HaydKoz: Beginning the transformation

I've always taken pride in our little condo. It is cozy, funky, and completely all Laura & Brad. I never thought I'd be excited about changing it, but I am having so much fun thinking about where things will go once baby girl gets here, what needs to be donated, what should be offered to Luke, etc. This morning, I spent a few hours beginning the process of transforming our condo into a bit more of a functional space. Of all the things we own, from expensive electronics to 8 pair of track spikes, my favorite possessions are the two red chairs we bought over from Michigan back in 2003. One of my mom's friends gave us two free armchairs and Brad and I spent hours picking out red velvet material and reupholstering the chairs. Correction: Brad spent hours reupholstering. I cheered and supported. Both equally important roles. Looking at these chairs always reminds me of those very early days in Boston when we were absolutely broke, trying to figure out how to start a life together in a new place, worrying about grad school and new jobs and making rent, and missing our family. Now that we're bringing a new little body into the condo, we need to make some space, and, sadly, the chairs will have to be moved. While I'm going to miss watching Brad sipping his Sunday coffee in one of the chairs, every page of the newspaper sprawled across our study, with both cats sharing the other chair, I'm so happy that we've been able to find a new home for them: My Office!!! Now, the rest of the world can enjoy these cozy little red guys - well, by the rest of the world, I mean the 112 graduate students I advise. Hopefully, Brad won't miss them too much, although I'm thinking those lazy Sunday mornings of sipping coffee and reading the newspaper will be few and far between.

Other than the moderately emotionally traumatic move of the red chairs, everything else has been easy to scrap or donate - candle holders with sharp edges, extra rum (why do we have 5 partially finished bottles of rum?), some kitchen appliances, and a table or two.

Luke and I enjoyed our Easter weekend. We both got fantastic packages in the mail from mama Hayden (as did baby girl)!