Our new home

 

It's been a wild and crazy few weeks (months, really), but it really happened. We moved! We couldn't be happier with our new space. Our house and yard are so...spacious! It's really incredible to be sitting in a room and literally feel the space around me. It feels great. And we are settling in well. I'm not at all surprised to announce that Dalia is sleeping better here than she ever has. Eloise is a whole other story. I'm not even going to go there except to say that I don't think I have ever been so exhausted in my life. It's not just her sleep, ear infection, fussy, I can climb anything little remarkable self, of course. Moving is HARD! Even when it's fun. 
 
It's been an adjustment in many ways for Mark and I. Less so for the girls. It's still pretty much as close to everything as Sellwood is, but just different. We are trying to come to terms with losing sidewalks. That's the hardest for me. And living in a fancy neighborhood where everyone mows their lawns (or has someone do it for them). We'll expect that they stay green during the summer too. But, it's like a storybook here. My eyes are saturated from the views out every window, day and night. It's stunning. 

sunset our first night here

our back deck and yard

And we are warm. And a room can get totally messy and the whole house doesn't feel like a bomb went off. And there's room for everything! (The girls closets are literally empty because they didn't have closets in their last house). 

And all my linens are folded and put away in a GIGANTIC room, but not nearly as big as my amazing bedroom. And there's all kinds of birds to look at. And, the neighbors are as welcoming and wonderful as our dear friends we left behind in our old hood. And we are just two blocks from the school and park! 

And, when we went out for a date, we got to drive through the forest over the hill to NW and feel back home there again after so many years. So, I hope I will get used the the lack of sidewalks and be grateful that my butt and thighs will be thankful for all the hills I have to haul up and down with the double stroller. We'll just have to find a parking lot to ride bikes in for a while. 

We've had snow and sun, warmth and cold to welcome us to our little oasis. It's been great and we are looking forward to settling in. Mark, I know, is thankful to be out of his cold basement and working in our little treehouse room. 

Dalia loves her bedroom and regularly goes in there and turns on her cd player now (or sometimes 94.7, which just cracks me up). I've found her sitting on the floor, knees curled up to chest really listening to her Jewel CD, which also cracks me up, and makes me a little sad at how fast I know she will grow up here. 

Mark is out of town and yesterday was about the perfect day (minus him). The girls both migrated into my bed and the first bleary eyed sight for me was their sillouettes in the dawn light giving each other a morning kiss. Then Dalia asked me to turn on the fireplace while we snuggled and tickled and read books in bed. 

Then we say a full rainbow out our windows.  

After I dropped Dalia off at school, I brought Eloise back, enjoyed giving her a long, splashy bath with no yelling or hustling, played on the floor in the playroom with her for what seemed like the first time in a very long time, had a milky snack and a cracker snack, some tea from my insta hot water spout and, well, the day just continued on in such a beautiful, peaceful way. 

 I feel blessed to have stepped into the flow of life. I know there are going to be lots of moments of doubt and uncertainty, but am so glad to say that so far we are feeling like our choice was the best for our family. I feel a sense of rest that I haven't had for years about home space. And I'm in love.