Monday, May 4, 2009

MOVING DAY

I can't even believe I'm writing this...Andrew moved out this weekend. How can my little, quiet, red-headed baby be old enough to leave me???? I knew this was going to happen eventually, but I think I just put it out of my mind.

He didn't move far. It's just a 20 minute drive (40 minutes if you pick the wrong time to travel). It could be on mars though for how far away he feels right now.






After stopping and taking pictures of the wrong house, we pulled up to his new home.

Isn't it pretty! I was very impressed. The house is split into 3 apartments. Andrew and his friends have the middle floor. It's an older house with a lot of really interesting, beautiful features.

I love this banister and railing.

This window in his bathroom is gorgeous!

The front entryway has such character. The beauty may be lost on the boys who live here, but this mama sure likes it.

We have a long standing family tradition of eating Kentucky Fried Chicken on moving days. It just so happens that there is a KFC right around the corner from Andrew's new house.

Andrew's absence keeps hitting me at odd moments.

When I was making Doug's lunch last night, I got a bit teary- eyed about not having to pack Andrew's and hoping that he had good, filling, healthy food in his kitchen to pack his own (he did).

This morning as I was washing up in our bathroom, I saw Andrew's hook with his towel on it and it made me sad thinking about it empty like Sarah's.

I'm not just sad though. I'm also so proud of the man Andrew's becoming. He's making his way in this world as he was meant to do. I'll cope. I hope he'll drop by to visit...a lot!

He's happy and I'm trying really hard to be happy for him too.

8 comments:

Jennifer said...

Your post represents the bittersweet experience perfectly. It's good for all of us Mamas to hear these true tales. They will give us strength when our own baby birds start to fly. Thank you for sharing this Ann. Your family is wonderful.

Andrew said...

Great post Mom!
Thanks again for all the help you guys gave me in this move. I miss you too and I will definatley be by to visit often.

uncle sparky said...

If Maria and I can get Billy to watch the kids, we'll have to come up and have you show us around the new neighborhood.

Tommy said...

I loved the picture of the staircase, even though I didn't love traipsing up and down it with Andrew's stuff. Great post!
Tommy

Beth Bower said...

Awww...I know exactly how you feel! I am in my middle 40s and I have 3 that are "out of the nest".
I miss them so much but I am so proud of them!
Just wait until you become grandparents!! You will just love them to pieces!! (Yes, I think perhaps waiting a few more years to allow some marriages to happen would be a good good thing!)

Beth Bower said...

By the way...I found your post by clicking on my profile where I had listed "Any books by Beverly Lewis" and found YOU!! I like you already...your posts are sooo sweet! I need to figure out how to put pictures on my posts. I'm new to blogging!(I also homeschool.)
I see that you also like Pride and Prejudice...have you ever seen Sense and Sensibility? (I have many copies of the movie that came out about 12 years ago or so. I love it so much that I am afraid that one will get scratched and I won't be able to replace it!) It starts out slow but I think you would like it as well! Come and visit my poor pitiful blog, and learn about me and my family, ok?
Love in Christ, Beth

Beth said...

Oh my goodness...I'm so silly. I need help just following a blog. I made a mistake...I clicked on what I thought was someone else's blog and found yours, which I love and still think it is sweet. However, I don't see in your profile that you like Beverly Lewis books, necessarily, so it must be by the Grace of God that He showed me to your blog. Maybe I need your insight and your obvious joy! I'm a little bit goofy...so, maybe that explains how I got to your site. You can still come by and visit! Beth

Anonymous said...

guess Brian Dawkins moved too... guess the Eagles will have to score lots of touchdowns this season.