This old house
Well, the subject of the old house came up again tonight. With a very positive attitude, Alanna told me how she really likes our new house, but she still misses the old one. I told her that I feel exactly the same way. Aidan's emotions about the house vascillate. Some days he loves this house. When Alanna brought it up tonight, he said he is sad about leaving the old house. I have to say, I can't blame him. I really do love our new home, and I think we will create tons of very happy memories! But my sentimental side gets to me, and it's hard to let go of a place where so many milestones were achieved.
Our first home, where we...
...celebrated Aidan and Alanna's first birthday...and second, third and fourth...
...learned very quickly that we were expecting another baby when the twins were a mere 9 months old
...welcomed Emory into our family
...transitioned from 2 cribs to 3
...watched them all learn to say their first words, take their first steps, put together their first sentences
...helped them all transition out of diapers...and into big beds...
...had our first experience with stitches
...learned more about the love of parents for their children than we ever could have imagined
...developed a much greater respect for our own parents...and a remorse for what they had to put up with. lol
...experienced Christmas through the wonder-filled eyes of a child again
So many wonderful memories were created at our home. I can still see Aidan and Alanna in their cribs sleeping like little angels. I remember how tiny they looked when they first moved into a twin bed. We had their room crammed with two cribs and two beds for a while, but we finally just had to take the cribs out to push them to take the leap to the big bed. I can envision Emory as a tiny infant in her bassinet in our room, and then in her crib...finding her sitting up for the first time...and then standing...when I went to get her from her nap. I hope I will always remember the last few times I gave her a bottle. I savored the moments, sitting on the guest bed next to her crib, with her curled into me...staring into each others' eyes...knowing this was "the end of the baby phase" for our family. I wanted to imprint the thoughts, the feelings - physically and emotionally, on my brain. I remember those last bottles with Aidan and Alanna to a degree...but those moments were not quite as significant since I knew Emory was on the way. It wasn't an ending yet.
So - for posterity...just a few photos of our home...
And now - we move forward in a new home, with a new start. The future looks very, very bright! We are so very fortunate in so many ways! We are excited to see what life will bring with Jason making his mark at UNC. And so far in this neighborhood, we've been really pleased with how friendly everyone is...lots of young families with kids the same age as Aidan, Alanna and Emory, and they stay connected with lots of social groups within the community!
