Moving on from 10P

Feeling the need to get some thoughts out of my head, so here I am after I-don’t-even-know-how-long.  So much going on, so much to process.  Who knew that selling a house could be such an emotional undertaking.  This has been one crazy ride so far, and I know it’s just going to get crazier. 

As far as selling a home goes, we’ve certainly been fortunate so far.  Going on the market in the summer, receiving multiple offers, and accepting an offer just over our asking price just 12 days after we listed is almost unimaginable, especially in this market.  The inspection has been done, and the buyers have come back with just two requests – both completely reasonable and not too costly.  We couldn’t have dreamt it up much better.  But with every step we take closer to turning over the keys to someone else, the tougher this gets.

The strange thing is, I am truly so excited about this next chapter in our lives.  I know without question that we’ll be happy – sounds corny, but as long as we’re together, we’d be happy anywhere.  I’m thrilled for Dennis in his new job, and I’m really looking forward to living in the Berkshires.  We end up there so often on our weekend drives, and the thought of being surrounded by all that natural beauty all the time makes me very happy.  And, let’s face it – moving to a house that’s 1,000 sq. ft. bigger than this house, with a fenced in acre with a beautiful pool – well, that doesn’t exactly suck, either!  And yet, I find myself moved to tears when I allow myself to contemplate that soon another family will be living in this place I’ve come to love so much.  Speaking of tears, here they come now…

Truth be told, it’s not unusual for me to become attached to things and places – that’s just how I’m wired.  I’m a creature of habit, with no apologies.  But this is more…it’s deeper.  It’s like this place has become a part of me.  I suppose it’s because it’s where our family life began.  We got married shortly after moving here, and this is the place we brought our babies home to.  They scooted and crawled in the grass, jumped in the leaves, traipsed through the snow and played lots of baseball in the back yard.  I sit here in the living room picturing the Christmases we’ve had here, the various spots we’ve placed the tree, the stockings I knitted hung by the fireplace.  I see the pencil marks we’ve made on the molding around the sunroom door, tracking Matthew’s growth.  I think of my kids sitting on the counter helping me cook or bake, and I see them walking down the road with Dennis after dinner.  I think of rocking them to sleep upstairs, looking out the window into the back yard.  I think of them taking their first steps in these rooms.  I think of the four of us, dancing like crazy to the music on the Weather Channel.

The memories are thick here, and the thought of walking away from where they happened makes my heart hurt.  I know we’ll make new memories in our new house.  Really, I do.  And I know the day will come when 58 Glory feels like the place we’ve always been.  But the path to get there is going to be a tough one for sure.

Happy Mother’s Day

It’s Mother’s Day.  A day we set aside to honor mothers and celebrate motherhood.  It’s sad to say, but I don’t remember a lot of Mother’s Days from my childhood.  I don’t remember doing things to make my mother feel especially appreciated and loved on that day in May.  God, I sure hope I did and it’s just my advancing age that is causing me to forget.  I can only hope that on every Mother’s Day I had her in my life that she knew I thought she was the greatest mom in the world.

This picture was taken on Saturday, May 10, 1986, almost 25 years ago to the day.  It was the day of my junior prom, and it occurs to me now that the following day was Mother’s Day.  Somehow, so much makes sense in this moment.  I remember the fun we had shopping for that pink dress with the white polka-dot lace overlay.  I remember feeling so proud to be wearing long white gloves like my mother had worn when she was my age.  That day, and the days leading up to it, were all about me.  My mother made sure that I had everything just so – the dress, the gloves, the cameo.  I felt like a princess.  And now that I’m a mother myself, I can understand that was probably the best Mother’s Day gift I could have given her.  Those are the best gifts – seeing joy in your children’s eyes, being able to make them smile or make their dreams a reality.  It makes my heart hurt now to think that the next day was the last Mother’s Day I’d ever spend with her.  I can’t believe that in more than 20 years of looking at this picture on my nightstand, this is the first time I’ve come to that realization.

I miss her so much.  I wish she’d had the chance to get to know me as an adult, to meet Dennis, to hug and kiss her grandchildren.  This year, I’ll turn 42, the age she was when she died.  I’m reminded how precious every moment is; how imperative it is that we enjoy the gifts we receive every single day.

I’m incredibly blessed to be called Mom (or Mommy, Mamacita, Mamajama Three Days) by two amazing little people.  They fill my life with “Mother’s Days” all year, and fill my heart with pride and love.  They are the greatest gifts I could ever dream of.

A special Happy Mother’s Day to my mother, and to my mother-in-law, too.  I am so thankful to her for treating me as one of her own, for raising a son who is such a loving husband and adoring father, and for being such a wonderful grandmother to my babies.  Happy Mother’s Day, Nanna!  And Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers in my life – hope your day is beautiful!

Three

Age 1

 

Age 2

 

Age 3

 

Happy 3rd Birthday to my little boy.  You continually amaze me.  You’re sweet, wild, smart, crazy, clever and cute.  It’s hard to remember sometimes that you’re only 3 years old, because you sure do know how to go toe-to-toe with us.  I can honestly say we wouldn’t have it any other way.

These first three years have simply flown by.  You’ve brought us so much joy, and have added more to our lives than we could have ever imagined.  We’re looking forward to every moment yet to come, and can’t wait to continue making memories with you.

Love you, Matthew.  Happy Birthday, my baby.

Happy 1st Birthday, Gabriella!

Hard to believe that today we celebrated our baby girl’s first birthday.  Time is certainly flying by, and I can unequivocally say this has been the fastest year of my life.

Seems like just a short time ago that we brought our daughter home to complete our family.  I don’t think I could have possibly imagined how much she’d add to our lives.  Watching her and Matthew together has become one of the greatest joys of my life.

I looked back today through some pictures of the day she was born.  Amazing how much she’s changed since then.  See for yourself…

 

And here she is today……

She’s happy and smiley, yet feisty and strong-willed when she wants to be.  She has a silly sense of humor, and you just can’t help but laugh when she laughs.  She’s flirtatious and clever, coy and quick.  She adores her big brother, and sometimes even gives him a run for his money.  I hope she never changes.

Happy Birthday, sweet girl.  Mommy, Daddy and Matthew love you so very much.

Happy Birthday, Babe!

Happy Birthday to the most wonderful husband a woman could ask for.  Thank you for all the thoughtful things you do every day.  Thank you for being such a great dad to our kids, and a true partner in raising them.  Thanks for working so hard and taking such good care of our family. Thanks for being my very best friend.  And most of all, thank you for loving me for me. 

Happy Birthday to the best Dad a boy could ask for.  Thanks for all the shoulder and piggy-back (a.k.a. Peterbilt) rides.  Thanks for taking me lots of fun places.  Thanks for spending time playing with me, and showing me how to hit the ball really far.  Thanks for reading me stories every night.  And thanks for not being afraid to show me and tell me every day how very much you love me.

Happy Birthday to the best Daddy a girl could ask for.  Thanks for making me feel like a little princess.  Thanks for holding me tight and kissing me.  Thanks for laying on the floor and letting me climb all over you.  Thanks for being so protective over me.  Thanks for reading me stories every night.  And thanks for not being afraid to show me and tell me every day how very much you love me.

Happy, Happy Birthday!  We love you very much!