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Blessed

Well, today was Uhaul day, and we have nothing to complain about. 

Ryan picked up the Uhaul at 8am

Faith loved playing in the empty uhaul

 Our friend Erin arrived shortly after to help clean in the house as it was emptied. I took Faith over to Julianna/Peytons, which is where she stayed all morning until her afternoon nap. Kevin and Kate arrived by 10, and happen to be EXPERT trailer packers, and thanks to them we got as much in the trailer as we did! By 1pm, the trailer was packed. We spent the rest of the afternoon hours adding odds and ends to the trailer, gathering trash, breaking down extra boxes, cleaning the fridge, cleaning the house, etc, etc, etc. Erin and her husband returned later to plan out a trip to the dump for us next week. And Anna Guererro made and brought us dinner!

So we had soooo much awesome help today. Ryan and I don’t know how we would have done it all without them. Everyone had a different way to help, whether packing, or babysitting, or cooking, or etc, and all of it was awesome. We’ve been really blessed with friends and neighbors here. It is sad to leave them. Faith and I have really had some special friendships, and could not have hand chosen better neighbors and close friends.

It’s 8pm, and Ryan and Faith are out on a test drive with the car pulling the Uhaul, for some practice time for Ryan. I am home supposedly cleaning the bathroom, but stopped to blog. 🙂

We get up early (thanks Faith) so whenever we are up and all get ready, we will be on the road tomorrow morning. Headed to our first stop, Montana.

packing the last few things

Fun day for Faith

Faith may have missed her nap today, but she had fun doing it.

First up Julianna and Peyton (and Micah) made breakfast for Faith: french toast, fruit, etc. Then after the breakfast date we got to play with Madeline (who has flown in from Baltimore for a few days). Then Faith went to the mall with Mommy for a few errands. Then to a playground with baby Jakob, Erin, and Julianna/Peyton/Micah. Then we ate dinner at Peytons. Whew! LOTS of social time for Faith with her friends.

7:00pm, and Faith is out

Tomorrow morning it is more fun: a brunch for us at Julianna/Peytons, with Anna, Ausia, and Kate! 🙂

After that, reality hits…. more P A C K I N G. Ugh.

While it was a really fun day for Faith to see so many of her friends before we go, on a sad note it is our last night with Danny tonight. He leaves tomorrow for a weekend in Portland, and we leave Friday while he is gone, so Faith and I will have to say goodbye to him in the morning. 😦  Sad to me, and sad when I think of Faith, since she has lived in the same house as him for over 2 years now. She doesn’t remember us not all living together. If we’re gone for just one night from him, she cries when she sees him again because she gets so excited. I tried to gauge today how much she is understanding about the move, and although she understands we’re going to Colorado and to a new house and etc, I don’t think she gets the permanence of it at all. Sometimes she seems to, as she says Danny will have to come on an airplane, etc, and how she will live with the new baby in Colorado, etc. And she wants to skype with Peyton. But she won’t understand saying goodbye to Danny in the morning.

Fingerpaint

Faith is a modern artist- she needs a medium other than traditional paper. Today it was her belly.

Faith and I took a break from packing this afternoon. We took a nap together, played with fingerpaint (followed by a shower for Faith), and went to the park. We have a fun morning tomorrow: breakfast at Peytons and then a special playdate with Madeline (who has flown in from Boston).

After that it is pack to the grindstone! The packing will continue…

Not homeless

We found out Friday that we have a place to live! 🙂 We have been researching the Colorado Springs area for weeks, and have been in contact with numerous locals (friends of friends) to get specific feedback on neighborhoods, school systems, areas, etc, etc, etc. We began our search first looking at apartments but quickly moved on to townhomes. We also decided, since renting from afar, not to rent from an individual owner but to go through a property management company, just to protect ourselves from potential scams and etc. Narrowing down our search helped, especially once we narrowed down what areas we would live in. 

So… after speaking with a really helpful realtor repeatedly, we started the application process on a townhome, and got word on Friday that everything was set up! So we are renting a 2 bedroom townhome. 2 story (no one above/below us), fireplace, washer/dryer, fenced backyard, really wooded area, on the nw side of the city, at the mountains, great view, pool/playground/workout rooms, etc. We are really pleased with it. The realtor we spoke with sent us the mls sheet on the property and all current photos, and then he went and visited it himself during our application process to take additional shots and give a more detailed report. He was really helpful.

So we were relieved not to spend our last weekend here in Seattle either house-hunting or wondering if we should be. Having a definate answer Friday meant we could pack all weekend, which is exactly what we did. We got a lot done. I think I could be totally done in one day (although I won’t be as fast at it with Ryan at work and Faith being with me 100% of the time) and I have 3 days. So I feel good about what is left. I got really tired/sore today, but the next three days should be lighter for me. And I get to sit and rest in the car for days after!

Speaking of our road trip, we are really looking forward to it. We are sort of at the more painful part of moving– the days of  the most physical work plus the more emotional days as goodbyes loom. The road trip is sort of the reward, like even though this weekend was hard and this week will be emotional, we have turned our road trip to Colorado into a vacation, which helps.

We’re driving two days pretty solid, about 6 or 7 hours a day (thats a solid day for a 2 and a half year old we’re guessing), and then we’ll be in the Grand Tetons (national park) and Jackson Hole to play. We’re giving ourselves time to hike and explore and photograph, etc. As we leave we’ll drive 2 or 3 hours. Then one more day of a 6 hour drive. Anyway, that is the tentative schedule. Most of our stops will be in Montana and Wyoming.

We’ll arrive in Colorado Springs during the evening, so we are set up in a motel that night, and will start fresh the next day at the property management office to sign our lease and pick up our key. And then the unpacking begins!! We will have a few days to unpack, return the trailer, and create some quality time/normalcy for Faith in our new place before Ryan starts his new job.

Our neighbor and friend, Anna, here in Seattle has put me in contact with several friends of hers in Colorado Springs. One has a 2 year old girl, and the other has a 2 year old boy and 1 month old twins! I have been emailing with them both and it is nice to have their input and upcoming playdates for Faith already set up. And the mother with the brand new twins also has helpful info about her doctor and birthing center, etc, which I need soon.

Anyway, all of that should bring you up to date on what is going on!! It is a busy time but it is going well.

Mustache Party

Thursday was Danny’s 30th birthday 🙂 and we went out Friday night for dinner! It was a mustache party at Snoose Junction.

Uncle Danny and Faith

Ryan

Daddy and Faith

Danny and Ashley (I know you NC's will be asking if that's his girlfriend, but no, she is married to Reeves and they are Dannys best friends)

Faith

Kate made a peach cobbler

Faith shopped for baby

Faith’s special outing after finding out the baby gender was to go shopping for a baby outfit. She LOVED it, and picked out two fleecy sleepers, pink pacifiers, and a pink rattle. On our way out we noticed they had a matching jammie for toddlers, so we grabbed them for Faith and she is sooooo excited to match the baby.

Faith shopped for baby

Faith in the matching animal jammies, pointing to the baby outfit she matches

A proud big sister

Baby Girl

First up, listen to the heart beat (sound begins six seconds in):

And below are a few short clips from the ultrasound…

Packing

Our little helper

I started packing today. Lots left to do but happy with what I started. Faith enjoys helping. It is hard to say at this point how much she understands about our move. She knows we’re going to a “new house” and she is excited about her new room and the promise of a flower bed. (flower sheets). We have told her she won’t be able to see Uncle Danny every day, or Peyton and Ausia, and have talked about how they will have to come on an airplane like Gigi or Grandpa or David or etc. She seems content with all the information, but at the same time is more clingy to Mommy than usual. I am going to start researching online for ideas on how to help toddlers adjust to a move, and am also going to look at the library for childrens books about moving, etc.

We are tackling a to-do list. Tonight I got online and ordered the items for Faiths entertainment for our road trip to Colorado. Some new I spy books, a couple of dvds, some magnetic dress up dolls, coloring books, stickers, lace-up cards, etc. I know she will enjoy it all. I will just have to hide the box when it arrives because she will want to open it!

Packing is so much easier this time. Our last move was a “lesson learned”– from what to pack, what to GET RID OF, what size/kind of boxes not to use, etc. Ay ay ay. So many mistakes last time. Looking forward to a smoother move this go around.

Tomorrow: more packing. Perhaps a little shopping to pick up a few maternity items. Oh, and we promised Faith breakfast at the beach, which means grabbing muffins and hot chocolate at the beach coffeehouse and eating by the water. 🙂 Will take pics.

Happy Birthday Grandma Peeples