Part of my heart will always be at our first home on Islandora Cove. I remember spending countless Saturdays when we weren't ironing out wedding details, searching for just the right nest for us to settle into after our late August wedding. I remember ruling out quite a few houses from our showings, losing a bidding war in another subdivision, and then finally landing on this perfect little starter on Islandora. It was
ours.
Landon moved in first and put his bachelor stamp on the place. a lava lamp, UT ottoman, orange trash can...... and all. Those college apartment accessories were quickly removed once I moved in . And, we put our mark on our first little place together. Many weekends were spent painting, maintaining the yard, and spending many hours at Home Depot. Fun little house projects like newlyweds like to do together....
I became a wife at this house. I remember brushing up on my novice cooking skills in our first kitchen with all our new gifts. It was an exciting season of life. I learned that you win some and lose some when feeding your man. My "husbands delight" casserole was a complete flop. But, I did eventually win Landon over with my Chicken Enchilada crescents.
I also was introduced to the title of mom inside these four walls. A
first time mom...whew!
Two years later, we welcomed baby Miller into our little nest and set up his first bath right on the kitchen counter. If he wasn't bouncing in his jumping johnny while I cooked, he was found hanging on my legs in that kitchen begging me for more food...ha! A few years later, our family grew with the addition of Eliza Kate and she taught me that my love could be shared and multiplied with two kids.
Both babies practiced tummy time right there on the living room floor. They spent many hours lounging in the play gym. First crawling strides and wobbly steps all took place in the living room. As they grew into toddlers, they chased daddy round & round the kitchen/dining room loop. Gotta love open floor plans with that feature. Infectious giggles quickly filled the spaces of our once quiet first home. Yes, many milestones and memories all within our four walls.
Am I sentimental or what?
Our first piece of furniture purchase as a new couple. Delivery took 8 weeks and we anxiously anticipated it's delivery before Thanksgiving. I remember hosting small gatherings of friends in those early days. We loved entertaining with family in that room too. Our kitty Jackson's favorite spot was under the dining room chairs...a safe haven from rowdy kids.
Miller's big boy room {sortof got finished}...minus window treatments and final accessories. Juggling a new nursery, working part time while pregnant with # 2 & big boy room planning almost did me in. That was a
crazy season in our home.
But, Miller loved everything about his truck room. He loved his own territory at Islandora. He hosted his first friend to spend the night on his trundle bed. We loved to snuggle in to read bedside stories in this room. Tuck ins & making our boy snug as a bug in his bed were fond memories of this room. And, he read his first sight word book in his room....I remember late night peek ins on my boy only to find him peacefully snoozing away in the dim glow of his truck night light.
We said goodbye to his room with a little impromptu last photo on his bed. A proper documentation of goodbye was in order.
The nursery...this room tugged at my heart strings whenever I even thought about packing
her room up. I remember rocking both babes in the glider, late night feedings in a silent house, first diaper changes, and gazing at sleeping babies cooing in the crib. There were lots of "cry it out" screams coming from that nursery too. Then, the sweet satisfaction that Baby Wise brought to our sleep trained babes. I don't know if I'll ever be able to let go of a nursery in our home. Since there's no baby waiting in the wings...who knows if I'll set up the crib in our future home..
This was our baby girl's last night in her little nursery.
All cozy & snug in her bed. I could hardly stand to pack everything up in her baby room. I may be way too emotional, but in a way it's closing the door to her babyhood artificially too soon in my book. I had 9 more months of nursery still left with Miller at her age.
The master bedroom sold us on the purchase of this home. We loved the layout. Many Saturday morning snuggles with the kids happened in this room. I hate to admit it, but lots of jumping games happened on this bed too. Landon played a fun game { or three } of crocodile river raft chomper involving the kids' toes in this room.
You could always tell what season of parenting and bible study we were in from the selection of scattered books on our night stands. My collection started out with What to Expect when You're Expecting to The Strong Willed Child by James Dobson. Our room
rarely looked so clean, so why not celebrate with a perfect picture?
We said our goodbyes to all the bedrooms with a family picture before all the furniture came down and was moved out. I wanted to capture a few moments together...one
last Saturday high atop the bed to remind Miller and Eliza Kate of our days on Islandora in the future. We have fond memories as a family of four to carry with us.
And, one last jumping pillow fight to signal pack up time! Bittersweet days in our house.
