ode to 611 12th

As happy as we are to be settled in our new (to us) house, (we are feeling so very blessed to be here and  how everything with the buying/selling has fallen into place more perfectly than we could have ever imagined) . . . it has also been a little sad to say good-bye.

I am not good with good-byes.  Even saying good-bye to a house.


Between the business of moving, we've gone back a few times to our old house to clean (actually, in full disclosure my parents did a lot of the cleaning, for which we are so grateful), which has been a little bittersweet.  Initially after the move, Braden was asking questions like "Where did our old house go?" or saying "I want to go to our house."  So we made sure to take him back to see the empty house - which really has seemed to help him to understand that we no longer live there (and nor does our stuff).  I think it has been a little confusing for him because during the actual moving process he spent his days at daycare/Grandma's, so didn't actually see things leave the house.  Thankfully he seems to "get it" now - and asks to go to "our big new house" or "Braden's new house."

Anyway . . . a few days ago I went back to drop of an owner's manual to an appliance that we'd accidentally taken, and spent a few minutes at the old house saying my good-byes.  (I also took a few pictures, mainly in case we need them in the future to show Braden since we won't be able to take him there again).

Lots of memories flooded in as I walked from room to room one last time  . . . this is the place where:

I  first became a homeowner as a young woman.  I loved my first home and all the space I had (yeah, it seemed like a lot of space back then for just one person!)


 I first got to decorate -- I've stripped lots of wallpaper/border, actually put up some wallpaper (I loved that plaid in the family room!), painted the kitchen and living/dining room twice, and the other rooms once.


I planted my first flowers and learned to enjoy digging in the dirt.


I/we entertained good friends and had good laughs.


I first met Billy when he rang the doorbell to pick me up for our (semi) blind first date.


We came home to after our honeymoon and lived for our first (almost) 5 years of marriage.


We transformed a spare bedroom and decorated a nursery while eagerly anticipating the birth of our first child . . . then brought our little bundle "home" to.


It's the place where Braden first slept through the night and took his first bites of solid food.  Right there is where he first rolled over, and he learned to go up and down steps on that staircase. 


This is the kitchen in which I exploded a pyrex pan, resulting in new counters and flooring.


Yes, there are lots of memories in this place . . . good times, sad times, happy times, mad times, silly times, scary times . . . 

As I walked out the door for the last time on Sunday with tear filled eyes, I said a little prayer of thanks for our little duplex and our time there.  Monday evening we handed over the keys to 611 12th to our realtor, and signed our end of the paperwork.  And It became official today - this place was no longer ours.  Good-bye.


Here's to making new memories in our new space, which we already love.  I can't wait to look back on all that will happen here - especially as we prepare to welcome a new family member very soon!

On that note, Braden and I were snuggling together on Tuesday morning (we had the unexpected surprise of a 2 hour delay at school), and B asked me, "Mom, where is baby sister?"  I replied that she is still in mommy's belly and hasn't been born yet.  He then responded, "I want baby sister to come to our house, Mom."  Me too, buddy!  I have another OB appt tomorrow - so we'll see if there's any news soon . . .