We have been in our new house for over 2 months now. It actually seems like much longer than that- it feels like it has been our home forever! We've been there long enough that the novelty has worn off and we really realize what we love and don't love about the new house.
LOVES
Having more space- We almost doubled our living space and it is so wonderful. I don't feel like the whole house is taken over by Cooper's stuff anymore or like we are all on top of each other when we are all in the living room. We can even have lots of company and not feel too crowded!
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| plenty of room for Aunt Margaret to visit and pretend play "piggy" on the floor |
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| the yard is pretty in the snow too! |
Having a deck and yard- This one is such a game changer. I love to be outside and so do Sushi and Cooper. At our condo we had a small patio and green space, but it wasn't private. Our new deck is entirely enclosed so I can actually grill or sit and have a cocktail (before it got too cold) and not have to be chasing Cooper because he is running into the road. I can't wait until we fence the yard next spring so we can just let Sushi run too! It's such a game changer to be able to go out and play when we need a change of scenery instead of having to load up the car and drive somewhere. Plus no creepy neighbor who stares at me whenever I am outside!
Having a neighbor running buddy- My friend Bri lives right down the street. It's so nice to have a friend to run with, especially on these dark winter mornings!
Being closer to the Gym and the Highway- It's like 3 minutes to the gym which makes getting to early morning classes much easier. And we are right off a spur to the highway so my commute isn't nearly as frustrating traffic wise.
DISLIKES
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| I constantly have to wipe crap off the fridge |
The kitchen sink- we had replaced our sink at the condo with a deep farmers sink, but now we are back to a small divided sink, It's impossible to wash large pots and pans and the highchair tray without getting water everywhere.
Stainless Steel Appliances- with a toddler they are more like constantly stained appliances.
The Tiny Bathroom- The upstairs bathroom is SMALL and has no counter space. We have to store our electric toothbrush on the back of the toilet because it has to be plugged into the only outlet and doesn't fit on the counter. I think this is so gross, but I haven't found a better solution. I rarely get to shower without Cooper accompanying me into the bathroom, so I have no floor space to dry off and get dressed after my shower.
My Running Routes- At my old house I had 3-4 routes that were loops that all went by the ocean. At the new house our neighborhood is between 2 busy roads, so I can either do a lot of small loops within the neighborhood, or have to deal with the traffic. And I don't get to see the ocean.
The Heat- I never thought I'd miss the electric heat at the condo, but I do! It let us turn on the heat in Cooper's room without having to heat the rest of the upstairs. In the new house our room and Cooper's room are in the same zone and the thermostat is in our room, So in order to make sure he is warm enough at night, we have to keep our room warm as well. I hate sleeping in a hot room- I'd much rather have it be 55 and use a ton of blankets.
What do you like and dislike about where you live?
Leaving Cooper is hard, but I find when I do get home that I am better mother. Having that break from the relentlessness of parenting is refreshing. When I get home I have a new enthusiasm- I am motivated to go on adventures, to make a mess with him on cooking projects, to come up with fun art projects. My regular nursing job also seems better when I return.
