All the Palaces.

The first house Josh and I shared was an upper-level duplex in Boone, where we were finishing college. The place was run-down, but we were amazed at the linen closet, the stackable washer and dryer, and the tiny dishwasher. The living room and the master bedroom were huge. We were happy there, eating grilled hot dogs and watching VH-1 Classic. We gorged on chips and ranch dip and walked up a huge staircase up a hill to the bus stop. I read The Hours, marking it up wildly in pencil. We called our place the MLP: Magical Love Palace.

Our next home was the WLP, White Love Palace. It was a one-bedroom apartment we named WLP because of the bright white paint and many windows. We had a coat closet, a double vanity, functional drawers in the bathroom, a linen closet, a pantry, a walk-in closet, and a huge balcony. That was where I lived alone (the only time!) for two months while Josh was with the army.

Next came the CLP, the Country Love Palace. Josh got a job at an obscure high school, and we moved into a 100+year-old house. It was massive. We had built-in bookcases and a sunroom. That's were I read 100 books in a year, prepared my thesis, and submitted work--two+ submissions per day. I was living at the CLP when I got my first acceptance. Otherwise, the place was run down and remote, and I felt uneasy alone there. Our terrible experiences elsewhere seemed to poison the place.

I graduated and needed money to make student loan payments. We moved to Monroe, so I could find a job. I was a substitute teacher at a private school for a bit, and then, I started teaching at a community college. Our little duplex was adorable. I can't think of the name we gave it. We liked having stairs for the first time. We watched Millennium and Dresden Files. I actually cooked a little. We made and lost our twins there. The joy sticks more than the sorrow.

I got a full-time job offer, so we moved again. We could afford a large old house that was well-renovated. Hard-wood floors were everywhere. Our furniture seemed meager in all that space. I had a dressing room with a little black desk as a vanity and a bookcase full of shoeboxes. We made Oliver there.

Josh got laid off, so we couldn't afford the big house. It became a bakery for a while, which is a cute thought. We moved to the OLC, Oliver's Love Cottage. It was a sweet little house but a sketchy area. We spent our first few weeks with Oliver there. Then, someone scared us by pitching (or, more likely, firing/launching) a rock through our window. My baby was covered in glass.

So we moved to Fayetteville and to the OLC2. We liked our new home. It was a good size for us at first. But then, an arsonist set our building on fire. No one was hurt, but we had to give up many items that had gotten smoked. Thank goodness we had renters insurance.

So we moved again but stayed in the same complex. We upgraded to a three-bedroom apartment because it was already clear that Oliver would need more space. OLC3. And we've lived in this apartment for six years! I'm happy staying still at last.

A Page from My Journal : July 6, 2011.

Right now, I'm thinking about the peaceful yet creatively buzzing happiness of the residencies at Queens. I'm remembering the brilliant green of the quad and eating McAlisters food with Josh during a break. The black and gold auditorium. The big chairs and fireplace in the tiny student center.

I love how Bloglovin' corrals new posts for me. It's so easy, and I almost always have something new to read.

I've discovered a great new blog--Your Wishcake. The writer is serene, appreciative, and pregnant, and I've loved every post so far.

My blog is a month old today. I can't believe how fun it has been or how many friends and family members have told me they love it. I also never knew what a rich blogging community exists.

A wild storm is here. The world got suddenly dark after Josh mowed the lawn. The windows have been flashing. The lights have flickered and failed. The thunder is rumbling, and the rain sounds like someone is pouring out jars of false pearls. I feel cozy, safe, and lazy.

In the living room, only one row of boxes remains against the door to the side porch. I may try to clear those out today. The dining room is still stuffed with boxes, and the bedrooms are still messy. As Josh said, though, we've moved into this house far more than we ever moved into the Christmas Love Palace, which, to me, never really felt like ours.

 (When I was little, I got in trouble for holding my pen correctly. Oh well.)

I have grading to do tonight, but I've already editing the reports for tomorrow's editing team meeting. The editing can be tedious, but I like having real experience in it, and I do think it's something I could do for a living.

I have a Real Simple to finish and an Oprah to start. I love that I subscribed to those before we moved. The last magazines to which I subscribed were Lucky, Self, and Health. My subscriptions have definitely gotten more...well, like what a mother would read. In most ways, I don't plan on thinking of myself as "a mom." It will be one of my roles, one that I love and take seriously, but it won't be my identity. I'm remembering a line from Center Stage, my first DVD: "Girl, you are too many things!" That's what I want to be.

I can't believe our poor notebook languished in a box for seven months. We've both written in it just now--our lives have changed so much since the last entry! I love the ballerina I pasted in from a Chapel Hill bookstore flier. Maybe we'll go back in the spring and stroll with Oliver on campus. I'd like to walk with him on various campuses and let him feel the serenity and energy of them.

We also have Lost in Austen from Netflix--three hours British literary goodness. I see some of that, a crabby wrap, and cherries in my future. I think I'll make Josh a wrap with mini sweet peppers, cheese, chickpeas, and spicy French dressing.

After work tomorrow, we have a doctor's appointment. After this, we should start going every two weeks! I wonder how Oliver will react to the glucose test syrup. I need to remember to bring a book for the test wait.

I unpacked that art nouveau piece and put it up in front of my antique mirror on my favorite books cabinet. I don't know why I thought it was a shell--it's definitely a fan.

First Week.

 (Image: http://chanelbagsandcigarettedrags.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2011-06-11T05%3A18%3A00-07%3A00&max-results=45)

I can't believe we've been at the OLC for a whole week! It doesn't seem so. The cardboard chaos continues, but more surfaces are visible than before. Our recycling bin (it's huge!) outside is already full of flat boxes.

I've had to take a lot of breaks.

I've organized my work clothes in the wardrobe and found space for some of my shoes. My tiny closet still needs a lot of work.

Some books are unpacked; I've started stacks near my bed: books I want to read immediately, books I want to read soon, and journals I want to fill soon.

(Image: http://april27th.tumblr.com/page/6)

Josh has put up many of our pictures. We refer them by name: the pink lady, the elf queen, Audrey, Ariel, Andrew, sexy mermaid, and Cinderella, for instance.

Oliver's room now has a cuckoo clock; a whimsical collage; two tiny, decorative, bee-themed pillows; and a shelf for the many baby wipes Mom bought for us at Costco.

Note the honey jar and the bee on the dipper. Cracker Barrel knew I was coming.

The kitchen is basically done except for some more cupcake Wallies. The shelf paper, though I was no expert at application, definitely increased the cheer factor.

Mirrors are in place. They seem to open up the house.

I'm slowly filling up the many drawers of the giant desk with office supplies, pens and inks, and stationery. Folders and notebooks are taking over the coffee table drawers.

 (Image: http://asnoveemcasa.tumblr.com/post/6949920375)

On Friday night, we watched The Edge of Love and had an excellent dinner. I cooked burgers (skillet-style) for the first time. We had spotted Boca meatless burgers at the store and decided this might be a good meal for both of us: I get my meat, he gets his...non-meat, and no extra effort is necessary. I have two small skillets, so I used both to avoid greasing up Josh's burger, and the dishes still weren't bad (remember, we don't have a dishwasher). We had burgers on wheat buns, pasta salad, and sweet dark cherries. I'd decided to try the cherries because I'd never had real cherries (just the sugar-glazed sundae variety), I'm more open to fruit these days, and they just looked so pretty. I'm sure the post about the health benefits of cherries over at Love, Bliss & Beauty had something to do with it too.

I also needed half a dill pickle.

The meal was very satisfying, and I enjoyed the movie. Josh is picky and doesn't actually like movies much (what a pity he married a huge movie girl!), so I just appreciate that he watches them with me, and I don't ask what he thought (his lukewarm reactions only bum me). It's a literary-tinged relationship drama with infidelity, violence, and one of those jealousy-charged female friendships. The best parts (and probably the redeeming qualities for Josh) were an adorable baby boy and the heart-aching Welsh seaside landscapes. Dylan Thomas's voice was great too.

On Saturday, while having the pasta salad again for lunch, we watched The Voyage of the Dawn Treader at last. This was my favorite book in the series. Aslan and the lily sea did not disappoint. The teary dragon really tore me up...but I think it would have even if I weren't pregnant. Oh! I can't think about it. Thank goodness for Reepicheep. For dinner later, we had cheese ravioli with tomato sauce, Parmesan, and spinach. Josh left a good bit of spinach in the bottom of his bowl, but at least I sneaked some vitamins into him! I had a glorious late evening snack: cherries and Jello French Silk Pie pudding. Oh. My. Goodness. And I got to enjoy it before the noise of merry makers and fireworks began. I already feel very much at home here.

(Image: http://ifeellikeamoustache.tumblr.com/)

Life Begins at the OLC.

Oliver's Love Palace now smells dreamy, with no trace (that I can detect) of the boiled dust stench it had after being empty so long. This is largely due to air conditioning and opening doors, but I think the fact that I've plugged in more Wallflowers than I've ever used in a house may have something to do with it. I have Lavender in the living room, Strawberry Patch in the dining room, Lilac Blossoms in the kitchen, Japanese Cherry Blossom in the bathroom, Vanilla Coconut in our room, and Cinnamon Stick in Oliver's room (Oliver's room! I feel a happy flutter every time I say that, just as I still tend to gasp with wonder when Oliver gives a good kick).

Oliver has had his back turned to my belly for days. He seems to do this when anything is not to his liking (cold hands on my belly, too much activity...). I don't like this because I can't feel him move as much. Also, he's been trying a new position in which he seems to push his feet hard against the back of my hips, and his back and rear nearly explode out of my belly. I'm sure he needs to stretch, but that made me feel rather ill. I'm hoping that as my constant activity winds down, he'll face front and say hello to us.

My brother came to stay with us on Tuesday night during my dad's business trip. After I left Josh to finish the cleaning at the old house, I put on my gray maternity pajamas. Later, I made my second real meal in the OLC kitchen: chicken and veggie fried rice (sans chicken for Josh. You can see my recipe in Meals for Culinarily Poor, Lazy, and Untalented Couples). Cooking this meal in a kitchen with already limited counter space right after a move (meaning with highly cluttered counter tops) was an exercise in colorful language, but the meal was very satisfying. Still, I soon experienced a powerful sweets craving.

 (Image: http://www.burgerking.ca/en/View.aspx?uid=TopMenu_OurMenu_Treats_HERSHEYSSundaePie)

Burger King has a HERSHEY®'S Sundae Pie, which I decided to try. Josh went to get it, picking up a serious Oreo shake for James and strawberry cheesecake for himself. The pie was perfect: perfect size, perfect combination of crunchy and smooth, and perfect blend of cookie, ice cream, and solid chocolate flavors. I have I feeling I will be becoming better acquainted with that pie.

I settled in to grade tests online while the guys played Dragon Age II. In the game, Josh is romancing Merrill, an elf character who reminds him of me (minus the blood magic). I think it's an ill-fated love, but I like that he's drawn to me even in fantasy worlds. 

 (Merrill from Dragon Age II by Bioware)

I love how in this new house, I can sit at the spacious desk to work and still see the HDTV and Josh playing in the green recliner (which is old but matches the leaves on the fancy couch beautifully). I'm already imaging grading there while Josh and Oliver watch Disney movies. When I'm done, we can have a stretched-out family snuggle session on the big, comfortable couch.

I spent some time on my exercise ball, and then, I was ready for bed. The cats were quite sad when James closed his door for the night. Davis had been been quite snuggly.

 (Image: http://ariannabelle.blogspot.com/?zx=4d1e3be34c7bdf1)

We had a lazy morning on Wednesday, apart from Josh taking a load of recycling to the drop-off site. Oh, the boxes we will break down (hopefully at amazing speeds)! I worked on some blog writing and reading, both of which I'd missed and felt incredibly behind on. James watched The Sopranos. Dad got back into town, and we all met again at 215 on Main. I wore my new green dress and felt quite pretty. I've been wishing for a green dress anyway.

I had a bacon cheeseburger (impressively juicy and saucy) with those magical Parmesan and herb fries,

Josh had a fancy salad with the fries,

James had catfish (sans sandwich) and fries (he'd already nibbled a bit when I took the picture),

and Dad had these impressive looking shrimp and grit cakes.

Yum! I ate just the right amount, realizing at the critical moment that I could either finish my burger or my fries (I chose fries). Josh took some photos of the downtown area, including an art deco bank (of course, he loves that) and a strange, empty, open-air shop space that I think would be a lovely backdrop for artsy or quirky photos.

Dad and James left, and Josh and I went home (new home!) to lie down. The neighborhood was so quiet. I kept thinking about that crib box in Oliver's room. We don't have a mattress or bedding for it, but I still want to see what the crib will look like in the room, along with the two tall white bookshelves and the pretty purple "grandparents' bed."

Oh, something else that seems peacefully settled and homey amid the cardboard chaos: we have a fruit bowl on the dining table. I normally wouldn't set food out like this, but the cats have never seemed to care about fruit. Wal-mart sells bags with mixed oranges and red and green apples. The different colors look nice in the silver bowl on the black table. And I like seeing Josh munching on a green apple.

(Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lauren-nicole/3372842469/)

Moving House, Part I.

(Image: http://weheartit.com/entry/9777454)

I like the phrase. It makes more sense that simply "moving." I find it interesting that Sophia of Sophia's Journal is also in the process. As of today, the old house is empty and clean, and we've turned in the key. Our new house is full of box towers, but it's totally livable. I'm determined to set up quickly (so much more fun than packing but still exhausting) because I'm only getting more pregnant, and the fall semester is fast-approaching.

Last week was a little crazy. We went to the family reunion on Sunday, we packed on Monday, I went to work and to a baby shower on Tuesday, we went to a concert on Wednesday, and I went to work on Thursday. The concert was Def Leppard and Heart. The lawn tickets were a birthday present from my dad. I was a little nervous about going since I didn't want Oliver to be scared. I knew, though, that this would be our last concert for a very long time. I also knew I'd be exhausted at work the next day, but it was one of those events that is sort of a pain at the time but makes an awesome memory. And memory lasts longer than experience.

The lawn was great. We spread out a big Panthers blanket, and I could sit, lean back, lie down, or stand up whenever I got uncomfortable. We sat on the side near the steps to the bathroom. We had the area basically to ourselves. While the local opener played, I finished grading tests. A woman had brought her baby. The baby seemed absolutely delighted to be there. Heart was great, and of course,  Def Lepp was awesome. I got to hear my favorite song, "Hysteria." Oliver did kick a lot, but he got still whenever I sang along. I went to the restroom four or five times and never had to wait in line. I'll just skip over the horror of trying to leave the parking lot after the concert.

(Image: http://thedisneyprincess.tumblr.com/tagged/cinderella)

 Everything began in earnest on Friday. We loaded the car, signed the lease, picked up the key, and requested utility switch-on from the city. The house had been empty since at least January. When I stepped onto the porch, I could smell the sickening hot mustiness. We started by cleaning some filthy old blinds. Luckily, most of them were brand new. The new paint job was very nice too, apart from the fact that the painters painted over lock holes and painted windows shut. Apparently, the previous tenant got paint happy and painted every room a different color. The kitchen was Kelly green (an odd green stripe remains beside the fridge), and the living room was fire engine red. He even painted the light switches (not the plates, the switches), which are still red. The bathroom was lavender. A little of the paint remains around the sink and bathtub. I noticed something I hadn't seen during my two viewings of the house: the bathroom ceiling is still lavender! I think it's kind of cool and cheeky.

We opened windows as we worked. I swept the weathered hardwood floors and dusted door frames and ceiling fans while Josh bleached the kitchen and bathroom. These days, I prefer tasks that don't require me to bend down. 

 (Image: http://jeansandcupcakes.tumblr.com/)

He told me that I would be very pleased with the water pressure and the hot water. These are vital if one is a bath lover. I also wish I could test the bath before signing a lease. Unfortunately, my doctor says I'm not to take baths while pregnant, so I've gone without for months. I'm not sure why, but it's probably best since I like my baths hot. Oh well. It's something to look forward to.

The city came out earlier than we expected. The stove fan inexplicably roared to life, and the heat came on. We turned on the AC and ceiling fans. I set out yummy soap and plugged in Wallflowers. I put a different scent in each room, so we won't get used to them and stop smelling them as easily. I hoped that the house would smell better by morning. Josh and I made a good team.

(Image: http://sunflower-fields-forever.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2010-10-02T21%3A58%3A00%2B01%3A00&max-results=6)

Then, we stopped at Arby's to stuff our starving faces and drove to Charlotte. There, we picked up the moving truck and met Dad and James at Mom's storage unit. A kind woman in a golf cart guided us through the maze. Packed into that bathroom-sized storage unit, I saw the table with my brother grubby baby hand prints (he's fifteen now) and my mother's doll house which I played with. The guys basically had to unload the whole unit to pull out the gorgeous Waverly couch with dark leaves and pink roses. I can't believe we have a couch this nice. Our couches have always been...well, either too old to maintain their shape or just not comfortable, so we didn't really use them. And this one is just so pretty.

We went next to Pansy Cottage (sadly empty of rabbits, but Mom hasn't done the real move yet) to pick up the other luxurious hand-me-downs: Mom's beautiful queen-sized bed with fancy ivory iron headboard and footboard (complete with gorgeous lilac quilt, violet sheets, purple body pillow (a body pillow for my legs and belly at last! Josh uses my green one as a headboard, and pulling it down and stuffing it under the blankets every night is tiring), and ivy comforter and bedskirt; my stepfather's black round table with four sturdy chairs (a amazing step up from our rickety Wal-mart set); and Mom's huge white wicker wardrobe (the top will hold my work clothes, and the drawers will hold Oliver's clothes, blankets, and hooded towels...whee!).

 (Image: http://shannoneileenblog.typepad.com/happiness-is/page/2/)

We all had dinner later at 215 on Main. I hadn't realized I was so hungry, but apparently Oliver was because I devoured (as in tore into savagely with a fork and my fingers) about half a chicken. The restaurant's Parmesan and herb fries are truly divine. The servers were so nice to us even though we were sweaty, wet (Charlotte had had a hail storm as we were leaving), and nasty, and we'd arrived much too close to closing time...and I was laying into the chicken like Daryl Hannah eating lobster in Splash.

Dad had some hotel points and had reserved two rooms at the local Hampton. I was resistant to the idea at first, but stumbling into a cozy room with a sofa and a king-sized bed with Josh at the end of that sweaty day and taking a shower in the stone-tiled bathroom were such a relief. The pillows were those magical hotel pillows. I forgot all about moving for a bit and slept wonderfully.

(Image: http://lalalalaaaura.blogspot.com/. It didn't look like this, but it felt like this!)

Making a Home.

 (Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kev747/3611828914/in/set-72157619537593970/)

I've moved a lot as an adult, and I've figured out the essentials I need to feel at home in a new place. I usually set these up before the move or make them my first priority during the move.

*Nice smells. For me, this means Bath and Body Works Wallflowers (using a different fragrance in each keeps me from getting used to them and not being able to smell them. I like to use fresh scents like Cucumber Melon, Sweet Pea, and Lemon in kitchens and bathrooms and cozy, yummy scents like Cinnamon Stick and Vanilla Shortbread in living rooms and bedrooms), candles, and sprays. These are especially important right before and during a move when the house smells unfamiliar or, if it's been empty for a while as the OLC has, stuffy and weird.

 (Image: http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/diy-decorations?contentid=8fc102f1bfa6b110VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCR)

*Good hand soap in the bathrooms and kitchen. I use B&BW moisturizing antibacterial. Warm Vanilla Sugar is a comforting scent, and I stock up on yummy ones like Twisted Peppermint (great for the kitchen) and Ginger Snaps during the holidays.

 (Image: http://forevertogethersisters.tumblr.com/post/4140419294)

*A dreamy bed. I've already written about mine. Moves are so exhausting, and once you're in the new house, it's all even more overwhelming. All you need that first day is a workable bathroom (so have the shower curtain, essential toiletries and cosmetics, bathmats, and towels on hand in a bag or box in the car) and a bed to crash on (again, keep all the bedding accessible).

 (Image: http://glan.pinger.pl/p/6)

*Books. Books, crisp and never read or weathered and well-loved, are like breathing friends and memories. I unpack my old favorites and my journals first. Then, I can start to feel like I inhabit the space.

(Image: http://pinterest.com/pin/44420129/)

*Blankets. I'm seriously cutting down on the number of throws I have this time--goodbye to anything ugly, scratchy, or just not my favorite. But I at least need pretty ones for the bed (white with multicolored snowflakes), the couch (knit hot pink), and some other random cuddle spot (blue with an Amy Brown moon fairy).

 (Image: http://savnon.tumblr.com/post/3672485246)

*Photos. Josh and I have a lot of framed photos of ourselves. This may be weird, and I'm sure we'll have far more photos of Oliver once he comes. But we've each had so many "looks" over the nearly six years we've been together (plus the simple fact that we've started to look more like grown-ups) that it's fun to see evidence of how we've grown together.

(Image: http://cinderellaws.tumblr.com/post/5510898914)

The first time I go to a new house (to clean or whatever), I bring a bag with cleaning supplies (broom, bleach, dusters, etc.), trash bags, paper towels, TP, Kleenex (dust happens), water bottles (and a couple of Dr. Peppers and diet sodas), and some instant homemakers like Wallflowers, room spray, and good hand soap. I'll do this for the OLC on Friday. If we manage to get the utilities turned on then, we'll open all the windows and run the AC to air the place out while we clean. I'll probably also bring my cupcake Wallies and green shelf paper, so I can cheer up that kitchen right away.

(Image: Viola Cangi on http://vi.sualize.us/view/c71b3a36e7d2544cb68410897420e07f/)

Little Events Past and to Come.

 (Image: http://ilovedyouforever.tumblr.com/page/2)

On Sunday, Josh and I went to a mini family reunion in Rural Hall, NC. That city sounds like the setting of a Poe story to me, but we had a nice afternoon.

Josh's great-aunt Linda crocheted a beautiful white blanket with blue ribbon for Oliver.

The lemonade was in a bowl with floating lemon slices. I stuffed my face with barbeque sandwiches (two), potato salad, cucumber-y salad, and baked beans, and just-right German chocolate cake. German chocolate cake isn't too sweet, and it has nuts and coconut--perfect.

After we left, Josh stopped at a cemetery to take photos of family stones. He is a major genealogy nerd. Major.

 (Remember SNL's Tunsis? Image: http://pinkklemonade.tumblr.com/)

This week is a bit (a lot) crazy. We drove about five hours on Sunday, I'm going to campus to do some work and attend a baby shower today (I think five babies are on the way in all!), we have more driving to go to a concert in Charlotte on Wednesday, I have class on Thursday, and our moving saga begins on Friday.

My own first baby shower is less than a month away. Oh my! Josh's mom is hosting it at her house on the coast. She says it won't be a "nuts and mints" kind of shower. I'm a little obsessed with food these days (not that I'm not always a foodie), so I'm really interested in this. But she says it's a surprise and only let "shrimp cocktail" slip. Josh's sister, Sarah, is getting excited about decorations.

I can't really imagine how having a baby shower will feel. It will be like a semi-grown-up birthday party. It will be for me, and for Josh, and most of all for the most wonderful and important critter we've ever known. Every little romper and baby sock and receiving blanket will make us more aware of how real and near he is. I want to soak all that up. How did we get so blessed to fall in love and then make a whole new person with that love? A page in Oliver's scrapbook has photos of Josh and I and says, "Love is the magic that made you."

 (Precious book-themed shower in Martha Stewart. Image: http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/a-book-themed-baby-shower#slide_2)

White with Blue-Gray Trim.

We are moving in fewer than three weeks. Our homes (all rented) have always been our love palaces. Our first home, the Magical Love Palace, was a two-bedroom, upper-floor duplex built in the '70s with badly stained carpet and a stackable washer and dryer. We loved the big bedroom, the huge living area, the pantry, and the linen closet. We worked overnight in the dorms (both students at the time) and stumbled up the outdoor stairs at 5 or 6 a.m., often with Cookout hot dogs, fries, and BBQ. We sweated through the summer without AC and froze in the mountain winter when the baseboard heaters busted. We got chubby on grilled hot dogs, potato chips, and ranch dip while we watched VH-1 Classic, Scrubs, and Star Trek Next Gen.

Our next home, The White Love Palace, was a beautiful one-bedroom apartment. The windows, balcony, and bathtub were huge. Here, we bought some of the items of which I'm still most proud: our washer and dryer, our tall and absurdly comfortable bed, and our gorgeous white dresser that reminds me of a wedding cake. We barely saw each other while we lived there because I worked days, and Josh worked nights. I read constantly for my creative writing MFA. I committed myself to daily bubble baths. I finally read the Chronicles of Narnia series. We watched The X Files and picked up Panera paninis and sandwiches on Sundays.

When Josh got a English teaching position at a rural high school, we moved to the Country Love Palace. This was a one-hundred-year-old farmhouse. The surrounding land was bristly and often held snake skins, but we enjoyed Coffee Cake and Cocoa, the residing stray cats. We even tried to adopt Cocoa, but she was miserable indoors. I didn't work that year and instead worked on my thesis and my goal of reading 100 books in a year. I read a great deal of poetry aloud and finally read the Little House on the Prairie series. Josh and I obsessed over Stargate. But the house was dark, strange trucks appeared in the driveway, we often heard rifles shots in the woods, and we experienced family traumas that made the house an empty place for us.

We moved to the Brick Love Palace, a cute little duplex in a cute historic district. I worked at a bookstore for a while and then began teaching as an adjunct. Josh continued at his high school. We went for walks, admiring the Jane Austen-esque cottage I adored one street over. We enjoyed the one season of The Dresden Files and watched Millennium. Here, we also discovered the new incarnation of Doctor Who. We were very happy here, even though we lost twin babies nine weeks into our pregnancy and another baby even earlier. We felt cozy and safe.

But I was ambitious and applied for a full-time position, never guessing I'd get it. I did. We moved to the Christmas Love Palace, a house that seemed to merit wreaths and candles year-round. We are at this CLP now. It is a brick, 1920s house with many windows, hardwood floors, a canning room, keyholes, and a telephone nook. It's huge. Here, we have had to watch Doctor Who like normal people (no more devouring a whole series in a couple of weeks...we have to wait for Saturday nights and now for the September return). Here, we made our son and learned, over time, that we are really going to have this baby in our lives. Here, we've felt him move. Now, he hardly stays still! Oliver has made this a blessed place.

But blessings can come in strange costumes. Josh's high school is laying him off, much to the outrage of students and parents and much to Josh's sorrow. But this will give him the opportunity to stay home with Oliver when he comes this fall. Still, we can't afford this huge Christmas palace. So we are moving very close by to a much smaller house. This will not be a Love Palace. Instead, it will be the OLC: Oliver's Love Cottage. A cottage is a cozy family place. It may be the first home he'll remember. It will be the home we'll bring him to from the hospital. It will be better than any bright stone, lilac-draped, forest-nestled, brook-bubbling cottage in any fairy tale.

(Image: http://leticiamaguire.wordpress.com/2010/06/29/renovation-a-tiny-victorian-cottage/)