Life Update: We're Moving! (Yes, Again...)

Pardon me while I write this through crippling stress... but we are moving! (Yes... again.)

The truth about life in Florida

In three simple words... we love it! Moving here was the best decision I could've ever made for myself and my family. We love our city, we love our neighborhood, and we love the community we've found here. The weather is just an added bonus. ;)

So why are we moving?

Well fam, we simply need more space. And we knew that from the beginning. Unfortunately the red hot market we bought in earlier this year did not allow for us to get into a more "long term situation." And even though we instinctively knew that, we just had to get off the merry-go-round of AirBnBs and stabilize life for our 3 little kids. We ended up in a beautiful 3-bedroom that was thoughtfully renovated in a fantastic neighborhood. A neighborhood we like so much, that we are actually just moving around the corner in! But with a new baby on the way, we desperately needed to be able to spread out a little more. As much as we loved our first Florida home, it really wasn't going to be conducive for a family of six. We also downsized quite a bit from our former Connecticut house, and thus still had a garage full of moving bins that could never be unpacked - nowhere for it to go!

The deets on our new house

So the market here in Tampa has definitely cooled a bit, but is still very competitive. After a quick Zillow search upon confirmation of our pregnancy, we stumbled upon a new build nearby and went to check it out the next day. After becoming Floridians, my husband and I have really taken a liking to the beautiful Spanish and Mediterranean styled homes around here. I always thought that would be our next house. This home, in contrast, was hyper modern, but warmed up with some wood touches and thoughtful design choices. We've never lived in a new build before, so it was a totally different experience to learn they come with home warranties, and many other conveniences we've never even thought of. (All of our previous homes have been built a very, very long time ago.) After a rollercoaster of negotiations, we finally went under contract, and even managed to get some special customizations done for our family. Some of those included a wall of toy storage in the playroom, custom-welded child-proof gates on the staircase, an extended patio for entertaining, and custom closets. These are things that will go a long way for us, and we're really excited to settle into a space designed with our specific needs in mind!

We just officially closed and are now embarking on the final phase of construction over there, while we start bringing our belongings in. Doing this during the holiday season is psycho, but we knew we had to get it done before I hit the third trimester - when things would inevitably get even tougher. So here we are! Nervous, excited, stressed, but ready for the next chapter. (And very ready to not have to move again for a long time!)

The "big day" of moving will take place next week, and then we'll have a few days to get our old home ready for its new owner. We (very unexpectedly) ended up selling our current house in a bidding war in just 4 days on the market - unheard of around here right now. So as grateful as we were, the stress was actually mounting because ya can't sell a house if ya have nowhere to go! We took a risky bet that all would fall into place, and thankfully it did.

Anyway, prayers have been answered and all is moving forward as planned! We can't wait to welcome our new baby boy into this new space, and watch our children continue to grow in sunny Florida!

Onward and upward! The journey continues...

XO,

Christine