Here I am sitting in the bare living room, watching the kids play on the floor by my feet, and it takes me back to three years ago, when we decided to move into this house.
Nate had finally returned from very long deployment a few months prior, Ian was a sweet and energetic eighteen month old, and Hayleigh was nestled comfortably in my womb, I was twenty weeks along.
Everything being so bare and almost boxed up reminds me of many evenings I would sit in the living room, and dream big dreams, think of beautiful memories yet to be created, and everything in store for us. Looking back, boy did it deliver. We made the most beautiful memories here, as family, and that I will forever cherish.
I am so sentimental when it comes to my kids, that every milestone gets documents, photographed (if I by chance have a lucky moment) and remembered. This house has probably hundreds of those moments, little things and big things. I will cherish these for ever.
This is were Ian grew from a baby to a toddler, and eventually a little boy. This is were he started to talk, discover, explore, and learn. So much has taken place here just with Ian, it is hard for me to wrap my head around it all.
He developed his silly and goofy side.
He found creative ways to entertain himself, and he continued to grow into becoming a book worm.
This is were his Thomas the Tank Engine obsession began... one of my favourite things about him is all his train talk.
This is were we prepared him for a new baby sister.
This is were he became a big brother, and filled the role so graciously and lovingly.
He turned two...
and three...
He turned into the master Lego builder, and can pretty much create anything with blocks.
His love for his sister grew into something extraordinary and breathtaking.
He discovered his creative side... And he is such a little artist.
His train obsession grew even more... I have no words to describe this... But I love it!
He grew into this handsome and loving little boy. Yes, he has his moments, and he is stubborn, but he is loving, caring, compassionate, sweet, handsome - with a fierce heart for Jesus.
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There is much more, but capturing it all in words and pictures is nearly impossible. The rest is safely tucked away in my memory bank, and I will never forget it all. I have learned so much form this little boy since he entered this world almost four years ago, most of it in this house that we made our home, far away from family. But we had each other, we learned from each other, and love each other unconditionally. I am so proud of the little man he has become, and I am sure he will only thrive in our new surrounding. New discoveries awaits him.
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Disclaimer! This post was abruptly interrupted by the doorbell and the fact that the movers showed up a whole day early, because they finished another job early, no phone call, no notice, and no Nate! Might I also add that everything wasn't in order because I was going to work on it this afternoon, the kids and I had to deal with all for a while, and Nate finally made it home to help!!! So it is now tonight....
We no longer have a living room, it is all packed, so I am in bed right now. Both kids are tucked in tightly sound asleep, and I would just like to say they were little rock stars I am proud.
It is all sinking in now, I am an emotional wreck and I would lie if I said I haven't shed any tears, I have acried a little, and then I would laugh at my silliness, and remember all our happy times.
I was twenty weeks pregnant with Hayleigh when we moved here. She was nestled in my womb and remained there till forty-two weeks. This is were she learned to know my voice from inside, were we bonded, and started our journey of loving someone I have never met. Such sweet anticipation to become a mother of a little girl.
This is were we brought her home from the hospital, and established our new normal with two kids under two.
This is were she rolled over for the fist time. (I actually caught it on video)
And were she learned to sit up...
We celebrated her six month mile stone.
She was introduced to solid food, and spoon feedings.
She learned how to crawl, with lots of encouragement from her brother.
She became completely obsessed with her brother, I know she loves him something fierce. She also wants to be just like him.
She mastered the art of pulling herself up.
She learned how to climb.
She turned one.
She learned how to walk.
She got in touch with her creative side.
She grew to love books.
She became a puzzle builder.
She learned how to play like a girl. Babies and preparing food is some of her favorite things in the world.
She grew into a toddler. A sweet, beautiful, fun, joyful, happy, loving, strong-willed, and determined little toddler. How has a huge heart.
I am so overwhelmed by the joy that she has brought me, and all the beautiful mother-daughter moments that she has granted me in this home. She has stretched me and grown me in so many ways, sometimes it hurt.
We have learned to rely on each other, to be patient with each other as we learn, and to love each other to no end. I am excited to see her grow in our new surroundings, and with new people. A whole new learning curve awaits her.
As for me, so much growth has taken place in this house. It has become my safe haven, my place of refuge and solitude, my place of learning (sometimes by hard) my place of loving more, and living better. I became a mother of two in this house, I conquered the overwhelming phases of taking care of two by myself, I leaned to love cooking more then any other hobby, I learned how to garden, I learned how to play with my kids, I learned how to let go, I learned some patience (still working on it), I learned compassion, I learned kindness, I learned to ask for forgiveness, I learned how to cradle and snuggle two kids at once, I learned how to divide my time between kids, I learned to find the beauty in the unexpected, I learned that more then anything in the world, I need Jesus and His unfailing love and grace.
It has been a beautiful three years in this house, something that is so hard to describe if you haven't lived it.
I am so sad to be moving, and that is ok - I will say my good-bye and I will survive. Tomorrow when the last containers leave and the house is completely empty, it will hurt, but it will also be refreshing, it will be the ending of an amazing story of my life. We have had the perfect ending in this house, and for that I am thankful.
I will hold on to these memories, when life gets hard, and realize how lucky and blessed I am and have been.
I am a wife, and a mother, and here a learned how to make and maintain a happy home.
On to our next adventure we go.
Good-bye Paulengrunder Strasse.
I will forever love and cherish you!
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