Light at the End of the Tunnel

The year 2011 did not start off on a real positive note for me.  I spent the majority of January, February, and March sick with a horrible combination of bronchitis, sinus infections, and probably pneumonia.  I went to 2 different doctors 6 different times and spent the majority of 3 months on any kind on antibiotic or steroid breathing inhaler to try and feel better.  Luckily for me the rest of 2011 made a HUGE turn around!

In April Ethan and I worked every night painting, cleaning, rearranging, and de-cluttering the house in order to try and get it ready to sell.  Mid-May...the house went up on the market.

By June we had our first offer.  It was low.  Too low.  We passed. 

In July we found out we were going to be parents!  Excitement filled us as we waited patiently (and a little nervously) through those first 12 weeks before announcing to family and friends.

August we started the process of building our new home.  Ethan went out everyday and took pictures of the progress.  It is so neat now to look back at when all we had was a hole in the ground...

October we found out we're having a little GIRL...right before E's birthday.  What a great birthday present for him :)

November has flown by so fast I'm not even sure what went on the first 3 weeks...but I do know that now we are about a month away from the new house being finished, the reality of possibly having two mortgages was starting to weigh on us more and more.  Clouding the excitement of seeing the progress of the house. 

We have had many showings over the last 6 months.  Many.  Most reviews of the house came back very positive, with a big fat BUT...

"We're going to look for a house with three bedrooms..."

Three bedrooms.  Ugh!  I know that you want three bedrooms.  So do I.  That's why we're building...we need more bedrooms.  There's nothing I can do about the fact we have only two bedrooms.  Whoever decided to only put two bedrooms in this house obviously was NOT thinking about resale value!

About a week ago we decided to drop the price...again.  We were a little reluctant this time because the price has never been a problem.  All the reviews coming back say that the house is reasonably priced and that has never been a deterring factor.  BUT as our Realtor pointed out, we needed to find a price that someone was willing to say "ok...I can do this." 

Finally...last Saturday, Ethan checked his email right before we were about to head over to some friend's house to watch some football, and there in the inbox was a message with the subject:  Contract for 151st!

YEEEEESSSSS!

My very next thought was..."Please be a reasonable offer..."

It was the same offer as in early June.  Same price.  Same person.

This time however, that number offered didn't seem so low. 

Everything is relative...when you've had the house on the market for 6 months with only one offer, a new house about to be finished and paying two mortgages hanging over your head, AND a baby on the way.  That offer seemed just fine.

We accepted.

And now wait patiently for inspections and pray for everything to continue to work out.

What a fantastic light at the end of the 2011 tunnel.  SO many things to be thankful for and so many thing to be excited for. 

Now, if I could only get excited about packing...

Turning 29...

I am about to embark on the last year of my 20's.

I am ok with it.

I am not bursting with excitement over my birthday, but I am ok.

I tried to explain it to some of my colleagues today.  I made the comment that I wasn't excited about my birthday this year.  Now this comment doesn't fair very well with the majority of the teachers in my building.  I am, and have been, one of the youngest teachers in the building.  So when I say that I'm not excited about turning 29 the other's moan and groan about how the WISH they were turning 29. 

It is not the number. 

29 is fine with me.

I think the lack of enthusiasm comes from the many other things going on in my life at the moment.

I am happy.  I am ridiculously happy.  There are times I sit and think that I should be more worried, stressed, and frustrated because there are definitely things in my life that could cause me to be overwhelmed with those emotions.  BUT I'm not.  I'm happy. 

My birthday has always been something I look forward to.  A day to celebrate, relax, and forget anything that might not be going the way I want.  But this year...there are many more EXCITING things going on in my life, that my birthday just doesn't seem all that big.

I could list for you over and over all the wonderful things in my life, but I think I'll try to narrow it down to a top 10.

In no particular order...

10.  We our building a house.  It is almost done!

9.  We are "building" a baby.  She is half way done!

8.  I am constantly reminded of what a WONDERFUL husband I have.  Not that I need reminded :o)

7.  The inside of the house is painted.  We will finally be able to see how all of the decisions we had to make over tile, carpet, paint, hardware, wood, and so many other things come together.

6.  I get to eat and not worry.  Habits are hard to break.  I still weigh myself every morning to make sure I'm not gaining too much to fast.  But it is nice to be able to have a second helping of mashed potatoes if I want to!

5.  I can finally fill out a bra!  (Yes, that makes the top 10.)

4.  Thanksgiving is only 6 days away.  I love Thanksgiving.  We will be heading home to my parents for the holiday.  We haven't been home since Labor Day.  I can't wait!

3.  I LOVE all the belly rubs I get from my husband.  He is so excited for the baby to get here so he can hold her.  He is going to be a GREAT dad!

2.  Baby is moving more and more, and I'm finally starting to feel her on a regular basis. Still stops me in my tracks and takes my breath away. 

1.  One of the perks of having a girl is the added estrogen.  For me that means my ridiculously spiky leg hair grows slower and softer.  Thank you baby!!!

So...as you can see.  There are FAR more important things to be excited about this year than a number.  Especially a number that represents the "last" of something, when there are so many firsts heading my way. 

By the Way...

In case I didn't mention it before...

Ethan and I are going to have a BABY!

A little bundle of JOY. A little PINK bundle. (Or purple bundle...E is struggling with the transition of pink into his life)

A GIRL with 10 fingers and 10 toes.

Our little DAUGHTER is going to come to us at the end of March.

In MARCH we will say hello to so many new and wonderful things. Life will change forever as we know it. Getting a full night's sleep will seem like a distant past. Spur of the moment trips to the store will no longer be "spur of the moment" due to taking a baby with me. I might have to get used to not being early and settle for just being on time, or even a few minutes late (gasp!). Grandparents will be coming to visit often to see their newest grandchild. So many wonderful and exciting changes.

Little baby...we are so ready to meet you and hold you!