Love grows best in little houses

"But you know, love grows best in little houses,

With fewer walls to separate,

Where you eat and sleep so close together.

You can't help but communicate,

Oh, and if we had more room between us, think of all we'd miss.

Love grows best, in houses just like this." 

Doug Stone, "Little Houses"

Leave it to a country song to say it best.  I think I can finally agree with what this is saying.  We have MOVED IN!  We officially reside in the Upper West Side.  Now, it is not quite as magical as I was thinking, but it is definitely more us.  Restaurants have high chairs, there is a Starbucks one block away, I see moms with strollers.  This isn't to say cool people don't live here also, but I can appreciate a little ease for once.  We finally have our house back and we feel relaxed which is really something in this new city.  

Outside of our new place

After a trip to Houston for a friend's wedding, a visit with family, and a LOT of Mexican food, we felt ready to take on move 2.0.  A move is one of those things in life that just seems to be never ending - are you ever really prepared?  Have you organized enough and will they forget to pack some of your things?  The answer is no, so eventually you just have to begin!  My mother-in-law was kind enough to bear yet another excruciating flight with little Savannah back to New York.  This kid has the worst timing as far as getting sick, bless her heart, but at least I wasn't alone!  

In New York, there are a number of obstacles (as usual) to overcome while moving in.  Case in point: street cleaning.  Twice a week they clean the streets, and they have to be clear.  And oh yes, we RANDOMLY picked a day to move in during the street cleaning in front of our apartment, and the exact hours in fact!  Luckily, the movers and my landlord were much less paranoid about this than I was, but all I could think about was a giant tow truck hauling all of our much awaited stuff away!  

Second issue? Getting our furniture and boxes through no less than four doors.  It actually takes three particularly stubborn keys to get into our apartment - so much for modern technology.  This all seems very charming until you are holding a squirmy, loud, one-year-old on your hip, fussing at your three year old to stay put and not get on the elevator by herself or push the button for fun, whilst struggling to figure out whether I turn the key right or left.  Fun stuff!  

The movers did a great job, and even offered a full "unpack", but similar to the last move, this basically means, here is your stuff,  in a pile, on the floor.  Good luck!  I can't blame them really - 100 plus boxes and furniture, plus a 30 box delivery a few days later - just glad I wasn't buried in the pile!  Sadly, we had to say goodbye to Trey's mom the day after move-in and although we worked like crazy people on move-in day, we had DAYS of work left to do, now with the two little ones underfoot.  

Now most people have the luxury of slowly deciding where things go, taking your time, seeing the ebb and flow of the house.  Not I!  I get my husband's assistance for a few short days, then back to work!  I must not squander it!  The drilling into the walls got so loud and continuous at one point, our neighbor very politely came by to check on things, making sure we weren't drilling into her apartment.  OOPS!  At least this is New York!  They are used to a little noise.  We are not comfortable yet being in such close proximity to our neighbors, especially with the "thump-thumping" of the little feet running up and down the hallways (my kids don't pitter-patter).  So far, no complaints, but we shall see.  I am also on the clock concerning my curious toddlers.  All the Goodwill boxes and tools laying around are much more interesting than their actual toys!  Wire hangers and nails really make for safe playthings.

So happy with their toys!

I managed to check out the laundry "situation" which reminded me of being in a dorm again.  Obtain your washer/dryer card, put money on it, $4.00 and two hours later, your clothes are washed.  I managed to forget something I needed quite a few times: credit card, laundry card, laundry detergent so up and down the stairs I went.  I felt like a fraud!  I tried to look cool anyway around the residents of thirty plus years.  They can't tell right?  I'm just dripping sweat and putting my card in backwards. 

I am looking forward to this first normal week and what it has in store for us.  I will continue to get us settled, but it should be much easier in our new habitat, making this house a home.  Scarlett starts ballet classes (tear) and (gasp) I might actually go workout with kids in tow.  Yes, I think love will grow best in a place like this, little house.