Currently

Thinking about: Everything that has to be done in the next month to get us into our new house. Addendum's to the contract getting worked out this week and hopefully signed by all parties, working out our mortgage, getting a house appraisal, securing moving plans, and obsessing over renovation ideas already. Our home inspection went well this weekend and nothing major looks to tie us up or stop us from buying. I did manage to make a huge list of things that we'll need done to get setup in the new house and it's scaring the hell out of me right now. Minor roof repairs, a leaky pipe under the house, buying a washer/dryer, putting in a fence for the dogs, installing a dog door, replacing a kitchen oven, putting in a gas line, removing carpet in the girls bedrooms, and painting the downstairs. I'm overwhelmed to say the least and the contractors for the Ellwood house that need to fix the drunk driver damage, came back this week and told me they wanted us out for them to start NEXT week! Obviously not happening but we're basically in a hurry now to get out by the end of April. I haven't even started thinking about address changes and other logistics. I am concerned about doing all of this with two babies that don't give me a break to even breath now days. This is why you ideally establish a home before having kids. Because now I get to do it all while entertaining them.
Looking forward to: Being all set up in the new house, buying some new furniture, moving on from Ellwood and having a fresh start. Once a decisions been made there is nothing worse than a time lag and lingering... I'm ready to move now!
Working on: Getting Hadley to sleep in her big girl bed. It's been rough to say the least. She absolutely loves the bed but is scared at night now. Someone has to sit at the foot of the bed until she falls asleep and then sneak out. She's waking sometime in the middle of the night, most nights and coming into our bed. Coming in half way through the night doesn't bother me, it's the game of getting her to sleep at bed time that's wearing me out.
Wishing for: A kitchen renovation. It's a big enough deal to buy your first house so I won't push it (with hubby) but he knows, Mama is gonna need a new kitchen at some point! Crossing fingers for next year.

Stressing about: Huge life changes. I've started my family in the house we're in now and it's hard to move on. It's scary to think we'll be starting all over again with decorating a home and making it what we want. It's scary to accept that hubby won't be 3 blocks away at work and able to come home every day for lunch. We are planning on making some new schedules and meeting him in town for lunch twice a week. I have to keep reminding myself we're only 18 min (max!) away. We're lucky to be that close and in such a wonderful neighborhood away from scary drunks!
Thankful for: Healthy children, buying our first home, being super happy with our first home and neighborhood, Colin's job promotion this year, the new opportunities I've had to photograph newborns and hopes to get more sessions when things slow down a bit.
Feeling: Overwhelmed, excited, exhausted, and eager.
Learning: To handle Hadley's terrible 2's. It's gotten pretty bad in the last month my friends. Her insane tantrums and lack of words to express herself are driving me mad. I went ahead and registered her for preschool again next year (2 mornings a week) because after all that talk about keeping her at home I realized we need a major break from each other sometimes. It's healthy for us both. Plus it will be good for Scarlett to go to Little Gym during Hadley's school and for her and I to have one on one time.

Planning: Paint choices. I've stared at a ton of colors this weekend but I think I've narrowed it down for our living and dining rooms. Look out for some interior design posts in the future! I've got tons of ideas! I'm also trying to figure out plans for Scarlett's birthday knowing we will have just moved and may not be ready yet at our house for it.
Making me happy: Knowing that by Christmas all of this will be worked out and we'll have moved on past the initial routine upset and hard work involved with setting up a new house. I dislike change like most only children and I really just want to blink my eyes and have everything done and in it's rightful place at the new house.
Craving: A return of our normal routine. I'm so eager to get into this new house and back on a schedule that gets our family back in line. That way we can focus again on fun family weekends and not paperwork and lists of to-do's. I'm ready for a boring week!

*** Our last couple weeks in instagrams.