Teatopia

The house is empty.

I'm feeling very relieved at the moment, but also very sad. About an hour ago, we took one last look around our first home, laid our keys on the counter, listened as Olivia said goodbye to the only house she's ever known, and pulled the door shut behind us. I told myself I wouldn't cry, but as soon as I pulled out of the driveway, the tears began. I was glad I was driving alone with just Olivia in the back seat because there was something empowering and also private about that moment . . .

The last time I saw that house completely empty, I was 21 and single, soon to be a new bride. James and I purchased it a few months before our wedding and rented it out to the previous owner until a few weeks before our big day. We spent many excited hours painting and planning and I moved in the week before the wedding. After the honeymoon, we got James settled in. Now, 5.5 years later we saw the house empty once again, this time leaving as a family of 3. It's weird to think that I'll never pull in the driveway again, or sit on Olivia's floor reading books and putting together Mr. Potato Head. It's amazing to think how much my life has changed between moving in and now moving out.

I'm already starting to think of our next house as home. When I picture certain things now (like planning our Easter dinner), in my mind I see it at the new house. I've been buying towels and mats and candles and things with the new house in mind. I can't wait to be settled and really feel like we have a HOME again.

We're going to try to catch our breath over the next few weeks before the we start painting the new house. Assuming everything goes according to plan, we close 3/12 and move in 3/22. BTW, our old house closed yesterday, so legally, we're homeless for now. :-)

I can't believe that our house wasn't even on the market a few weeks ago and now we've moved out, closed, and paid off the old mortgage. Crazy. I think it's pretty unusual for things to move THAT fast. Hey, be careful what you wish for. I remember us fretting when we decided to sell the house and asking each other, "What if it doesn't sell before the baby comes?" HA!

Well, off to relax a bit. Olivia has a fever, so we'll be laying low. I was hoping to go out tonight to celebrate the sale of the house, but maybe instead we'll order in (Indian? Thai?) at my parents' and watch a movie. :-)