I mentioned earlier that I wasn’t super in love with our new apartment. I didn’t want to dwell on the fact that I viewed the apartment as the best in a set of not great options. After all there are a lot of really awesome positives going on for us now: graduating, starting an awesome job, even selling our home in a (localized) good market. Domingo even graciously volunteered to take the long commute. Focusing on the negative just feels ungrateful.

I’m happy to report that the new place has been growing on me. All four of us are enjoying it here (feline and toddler polled.)

When we first brought Nicki into the new place, she ran around in circles. Even with all our boxes crowding the living room she had so much more carpeted space at her disposal here than back in the house. The only carpeting in our old house was the second floor, and the only ‘runway’, so to speak, was the hallway landing near the stairs. Not exactly a safe space to run. One of her favorite activities is chasing Lily. After reading the Tickle Monster book, she chased Lily around saying “tickle, tickle, tickle!” She’s also tried several times to catch and hug Lily.

Lily’s enjoying the new place as well. We plugged in the Feliway diffuser before picking her up from the kennel. I’m not sure if it actually works, or is just placebo. Regardless, we’ve used it every move and Lily always seems to adjust very quickly. After just thirty minutes timid investigation she was already showing signs of being happy with her new digs. She even came out and curled up next to me on the couch for a nap. Maybe she too enjoys the carpet over hardwood floors as well, but whatever the reason she seems to prefer the new home too.

One thing I’m surprisingly happy about is the closet space. The closet spaces are a little larger than they initially appeared. Our apartment is a little irregularly shaped, and the builder extended the closets into the empty spaces. It wasn’t until I was putting stuff away that I noticed it. I actually think we will be able to store everything without needing external storage! I won’t know for sure until we’re unpacked, and we’re not even half way there, but so far so good.

Another thing I am smitten about the apartment is our fireplace. It has a eyeball light pointed to where one might mount a wedding/family photo. Love! If the next place we own doesn’t have one, it’ll be on the short list for home improvement upgrades.

Our wedding photo as a painting. This was a Micheal’s brushstrokes portrait.

Speaking of mounting photos, I decided to move our wedding photo to the master bedroom. The wedding photo is in a great spot (although I admit that was coincidental) and you can see it from the hallway, and the master bath. All entrance way and kitchen photos/wall decor are also mounted. I’m a bit frustrated with myself because I broke one of our wall shelf pillars. I was just a little too tired, and a little too frustrated, and I forced it when I shouldn’t have. Since little cracks have a way of turning into big cracks, especially in earthquake country, I’m contemplating buying another one and keeping it in the box – as a backup. Isn’t it funny how much perspectives change? I remember when I bought it five years ago, $25 seemed like a lot for something that was just decorative. Now I’m willing to spend that much on something that’s going to sit in my closet without a second thought! I’d love to buy a second wine glass wall art. I will be crushed to lose them. But it looks like they have been discontinued.

I haven’t mounted the wall decorations for the office or nursery yet. They’re also the least unpacked rooms. We needed to order new furniture for both rooms (a desk and bureau) and util they arrive we’re not sure what the ultimate layout of the rooms will be. I also know I went a family photo for over the fireplace, but am not settled on which one. Or even whether to use an existing photo, or try and take a new family photo.

Decisions, Decisions.

Posted in Family Life | Tags: Moving