Transition Time

I haven’t written in awhile because I just don’t know what to say. Our lives are changing daily and it’s too much to process in my mind, let alone in words on paper.

You, my dear, are growing up so fast. You speak a mile a minute, and in complete sentences! I can tell you’ve advanced verbally beyond your age and I’m certain it is because we’ve been living with our friends for the last eight months. They have twin three year olds, so you’re surrounded by words, sentences, songs and numbers. You’re keeping up with them like a rock star! You can count 1-10, you try to sing along with the “A,B,Cs”, you love singing your Kindermusik songs and would listen to it daily if you could J, you love to read books and listen to music, you draw circles (which shocked me!) and are trying to master scissors. You love to get down and dirty in the dirt, puddles, play doh, paints, bread dough or cookie dough whatever we give you to explore! You love helping mommy clean the dishes and always want your own rag if I’m dusting or cleaning. If I sweep, you sweep. I love it! You’ve finally said “I Love You” just a week ago and it made my heart swell. I have it saved on my voicemail and wish I could save it in my mind and heart forever!

Our lives are in a bit of lovely chaos, that’s the best way to put it I think. We’re not doing badly by any means, we’re actually quite lucky! But it is chaotic and crazy and stressful all the same. We lived with our friends since the end of Jan and just moved out last weekend. Now we commute from Wisconsin, staying in a co-worker’s “cabin” Fri-Mon, living with friends Mon night – Thurs for three weeks. Then on Oct 18 we are moving into an apartment in Chicago and daddy is flying to Colorado to pack a truck with furniture, dishes, etc. to bring back to the apartment. Meanwhile, most of our stuff in IL is in another friend’s basement (thank you Heather!) with the rest in Wisconsin at our weekend home J. I continue to look at this as an adventure, but it is a roller coaster adventure to be sure!

Last weekend we had a couple of showings and one of them looks promising, if unconventional. We have a woman interested in buying our home, but she can’t buy it for a year and a half. She’s going through a divorce and has to wait until her credit score bounces back and some money she has tied in an annuity matures. She wants to lease to purchase our home. Which is done, but not often. I know this doesn’ t mean much to you right now my little girl, but it’s one of those situations where you wish you could see the future to make the right decision. If this works out, daddy and I have to decide if we’re getting all of our stuff and putting it into storage and continuing to rent, or if we risk it and buy a home (and hope she doesn’t break the lease). There’s a lot of hurdles to jump before this becomes a close to final deal…numbers and contracts have to go back and forth for a little while, but this is a very scary and exciting opportunity!

My hope and goal, through all this transition, is to provide as much routine and family time to you as possible. You have gone through each phase of this move with grace and ease, showing only the mildest of stress in the actual moment of any transition. I think that speaks a lot to your character. I see your patience, your kindness and your sweetness my babygirl and I hope you are able to hold onto those characteristics forever.