Breaking Ground

Today we broke ground on our new home.

In Ohio.

It still sounds so foreign to me when I say that we live in Ohio. And not only do we live here, but we are building a home here.

Having rented for the year+ that we've been in Columbus, it was clear that, regardless of how much longer we planned to stay, we wanted a place that was ours. A yard. A neighborhood. Something that didn't feel temporary.

So, here it is, in all it's glory. The hole that will eventually be our home.

Elena and I did a drive by today and I could see the backhoe in action from the highway. Not gonna lie, I was overcome with giddy school girl excitement.

I parked the car and got Elena out so she could see the workers in action.  Girlfriend is obsessed with trucks and loved every second, waving and shouting "Hi Backhoe" about 170 times.  She proceeded to cry when we left and kept saying "digging" in between sobs in the car on the way home.

I'm pretty sure Paul ran out to the nearest Toys R' Us in Whereverthefuck, Michigan he's at to get his girl a digger.   Okay, not really, but no doubt he's on that as soon as he gets home. 

I don't know if this is what all home builders do, or if I'll be labeled the weirdo of the development by the construction workers, but I plan to stalk the site on the daily, doing drive bys and checking out what's going on.  That's normal, right???  I just can't wait to see it come together.  They say it takes about 60 days to get to the dry walling phase.  So, ultimately, in two months we should have a standing structure.

Follow me on Instagram to stay up to speed with the building process.  'Cause you know you love seeing large machinery and piles of dirt and stuff. 

Oh yeah, I have a blog

Feels good to be back.  I went radio silent for a little bit.  While it was nice to disconnect from all things internet for a while, I missed my daily reads and the outlet this little blog of mine provides. 

We just got back from our 2 week "vacation" in NJ.  I won't bore you all with a full run down and recap of our trip since it really wasn't what most would consider a vacay.  But, it was just what all of us needed... Soaking up our family and friends, home cooked meals, spending time at the beach {pure heaven and Elena loved the sand!}, sink baths for the little one, boardwalk rides, and endless amounts of walking outside {all my child wants to do!}.  We closed the chapter on summer as we always do, in the motherland, surrounded by friends and fried dough at the annual Italian Festival.  Good times all around.

As great as our stay was,  I couldn't believe how excited I was to be headed home...Ohio Home.  I was so ready.  No matter how much you love your in-laws {I do. Honest.}, it's never easy staying at anyone's house.  Elena was really out of sorts and her sleep and our sanity suffered for it.  She was cutting molars, sleeping in a too-small pack n' play, and was in sensory over drive with all the things we were doing, places we were going, and people we were seeing.  She's just like her mama- craves routine and predictablility. 

I told Paul next year we'll have to rent a house down the shore and invite everyone to come and visit us.  It was overwhelming and stressful trying to see everyone we wanted.  Even with two weeks, it couldn't be done.  I had intentions of seeing a lot more people than I did but I had already spread us too thin.  This trip had several doctor visits as well...for me, Paul, and Elena, so that ate up some of our time that I'd much rather have spent with friends and family. 

Speaking of doctor appointments....today is 2 years to the day that I went in and had my Embryo Transfer that resulted in my beautiful little miracle baby.  It honestly feels like yesterday.  And now, here she is, 15 months old.  Time certainly flies. 

Though I won't be doing a play by play of the trip, stay tuned for some pics from our NJ visit and an update on my little love and all that she's up to these days. 

Looking forward to catching up on what's going on with all of you....are you as excited about fall as I am??? Bring on the Pumpkin Spice Lattes, leggings, boots, and candy corn!

A Fair Weekend

I love a good fair.  Or even a bad fair, for that matter.  Where there's a fair, there's food.  And really, who are we kidding?  It's all about the food.  For me, at least.  I can do without the rides and can take or leave the games.  But the food?  Now that will get me to a fair any day.

Feeling close to home with the cheese steak. 

Was this necessary?  Nope.  Did I eat all of that disgusting fried goodness?  Yessiree. 

I'm pretty sure they had everything you could imagine of the fried variety---snickers, PB&Js, grilled cheese sammies, buck eyes, and even smores, which sadly I didn't realize until after I ordered.  I decided on a combo of fried Oreos and Nutter Butters, which did not dissapoint.  I restrained myself from the Hershey's syrup drizzle they offered, ya know, because I'm counting calories and all.  #backonthewagonMondayforreal.  We also had an ear of roasted corn, which was probably the best thing I've ever eaten in my life. 

I was a little bummed because Paul was manning the good camera, which had a full memory card {I must've forgotten to delete all the photos from my last upload off of the card}, so we didn't get many good pics of Elena's first merry-go-round ride.  That might not be a bad thing, though, considering I get motion sickness and was fifty shades of green by the time that thing stopped.   #thethingswedoforourkids. He did manage some cell phone shots.  Ironically, I seem to be smiling, which must be the result of some Mom instinct that kicks in so you don't scare the living shit out of your child.  But even my fake-ass perma-grin couldn't fool this kid.  No tears were shed {by either of us, for the record. thankyouverymuch.} but she was clearly not a fan. 

Smiles indicate we were not in motion yet. 

Here I am lying to my child. "Yea!  We're having fun!"

 Clearly I deserve some props for that last shot.  I mean, look at me.  I genuinely look like I'm enjoying myself.  The sunnies are hiding the fear in my eyes.  Like I said, I could do without the rides.  Adrenaline junkie, I am not. 

It was hot as balls so we escaped inside for some air conditioned and even managed a decent family photo with what appears to be our State mascot....

Elena is totally still pissed at me from the Merry-go-round

 So, despite the heat and the merry-go-round fail, it was a worthwhile trip for the memories, and of course, the eats.  We're really trying to embrace being mid-westerners and I'd say this was a good start!

Home

via

We got back from our NJ trip yesterday.  Felt good to be home-home.  Family.  Hugs.  Nights out with friends.  Mani/Pedi. Pork Roll, Egg & Cheese sammies.  Dunkin iced coffees every. single. day.  Peeing in private.  Visiting the cemetery. Home cooked meals.  Driving without GPS.  Real pizza {it's called pizza PIE for a reason, people! Ohio pizza is cut in squares. What the eff is up with that?!} Bachelorette with my bestie.  Play dates.  I could go on and on.  You get the picture, yes? All of this goodness and then some.  Filled me up.  To the brim. 

But, BUT, it kinda-sorta felt really good to pull into our driveway in our new home.  Our Ohio home.  Maybe this place is growing on me.  Just a smidgen.

Pics and trip low-down to come....For now, I'm off to continue my Bachelorette text fest with the bestie.

Change

Holy crap. So much is going on and time needs to seriously slow the eff down.  Is my baby really turning 6 months old this weekend?  Did we really just put the house that we haven't even lived in a year on the market? Did it really SELL already?  Are we seriously up and moving to Ohio in less than 60 days without a confirmed place to live?  I am up to my ears in life changing events and I'm afraid to blink for fear of what I may miss.  Did I mention we bought a new (used) car on Saturday and that I am about to give my resignation from my teaching job that I've been at for 10 years.  Yeah, that too.

I can't even make sense of it at the moment to coherently express how I'm feeling.  Hopefully in the coming days I'll be able to wrap my brain around it all and recognize it for the blessing that it is.  I know all this change is affording me the ability to stay home and raise my baby girl.  For that I am truly grateful.  I get to spend my days playing with  this doll baby? Are you kidding me?  I'd move to the end of the Earth for that!

Hello? Is anybody out there?

I am a creeper.  A lurker.  A sit-in-the-back-and-wait-for-somebody-else-to-ask-the-question-I-want-to kind of girl.  I've been that way for most of my life, and although people who meet me would never guess I have social anxiety, it is real and I do. This is not a character trait I am proud of.  Certainly not one that I want to pass on to Elena as she blossoms into a young woman.  I want to teach her confidence.  I want her to be heard, to contribute, to express herself.  I want for her so many things that I worry I won't be able to teach her adequately because of my shortcomings-my anxieties.  I've realized that I need to work towards being a better version of myself so that I can be that example to her. 

So here I am today, coming out of hiding to share my voice.  So that maybe one day my little sunshine girl will know her mama as someone who had something to say and said it, even if no one wanted to listen.

I love reading blogs and there are a handful that I regularly keep up with. Today I've decided to officially follow them and be an active participant in the blogging world.  Now that I am a stay at home mom, preparing for a huge move to a place where I know NO ONE, I'm looking forward to blogging as a way to connect and share with people.  So, here goes this girl, out on a limb, ready to say whatever it is I want to say.  I'll start with thanks for stopping by :)

And GO!

Trying to be a new mommy blogger.  Not sure if the shoe fits, but I'm trying it on for size.  This is something I've always wanted to do, and have half-ass done more than a few times...The End Where I Begin, Equal Parts Hope and Faith, BabyCamp, Ten Cent Wishes....Yup, all past blogs that have gone the way of Blogger Heaven.  Hoping to stick with this one as a way to document our sweet life with our little mama and keep those interested in the loop.  Oh yeah, 'cuz we're leaving everyone and moving to Ohio.  Let the adventure begin.

Our little family