Whether you notice it or not, dear LMLD readers, I feel very absent when I haven't posted in a while, especially since I haven't done the past few {bits & pieces} posts. As Auntie Leila mentioned, it's been an inopportune time for me to post, what with moving (yes! We finally found our little place in NH and are settling in!) and, indeed, having spotty internet service.
I promise my absence hasn't been totally due to laziness and negligence (see more below).
It's always a lot of work to move into a new place, isn't it? Aside from a rough first week, I've been finding it fun and invigorating to set up our new home. I usually do try (this is the third new home since we were married) — to settle into and put our own stamp on the place where our family life will be unfolding for the next few years; to make a home that's good for my babies and comforting for my husband to come home to; to try to prepare a space where friends and strangers will feel welcome…
Such an inspiring task. I take so much comfort especially in doing this as a team with The Artist.
But it's a slow process, and I certainly have some work cut out. Like I said, it's been busy over here.
Oh — and did I say “babies” just now? Plural form?
Why yes, yes I did.
I came up with the name The ‘Chesternest for our new home because a) we're now living in Manchester (get it? ‘Chester?) and b) yes, I am most definitely in nesting mode! We are very happy and grateful to let you know that we are expecting Finnabee's little sibling (aka “Peabodee”)!!
And yes, for those of you wondering, Peabodee's expected arrival coincides fairly closely with the expected arrival of Rosie's baby.
She and I are, once again, on a similar schedule for child birthing and will, once again, be making life complicated for a certain Habibti (aka Auntie Leila) who will no doubt be wanting to be in a couple places at once to be meeting new grandbabies. We'll see what we can do as far as at least giving her a couple week's breathing room. This time it looks like Rosie's baby will be coming first.
And yes, the moving-in process has been going that much slower thanks to this mama's need for plentiful sleep and the occasional lie-down to nurse the ole' back.
We were sorry to leave the care of my parents and Habou at the LMLD homestead, where we passed such a happy summer. I'm sure you can imagine how much we all enjoyed and benefitted from the family time, the TLC, and the living off of the land (if you'll indulge me for a brief list: home-grown vegetables more often than not; Finnabee helping herself to ripe raspberries straight from the bush; homemade maple syrup; home-harvested honey; homegrown/made pear sauce, of which Finnabee put away more than her fair share; etc. etc.).
I was also very fortunate to be there with my mom during my first trimester, which made that tiring period go much easier and more quickly than it would have if I'd been managing my own household at the time.
But we are so happy, too, to be making a fresh start here in our new home, and especially to be awaiting a new little one and looking forward to new beginnings!
And yes, now I'm getting weepy.
Wanda says
Congratulations and blessing!!!! I know Aunt Leila must be over the moon!!!
Betsy M says
Congratulations!!! Can I also say, don’t wear yourself out on the new house. I did that with one pregnancy and let me tell you, bed rest is much worse than bad wallpaper!
Julie says
Wonderful news! Congratulations! May all proceed smoothly – baby and new home alike.
Rachel~ At the Butterfly Ball says
Oh Congratulations! Babies are always wonderful news! And what great fun to have cousins so close in age!
Michele says
Congratulations! What awesome news!!
Mary says
Congratulations! New house new baby! All but one of my kids has a cousin twin(within six months). They had a friend growing up and a close friendship as adults. It’s also nice to have a maternity twin. 🙂
Rose says
Congratulations, and welcome to Manch-vegas! Well, I can’t really say “welcome,” since I sadly don’t live there anymore, but I called it home for many happy years. Enjoy the Granite State 🙂
Rebekah says
I’m weepy too now. I just can’t compete with those dang pregnant lady first trimester hormones. They get me every time. Congrats!
Jenny says
Congratulations!
Heather says
congtratulations!
Jenny says
Oh, it’s ok weepy can be good. That paper, UGH! My sweet mother in love used to love to put shelf liner paper in, or at least she pretended to. Such a saintly job requiring all sorts of patience, especially with toddlers and gestating babes.
corina says
Congratulations! Great news!
Shannon says
how very exciting! We’re expecting #2 as well- about 9.5 weeks along and looking forward to the second trimester! Many blessings to you and your family!
Woman of the House says
Congratulations! I’m so happy for you all! Your new home reminds me so much of the old house we lived in for fifteen years. The doors and the woodwork and general atmosphere . . . I loved it. I hope you are all happy in your new place. 🙂
sarah marie says
Oh, congratulations! My sister-in-law and I had babies with the same due date and it was such fun. They ended up being born over two weeks apart (hers was early; mine was late) but it is so much fun having little cousins the same age. Blessings on your pregnancy and on your new house. I’ve done the whole new-house-while-pregnant thing and it can be tiring. Rest as much as you can! 🙂
Kathy@9peas says
Congratulations!!!
Cathy says
congratulations, family! God bless you–Cathy
Caitlin says
Many congratulations! Ah, babies. My 2nd is 6 months old and just a delight (as is the first, of course, but the second is much easier in terms of caring for the baby. The complication is that there is another little one there too!)
And yes, that is THE ugliest contact paper ever. I thought that the paper in my current kitchen was but no, you win. On the plus side, THOSE FLOORS under the boxes! Gorgeous.
Anastasia says
Yay! Congratulations! I’m so excited for you all and can’t wait to hear updates, when you can tear yourself away from cleaning and organizing and, yes, weeping over random things. I’m in the middle of my second trimester right now, but that first one, whew! I remember standing at the sink washing dishes with tears streaming down my face, for NO REASON AT ALL! They may even have just been sort of happy tears. The other three children were very tolerant, although they did look at me like I was crazy. All that is to say, be nice to yourself 🙂
Kate says
Some homemaker probably thought that the yellow was “cheery” and brightened those dark cavities up (that, or the paper was to cheap to resist). On many home decorating and DIY blogs, I see these bright colors that are “in” right now and painted over everything from chandeliers to desks to doors. Someone in the future with a paint scraper in hand is going to curse those women and wonder what they were thinking. When we moved into our home 12 years ago, the dinning room, one bedroom and one bathroom were painted the same hideous bright green, “complemented” by floral wall paper borders. I was at the end of my first trimester with #6 and battling a bronchial infection (besides attempting some semblance of homeschooling) when we moved in. Needless to say, we had to live with the green walls for awhile.
Congratulations! The LMLD posts lately remind of the days when I and my four sisters and two sisters-in-law were in our peak fertile years and there were exciting announcements almost yearly. Enjoy your new home (it look like it is old and has character, which I would expect from an artistic couple).
Deirdre says
Just to clarify, the paper wasn’t really yellow, but – pardon me, there is only one way to describe it – vomit colored. More green than it appears in the picture. Truly just deplorable.
Also the pattern is the texture of “crumpled paper.” Perhaps this is appealing for those folks who know that they’ll mess up while applying, so might as well have the paper already look messed up? Ugh.
Thanks for the wishes! 🙂 And yes, the place does have a lot of character. It has some serious quirks, but we’re loving it. 🙂
Julie says
Hang the pictures, no really, HANG THE PICTURES!!! Use the Artist and pound in some nails. My friend told me that usually we do the art hanging last as we consider it a treat not a necessity, but it is surprising how hanging the art makes a house feels like home more immediately, and inspires one to do the ahem, drudgerys such as peeling the “charming” contact paper. The same friend came over shortly after we moved and we hung up the art in the living room, dining room and downstairs bedroom. She kindly offered to hang the art in the bedrooms too, but I declined, letting her know that was something I could do. Three years later, guess which rooms still have no pictures hung? What a bossy post this is turning out to be! I just know you will feel so inspired just to have hung the art, after all, we all need those things that feed the soul, and give scope to the imagination.
Deirdre says
I agree, Julie, and I’m one to get things on the walls quickly. I think it comes from having moved over 8 times in the past 8 years, but I definitely prefer to *commit* and get things up than to move away never having done it. 🙂
Julie says
Congratulations as well!!! Praying for a safe and healthy pregnancy.
Valerie in NZ says
Congratulations! Good health and every happiness to you all.
Mary Alexander says
Ugly contact paper = first world problems 😉
Deirdre says
Haha – true. 🙂 There are much, much worse things that I could have been struggling with!
But may I just point out that we import beauty from the developing world? Ironic that it’s a first world problem to be scraping up this ugliness, and that my go-to favorite styles are textiles from India, patterns from the middle East, etc….
Rachel says
Many congratulations! It will be the year of two babies! I agree with Julie’s suggestion about putting up pictures and other decoration, that makes it feel much more homey. By the way, I live near Manchester, but the “real” one! Haha! Sorry, I couldn’t resist that. Manchester UK is a fascinating city, heart of the cotton industry (so very much linked to the US and the slave trade) and industrial town. Now it is in revival with the lovely old mill and warehouse buildings being renovated as apartments and offices.
When you post again, I would love to hear about your new town.
Blessings. xx
Margie says
Congratulations! Such happy news!
Joana says
Deirdre and Rosie,
So happy with the news! Congratulations to the whole family! And such fun to be pregnant at the same time – I loved it when I was pregnant at the same time as my sister!
Amanda says
Conrgatulations on the newest baby! I grew up near that area of New Hampshire actually, it’s beautiful 🙂 Have fun setting up your new abode!
Nancy Starkey says
Congratulations- and a very nice family picture announcement!
Deirdre says
Thanks, all, for the wishes! We’re so happy and excited! 🙂
Virginia says
Yay! Congratulations! Best wishes for a healthy pregnancy, speedy move-in and tolerant older daughter.
Kimberlee says
Congratulations and Deo Gratias! (yes, I caught that happy, happy plural up top) How super fun to have ‘twin’ cousins again! Hooray!
Donna L. says
So thrilled for you to have a new one on the way! Take care of yourself…and we look forward to seeing lots of updates! God bless you all!