I spent yesterday afternoon tying up loose ends before the big move tomorrow! It is amazing how many little details there are to keep track of for a move this size – things like reserving parking signs for our moving truck on our crowded city street. Would you believe these cost me $80?
At one point I let the dogs out in the backyard to run around for a few minutes, and I decided to sit down myself, soak up a little sunshine, and rest for a minute. I started thinking about the day we moved into our house, picturing the dogs hanging out in the yard with my mom while we moved in all our boxes and furniture in such similar weather and sunshine. The next thing I knew I was sitting in my backyard crying big fat tears, and totally overcome with emotion.
When we first found out we were moving, I was really weepy and emotional, crying almost daily. And then I decided to be an adult about it, and started getting excited about our next big adventure on the west coast. But for some reason yesterday all those emotions and the nostalgia came flooding back, and I decided it was okay to simply get it out of my system and be sad for a little bit.
We had gorgeous weather yesterday evening, so before dinner I made time to take the pups for their last walk in Old Town, and stopped to sit in a bench for a while and take in all the beautiful views.
I think they will love walking on our new waterside trail in Seattle too! They love the water almost as much as their mama.
For dinner, we headed up to King Street for a goodbye dinner with blogging friends! I feel so lucky to have met so many wonderful people here in just 8 short months – they all really enriched our experience here in Alexandria.
Many many thanks to Lisa for organizing the dinner, and being such a great friend to me these past few months. We have had so much fun being pregnant together, which I know will continue to from opposite coasts.
And another huge thanks to Katie, who gave us a parting gift with a card for Baby Garnish. I literally squealed out loud when I saw the cuteness waiting inside…
Can you even handle this???
LOVE.
This morning came waaaay too early after very little sleep. We were up early finalizing our “do not pack” pile before the packers arrived to put everything else into boxes.
Casey took the boys to the kennel, and I kissed them goodbye until next week. I am going to miss them so much! I was a little nervous when the packers arrived and I saw that it was only a team of TWO people to pack our whole house in one day. I definitely underestimated them though – I have never seen two people work so quickly and so efficiently!
Before I knew it there were literally walls of boxes everywhere I looked.
They were so organized and efficient – it was very impressive. Every item was wrapped before boxing!
We have such a small space here, and adding ten million extra boxes did not leave much room. Check out the kitchen – literally wall to wall boxes!
There is a very narrow path through the middle so that you can get to the back door. The packers were done by 1:30, and our house was ready to go!
I took a mid-day break to go to Whole Foods for lunch since we have no food left.
The pregnancy appetite continues to be strange. Pineapple, apples, grapes, green beans, and macaroni and cheese.
And a delicious half tea half lemonade.
Last but certainly not least, this move requires chocolate.
And now I am sitting in my house for what is probably our very last night here (we will probably go to a hotel tomorrow). There are boxes stacked to the ceilings in every direction, and memories of good times and great living everywhere I look.
When I think about leaving Old Town, I am sad because there is so much more that I wanted to do here. But when I think about getting to Seattle, I can picture cooking family dinners in our big open kitchen, our dogs laying in the grass in the backyard, and bringing our baby home to his very first house. And for that reason, I am ready.
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Good luck with the move tomorrow! I think you tweeted about bad weather, so BE CAREFUL! I’m sure everything will go smoothly.
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You paid $80 for those signs?! I would have stood on the curb and yelled at people for you for $50. :)
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You’ll enjoy the west coast! It’s beautiful out here.
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Best of luck on your move. You’ll make a wonderful life on the west coast. Cute onesies!
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Good luck with the move tomorrow!! i’ll be thinking about you!! You’re off to a brand new adventure!
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No move comes without a little sadness. But this is the start of such an awesome adventure :)
Good luck with the move and have a wonderfully relaxing week with your family!
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I love the couple sentences of this post. So sweet and you have so many great things ahead of you! Enjoy :).
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emily-
good luck with your move! Seattle is amazing and I am sure you will love your new life. I’ll be thinking of you tomorrow as I am moving too! Only mine is just from Hyde Park to Oakley! SO i can’t complain too much :) Have a safe trip and move!
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So excited for you Emily. Having just moved out of the husband and I’s very first house together I totally get the bittersweet feelings. You are doing such a good job of balancing the sadness with the feelings of anticipation. Hope everything goes well in the next couple of days!
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I love this post and I almost shed a tear reading through everything! Best wishes with the move!
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Aw, I just want to give you a big ole hug right now. I totally understand the emotions you are feeling. I wish you a smooth, hassle free move and can’t wait for our lovely Seattle to welcome you to your new home!
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Yes, it will be lovely in Seattle, I’m sure. Moving can be very sad though – I’m glad you did a last walk with your pups. & OMG those little bub outfits are TOO CUTE! How freakin’ adorable, I can’t stand it.
Heidi xo
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I can’t imagine what you’re going through right now. Well – maybe I can. I moved less than a month ago (this was after moving four months prior!) and I can still remember the hustle and bustle – and the feeling of, “didn’t I just do this?” Keep blogging your thoughts and feelings – it’ll be fun to look back one day!
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Good luck with everything! Moving is physically and emotionally exhausting, but once you get to where you’re going it is all worth it!
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We left Alexandria seven years ago, and while part of my heart is always there as yours will be, life goes on and the experiences make it richer. You’ll always look on your time there with happy memories, but your family life will begin in Seattle and in no time it will become home. All good wishes as you begin your journey!
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My God that dress makes me look huge!!! I’m pregnant but I’m not that big. Yet ;-) I’m going to miss you but I know Seattle will be a great place for your growing family. And it’s not goodbye–it’s just see you soon!
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Aw, this was a sweet post. It’s amazing how connected we get to our homes and cities and feel like this one place might be the only place we could truly love. I know as a native Oregonian who has never left, as much as I want to live in new states, the idea kind of scares me.
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Must be so hard to leave. Alexandra is a great place. Maybe you can pack some sun in that bag, we are in desperate need of it in Seattle. Just FYI, this is the rainiest spring in the last 8 years I’ve been here. Usually, it’s nicer.
I have that same shirt and my dogs eat the same vegan Natural Balance food. Tell the pups the dog parks here are amazing!
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I’m excited for you and your upcoming adventures in Seattle. Best of luck during the move.
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I am quite impressed by the packers, at least it is one less thing for you to worry about!
Good call on taking the time to be sad and soak up all your favorite memories. You will have so much fun in Seattle preparing for Baby Garnish’s arrival, and once he comes home with you you will not be able to imagine him anywhere except the home you created for him.
Oh yeah, and with starting from scratch in a new house you can think about baby proofing as you get set up instead of in 18 months when you suddenly find the desire to bubble wrap the world ;)
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What cute onesies!
Your going to have such an amazing adventure on the west coast. I can only imagine how much fun it will be expolring a whole new area.
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I have lived everywhere from Boston to Nebraska, Texas to Utah and California is by far my very favorite. We love the west coast! Perfect pace for raising a family… you will love it!
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I’m sure it must be really sad to be moving so far away, but I know you will love Seattle! At least in the summertime :) It sounds like you will be moving close to the trail around Lake Union, which I live on. You will love it! And there are so many great hikes around here to hit up on the weekends. Good luck with the move!
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Every move requires chocolate. Every one. Lake Champlain is a good choice – in Seattle, you’ll have to check out Claudio Corallo. And Fran’s. Yes.
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(((hug))) Seattle is going to be awesome for you I just know it!! I’m looking forward to seeing all the places and good eats you will share! :)
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Holy cow, why do those signs cost so much? I am truly impressed that there are movers that can go so quickly and efficiently. I hate moving, but do everything myself to save the money, but it always seems to take so long! I haven’t moved in a few years now so it’s definitely going to be weird to move again, but if it’ll get me out of an apartment and into a house, I’m ready!
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Best of luck on your new adventure! :)
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So cool. People pack for you? That’s amazing.
I’m forcibly being moved later this summer. Losing our house. This pretty awful situation has taken a huge toll on me lately. I start on Lexapro tomorrow.
Kudos to you keeping it together! You’re more of a woman than I’ll ever be!
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Those onesies are to die for!! Your baby is going to look so cute in them :-)
Good luck with everything tomorrow!
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Wow, professional packers? That is amazing :) Good luck with everything tomorrow and with the next several weeks as you travel and transition into a new place. I have family that live in Seattle (Capitol Hill neighborhood) and we try to visit them once a year (I’ve been spoiled – I’ve gotten to go there four times the last two years!). I absolutely love the city! But again, good luck with everything! Excited for you and your husband with this new adventure!
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Everything will be fine, and tears are releasing! All the best!
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Oh man, I believe that parking would be that expensive… I was just in Seattle last week and payed $22 one night for parking at the Westin hotel downtown. Never Again! This is why I don’t plan on having a car if I move downtown. You guys will have so much fun there!
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Those baby outfits are so cute! Gorgeous.
Moving is hard, especially when it is right across the country. I like your approach of focusing on the new place though and am sure that you will love Seattle too once you are settled in!
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GOOD LUCK with the big move!!
Wow those packers sure don’t mess around! :D
Those baby clothes are the CUTEST little things ever! EVER! I found cute little baby toys that are shaped like vegies, whilst internet window shopping the other day! Cuuuuuute little broccoli, carrots, beans, grapes, and all made out of organic cotton. I am so buying them.
All the best Emily! You are doing amazing!!! :D
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goodluck with your move!
love reading your blog from all the way over here in sydney!
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I will be praying that everything falls perfectly into place for you guys in the next week! Have a great time with your sister and family!!
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Looks like you did an awesome job packing. I have only moved locally so I save things until last minute — will try and shove everything into multiple car loads.. but you don’t have that choice :)
There are so many exciting adventures awaiting you, Casey and baby!
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Lovely post, Emily :-) Good luck with the move. Seattle is a wonderful place and I know you’ll love it!
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You ARE ready! Good luck today!! Moves are always a pain, so just try and keep a sense of humor :) But it looks like you’re super prepared. Can’t wait to hear about your adventure XC!
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Good luck hun! Moving is never easy, but moving across the country has to be terrifying. But its going to be such an adventure at the same time. Just think of this story you will tell your baby someday! :)
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Hope everything goes smoothly!! It will likely be hard to leave that final time, but just keep thinking of the exciting times ahead. Holding a little 100% organic one in your arms. ;)
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I hope everything goes as planned for your big move! I’m sure it will be hard to leave Old Town (Love DC!), especially to move completely across the country, but I’m sure both of you (and the doggies!) will be loving Seattle in no time. Can’t wait to hear about all of your moving adventures & about Seattle :)
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I’ve moved several times throughout my life, and it is always bitter sweet. It is sad to leave people and places you love and are familiar with. But it is always exciting to go new places. Just think of all the new people you’ll get to meet and new experiences! That is what life is all about :)
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Good luck with your move! Too bad I never got to meet you while you were in the MD/DC area… oh well :) Have a safe drive and I’m sure the doggies will be just fine :)
Sara
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Love, love, love those onesies!!! Best of luck to you as you transition to this new season of life!
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Awww, Emily I am just like you in that I have a tough time with transitions, but you are handling it like a champ! And don’t forget I’m sure your pregnancy hormones are making it twice as emotional:) I think you will love your new home, can wait to see what’s next for you!
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Good luck with the move.. what a huge undertaking.
Can I ask why you and Casey originally moved to VA (sorry I am a newish reader and was just wondering)?
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it’s hard to leave a place behind so it’s totally normal to feel sad and nostalgic! as long as you don’t lose sight of the great possibilities ahead of you, you’ll be ok! :)
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Best of luck with your move Emily! I completed a grad school internship last year in Old Town and recognize those parking signs! I feel your pain about the $$, I MAY have recieved a few parking tickets while at my internship. :)
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good luck with your move! i find that i’m sad as i’m leaving someplace but then get excited once details in the other place start to fall into place :)
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Wow $80 for parking signs – nuts! Professional packers are amazing – just wait until you see the loaders haul the boxes and furniture to the truck. It is surprising how fast and how few people are needed – even with the heavy stuff.
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Glad you like the onesies! Baby G will totally rock those cartoon veggies. Great to say goodbye at dinner and good luck during the move! The DC/NoVa blogging corps will miss you. :)
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Katie @ Shared Bites Reply:
April 28th, 2011 at 9:57 am
Well, not *great* to say goodbye, sad to say goodbye. But great to have a nice farewell…you know what I mean.
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good luck with your move, Emily!
I’m sure the dogs will miss you guys too! Reuniting will feel SO GOOD ;)
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Aww. I had a lump in my throat reading this, partially because I can tell that you loved DC so much, and partially because I realized it will be three years Sunday since I left DC! It was my choice to move and I was so ready to get the hell out of DC, but I still cried like a baby as I drove out of DC…
Best of luck on your move and enjoy your crazy next few weeks!!!
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Single tear. Such a sweet post for such an exciting and crazy time! Have a BLAST at your sister’s shower and wishes for a smooth trip all around! xo
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Man, Emily, I feel you SO MUCH on this post. I moved to Chicago about four months ago knowing it would be just a temporary thing while I interned for the semester. Even though it’s only been four months, I’ve fallen completely and utterly in love with this city and the people I’ve met here. I move back to my parent’s house on Saturday, so right now my apartment is a mess of boxes and bags and tears every time I start thinking too much about what’s coming. I absolutely hate that I have to leave, and even though I have a lot of exciting things coming up soon after I leave here (whaddup, entire month in Scotland!), that doesn’t do much to ease my sadness.
I saw a quote on a marquee on Sunday: “Don’t count the days. Make the days count.” That’s become my motto this week. Even though I’m constantly aware of how much time I have left at my internship, in the city, with my new friends here, I’ve been focusing on doing at least one thing every day to “make my day count.” It doesn’t take away the pain of leaving, but it makes it more bearable. I just thought I’d share it because I really feel like even though we’re in different places in our life, we’re on the same emotional page right now through and through. Reading your blog has been helpful for me, so I hope that this comment might be able to be helpful for you :)
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those onesies are adorable!
and totally random, but I found this site when my sister-in-law was pregnant last year – they have the CUTEST workout tanks!
http://fortwofitness.com/category_2/Running-For-Two.htm
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Good luck with the move! You have a new home to create wonderful memories in. :)
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You have every right to get emotional, even if you weren’t pregnant! Lots of huge changes are happening for you guys right now but they are also exciting. Viva the adventure :)
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Aww, what a sweet post. I wish you all the best with the move and I hope your new home will bring beautiful memories to share with your family.
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Good luck with the move Emily! Looks like you had a nice dinner with the other bloggers. Those baby shirts are the cutest! Baby Malone is going to be decked out in the cutest onsies!
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Wow, I am impressed. Even those pictures make me feel stressed out
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You’re gonna love Seattle, Emily! We’ll miss you on the East coast…
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Good luck Emily! I look forward to reading about your life in Seattle. I live in NoVa and I have enjoyed your blog so much! I will be thinking about you all when you are making your way across the country!!
Emily could you tell me which dog boarding kennel you use in Alexandria? I use one way down near Fredericksburg and would like to leave my dogs a little closer to where we live.
You guys have a safe trip!
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wow! I can totally understand the moving sadness, but it’s good that you are getting it all out!
Seattle is going to be so amazing, and at least you’ll still have the water there too! :)
good luck with the flying/driving part!!
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I can only imagine the emotions you are feeling right now with being pregnant! Youa re being very strong emotionally!
Now that I have seen all the work that the packers do, I must say, it might be worth it for me to hire packers when I move again some day!
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After 2.5 years of living the dream in perfect weather every.single.day, I moved from the Bay Area in California to Seattle. I hadn’t even come close to doing everything I wanted to do there, and I was so so sad to be leaving a life that I chose (moved there purposefully from MI). I joined my boyfriend on his journey to law school in Seattle (luckily I was able to transfer offices with my job). Once we got here, almost 2 years ago, I realized how much there is to do and see in this small city! There is so much beauty (especially on a nice day!) and so many places to visit on day or weekend trips. I have a list a few pages long of this I want to do and see and repeat! Good luck with your move and I hope you love it here as much as I do:)
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i actually got teary eyed in this post! :(!!! good luck with everything and i hope you love it in Seattle and settle quickly and easily!
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Your posts make me get emotional. You are such a great writer! :)
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I love your blog. I grew up on Lake Washington in Bellevue, and it is such a great spot…especially in the summer. You need to check out Ballard and Fremont, both neighborhoods have wonderful restaurants and shops. Also, take your dogs to Marymoor Park in Redmond, WA (very close to Seattle). It is a huge park, with tons of trails, and an off-leash dog park! http://www.kingcounty.gov/recreation/parks/inventory/marymoor.aspx
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SusanM Reply:
April 28th, 2011 at 5:05 pm
I just had to add to Katie’s post about a place to take the dogs – Magnuson Park in Seattle. The off leash area is small but it includes the beach and it’s closer than Redmond.
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Now I know why the home we bought last year came with all of the furniture, dishes, kitchen stuff. Moving is no fun and when the couple we bought from put ‘no intrinsic value’ on all of their stuff we said, “heck yah, you added in beautiful furniture at NO cost to us!” :)
But having professionals pack for you–amazing idea!!
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Aww this made me tear up! You write so beautifully and from the heart. I can imagine how emotional this has all been for you. Leaving a loved home is never an easy thing to do, but you are handling it so well. I moved over a dozen times across Canada and the US growing up and I always bawled when we had to go through it again. It never gets any easier. I know you are going to love Seattle though and I can’t wait to follow you along your journey.
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Very well put. You expressed the wide range of emotions involved. Happy/Sad, etc…
Good luck!
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Good luck Emily. Moving is always so stressful. Take it easy!
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You are leaving a truly beautiful place and moving to another beautiful place. Be prepared to be awed by the snow-covered mountains. I’m sure you’ll create many happy memories in Seattle. Best of luck with the move.
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I can’t believe those signs cost $80! Monopoly pricing at its finest…
Don’t feel bad at ALL for being nostalgic…it is totally normal and it just means you love your home and your friends :)
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Hope you make a smooth transition to your new home! Many adventures to be had in Seattle, I’m sure.
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Good luck with the move!
Those baby clothes are so cute!!!!
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Those onesies are ADORABLE!!!!
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Cutest onesies EVER!!! Can’t wait to see what life in seattle hold for you ;)
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Wait, I eat the mac and cheese, fruit, and bean combo daily too. Does that mean I’m preggers? haha jk. I always just think I have a 3rd grade soul;)
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