Transition

We are moving into our house this weekend.



Just had to let that sink in for a minute. We've been insanely busy the last couple of weeks, trying to get all the stuff done that needed doing. Most particularly, all the painting in the areas where the flooring was getting refinished or painted, so as to not worry about drips and splatters. Holy moly! Every afternoon, after Paul got home from work, I headed over to the house to paint-solo. Paul and Henry would arrive about 2 hours later with some food for me, and I'd take a break, and keep painting 'til about 9. Home to Grandma's, nurse babe, shower, conk out. Repeated daily until Friday, when I was just so absolutely, completely burned out that I took a break for a day. I didn't want to end up like Paul and burn out totally and end up needing medical treatment (Paul, by the way, is back to normal and doing well).

Holly and Theo visited over Memorial Day weekend, which was lovely even though neither of them were feeling well. I really miss my sister, and I think we're both doing some preemptive mourning that I'll likely not be able to be at her birthing this time around. I wish they could have stayed all month; the weekend was way too short. We had fun at the beach and just hanging at home.

My mom and Mark were here over this past weekend, which helped a lot. Mark painted a couple of closets for me, and my mom helped me to thoroughly clean out all the nooks and crannies of the kitchen and laundry room. They were, in a word, contaminated. With grease, hair, dirt and all the muck of daily living that would collect if one didn't do regular maintenance...I cleaned dog hairballs the size of grapefruits out of the freezer, for goodness' sake! My mom used a nail and a toothbrush to get all the ugh out of the washing machine (which, by the way, is 17 years old...we found the receipts for it and the dryer; let us pray that they continue to work for a few more years). Paul fixed the garage door and changed the knobs/locks on the back of the house, so we can lock those doors now. He cleaned out the shed (more gag-inducing ugh), and pulled the last smidge of remaining old carpet out of the half bath...let's just not go any further than that in describing it. Old carpet in the bath.

Monday, I finished up painting (for now) by doing the back stairs...that was nitpicky business, but it looks much improved. Charlie and Morgan are sanding the downstairs floors and putting some finish on tomorrow (I hope it's tomorrow, since we're teed up for moving in on Saturday). A locksmith is making us some skeleton keys for the very old (perhaps original) lockset on the front door...it seems that it requires a person to have two keys at once, like a safe-deposit box. So, we're trying to figure that out; the locksmith took the lockset out yesterday and will let us know when he's examined it and made a determination. We really didn't want to change it, as it's really cool and very unique. Pictures later, sorry, I have really fallen behind on photography with all the work going on!

I keep catching myself thinking little thoughts; wishing for more money so we could replace this or that, or hire someone to do such and such. But then, I realize, this house is 120 years old! The stairs are going to show wear, and the floors aren't perfect, and the trim has been painted 25 times...and it's really ok! The house just has such a great feeling for us. I know people may come over and notice the flaws or the things that need work, particularly those who may have the "finer things" in their home. But for us, it's beautiful, and we love it despite the flaws. Not only that, we'd rather not take on debt to play that "keeping up with the Joneses" game. And once we get living there, it's just going to fill up with comfort, light, good smells, toddler laughs and cries and music (which I'm desperately missing these last few months...Grandma does not want to listen to anything that I want to listen to, so it's been hard).

The universe keeps coming at us with great things; my aunt Cindy and uncle John have given us a beautiful, old farmhouse dining table that was in their home. They refinished it 10 years ago and put it away in the attic because it has a wobble (most likely an easy fix by Paul). My aunt Mary and uncle Bo are giving us a twin bed for Henry's future room. My aunt Tina and uncle Jeff are giving us some extra dressers for our guest room. My in laws are bringing all kinds of second-hand bounty when they come in July...a cedar chest, coat tree, hall mirror, ottoman, canning jars, perennials and clothes for Henry. My mom is going to get my grandparent's old piano up to us this year, and the previous owners left us another deep freeze (the better to store half a cow and gobs of frozen local produce in, my dear!). My dad and Sandi, aunts and uncles will help us with moving and setting up this weekend, and I am so grateful for all the help we've had and the love we're shown. I'm feeling very lucky to have both my immediate, nuclear family as well as my parents, aunts, uncles, grandmas and in-laws.

Paul, as usual, is a rock. He's so patient, calm and steady, and works so hard for us. He loves being a father, and Henry just pounces on him the moment he gets home. He maintains a good sense of humor and a super high tolerance for the frustrations of working on a house with a sensitive and reactionary wife. He keeps me laughing and smoothed out, and I am so grateful to have this partner in my life's work. His birthday is Friday, and his gift (at his request) was registration for the Ore to Shore mountain bike race in August...48 miles of riding. I feel badly that his birthday is going to get lost in the moving, so we'll likely celebrate the following weekend with Father's Day. I'm planning to let him sleep til he wakes up, banana pancakes, and a day at the beach, followed by a delicious dinner and perhaps cake (if he wants one...last year, he didn't).

Henry is a peach; saying (or trying to say) so much and climbing, running, digging and playing all day long. He's getting another molar, which has been hard for him, but he's such a sweet little dude. Always hugging and kissing us (he really puckers up now, it's so awesome). He takes his stuffed animals around making them kiss whoever is in the room, usually several rounds in a row. He loves to eat fruit, and takes huge bites of apple, letting the juice run out of his mouth as he chews, saying "hmmmm, mmmmm, ummmm!" with big eyes. He tells me when he poops or pees now, and we're starting some low-key toilet sitting...if you tell him to push out his poop, he really bears down and does this crazy grunt and smiles and laughs. Nothing has happened yet, but I'm just trying to communicate with him about it and try to catch his cues before it happens. He's so smart, and silly and loves to listen to folks who sing to him. We are just crazy about that little character!

We're going to the "Book Babies" storytime at the library again tomorrow...and this time we're taking Grandma Helvi and cousin Emily with us. Should be fun! It's been nice to not be allowed to be at the new house right now because of the floors. It really is a little calm before the storm of moving. I feel as though I should be packing, but really, all to pack is our clothes and toiletries, and a few toys and books that we've hauled out. Oh, and the few pots and pans I just HAD to have up in the kitchen (I'm sort of attached to them).

I'll probably not post again for a week or so...just a lot going on. I'm not sure who (if anyone) reads regularly, but thanks to all who do; stay tuned for more.