A Month.

We've been here a month. A little more, actually. Most days it feels like much longer and I mean that in a good way. Our house is pretty settled and we're getting to know the area. I can get to the grocery store, Target and various other shopping destinations without any trouble. I'm even starting to have a pretty good feel for how the towns and roads relate to one another. Just this week Meredith and I have started to find a new routine with going to parks, going on walks, visiting the library and doing things around the house.

The other thing that has made this transition smoother is the people we've met. I have met a few other moms that have quickly allowed me to feel like I am creating new friendships. We've had several park & library playdates already. We even bumped into a friend at the park yesterday, which is one of the things I was scared about missing when leaving a place we were so familiar with.

Almost everyday, at least once, I am stopped in my tracks at the beauty of where we live. The sun shines brightly and more warmly here. The cold weather is coming, but the days have been perfect for the most part. The views of mountains keep surprising me. The different plant life fascinates me- from citrus trees, to succulents, to trees with the biggest leaves I've ever seen, to palm trees.

I just can't keep thinking how perfect of a fit this place seems. Things have gone so smoothly. We love our house, neighborhood and are finding friends. What more could we ask for? We are feeling so thankful for our new home and the blessings that have come with this move.

Random thoughts for a sunday.

1. I love my home. It's really, really coming together. After lots of hard work this weekend, it really feels like home.

2. My family is coming in town this week. Have I told you that? My brother arrives in the morning and the rest get here Wednesday. Chris and I are so excited to have people to show off our new neighborhood. I hope they love it like we do. I think they will.

3. Did you know Thanksgiving is on Thursday?? Gosh, I've been running around like a mad woman getting ready for it without really thinking about what it is. The food, the family time and the chance to take a break from normal routine. I'm really so happy.

4. Meredith is almost 17 months. This is stage is the most exciting and the most exhausting yet. I have never felt more relieved to see bedtime o'clock strike on the clock. She's into everything, testing boundaries and discovering new things every minute of everyday.

5. Did you watch the AMAs tonight? They make me feel old. Like, who are these babies singing songs? And how does half this stuff even count as music? Kids these days. Nicki Minaj's outfit made me want to throw up (I had to google her name).

6. I have been so busy trying to get this house in order that I'm not sure it's sunk in that I live on the other side of the country now and am far, far away from my friends. I'm thinking it might strike after Thanksgiving. I'll keep you posted.

7. I go to Target everyday now.

8. I have a bright blue dining room table now.

9. Everywhere I drive I can see mountains and palm trees. Chris keeps calling it Paradise and I have to say, I agree. We met some people today that said the weather was as bad as it gets. It was 50 and rainy. I can live with that.

10. Since moving we've been having nightly family dance parties. Meredith can seriously get down. I love it. We like to jam to I Gotta Feeling,  Party Rock Anthem and Moves Like Jagger. Any songs we should add?

11. I have made some of these foods in the last couple of weeks. I would recommend them all, especially if you are in need of some comfort food, which apparently we have been.

Tamale Pie
BBQ Chicken
Buffalo Chicken
Oreo Brownies (doooo it!) (i didn't add the chocolate syrup or ice cream. just batter & oreos)
Mellow Mushroom buffalo chicken copycat

12. I kind of (really) want a hot pink Christmas tree this year.

13. I kind of (really) want to see The Descendents.

scenes from a move.

below are some pictures of our house & move in various states of disarray. today was the first day i woke up feeling like the house isn't a complete stress bomb. yesterday i got all the boxes in the living room, dining area & kitchen opened so our main living area is feeling very happy. it isn't decorated or perfectly put together, but it is liveable. the other rooms are coming along nicely, too. it has felt like such a big accomplishment getting so much unpacked with a toddler. i am happy, relieved and tired :)

happy weekend!

love our living room.

living room arrangement before adding extras :)

pretty kitchen countertops.

i have a dishwasher!!!!!!

huge window for light and  people watching :)

view from window above our bed.

fun time with dad.

peek a boo with a placemat.

Stanford

Yesterday morning we decided to take some time off from unpacking and go enjoy our new neighborhood. Chris found a Brooklyn style bagel shop near Standford so we headed out for a quick drive west for bagels. After breakfast we decided to drive around Standford. It is a stunning campus. I was so intrigued we decided to stroll around for a while, soaking up the sun and beauty. Meredith loved having yet another new place to explore and we enjoyed being out of the house and resting our muscles.

so many bikes! everyone bikes around to class!

the drive into the campus

we're here!

We made it to California! It's been a whirlwind 48 hours, but all things considered, thins are going really smoothly. There have been moments of feeling intensely overwhelmed, but those have been greatly outnumbered by the moments of excitement. We are quickly falling in love with our area. We can walk to a Starbucks, Target, beautiful playground and cute downtown area. The weather has been like a perfect June day for the last couple of days. The people here are friendly. Our neighbor already brought us cookies and takeout menus! So far, we are feeling really, really happy. Also? really, really tired. Here are a few snapshots of our first days in California!

 

boston, you've been my home.

A smattering of places I will miss. I will mostly miss the people, but I have to say, New England has some truly amazing places to see and visit.

checking in.

Hi friends! I just wanted to check in. In all honesty, I have no coherent thoughts for you. We are vagabonds moving from friends' house to friends' house, soaking up our final days in Boston. The weather is gloomy and rainy today and I'm writing this form my best friend's couch. There have been so many moments this week that I've wondered why on earth we are doing this. Why are we leaving a place with the most beautiful fall season one could ever imagine? Why are we leaving a place with playgrounds Meredith and I love? Why are we leaving a place with friends we are so comfortable with that we lounge on their couch in PJs and no makeup? Why are we taking Meredith away from her grandparents? Why are we leaving a place that we know like the back of our hands? We are about to get lost a lot. We are about to find new parks. We are about to find new friends. We are about to get to know a whole new weather system. And while this is exciting on the one hand, it is overwhelming on the other.

Don't get me wrong, I do not regret our decision, but as the reality of this move starts to sink in, it really feels intense. I'm ready to leave. I'm ready for life to be out of this limbo. I'm not ready for goodbyes. My stomach clenches just thinking about it, but I am ready to start to get settled in our new home.

Thanks for stopping by today friends :) Thanks for your patience in my moving rambles. Things will hopefully get back to normal in a couple of weeks.

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