Sneak Peak

Here's your first look inside at one side of our new kitchen. We have our walk through on Sunday and then close on Monday. We are so, so excited! I just can't wait to be there and start making it home. We have piles of stuff all over and it seems unreal that after 3 years of living with our things scattered in at least 4 different places, we'll finally have a headquarters with so much room for Samara to grow in, so much light to fill our days, so much warmth to keep us going through these final snow storms. Our doors will be open come Monday night, for each of y'all, and we can't wait to welcome you in. As for us, we might not be sleeping there on Monday, but give us a day or two to move our mattresses, cribs and bare necesseties and we'll be kicking it up at 143!

Rest in Peace, Rafiki

14 year old Rafiki died of a heart attack last night. He joined our family from his own abandoned one, a warm March day in Caracas and has traveled the world with our family ever since. Now he and I weren't particularly close, me having a bit of a fear of cats and all, but he was loved by many of the family a great deal, and in that way, loved by me. He was Roly's bullyish side-kick, a constant in our ever-changing lives and a source of joy for little Samara. He was kind and gentle when it mattered most, as you can see in these two pictures, and we will all miss him. Que descanses en paz, mi pequeño caraceñito.

Bumps

We've come up against some bumps in the purchase of the home. We knew it was going to be a big stretch and the reality may be we just can't make it. We have until Friday to try to get approved for a loan. So far, it hasn't happened. With having been abroad and had foreign jobs, to owning my old condo still in Swampscott and only both just settling into new jobs in January, we have a lot against us, but we have to trust that if 143 is meant to be ours, it will be. In the meantime, it is strange that they have $50,000 of our life savings and we can't even go inside again! All will become clearer.

It has been an emotional roller-coaster, this house-buying thing, and I'm ready just to believe that we have done our best and the rest is history. Samara keeps us smiling hugely and reminds us what is really important. A roof over our heads is good, well essential, but as long as we have each other, we're okay. She seems just moments away from her first 'yey', 'hi' or 'mama' and we are sitting on the edge of our seats. I'm letting her try all sorts of treats too and she can munch up a storm with her two very sharp, very beautiful teeth. She's sleeping so well now, usually going from 7pm to 7am, even playing for 30-45 minutes in her crib alone in the morning until we can't not go and get her for one more moment! She loves time with her Mama-ji and gives both me and Steve the greatest welcome flap and smile when we've left her, if only to go to the bathroom. We didn't go our for Valentine's Day as we're really strapped for cash, but we had a very romantic and special dinner at home and despite getting some bad news on the house, had a day full of love and thankfulness.

This next week will be a big one and as Truman himself longed to know, I do wonder, "How's it going to end?" It's hard driving by the house every day (it's only 8 houses from where we're renting!) and admiring it so deeply and still not being sure, but by Friday we should know and we'll be okay either way. We have so much.

143

This is Samara's I want to laugh or cry soon face. She makes it quite a lot and it makes us laugh! Good news is, in a few weeks she'll have only good things to be jolly about. We put down 10% on the house yesterday and we are good to go! The home inspection went very well and we are so, so excited. We still haven't been approved for our loan, but we are keeping our fingers crossed and won't take no for an answer! If all goes to plan, we'll be in #143 in about 3 weeks! And thanks to Reagan's street-smartness, Samara won't be crying over our avenue number either:

I = 1
love = 4
you = 3

Tomorrow!

Tomorrow is our home inspection. I'm excited! It's a whole lot of money to spend on a house we still don't know for sure will be ours, but it's worth it for now and we continue to just be mind-bogglingly excited for this chance of a dream home for us. I dare not say too much about it as it is may just all be TOO perfect, and it is most certainly a huge financial stretch, but more details will come when it is safe to share! Until then, wish us luck and thank you for your good, warm wishes. We are happier and happier every day as the 3-Ds and already have more than we could ever dream of.

LA CASA DE NUESTROS SUENOS!

OUR NEW HOME!!! AHHHH!!!! We just had our offer accepted today. We truly cannot believe it. Now we are desperately coming up with the paperwork to make this all happen! In the meantime, enjoy this photo and more will come when we are INSIDE!