Well, we did it. It has been four months of stress, losing things, ups and downs with the builders, each other and my long-suffering parents whose house we commandeered but - we've moved back into our home, complete with new extension.
With two small kids in tow (41/2 and almost 2!), the process has been slightly more complicated and rewarding in equal measures.
The greatest thing, bar none, is the quality time that our kids have gotten to spend with their grandparents.
(No lie, I got a text message from my dad today that read; 'Very quiet here this morning, had to turn on Peppa Pig').
The worst thing, bar none, is how quickly my kids seem to have grown up in the last four months!
When we left just after Christmas, we had a baby girl and a pre-school boy, but now?! We seem to have two little adults.
Here are the 8 signs that everything has changed forever:
1. The changing table is obsolete
Aside from keeping it as a storage unit, we really don't need a changing table to change Eva's nappy any more. At almost two, she's too big for it AND she's started to indicate that she wants to use the toilet anyway. So it could be bye-bye nappies soon too!
2. The cot is over
Eva brought Alan by the hand to the kid's room this morning, pointed at Jacob's bed and said 'bed!' as she nodded her head happily. Then she turned and pointed at the cot, said 'Cot, dadda' and shook her head - with feeling -
no. She's over it.
3. Nothing fits
Jacob is like Huckleberry Finn at the moment in that every pair of trousers he owns are suddenly up around his ankles. When did this happen? He just grew into five-year-old clothes overnight, gah!
4. Big school is coming
As I was putting Jacob to bed last week, he burst into song unexpectedly; 'It's graduation day, and we want to say, we're on our way to learn some more learning stuff in our new big school...'
Sorry, I know it has stopped rhyming but that's because I was BAWLING from the first sentence. They are practising his 'graduation song' from pre-school for their end of year show? NOT. ABLE.
5. No more naps
The days when Eva had a two-hour nap up in her room while I worked/caught up on housework/napped too have come to an end. Now, she is only content to have a small amount of shut-eye on the couch while you tip-toe around her, afraid to stick the kettle on in case she wakes up.
6. They are all of the chats
"Mammy, I am sorry to tell you this but.." - yes this IS how Jacob starts his sentences now. All very grown up and matter-of-fact. Eva is still grappling with full-on sentences but she can definitely communicate on a much more confident level now. Especially if she wants an ice pop.
7. Buggy be gone
I can't actually remember the last time we used the buggy. We didn't take it to my parent's house when we moved over there and just took everyone by the hand for walks when we were heading out. Subsequently, Eva has no interest in going back to being wheeled around. Same goes for the booster seat at the kitchen table - all sent up to St. Vincent de Paul.
8. Playtime is ON
It has taken until now for Jacob and Eva to really play together on an equal level. He was always a little bit too rough with her and we used to have to constantly supervise. Last week, when he snatched a toy from her hand, I saw her spontaneously kick him in the shin and then condescendingly add; 'Sorrrry, Jacob'. I couldn't have been more proud. That kid can hold her own ;o)
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