As we get ready to move, I have become very nostalgic about our current house. We have lived here for almost 6 1/2 years and for Max's entire life. Yet, he probably will not remember it at all. Our new house will be the one he thinks of as the house he grew up in. So I wanted to have a pictorial homage to the house where our family started. First, with Jason and I, and then with the addition of Max.
The house was built in the late 1930s and is over 70 years old. As you enter the door:
The front door is one of the things I have always loved the most about this house because it has so much character. We bought the rug in front of the door in Bolivia. Jason swore I would not be able to fit it into my suitcase to bring home, but the master packer prevailed! The front door opens into the living room:
The living room was the last room to be furnished. It was empty for quite a while! Now it includes a marble table we purchased in India that was shipped to us in a crate filled with hay, prints of Furman, family pictures, and a cabinet I found in an antique shop. To the left of the living room is the sunroom:
The sunroom is the kitties' favorite room. When you sit on the furniture, tufts of fur float into the air. Frank watches prey (squirrels) that he cannot catch and Bean is visited by Spooky, another black cat in the neighborhood. Every Monday, Max pulls the chair closer to the window for a front row seat of the garbage truck parade. Back through the living room to the right is the dining room:
We have the dining room furniture that belonged to Jason's great-grandparents. Jason grew up having Sunday dinner with his grandparents and extended family at this table. We are very fortunate that his family allowed us to have it! Most of the silver pieces belonged to my grandparents and my father's family. A butler's pantry connects the dining room to the kitchen:
We painted the kitchen my favorite shade of blue. Although it is cozy, I love the huge, original sink and white cabinets. And the "Bon Appetit" was painted by moi! Through the breakfast room, you pass the downstairs bathroom:
On your way to the den:
The den is actually a 4th bedroom, but we used it as a den/computer room/playroom. I loved having the computer in the same room as the TV because it meant we were always together no matter what activity we were engaged in. However, Max's toys have definitely overtaken the room and need a home all their own. Pictures of friends, family, and from our various travels make the room very homey. The bedrooms are all upstairs, including the large master bedroom:
The master has plenty of room. Over our bed is a framed cloth that we got in India which is made of pieces of saris and dresses of India's former royals. There is also a poem about children that my mother gave me when Max was born. You can see the small door that opens to the very narrow closet:
However, the spaces is so well utilized that we've always had plenty of room! The bathroom is also spacious with plenty of counter space (for me). The two sinks are set off to the side, which means Jason was a bit squished in the corner.
Down the hall is the guest room (aka Becker's room), which has Jason's childhood furniture. Jason's father passed away when he was young and this bedroom set was one of the last gifts he gave to Jason. It is very special to him and will be Max's one day soon!
Max's room is across the hall from the guest room and the other bath. For most of the past 2 years, we referred to it as "the nursery" as though we lived in some huge mansion :)
I wanted a reading tree painted in Max's room and then we decided that Frank and Bean also had to be included for posterity! This is the thing I am the saddest to leave behind because it symbolizes the end of Max's babyhood. I love his room with all his mural, books and animals and its special baby smell.
Back down the stairs and out the back door is the backyard and driveway. Because we live on a corner, the neighborhood kids often cut through our yard. Now that they have befriended Max, there are lots of knocks on the back door. We will miss that familiarity.
Goodbye, house.
Goodbye to the the place where:
Jason carried me over the threshold...we hosted engagement parties, baby showers, 80s and Derby parties...we discovered a stone wall underneath all the ivy...the oak tree drops nuts like shotgun blasts...neighbors clapped when we brought Max home from the NICU...we learned to be parents...Max started walking (and running)...goodbye to our home. We will miss you.
