Bending Oak

I remember going to look at homes with our realtor ten years ago and finding a beautiful house on our street. I loved the floor plan and the updates in the home, and knew it was the house for us. We walked outside to call the listing agent only to find out that there was already a contract on the house. We were really  upset and I didn't think I would find a house I liked as much! Another house had come up on the market on the same street so my realtor scheduled a showing for later that week. Nic couldn't meet me and I went to see it by myself. When the front door opened, I was thrilled.  It was the same floor plan as the other one down the street. When I walked in the high ceilings and iron spindles from the banister were so stunning. The house would work great for the family we were planning. Upstairs in the media room was a gigantic screen, built in speakers and projector. I was in awe and knew that the media room would sell Nic on the house. We closed on June 27, 2006 and moved in that day. When we moved in, we thought we would never be able to fill up this house!! The entire upstairs was  empty except for a guest room (a bedroom with just a bed!). Our giant pantry had one shelf full of food. We had to buy furniture to fill the dining room, hallway and living room! We met a bunch of neighbors the next month at National Night Out and fell in love with the people in the neighborhood. We celebrated our first wedding anniversary that October. 

Some of the most significant events in my life happened in this house. We found out we were pregnant with our first baby July 1st of the next year. I will never forget waking up at 5am and waking Nic up because I was too nervous to sleep. He told me to just go take the test. I went into the bathroom, took the test, left it on the toilet, walked out and shut the door. Nic looked at me and said, "well???" I told him I couldn't look. He went in and came out with a positive pregnancy test. We were in shock! 

Decorating Kaden's nursery was our first house project and I'll never forget falling asleep on the floor with Max and Roxy while we watched Nic paint. 

We brought Kaden home to this house and I'll never forget how scared I was walking in the garage door into the kitchen with this tiny baby. Two weeks later, exhausted and in tears, I will never forget sitting at our kitchen table, trying to eat dinner with a crying baby in the bouncy seat, telling Nic that I think we made a mistake and shouldn't have had a baby yet! Ha!! Oh, the hormones! 

We celebrated Kaden's first birthday in this house and what a fabulous party it was! I booked a petting zoo which was set up in our back yard. I'll never forget the look on Kaden's sweet little baby face, sitting in the corner of the yard petting a baby bunny. 

I'll never forget sitting in the half bath on August 12th of 2009, laughing hysterically, when we found out we were pregnant with Cam. 

I'll never forget the completely overwhelming feeling of walking back through the garage door, carrying a newborn Cam, and trying to process how to be a parent of two boys. 

I'll never forget standing with the fan on in the half bath trying to calm a colicky baby and falling asleep in our bedroom with the hairdryer on for white noise. 

We celebrated Cam's first birthday and I'll never forget the Chuy's Mexican buffet in the dining room. I will never forget the  mommy guilt of not getting a petting zoo! 

In February of 2012, I'll never forget standing in our bedroom when we found out we were pregnant with Ryane. She was the most planned baby of all, yet it was still a surprise to find out the news! 

I'll never forget locking myself in the back yard while Nic cooked dinner because I was so sick. I'll never forget crying on our bed because I didn't think the morning {all day} sickness would ever end. 

When we walked in the garage door with a baby girl, I remember  feeling like I had to do everything in my power to protect her forever. I will never forget that. 

I'll never forget Ryane's first birthday party at our home. It was floofy and flirly {yes, I realize these aren't actual words} and everything I dreamed of. 

I will never, ever forget February 11th of 2014. I will never forget the pacing in my kitchen waiting for Nic to get home from work. I will never forget trying to make it through dinner without telling him the news. Sitting in our kitchen, I will NEVER forget the look on Nic's face when I told him that I had found out at my doctor's appointment that I was pregnant with Avery!! 

I won't forget taking the first picture of the four kids sitting in Cam and Kaden's room and thinking, "wow, that's a lot of kids."

I will never forget the feeling of setting up my last baby's 1st birthday party.

So many significant moments that I'll never forget happened right here in this house. The first steps, first words, first days of school, first bus ride, first tooth fairy visit, first baseball game...  The love, the frustrations, the tears, the laughter, the celebrations. In every room of this house, I can picture these moments with Nic and the kids. In a way, it is hard to let go. What a great ten years it has been! I truly have been blessed.