The Countdown Begins!

Well the countdown is on! In a little less than two weeks Allie and I will begin the move to SC and finally be "home" with Bill. It was definitely nice to have him come home this past weekend and surprise Allie, she really needed to see him. She wasn't sleeping through the night anymore and was waking up for hours at a time just wanting to play and watch Elmo. She would also come over and touch my hair or my nails and it also seemed like she was making sure I was still around and hadn't gone anywhere. She lit up like a Christmas tree the minute she saw Bill and within an hour she was asleep on him in the recliner and slept like that for over 3 hours so it must have been comforting for her to see him! But this morning I drove him back to the airport and he's already back in SC. It will be hard but I've started packing and now the apartment is just where we sleep and eat, it's not our home anymore, or at least it doesn't feel like it. Everything is off the walls and boxes are everywhere. I thought I'd be more upset about packing but at this point I just want to get to Myrtle Beach and be with Bill and get set up in the new place. I am SO excited to decorate Allies new room and make it all cute and set up the new apartment. I wish I had the money to go out and buy all new furniture and decorations but that is absolutely not in the budget! We don't have a ton of money but we pay our bills no problem and are able to do fun things and go out to eat but that won't be the case for a while since I'm not working. Hopefully what I make in the last few weeks of work and then my vacation payout money is enough to get us through a few months of hard times. But money doesn't equal happiness, I know that. Just being with Bill and Allie together again and in our new place is going to bring happiness and the day to move can't come soon enough!

Phase One... Complete!

Well as I type this I am back in MA with Allie, Bill is in SC, and I know this is so corny but I really miss him. We've been together for 6 years, married for over 3, and in all that time the longest we've been apart is maybe a week. We've been very lucky, and now that I'm here with just Allie, it's hard trying to organize everything I have to pack and get done before we go, and make sure I see my family and friends before I go, and make sure I get all my work done and get Allie to and from daycare on time! Luckily, people have been great and are offering to help me pack and watch the baby, so I'm sure I will have to take their help because even though I like to think I can, I can't do everything by myself! But anyway, on a positive note, we got the apartment we wanted! It is in a beautiful complex called Cape Landing and we got the two bedroom, two bath, with a fireplace that we wanted and we can move in June 1st! Bill is going to move in then with what he has with him and hopefully we will be able to move some stuff down early so it's not all left until the end and piling up around me. Bill is also going to be the complexes "Courtesy Officer" so we get a nice break on rent each month, and we didn't have to pay the application fee or the administrative fee. We can even have a dog so I'm sure at some point Allie and I will come home with a puppy! Now that we have a place to call our own, we're very excited for the move and feel a lot better about things. I already set up our electricity,  cable and internet, and got us renters insurance so we're doing good! We went to the DMV too to see what we need to do to register the cars, and because mine is a lease I have to jump through hoops to get it registered so I may just wait because the lease is up in October and I may turn the car in so we shall see.

Other than that, things are the norm around here. After we got the apartment we went to the beach and walked around for a bit and it was beautiful. It made me so excited to bring Allie there and see her run around and play. Myrtle Beach is slowly becoming our "home" and I'm excited for it. I was pretty bummed when I left Bill but I must say, when I landed in Boston and was waiting for Michelle and Rich to get there to pick me up (thanks again guys!), I was still sad but then I see Michelle take the turn and Rich is hanging out the window with a big sign that says "Dietzel" on it and he's yelling my name, that just made my night and put me in such a better mood! I am going to miss them so much, but like I'm telling people, everyone is ALWAYS welcome to come stay with us!

Howdy

So Bill and I have been in Myrtle Beach since Tuesday afternoon. We left Monday night around 9 pm from Foxboro and drove straight through. 15 hours. It was hard, and boring, and after the first few hours I didn't think I would make it because we still had so much to go but we did and it was worth it! The condo Bill is staying in is small but definitely fine for him for the next few weeks until we move into our apartment and Allie and I come down. We've been doing a lot of "exploring" and finding out where the locals hang out and where the stores are and things we will need. Don't worry, I found the local Target so everything will be fine as long as I have that! Haha. The weather has been gorgeous and as I type this it's only 9:12 in the morning and already about 75 so I could really get used to this!

Apartment hunting has been an adventure. The first place we went too was cute, the woman goes "Rent is about $650 a month". Ok, fine. Not a problem, we could definitely do that. But then somehow I mentioned that Bill is going to be an officer with the county and she goes "Well that changes things. I drop your rent down to $325 a month!" What?! I almost fell over and asked for the lease agreement right then. Lucky for me I held off and said lets look at a few more places and make sure this is right. The complex didn't have a pool or a playground and I really wanted that, especially if I'm going to be a SAHM with Allie for a bit. So yesterday we looked at a bunch more complexes, all very nice, two bedroom two bathroom apartments that had a pool and a fitness center and all that but no one gave a break on the rent like the first place. Then as luck would have it, one place didn't have any available apartments that were two bedroom, and as much as I love Allie, she needs her own room because I'm not sharing mine! So the manager goes "There's a place down the road that I know has two bedrooms and I know the woman, go see her". So we did. And it was a great move. A beautiful two bedroom, two bathroom apartment with a fireplace! (I've always wanted one!!!) that has a porch with outdoor storage (YAY!) and has all new appliances and countertops. We loved it! And the place has a pool, and a fitness center, a space you can rent out for parties and everything. AND they are going to give us a hefty break on rent too so it's an amazing deal! Bill and I did the application and dropped it off yesterday so *hopefully* the woman will call us this morning and we will be all set. We both have good credit so I can't imagine there being a problem but only time will tell. ::Fingers crossed!::

After we did that we were in great moods so we went to Broadway at the Beach and rented a paddle boat and just floated around the lake. The best part was a family of baby ducks and their Mama found us and chased the paddle boat because they liked the small waves the boat made behind us. It was adorable! It really made my day. All that would make it better would be Allie here with us because everything we see we think "Allie would love that" but she will be here soon enough.

All in all, the last few days have been great. I feel a lot better about the move now that we hopefully have a place and I'm getting to know the area. The job interview I went on went well, but it's for a job I'm not interested in so I passed. That's fine though. More time with Allie and the right job will come along when it's meant too. I'm really starting to like SC. When we first got into the state the first person we saw yelled "HOWDY!" and was so friendly! I know they always talk about southern hospitality and people being nice and it's so true! Everone is friendly and inviting. Not to hate on Boston, because I love it, but what a change! I can't wait to see if Allie develops a little southern twang! Haha.

Oh, and on an ending note, I lost two more games of mini golf. I am now 0-11 against Bill. I honestly should just quit!!

Phase One Begins Tomorrow!! (OMG!)

Tomorrow night begins the start of what will probably be the longest, most stressful month I've ever had. After I get out of work, Bill, Allie and I are heading to Peabody to drop Allie off with my parents and then Bill and I are starting the long drive (14 hours if we hit no traffic) to Myrtle Beach to move Bill and get him settled so he can start his new job with Horry County on the 23rd. He's packing as I type this and he has a long way to go. He waited until the last minute...again, and now he doesn't know what to bring or where to begin. I'm hoping he can pack enough that we can fill up the Mazda and move a full car load with us so that is a few less things I have to worry about in the coming weeks. Because honestly, every time I think about it, there's one more thing I need to do before Allie and I leave on June 17th. I keep getting intense headaches above my eyes which leads me to think I should see the eye doctor since I haven't in 8 years and I probably need new glasses. I want to see my dentist before I go for one last cleaning and this is just selfish but I want to get my hair done because it's been a while and I want it to look nice before I move. But between still working full time up until we leave, being on my own with Allie, and worrying about how Bill's doing (I know he's very nervous about being away from us, especially the baby), I don't know if I can do it! I am going to be in MB with him until Friday night when I fly back, and while I am down there I have a job interview, and we are going to look at a few apartments and hopefully sign a lease so we have a new place waiting for us when Allie and I move. If all works out ::fingers crossed:: we will be able to sign a short term lease so we can look at buying a house and do it sooner rather than later. But we will see. Most weighing on my mind right now is finding myself a job and finding Allie a good quality daycare.

So that's where we're at. It's really happening! No turning back now. Bill is going to start next Monday and I know he will do great. I know I will finish up everything I need to at work and be ready to go when the time comes. Packing will somehow get done even though I hate it and if it were up to me I would throw everything into boxes randomly and hope for the best. I've been told to come up with a better system though so we shall see. Right now I just need to try to keep my stress level down and my spirits up because a new chapter is beginning and I can't wait to see where it goes...

Possibilities...

Well it's out in the open now very publicly that Bill, Allie and I are moving and the support has been amazing. The RAs, my coworkers, my family, everyone is making me really feel like this is the right decision for us all and not making me second guess the decision to move. Maybe secretly they all want us to leave and are pushing us away but if that's their intentions, they're all doing it in a very sly roundabout way! (Haha).


But anyway, things are starting to come together for us. We have set up a few apartment tours for when we go down next week to bring Bill down and get him settled to start on the 23rd, and we are also working with a realtor about possibly seeing some adorable houses! We spoke with a mortgage company and were preapproved for a loan which was great so now we're looking at the possibility of a house. We're not sure if we will definitely get a loan since we're not living in SC yet and it will take us a little bit to get established in our jobs and such so if we have to rent for a year that will be fine but the prospect of a house is so exciting. We're looking at 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, mostly ranch style houses but they all seem to have a garage, and a backyard which is what we're looking for so we can (someday) have another baby or two! Bills really been searching hard and we've found so many it's going to be hard to go see a bunch in the few days I am down there next week but we will give it our best shot! I am ready to apartment and house hunt for 3 days straight if that's what it takes to get my family into a nice home.


In other news, I hopefully will find a job soon. I've been applying to a bunch in Horry County, North Myrtle Beach, and Myrtle Beach as I see them post so hopefully I will hear from a couple. I put my resume on a few websites and have heard back from a few places and I think may meet with one of them next week. I won't go into specifics because I don't want to jinx it (silly I know) but not having a job is really weighing on me. I have had a steady job since I've been about 13 when I started babysitting and started working at Shaws at 15, and most of the time I had 2 or 3 jobs. In college, I always had multiple jobs and the past few years I have consistently been working full time and then either part time at Aeropostale or now the restaurant. And at that time I was in graduate school and when that ended, Allie was born a few months later. So I'm just used to always working and I really enjoy working and supporting myself and having my own paycheck. I absolutely love spending time and being home with Allie, but I think being a working mom has made me a better mom. I work hard to support her, and give her a great life like the one my parents gave me. Hopefully Myrtle Beach provides that to us...I think it will.

For Starters, What's Going On!!

So much is going on in my life right now I honestly don't even know where to begin! So I guess I will start at the beginning because I have so many thoughts in my head I don't even know if I can type everything as fast as it is running through my head!

Basically, a couple of weeks ago Bill accepted a job as a Police Officer for the Horry County Police Department in South Carolina which would clearly require us to relocate and move to SC. This is a HUGE step for us because we have both lived in Massachusetts for our whole lives and it's where Allie has been raised by us so far. We both felt that it was the best move for our family though because 4 years ago when we graduated from BSC (BSU, whatever! Haha) I accepted the job as Apartments Manager/Conference Coordinator and moved into my apartment and Bill moved in with me and not a month later he was offered a job in Myrtle Beach that he turned down because I told him I was not moving away after just starting my job and if he went, our engagement (we had been engaged just a few weeks) was over because I was not prepared to do that. Selfish of me? Maybe. But I wasn't ready to up and leave everything I had known for the unknown at that point. So being the amazing guy that Bill is, he turned the job down and stayed with me. From there he did the ISO job at BSC which he hated, then he became the Manager of the American Firearms School, which was a great job but not what he wanted in the long term, and then he finally got the Public Safety job at Wheaton College. A good job, but again not what he wanted to do in the long term. Throughout all this, he followed me through all my moves around the BSC campus to different apartments, and supported me while I got my Masters degree. We even decided to start a family and raise her for a year in the residence halls, which has been great. Allie loves people and the residents love her! But now, it's been 4 years since we graduated, and it's time to move on...

With that being said, Bill goes down to start work on May 23, 2011. Just a little under 3 weeks! We have never been apart more than a few days and we will be for about a month before Allie and I drive down. On Friday is our 6 year anniversary so it is going to be hard without him and doing the "single mom" thing for a bit. (But people do it all the time, and for much longer, so I know we will do it). He helps out so much so that will definitely be an adjustment. Bill has to go down for orientation and hopefully a few days before he starts I am going to go down too and we will look at some apartments/houses. We were going to wait on a house but after looking around, it is honestly cheaper for a mortgage in SC than it is to pay rent for an apartment! Isn't that crazy?! I've been looking at listings a realtor sent us and they are beautiful 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom houses for $100,000 with a yard and a garage and everything we're looking for. I honestly get pumped when I look at them! But then, as always, my mind floods back to finances. We've had two incomes for years now, and while we don't spend much on ourselves, we don't always have a ton of money. We both have loans from school, two car payments, two insurance payments and credit card bills, among other things like groceries and just general necessities. So when we first go down there, I won't have a job, and honestly, I'm scared sh*tless about that. Will we be able to make it financially? Will I ever find a job? Will I find a daycare for Allie that we love as much as where she is now (I doubt it, no one will ever be as good as Julie)? Will I like it down there or miss my family too much? I don't know the answer to any of these questions and I am so scared! It pains me to admit that, but I am. I'm also excited, sad, and optimistic about the future. I've been an RD at BSU for 4 years now, and it has been amazing every day. Tonight, my boss Beth stood up and addressed the whole department about me leaving and she said some truly humbling words. I was completely blown away but also humbled and amazed. Everyone stood up and applauded me after and I just bawled. I knew leaving here would be hard, but I didn't know this hard. I've made some amazing friends, met amazing students, and I think really impacted some lives and tonight really drove that feeling home for me. I got countless hugs and well wishes, and it felt great. I am truly blessed, and I just have to keep that attitude when we move. I believe it's all happening for a reason, and God has big plans for us. Otherwise Bill wouldn't have been one of the 6 people offered a position out of the over 100 that applied, myself included.  So I am extremely proud of him, he deserves this more than anyone I know. He is one of the most genuine, hardworking and honest men I've ever met and I support him 100% in this venture, even if it's moving to an unfamiliar place.

So basically I'm starting this blog to keep my friends and family updated on this big move and to also share my feelings because I don't always do that, but I think it will help. Moving this far away is a big deal, and I think this will help the transition if I can keep my support network strong and let people know what is going on with the job search and the (hopefully home) search.