Room to grow...and shop!

When Ben and I accepted the job offer in San Antonio we never would have thought that five years later we would still reside here. Neither one of us had any intention in ever really calling the Alamo City "home." We built a house while it was just the two of us and planned to stay a year or two and then make our way somewhere north. However, 5 years later we still hang our hat in San Antonio and have no quick-departure plan in sight.

Once Isabelle joined our family it didn't take us long to feel crammed in our little house. Seeing no immediate reason to leave San Antonio and Ben continuing to flourish in his role at Harland Clarke, we began looking for more space. We quickly narrowed our search between two different parts of town and spent several weekends looking at model homes and eliminating neighborhoods. At one point we even put earnest money on a lot and "built" the home on paper with the salesman. However, the lot we had requested was on hold from the developer and even with the housing market in a bit of a crisis, they never would sell us the house we requested. So our search continued for another few months.

We finally found a house built last year that sparked our interest in a neighborhood we were big fans of. The house was nothing like the one we had eagerly been searching for but it grew on us to the point that we finally began a bidding war to purchase it. After a few weeks and multiple offers, we officially bought our next San Antonio home. Ben and I both liked the color of the bricks and stone on the exterior and the colors, counters, cabinets and tile inside was just what we would have picked ourselves. It has an office and media room for Ben, a playroom for Belle and a guest room and large laundry room for me, so everyone is happy! It has plenty of yard and is complete with the hill country feel with oak trees and lots of natural stone in the back. The backyard was actually something we were unsure about at first but we have the landscapers starting this week and in roughly 14 days we will have nice new grass and a vegetable garden for Belle to plant and watch grow!

Like all things in our life, we were blessed to sell our current home in just 3 days but taxed by both Ben and I traveling throughout the close process and move. Thankfully through the power-of-attorney and some good friends and family who lightened our load, we made it from house A to house B and are getting more comfortable in our new little nest.

Of course it has taken some adjusting to as well and we may be sitting in a few rooms empty for several more months, but it will take some time to get things just as we wish and for now we are in a live-able state. We have already christened the new abode with guests, parties and sleepovers and we are greatly enjoying our room to wiggle!

On a side note, Belle made the big move not only from the only home she has ever known, but also out of her crib into a "Big Girl" bed. She was excited until it was bedtime and then changed her tune and wished to be back in her first bedroom and in her comfy little bed. We compromised by her sleeping on her trundle, which was much closer to the ground and less scary. After several days and nights of fear she finally asked if I could put "bars" on her new bed. I was heartsick thinking of her being nervous to go to bed at night and rushed to Walmart to purchase net-rails for both sides of her new bed. Since, she has finally started sleeping a little more soundly and now only falls out when she actually sleeps on the trundle. It was a big change for a little girl and she has taken it all in stride. (I have enjoyed her trundle too since most nights it is just the two of us and we both feel better when we sleep together in this big foreign house!)

For now, we will continue to call San Antonio home and will start to make new memories...with room to grow!