Before living in Washington DC was ever on our radar, we came up to visit our friends who live here twice. I remember telling Devin that I was shocked at how much home prices were up here, but we loved the city and all of the things that were offered for free here.
Devin began job hunting shortly after I found out I was pregnant. It was stressful. There was a constant question mark as the months ticked by on whether we would end up staying in Georgia, our home of six years, or if we would be moving. While other pregnant mamas would be decorating a beautiful nursery, I was purging through everything in my house not having any idea on where we would be living. I decided that in case we stayed, at least our home would be clutter free. If we decided to go, at least it would be easier to pack.
We kept praying that answers would be really clear on whether we should stay or go.
We felt our search was over when Devin was told offer letters would be sent to him after an interview. The job was close to home and everything seemed like a pretty good fit. I felt calm about staying in Georgia, but a little concerned because I didn’t feel like I had a large community. However, we loved our home and the prospect of Devin having a shorter commute (anything would have been shorter compared to what he had) sounded nice. Devin went in for a follow up interview where they were going to introduce him to his staff and they told him they decided not to extend the offer. To say we were shocked was an understatement, but we found out later that company had been trying to place someone in that job for over a year and was stuck in an HR and management war. I told Devin that not getting that job was a clear sign and to keep going.
A few months passed. We prayed that Devin would have some options. He was getting really far into interviews, but companies were really slow.
Devin told me about this email he had received from a company here in the DC metro. Everything in the job description was what we were looking for, everything. Honestly, it seemed to good to be true, but we never even considered living here. DC was just a place we came to visit and loved visiting. As interviews came and went, I asked Devin to go ahead and reach out to that company.
After months of no word on jobs, Devin ended up being extended three different jobs in one week. One job would mean staying where we were in Georgia, another job would mean staying in Georgia for a year and then moving, and the last job would be the job that meant we would move to DC. When we laid out all of the benefits, salaries, and everything the job in DC was obviously the best fit.
Three weeks after Devin’s job offer was accepted, he was working in DC.
Moving when I was that pregnant was insane, but I knew things would work out. We celebrated our first Thanksgiving in DC at Boston Market. I felt nervous and excited. After being a home owner for 5 years, we were house hunting when I was in my third trimester and living in our friend’s basement apartment. I was exhausted and waddled everywhere, but I also felt very strongly that we had done the right thing for our family.
This Thanksgiving was spent in our home (and it feels like home too).
Our house was organized, my baby had a nursery, all of my rooms are decorated the way I like (except our family room in the basement), and our life is comfortable. Our life is calm in comparison to how it felt last year. Evelyn is experimenting with walking, I don’t have gestational diabetes to worry about, and our friends from Finland that we have done two vacations with (Florida and Rome, Italy) came.
Our friends were worried they were crashing the party, but it honestly was the nicest thing. We were able to celebrate our baby’s first Thanksgiving as well as theirs all together! Marko + Selja convinced me to go to the gym on Thanksgiving and Devin tackled a lot of the kitchen. We site saw in the city throughout the week and checked out an outlet mall. Unfortunately, colds were had all around so we also needed a lot of rest.
RELATED // gratitude for changes
The week was spent going to memorials and statues we’ve been to many times, but also the National Museum of African American History and Culture which we have never visited. It was extremely sobering to be carrying my baby while reading placards describing how other people’s babies were taken from their mothers due to slavery. We were also able to share happier things from American culture like breaking a wishbone, making a sweet potato casserole for the sole purpose of seeing if they liked it, and we were able to lounge around the house being completely too stuffed. It is wonderful to see friends and it feel natural every time. It is also wonderful to see your friends love on your baby, I think that might be what heaven feels like.
Our friends left yesterday and I’ve spent the day with Devin pulling out Christmas decorations, folding laundry, spending quality time with baby, and reading. Our house smells like the candle I just bought and there are baby toys spread everywhere. Life is good.
