Farewell, Little Red House

Farewell, little red house.

We shared a lot over the year.

New beginnings. Joy, anticipation, tears and laughter.

Lots of laughter.

I brought my baby home to you.

This was our living room.

It was where my baby learned how to sit up. How to walk. How to crawl. How to smile.

And does she smile.

Always smiling.

It's where we would read away the afternoon.

It's where we played. And played. And played. And played.

Birthdays. Holidays. Family. Friends. They came and went.

Our first family Christmas tree was so big, it barely fit under your ceiling. It illuminated the entire room. We never turned a lamp on during the month of December.

This was LBD's first room. The baby room.

We painted it "Malibu Peach". I've never liked the color pink, but I do now. Guess it's inevitable when you have a girl. Peach for a peach.

When we first brought her home, I use to come downstairs one, two, three times a night to check her. Carefully, down the creaky stairs. Carefully open the creaky door. To rest my palm on her back. It would softly rise and fall. She was so tiny. So real.

A lot of sleeping took place in this room.

And not a lot of sleeping took place.

This was Will and I's bedroom.

It was my favorite room in the house.

We didn't have much money to decorate, but it's amazing what a coat of paint can do.

This bedroom is where I learned to sew. Where I grew my first seedlings.

Where I would take ritual afternoon naps when I was pregnant. Dreaming and waiting.

Waiting and dreaming.

This was on New Years Eve. LBD didn't want to go to bed. We listened to the fireworks at midnight. A slumber party of three.

Our bedroom was where LBD had her accident. I cried. Oh, I cried. I'll never forget that day.

It's where Will and I stayed up late, discussing our future.

It's where the evening light would fade into the night.

This was our kitchen.

Blueberry pie, Pad Thai, Black Forrest, Cake, Sicilian Toast, baby food, Spinach Ravioli,

Homemade Guacamole...

One day, I was washing dishes here and decided to grow my first garden.

My garden was my peace.

This was our backyard.

Where my sunflowers lived.

Among other flowers.

Where we had countless barbecues.

Where Will threw me a surprise birthday party.

Well, it was almost a surprise. I found out the night before.

Bluegrass was playing on the radio. The summer night was warm. The food was good.

The company, the best.

I use to watch the snow fall here while the baby napped. It snowed and snowed....

A winter in Michigan.

This house was where I became a mother. Where Will and I spent our first year of marriage. It's where I came into my own. Where plans were made, and lessons learned.

It's where one September evening , I had a passing thought to write a blog. About family and growing, And common things.