Cleaning up that nest

Ah, there is something so virtuous about (figuratively) rolling up my sleeves and cleaning. It may not work off the Ben & Jerry’s or beat a healthy heart pumping run but it got me off the couch and away from the TV. It’s Saturday. Really, what possibly could I be missing. 

M, the pup and me moved into a new-to-us house this year and the upgrade projects continue. We are now tackling the kitchen with a mini ie cheap makeover. First up is a clean coat of white paint for the cupboards and the dingy melamine needed a scrub. 

We started the house hunting process during the first pregnancy. Three (including pup) of us in a one bedroom condo was bearable in a cozy, newlywed way. But as a friend pointed out, a new baby would need to sleep in a dresser drawer thus triggering our house hunt. We signed the papers to sell the condo fairly soon after miscarriage #1. I was feeling hopeful that it was just bad luck and we would have our extended family soon, so it seemed logical to keep going and create that maybe forever family home.

I will never underestimate the emotional tie of your own home. I bought the condo 4-5 years ago, just before M came into my life. Quickly, the condo attracted interest and a mini bidding war. We got a good price giving us greater options than we thought for buying a house. I was crying though, signing over the papers. I didn’t realize just how much it meant to me. And to M. It was there we built our relationship and fell in love. He proposed to me in front of the couch. Now we uprooting with no new place to call home yet.

Probably after more than 100 house viewings and five competitive bids, we finally got our wee house. The housing market here is brutal and just cooling off. Each time we didn’t get a house, it was another blow and another worry. If I could throw out a helpful recommendation out to the world, don’t try to sell, buy and move just after a miscarriage. Too much. Plus a stressful job on top of it. And did I mention we had to live in M’s parents’ place for a month in between residences? Yeah.

It’s worth it now. Our 70 year old house needs work (the bathroom for example is done in 80’s sauna style and there is a huge tub with jet streams in the bedroom. Yep, basically at the foot of the bed). It’s ours though. With a yard, three bedrooms, stairs, a big kitchen and a sense of well worn and loved history. All worth it and ready for nesting.