The Talleys are Moving!

In case anyone out there doesn't know yet, we are moving! Where, you might ask? The answer is somewhat complicated. We put our house on the market in September knowing that the average time that houses are on the market lately is 6 months. We wanted something bigger, in a more family-friendly neighborhood. Not that ours isn't friendly or safe, there just aren't many kids left in this aging neighborhood.

Much to our surprise, we went under contract 10 days after our house was listed. We even had competing offers! The offers were from first-time home-buyers looking to take advantage of the $8,000 credit, which at that time was set to run out Dec 1. Our agent assured us that there were so many houses on the market, we'd be sure to find at least 2 that we liked within a couple days. Little did she know who she was dealing with.

Turns out, my criteria makes our dream house a little hard to come by in Wilmington. All we want is a neighborhood with a pool and tennis court(s) and in walking distance to a park and a school, with a nice big house and yard, and friendly neighbors. To put it plainly, a combination of Fullerton Drive and Trestle Drive. We could afford such a house in Cincinnati or probably most parts of the country, but property in Wilmington is more expensive due to its proximity to the beach. Yes, I've been spoiled by living in great neighborhoods all my life, but I'm not going to compromise my dreams for Eli--we are waiting until we find the right place.

Next Wednesday we are moving to my parents' townhouse in Magnolia Greens. With the move and the anniversary of my mom's death coming up, and not a clue as to where we will finally settle, you may wonder, am I stressed? The answer is not complicated. Yes.

Oh, and I forgot to mention that Chris broke his foot two weeks ago and is on crutches. He can't drive and he certainly can't move boxes...that's how he got hurt.

Happy Halloween!

A Walk to Remember

I'll be walking in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event on October 17 in downtown Wilmington in honor of my two grandmas, my two Aunt Mary Anne(s), and my mom, who have all been affected by breast cancer, as well as for my survivor friends, Mary Jean Wickemeier, TK Gausman, and Julie Evans. This is the first cancer-fighting fundraising event I will be participating in since my mom passed away. I plan to participate in many more, but honestly I think I needed a little break from cancer for a little while. So I'm back on the wagon, trying to do good. Feel free to support me by clicking below. Thanks!

Andrea's Making Strides Site

My Friends Visited Last Week...

It was so windy at the beach!

Chowin down on some mac n' cheese

Cassie and I were on TV

Watching Cassie paint

Eli on the news

Eli and I can't stay way from the news, it seems. Maybe there is just that little going on in Wilmington. Anyway, there was a story on the news tonight about Strollerstrides, and Eli and I were there. He's in one of the pink and brown strollers. Anyway, this video gives you an idea of what the class is all about. It's harder than it looks!

Tank Ou

Last night we got Eli into the costume box and he really got a kick out of this kangaroo Hawaiian shirt that my good college friend Robyn bought for me at a thrift store because it was just perfect for me. Anyway, here he is playing peek-a-boo. And then at the end he says his new favorite words..."thank you".

He says this whenever someone gives him something. We are so lucky because I didn't really try hard to teach it to him, he just picked it up on his own. It sure makes him seem like a polite child. And we just beam and take all the credit.

He does give high-fives, he just wasn't into it on this occasion.

Peek-a-boo

Me and Eli--we love going to parks. We love Sharon Woods in Cincinnati and we love Hugh McRae in Wilmington. We go there twice a week to do Stroller Strides, and after my exercise class, Eli plays on the playground with the other toddlers. It's been a great way to get some socialization for him, and a chance for me to talk to other moms.

But this one day a few weeks ago, the regular Stroller Strides moms left early and there were many people we didn't know, mostly grandmas and their grandchildren. While I pushed Eli on his swing I spoke to one of the grandmas, who was quite friendly, and she mentioned how she had another grandchild on the way. Then her pregnant daughter arrived. They chit-chatted about the work the daughter was having done to her house, and where they were going to go from there. This menial conversation, which I'm sure meant nothing to them, struck a chord in me. Their conversation was so easy. Nothing to work at. They can read each other's thoughts and feelings without even knowing it. Because it's not something you know about until it's not there anymore. And this woman and her mom--they cared about every menial detail in each other's lives. Because moms are starved for two things--time and information. Time to spend with their children (and grandchildren, if they should be so lucky) and information about them and their daily lives.

I couldn't help but think that where this woman is in her life, with a 2 year-old, another on the way, and a mom to share it all with, is where I should be right now if...if I hadn't lost my first baby and if I hadn't lost my mom.

This trio and all the other grandmas crawling around the playground were too much for me. I started to cry, but covered up my face so as not to make a scene. Eli started to laugh--he was preparing for what he thought was another fun game of peek-a-boo. I thought that was as good
idea--he is always good at bringing me back to earth. So I played peek-a-boo with him for a while on the swing, and then we departed the park. I had had enough peek-a-boo for that day.