A long overdue update

Wow, you'd think we'd dropped off the radar! It's been a long time since I've written and that's because I've not been sure what to write. Joe and I have been trying to make a number of decisions lately, and until we made a decision, I was hesitant to post an update. So, now that we're closer to "knowing" the plan, I thought I'd bring everyone back up to speed!

Joe and I have decided to put our condo on the market. Although it's a soft market, we feel it's in our best interest to try and sell now while prices are lower so we can get into a single family home with a little yard and a driveway before the adoption is complete. Since we have 3 dogs (yes, 3 dogs!), we want to have a little more backyard space than we currently have on our patio for them to play. I have a feeling that once we get a baby or two home it'll be a lot harder to get them walked as often and I'd feel better knowing they had some space to go outside, lay in the grass, and enjoy the day. We also know that being in a single family home is better for appreciation in the long run, so trying to get into one sooner is better than later. And, we're hoping to take advantage of the high foreclosure rates right now to get a better deal. I'm sure MANY of you are going to ask why we are going to move when we've been doing so much remodeling to our current place. That's tough to answer, but I guess the easiest way is by mentioning that when we did our upgrades, it wasn't because we planned on living here that long, it was because it will also help our resale value and marketability.

So, in a nutshell, that's where we're at. We've been scrambling (and that may be a huge understatement!) to get all the final projects wrapped up and we're ALMOST done. It's been a whirlwind the last month or two and I can't wait for Monday. On Monday, the photographer comes to take pictures of our place for the flyers and our house will go on the market. Next week is a big week and will also mean all the projects and late nights working on the house will be over! So, it's a win-win situation! Whether we can get our place sold or not, we rushed to get it done and will have a completed house!! I can't even tell you how great the place looks! The kitchen looks completely different, the bathrooms are finally finished (and the new paint looks great if I don't say so myself), we have almost done it! Hooray!

In the meantime, we have not started the adoption yet. I can't believe I've made it to late April and not lost my mind to the waiting to start yet, but I guess the scramble to complete our house has really helped time pass quickly. We are planning to start soon, just not sure if we'll wait until a month or two into having this place on the market so we can get moved first (or see if it's seeming likely that we will be moving), or start once it's on the market and we finally have some time to actually work on getting the paperwork together and doing the homestudy. While the first option is probably the smartest so we aren't in the middle of the adoption/homestudy and then have to move, we are anxious to get started as the wait times for referrals seem to increase everyday and we are ready to become parents!

On the work front, I'm still on a project where I get to work from home, which is my first choice of work locations! I have changed projects twice since January though, and am now in a really great role where I should gain some invaluable experience and have a great team of people to work with. Joe is doing great at Central Park West, as usual. I can't even believe how amazing he is! Occasionally I get to have lunch with him at the job site, and there are almost always interruptions. It's really neat to watch him at work, talking to people and see how he carries himself. He's become such an amazing man and I am so proud of him! I don't know how he does what he does, and so well! It seems like only a couple of years ago that we were cruising around the high school while he bummed change from people at the vending machine so he could get some gas for his old Toyota pickup. Now, here he is running a site that is extremely complicated and important to the company. I can only hope that his bosses know how truly blessed they are to have Joe working for him, because he is the best guy to get the job done! (Whew, enough of the bragging about Joe, eh?! I just can't help it, he's doing such a great job!)

That's our status for the moment. Every day my heart aches more and more while I wait to begin the journey to parenthood. I'm beginning to look into volunteer opportunities in Ethiopia, and Africa in general, as something we may do while we're waiting to bring our babies home. There was a Habitat for Humanity trip to Ethiopia we tried to get on, but by the time we heard about it and sent in a request for more info, the trip was already full. I'm confident that an opportunity will arise for us to go and help firsthand before long. In the meantime, we'll keep the updates coming and be hoping that everything falls into place quickly... this will definitely be a Spring to remember!