Transitions a plenty!

Firstly, apologies for not posting pictures of Jeff and my visit with Ethan in Ohio, yet! I fully intend to do so but, as the title belies, this last few weeks have hit the zenith of transitions! Jeff and I are also excited to be going to Vegas for the first weekend in March to see Ethan at Jeff's parents house, perhaps I will post a blog full of Ethan pics after what I'm sure will be a fun and exciting family weekend!
All of these transitions are wonderful, scary, joyous, stressful, deadline driven, fast-paced and ultimately, the best thing to happen to Jeff and I since well, our wonderful wedding!
2010 is certainly turning out to be our year! We are still blissfully happy and more and more in love with each other and our ability to support each other, be resilient, positive, engaged in the world and our community, work together and strive always for what is best for our selves as individuals, as a couple and, as a support for our loved ones, family and close friends. This of course includes our parents on both sides, our siblings and their partners on both sides, and of course, and always, Ethan!
The big news is that we are moving out of Beaverton, finally! It is such a liberating feeling to know that we will have a place of our own in which our love and our commitment to each other, our sense of partnership and family can grow- unburdened by the ghost of Jeff's former marriage.
We have been so lucky in finding each other and being able to work through some incredibly difficult times and issues, many of which most  couples don't face or weather successfully, ever that it is almost not surprising that the house we are moving into was the second one we looked at!
We were officially accepted as renters in the middle of last week which meant that much of our time last week was spent packing and organizing a move in hopes of but not, certainty that ,we would be accepted and yet, having no choice as the Beaverton house closes on the 16th of February!
Our plan is to rent for a year or two and then consider our options as far as whether to buy a home or continue to rent.
We are thrilled to have found a beautiful 1920's bungalow with a huge partially finished basement, new back deck and front porch, and tons of yard space for planting in both the front and back yards! The house needs work but we seem to have found a management company that is very proactive and aware of the work that needs doing.
The house has three bedrooms and tons of gorgeous period details like built in glass front shelves, quirky walk in closets, a claw footed bath tub in a bathroom with wonderful tile work and, the piece de' resistance, a wonderful 1920's kitchen! The house as a whole has tons of storage space and lots of character! It has three bedrooms, one of which we are using as a den and, the other we are setting up as a room for Ethan and/or any guests who want to come visit!
The house is smack in the middle of inner SE Portland, no more then 7 minutes from my Mom's house, the house that Jeremy and Melissa will be living in soon, many friends and loved ones, coffee shops, restaurants, great transit links, music venues, etc... This move is going to change our lives in so many ways and, it is about time! We will no longer be "fish out of water" in suburban-bedroom community land but, close to our friends and family and in prime position to pursue our passions and truly experience Portland!
Even though this move (as all moves are) is difficult and tiring, we are so very thrilled about the positive effects that this will have on Jeff and my lives and so excited to be able to share that life with Ethan when he comes to spend time with us!
So far Jeff and I have proven to be a great (and rather fast!) moving team.
This is a great learning experience for both of us; For Jeff it is a new experience to live in an older home and to have a partner who is equally invested and involved in doing the work needed to make the move happen.
For me, it is a new experience to share the moving process with a partner, to realize that while my vast knowledge and experience of inner and transcontinental moves is useful here, I have only ever done those moves on my  own. It is great to have a partner who is appreciative of my packing, hauling, organizing and, moving prowess while not expecting me to do all of it!
Feel free to come visit! When we are fully out of the Beaverton house, in a week, exactly- I will send out new address announcements! Much love and smooth transitions, whatever they may be, to you all!