Day 1 and 2 of Move - Dallas to NYC to CT

May 24, 2012

Today, the movers came to our house in Dallas and started packing.  You went to school and Annette and Erik picked you up and took you to the zoo all day.  It seemed easier for you not to be in the house.  Daddy and I were not sure how you were going to react.  We have been preparing you, but it is still shocking for a 4 year old boy to see his house and items being shoved into boxes.  I was worried about my baby, but thank God kids are resilient and forward thinking.  We should all be so lucky, but you are not when you are a grown up - ha!  Grown ups drag things out (avoid that if possible when you are an adult).  You walked in after the zoo and said, "This is our big empty house!  BORING.  This house is empty and boring.  There is nothing in it."  I was worried because I know that was your way of letting your frustrations out, however after that, you seemed to be ok.  The movers were all so nice to you and made you a fort with the moving boxes and you had fun.    We have explained to you that this was going to be a big, fun adventure.

My love, letting go, moving on, and saying goodbye will always be a part of your life.  It's not always easy.  Sometimes it's for the best and sometimes it just happens.  These events in  your life will make you stronger,  they will build character and they will make you who you are.  These events cannot be avoided and are a part of life. When change comes, look for the adventure, look for the lesson, and look ahead.  Know that as long as you have love and you love in return, you will be ok wherever you are.

We love you sweet boy, Mamma

Hudson and Erik. (above and below)  You love Erik, Annette's son.  he is 14 and he has tons of energy and loves to play with you.  We will miss him and Annette so much!

Huge moving truck                               Guest bedroom where I tried to rest.

The movers made you a fort.

Melissa and Jack (above) - some of our oldest friends.   We had a play date with them almost every week.

Our empty house. (above and below)

You and Daddy in our empty garage (above).

Mamma and Hudson in our backyard (above) - only the tricycle left.  You never rode that much.

Mamma is about 7.5 pregnant!  I am a trooper.  Moving during pregnant not easy. 

Hudson- the tree above is on the side of our house in Dallas.  You started climbing it when you were 2 - we use to lift you up.  Of course, you get up there on your own now.  It may look small, but it is not easy to get up there.  You are a climber and a very good one at that.  You climb everything, things other kids your age do not climb.  You climbed that tree so many times.  

Our Tornado Adventure

April 3 & 4 2012

So, we have been in NY and CT for three days looking at houses and schools.  We are currently in the middle of finding a new home in the NE and a new school for you.  We decided to bring you on this trip so we could slowly let you know that we would be moving away from Dallas to a place called Connecticut, which was close to NYC.

Well, you and I flew back alone on the 4th and we were diverted due to a tornado in Dallas!   You were watching a movie on the plane and the captain comes on and says, "Folks, I have some news.  There is a tornado on the ground in Dallas.  We are in a holding pattern and this could last for hours.  I am not going to do that to you folks.  We are going to land in Tulsa, OK."  I mean so crazy.   I had absolutely no clue.  So, I tell you what's happening and you think of it as an adventure, which is so great!  You get really excited because I tell you we are going to drive to Oklahoma CIty and see Siti for the night because there is a tornado in Dallas.

So, we rented a car and we drove to OKC.  You slept the whole ay.  You were just exhausted from all the travel. You were such a great sport though the whole thing!  You even helped me roll the suitcase through the Tulsa Airport.  I was about 6 months pregnant at the time so I was tired too.

It all ended up being a fun, good thing because we got to see Siti.  Siti, of course, was so excited as well.  We also had dinner with Uncle Rhoni and Bailey and you and Bailey got to play at Siti's house.   When night came, you had no clothes so you wore some of my little clothes from when I was a little girl!  A t-shirt that my Siti had given me and small little blur soccer shirts.  You looked so precious!!!

Siti drove us back to Dallas the next day and she hung out with us all day.  You all watched "Lady and the Tramp" on the couch with her and you gave her so many hugs and kisses.  Truly.  Siti was in heaven!  You love your Siti so much.

A fun adventure for us!  Remember my love, you can make anything into a fun adventure and a learning experience.  This is what life is all about.  Our move is going to be a wonderful adventure! I love you my love and Siti loves you!  xoxo Mamma

Our Trip to Connecticut

March 30 to April 3 2012

We took a trip to Connecticut to look at houses and schools. I have not talked about the move in this journal. Daddy's new gig is based in New York City so we are moving back to the Northeast. It is a crazy time! We have not leased or sold our house, we are unsure where we are living, you don't have a school and I am 6 months pregnant. Everything is happening all at once, but when I was 9 months pregnant with you, we moved into a new house as well, so this is the norm I guess when I am preggies!

So, we decided we are not going to live in the city (although I would love to) so we are looking at two suburbs outside of the city - Westchester, NY, primarily Bronxville, and Greenwich, CT, primarily Old Greenwich. We did not take you on the trip to see Westchester, but decided to take to you to CT since it is on the beach. We had a very good time, although you were getting tired of looking at houses. It's confusing for a three year old going on all these house tours. We have not told you we are moving yet, just getting you use to the idea that someday we may have to move because Daddy works in NYC. We also took you to see a school, the Whitby School, it is one of the premiere Montessori Schools in the country and one of the first ones. It was amazing, truly. We had to leave you in a classroom and you did not like that at all. You cried and threw a fit so that part didn't go so well. You calmed down eventually after we left and all the kids made you cards - it was so sweet! The classroom was identical to yours now, so that helped.

We went to the beach in Old Greenwich, Todd's Point, and visited Daddy's friends, Dave and Alicia Collier, who live there and have 4 sweet children. You absolutely fell in love with Grace, like in love. You were all over here. You seem overly girl crazy for 3 - I mean you are 3! What am I in for when you are a teen?

Then, we also went to see Daddy's other friends, David and Kid Salomon, who live in Greenwich, CT. They have 4 sweet kids as well and you had a blast with them. They had a absolutely gigantic house - it was a crazy. We could have lived in their basement.

The trip was good and we like CT over Westchester, which was surprising for me, because I have always thought of CT as white, rich WASPY people, and we already live in that environment (Highland Park, Texas) and I want you to have diversity and culture (and I want that for me too). There were a lot of Europeans in Old Greenwich, which surprised me and it was so beautiful and happy, especially because of the beach,

Funny, when you are reading this years from now, you may not even remember Dallas, Texas, the place you spent the first 4 years of your life. We shall see where the wind takes us....

I love you my love. Remember, it doesn't matter where we are, Mommy loves you and Daddy loves you and you are safe.

xoxoxo

airplane...

exhausted in the car from La Guardia to Old Greenwich, CT.

You and Dave and Alicia's kids.... You hugging Grace and tackling her (Oh Hudson!)

You and Grace at Todd's Point Beach... You running on beach.

You and David and Kim's little girls, who were beautiful.

Exhausted in the car after a long day in Grenwich.

You and Grace. If we move to CT, seeing Grace again will help with your transition. That's how in love you were with her!