to the storage unit after lunch and gathered up the last of our things, while we stayed behind and cleaned up and unpacked some more of the kitchen.  When we finished everything up, we went to celebrate with some delicious Mexican from Casa Gonzales in Ranson. 

Yesterday was our first real day in our new house with all of our stuff around (though much of it still in boxes).  We lazed around a bit in the morning before getting started on some stuff in the downstairs living room.  After lunch, we decided it might be fun to do a little window shopping for office furniture and get out on such a beautiful day.  Well, window shopping didn’t turn out as we planned.  We ended up buying a desk with a hutch and a three shelf bookcase (oak finish) and three cherry finished book shelves for the downstairs living room.  Hahaha!  That’s our last purchase for the household, though.  The next few months the focus switches from home to Lil Pea and getting everything ready for his/her arrival. 

So, it’s been pretty damn busy.  I’m totally pooped!!  I’m at South George today (see my internet access!!) to clean and get things ready for Richard’s mom.  Tomorrow, the cable guy is coming out to the new house and set us up with TV and internet.   Then we have a few things to pick up for his mom and set up here.  Then Wednesday, she arrives.  Thursday, we’re taking her shopping for whatever odds and ends she needs.  Friday, I am sleeping all day long.  Lol!!  Seriously, I’m not changing out of my jammies.  I’m taking a well deserved day off and I can’t wait!! 

Oh!  One last thing before I get off my butt and start scrubbing.  Lil Pea.  I’ve been asked if I’ve felt anything yet.  I’ve been really hesitant to say yes or no… because I’m just not sure.  I’ve had some weird bubbly type feelings, but nothing strong or definitive.  Well, last night, we were lying in bed watching a movie when I felt what totally felt like a full on summersault in my gut.  It was the coolest feeling EVER. I’m pretty sure that was definitely Lil Pea…  I’ve never felt anything like that before.  I waited and waited for another feeling like it, but that was it.  I can’t wait to start feeling him/her more regularly!! 

Okay, that’s the update for now.  Guess I should get busy…  Hope all is well everywhere else!!   

A request from a mom-to-be to the moms-who-are…

Richard and I are really excited that we get to close on the house tomorrow!  Now that we’ve got the house situation under control, it’s finally time for me to start thinking about Lil Pea’s arrival and the things we want to have for him/her.  There are some things that we’ll need to replace in the new house (like a washer, dryer, and refrigerator), so we’re going to have to plan ahead and budget accordingly when it comes to baby items. 

I’ve started looking and I’m pretty overwhelmed with all the baby gear out there.  The reviews are helpful, but it’s still an awful lot to read.  I was reading about baby monitors for hours, lol!  Speaking of baby monitors… what I remember about monitors, they were glorified walkie talkies.  I had thought $30 to $40 bucks could buy us a nice baby monitor.  Boy was I wrong!!  They can be hundreds of dollars and include video and sound.  For real??  I mean, I want my baby to be safe and I want to know when he/she is crying.  Do I need video surveillance?  What on earth is Lil Pea going to be doing in there, cold fusion experiments?  Can’t I just go to the door and check on him/her?  Or, is this really a good idea and added protection against SIDS or something new that we just don’t know about?  Since this is our first child, we aren’t sure what we need or what’s the best.  What’s overkill and what could truly keep Lil Pea safer?

So, if you would be so kind as to share your knowledge and advice, I would like to know two things.  First, what was the object or item most used by you and your baby?  Your number one “go to” item.  Then, what is the one thing that you thought would be useful, but you or your baby hated it?  Or maybe it just wasn’t as useful as you thought it would be. 

I really appreciate any helpful advice or suggestions!!  I’ve found some lists of “Baby’s Needs” on sites like TheBump.com and BabyCenter, but they have not been as helpful as I’d hoped.  I know a lot of really wonderful moms out there, so I’m appealing to you for your advice and suggestions! 

Reminiscing – South George

Wow… boy did reality hit me yesterday.  We’re moving…!  It’s rather bittersweet for me. 

In early 2008, I made some really huge life changes.  I was turning 27 and I felt like I’d come to a major crossroads in my life.  I’d just graduated from Shepherd University in December, a goal I never thought I’d reach.  I was feeling empowered and surprisingly proud of myself.  For, as those who know me well can testify, I rarely feel such positive emotions toward myself.  I’d even started applying to graduate programs.  Me… the girl who barely made it out of high school… going to graduate school?  Yeah, right.

I had just ended a “relationship” (though it really wasn’t as serious as that might imply).  I was pretty irritated with the relationship cycle I found myself in.  I was picking the same type of guy over and over again, expecting different results with each fling.  I was done with it.  I was sick and tired of trying to make something from nothing.  Maybe that sounds harsh… I don’t mean it to be.  There’s only so much you can do when “he’s just not that into you.”  But I was feeling my age.  Don’t laugh; I know that 27 is still considered young.  I felt like I was on the edge of being an old maid and I wanted a family.  I so desperately wanted to be a mother. 

I had a good job with the National Park Service and it was becoming a permanent position.  I had my BA in one hand and a dream in the other.  I had decided I was going to do this “Life” thing, with or without a partner.  I started looking for a place to live, as I’d been staying with my parents during my last couple of semesters.  I went to see my real estate girlfriend, Reinie, to see if she knew of any knew of any rentals in the area. 

I’ll never forget that day.  She pulled my credit, ran some numbers, and said I could qualify to buy a home.  I didn’t have to rent!?!?  I never thought that it would be possible for me.  I was stunned, excited, and terrified.  We started looking later that week.  Truth be told, she only took me to two homes.  I knew the minute I walked through the door at South George that this would be my house. 

It was small – very small.  It would be PERFECT for me!  It had two bedrooms, so I could have an office until I was ready to make it a nursery.  The kitchen was a nice size with new appliances.  I would even have my own washer and dryer.  The house had been purchased by a couple of people trying to flip the house.  They gutted it and started over – new windows, new subflooring, ceramic tile floors, new carpet, and new appliances.  It was easily top of the line in my modest price range.  I put in an offer and three months later, the keys were in my hot little hand.  I, Sara Robin Boyd, the girl who felt like she failed at everything she touched, was a homeowner!!  All by herself!!

An exciting story in its own right, to be sure… but the story actually gets better.  It was May 27, 2008 when I closed on my little house.  At that time, I’d been accepted into Walden University’s Master’s program for psychology.  I received a promotion at work – and a full time, permanent position.  I bought my own home, all by myself.  And, I’d started dating a guy 150% different than any other guy I’d ever dated.  His name was Richard; we met on eHarmony earlier that month.  I had never felt so wonderful.  I felt smart, pretty, and proud of myself.  I couldn’t believe that it was all happening to me.  What had I done to deserve so much happiness!? 

Today, October 2011, we are happily married and expecting our first child.  Holy crap, a lot has happened since the day I signed my name on this deed.  All of it has happened in this very house.  I still remember the confidence I felt piping through my veins during those months.  I was on top of the world; no one and nothing could stop me from conquering my dreams. 

 

So, yes, I’m having a hard time packing up our belongings.  Even though it drives us both crazy that we are so cramped in this small space, there’s a coziness here that I know I’ll miss.  I know that we’re not selling the house and I’ll be able to come back, but it won’t be the same.  It won’t be OUR little house anymore.  I’m still excited about the new house and I love that we’ll have plenty of room for our growing family there.  It’s a good move and we’re getting it for a steal.  That won’t stop me from missing South George…    





Right after closing... May 2008



May 2009:  Added new gardens, lattice, and furniture. 





Our first Christmas and Richard's first attempt at hanging lights.



May 2008, back of the house



May 2009:  Had the back deck built, bought a new oil tank and had it moved...



Then we added lattice, furniture, and gardens...  It's amazing how much it's grown and filled in since 2009.



Those are just the major outdoor changes!  There's so much we've done to the inside, too.  Replaced carpet with hardwood, added shelves, replaced all the ceiling fans, added cabinet lighting, and all sorts of things.  It's been a really great starter home...  We've loved you, South George!!  :o)

My tour from one John Denver song to another...

What an eventful week!  I returned Saturday from a weeklong trip with a dear friend of mine.  We went to Colorado to drop off her cousin; I went along for the ride so she wouldn’t be alone on the long drive home.  The whole trip, between "Rocky Mountain High" and "Country Roads," I couldn't get John Denver out of my head.

She showed me the sights of Pueblo and Denver before heading back.  The scenery was amazing!  I got to see some tumbleweed; though, they moved too fast for me to get a picture.  The plains of Kansas were stunning and I just couldn’t get over how huge the sky looks when there are no mountains or buildings in the way.  We took a drive through the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and got some AMAZING views of the changing Aspens.  There was a handmade castle, Bishop Castle, which was simply unbelievable!!  I’m terrified of heights so we didn’t go up, but I did get to see the Gateway Arch in St. Louis.  I’ll add some pictures to the bottom of the post. 

In house news, we did get some good news last week while I was gone.  The financing has been approved!!  The appraisal has already been completed, which happened a lot faster than we anticipated.  In a shocking turn of events, the appraisal came back LOWER than the listing price.  We asked for a price reduction based on the appraisal and just heard back this afternoon that the bank is willing to lower the price of the house.  In doing so, however, they want to reduce what they pay at closing.  So, Richard and I had a quick conversation while he was on break at work and we’re going to go with it.  Odds are we’ll owe very little at closing (maybe around $400) and we can handle that.

Dave seemed to think we could get a closing date of October 20th, if everything happens smoothly and quickly.  Now that I’ve looked at a calendar, I’m starting to get nervous.  We’ve got to get our house packed and ready to move, get his mom’s stuff moved in, and coordinate getting her down here all at about the same time.  Yikes!  And without Richard taking more than one day off work.  And I didn’t want to start doing any of it until we’re certain that we’re going to closing.  I guess now that we’re pretty sure that we’re going to close on the house, I could probably start packing.    

In baby news… well, not much is happening.  I’m feeling surprisingly normal.  Well, aside from the growing waist line.  We are almost to 15 weeks (tomorrow)!!  Our “gender ultrasound” is schedule for November 8th and I’m crazy excited about that!  I feel like I haven’t seen Lil Pea in AGES and it’s killing me.  I had an appointment today and got to hear the heart beat again today.  Lil Pea was pretty active as the doc had to chase down his/her heartbeat, lol!  That made me smile!  I would listen to it every day, if I could.  Still don’t think I’ve felt anything…  I have had two weird sensations that got me excited, but I can’t say for certain if it was baby or not.  There are a lot of twitches, pinches, and pulling sensations, but these were different.  Felt more like knuckles rolling across my skin from the inside.  Lol!  Sounds weird, I know.  Who knows, it’s early yet to be feeling anything anyway. 

I’ve lost a total of seven pounds since my initial appointment, but my ketones have been negative so they aren’t worried.  My sugars have been a little higher than they’d like (mostly, from my road trip), so they’ve given me a VERY low prescription that I only need to take half a pill before dinner.  Just to see if we can drop my evening sugars down some.  But, more good news, I don’t have to go back to the doctors until our November ultrasound.  I’m excited about that because they’ve been seeing me every two weeks so far. 

Sooooooo, the next couple of weeks I’ll be focused on getting our family moved.  If anyone has any boxes, we’d be most obliged!! 

And now, for some Colorado trip pictures.  :o)  There are a lot.  I took over 500, so it was hard to narrow it down to just a few... 



Kansas: driving through... so straight and flat and sunny and beautiful!  I really loved Kansas.



Kansas:  "amber waves of grain"

Kansas:  There was a huge field of wind turbines.  They were HUGE! 

Kansas: Yes, that's an oil rig...!  How cool is that!?  (I am such a dork..)

Colorado:  Still in the plains, but there were all these cool spikey bushes all of sudden. 

Colorado:  Rocky Mountain High

Colorado: Garden of the Gods.  Breathtaking red rocks.

Colorado: Garden of the Gods.  More rock, wish I could post all my pictures. 

Colorado: Historic Arkansas River Project (HARP).  We took a walk along the HARP...

Colorado: Historic Arkansas River Project (HARP).  Really cool statue.

Colorado: San Isabel National Forest.  We took a drive through the mountains and saw the Aspens changing colors.  Beautiful.  

Colorado: San Isabel National Forest.  A beautiful lake; we stopped here for a few minutes and listened to the wind in the trees and the fish popping. 

 



Colorado: San Isabel National Forest.  More changing Aspens.



Colorado: Casa Bonita.  An awesome Mexican resturant with live entertainment, a bunch of cool rooms, a waterfall, a magic show, divers, a cave to explore, and so much more!  It was awesome!




Missouri:  St. Louis.  Just a garden on the way to the Mississippi River and Gateway Arch.  Thought it was pretty.

 

Missouri:  St. Louis.  Gateway Arch! 



Missouri:  St. Louis.  Gateway Arch! 




Missouri:  St. Louis.  Mississippi River!