What I Love About Where We Live

What I Love About Living In The Suburbs

I love how peaceful and quite it is in my neighborhood

I love waking up every morning to the sound of birds chirping

I love that there are always children outside laughing and playing

I love that in my neighborhood there are four different parks to play at

I love that Chloe and I can spend forever playing in the grass just soaking up the warm sun

I love that everyone waves hi to you as you pass by, and that everyone knows their neighbors name

 When I was growing up the suburbs always felt so small and lifeless to me, the city seemed magical and bright, and I would often daydream about one day living there amongst all the bright lights and busy people. Now that I'm older and have a family of my own living in the suburbs feels different then it used to.... it feels like home. Maybe one day we will experience city life but for right now living in the quite peaceful suburbs is just what my little family needs.

Been Too Long

Instagram photo @ beforeverlovely

It feels like forever since I have written a real post - with words and thoughts. I have so looked forward to just sitting down in complete peace and write out what ever comes to mind. So here I am, Chloe is sleeping peacefully in our bedroom, the house is somewhat quite, Mike is at work, and I finally have a moment to myself.

Its been a little over a week since our move to Chicago, I'm honestly so amazed by how quickly this place feels like home again. Like any big change I had some major fears but things have gone so much smoother then I ever imagined them too and it feels so amazing to finally be here again. Mike had a interview last Thursday at a water and fire restoration company, on Monday he got a call from the boss hiring Mike on, what a blessing! He had his first day on Wednesday! Last week we also bought a car, it only took a few days of research and looking around before we found the one we wanted. Its not new but its looks great on the outside and inside and works perfectly! I have been slowly looking for a part time nanny job that I can bring Chloe along. To be honest the thought of going back to work again doesn't sound too appealing but I know we could really use the extra money. Hopefully I will be able to find something fairly quickly.

Its so nice to be living so close to my family again, moving to Seattle made me realize how much I missed them. Chloe is loving all the attention she is getting from everyone, and its been so cute to see her interacting with my parents and siblings! There have been a few challenges we have had to overcome since living with family again, its difficult going from living on your own for so long to living with a whole house-full of people, but like I said before everything is going so much smoother then I even thought it would and I am so forever grateful to my family for letting us live here with them, I know this is an adjustment for them too.

I also wanted to say thanks to everyone for all your support during our move, it means the world to us!

Last thing, I am finally on Instagram!, you can follow me at beforeverlovely.

Pictures At The Park: 3.28.12

 

 

 

 

Hello Windy City

Today marks our second day in Chicago, we are absolutely loving it here! The weather is perfect and sunny and we feel so at home! It will be a few more days until I'm really able to sit down and blog again, we are still settling in and computer isn't due to arrive until Friday. I cant wait to update you all in more detail about our move to Chicago and to share some adorable pictures of my sweet Chloe lately!

Windy City Here We Come: Part 3

Today is the day we are moving to Chicago! I cant believe how quickly these past few months in Seattle have gone. I am beyond grateful for this experience, living in Seattle has had its ups and downs but its been an amazing experience that I will always hold dear to my heart! I looking forward to the day when Chicago feels like home again and I cant wait for all the adventures me and my family will journey on!

Windy City Here We Come: Part 2

In exactly one week from today the three of us will be boarding a one way plane to Chicago. Right now I am filled with so many different emotions - excitement, nervousness, fear and the idea of moving is finally sinking in. Seattle has been our home for 5 years now, its what we know and though we lived in IL for the majority of our life it now feels like such a foreign place in my mind.

I really am excited to move but with any big decision comes fear and worry. I love knowing we will be raising Chloe in the same place we grew up and I cant wait for all the wonderful adventures we will have as a family!

We are almost completely packed and ready to go! We have some friends picking up our dinning room table and chairs tomorrow evening and besides a couch that's all the furniture we have left. After that the only thing left to do is to pack our suitcases with clothes and deep clean our apartment before we turn in our keys. This apartment will always hold such a special place in my heart, this is the first home Mike and I have lived in together and the first place we raised our daughter in for the first 9 1/2 months of her life, I will never forget this sweet little home of ours!

Tomorrow my Mother in-law will be meeting Chloe for the first time!, then we will be going out with some friends and their kids for a goodbye dinner. Then on Friday me and my good friend Erika will be having a girls night out in Seattle! This will only be the second time I have been without Chloe so I'm nervous but also excited to get dressed up and spend time with my friend without our babies around. Then on Sunday my sister in-law will be throwing a goodbye party for us at their house! Its going to be a busy and fun week!

 Be on the look out for lots pictures in the next few days!

Windy City Here We Come: Part 1

Tomorrow we are buying 2 one way plane tickets to Chicago.... one way! The last time I purchased a one way ticket was when I moved to Seattle 5 years ago. I am so excited and nervous to move back home, so much has happened during these past few years, I am now married with a child of my own, I have grown and changed and matured and honestly I don't feel like the same person I was when I first arrived here in the beautiful northwest. 

We will be moving in with my parents temporally until we can get on our feet and find a place of our own. It will take some getting used to but I know its the right decision for us. Mike already has a few job interviews lined up and I will be looking for a part time nanny or babysitting job that will allow me to bring Chloe along. I cant wait for the day when Chicago feels like home again. It took about a year for Seattle to feel like my home so I wonder how long it will take us to feel like Chicago is now the place we call home. I love that we will be raising Chloe in the same City that we grew up in! 

This move is all about starting over and new beginnings so we wont be bringing a lot with us, only the things that means the most to us. We still have quite a bit of packing to do but this past week we have sold 3 big pieces of furniture and a few things Chloe is to big for now, like her infant car seat and bouncer. Craigslist is seriously amazing for selling things.

Be on the lookout for more updates on our big move!

It's Offical - We're Moving

I've been keeping this somewhat of a secret for a few weeks now and am excited to finally announce that at the end of March we will be moving back home to Chicago! We have grown so much in the last 5 years living in Seattle, moving away from home and out of our comfort zone has been such an incredible part of our journey and we have loved living here in the beautiful northwest, but when we found out we were pregnant with Chloe we knew the best thing for us would be to move back home to be closer to family. We have a busy month of packing and planning ahead of us but we are so excited and ready to make this move! 

3 Month Photoshoot

Chicago, Here We Come

In less then 24 hours from now my little family of three will be sitting on an airplane heading to Chicago! I'm so excited to take Chloe on her first vacation and for our family and friends to finally meet our little rosebud ( Chloe's new nickname that I gave her, I think its pretty cute!) Of course I am a little nervous about traveling for the first time with a 3 month old baby, I really hope everything goes smoothly!

In other news, I have a lot of blog posts that I plan to write when we get back home from our trip. Chloe's 3 month update, a breastfeeding update ( which I now plan to do every three months), A post about our vacation that will include lots and lots of pictures! And something I am really, really excited about is a guest post from fellow blogger and soon to be first time Mom, Melanie from Oh, Baby! Baby Blog, Go check out her lovely blog!

See ya next Friday!

Some Exciting News

I'm excited to share that my husband is now going to be blogging on my blog. Basically just whenever he feels like it and has something he wants to share. I'm really excited to have him be apart of my this, his support really means so much to me. I'm also looking forward to reading what he has to say, I feel like I'm going to learn so much more about my husband through his writing. His first post is going to be a q&a so that everyone can get to know him a little better. So be on the look out for that!

In other exciting news,  one week from today we will be in Chicago with our family and friends showing off our little pumpkin!! I'm so excited for our first vacation as a family of three!

Our Chicago Trip

We had a great time in Chicago, spent a lot of time with my family which was so nice since we don't get to see them very often. Mike got to spend some time with one of his good friends, and I got to see a good friend of mine and her husband, who by the way is also expecting! We had a great time at thanksgiving, my Grandma always makes the best dinner. Most of my cousins were there as well, I cant believe how fast they are all growing up. At dinner my Grandma made a toast, and announced to the family that Mike and I had some very exciting news to share. Before I could even get out that we were expecting, my uncle said Congratulations and started clapping, the rest of my family followed. It was pretty funny, I guess everyone already knew. On Wednesday me, Mike, and my Dad went over to my Aunt and Uncle's house for dinner. It was so good to see the family, we had a really good time and after dinner played a game of gin rummy with my cousins. I miss my family very much and sometimes it is really hard living so far away from everyone, I feel like I am missing out on so much, but I am very grateful that I got to spend time with everyone during Thanksgiving week.

Some other news, I am wearing glasses now, I have to take a long break from contacts. I got a really bad eye infection as soon as we arrived in Chicago, and spent the first 3 days not being able to see at all. My eye seems to be all healed now, and my Dad bought me a pair of glasses. I am still continuing to experience morning sickness, at least 2-3 times a day. Besides the morning sickness though, I am starting to feel better, and I seem to have more energy so that's really exciting. My husband has been so great, he takes care of me everyday. I really feel like the luckiest girl in the world that I am his wife!

It's nice to be back in Seattle, this month is going to be very busy. I cant wait for my husband and I to get our first Christmas tree and decorate it together!

Today I am 13 weeks and 4 days pregnant, my third prenatal appointment is December 14th.

A Pregnancy Update

When will the morning sickness go away? I cant seem to keep very much down these days. My midwife said it should go away when I am somewhere between 12-14 weeks, I really hope that will be true for me. Tomorrow I am exactly 12 weeks, I cant believe I am already 3 months along!! I cant wait to start feeling better. I haven't been keeping up with cleaning the apartment, or the laundry, and I don't cook at all anymore. I am beginning to feel so lazy, and I really miss being able to do all the things I used to do. Oh well, I know that all this sickness is for a good cause, and in 7 months I will have a beautiful baby!

Mikes sister Cory is picking us up at 3:30 am on Saturday to take us to the airport. It is going to be so difficult to get up that early, I don't know what I was thinking when I picked that time, but we are so excited to see our family and friends, and I am so excited to get to go to Thanksgiving at my Grandma's house, she always throws the best Thanksgiving party!!

Oh lastly I think I am going to start doing either a monthly or weekly photo of my belly growing, I know it will be something fun to look at later on with our baby.

Shout It From The Roof Top

Finding out that I am pregnant is just one of the most exciting things that have ever happened to me, I just want to tell the whole world..... but I cant, not yet at least. We told are immediate family, and some of our friends know, and our bosses know but that's about it as of now. For Thanksgiving week Mike and I heading back to Chicago to visit family and friends. We are so excited, and at thanksgiving dinner we plan on sharing our exciting news with the rest of my family, as well as tell our friends when we see them. I really just cant wait!!  I want to spill the beans and tell everyone right now but when I think about the fact that we get to tell everyone in person in just a couple weeks it makes it a little easier to wait!