December 2018 Moms
maureenmce
member
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GTKY: Where are you from?
maureenmce
member
I know it's early and there are just a few of us here so far, but hopefully everyone will see this and contribute as they join! Looking forward to getting to know all of you December mamas! Here are some fun questions to kick off the GTKY process! 
1. Where do you live?
2. What is your favorite and least favorite part of where you live?
3. Do you plan to stay where you are for a while, or are there any moving plans in your future?
4. If money/work/logistics were no object, what would be your dream place to live?
1. Where do you live?
2. What is your favorite and least favorite part of where you live?
3. Do you plan to stay where you are for a while, or are there any moving plans in your future?
4. If money/work/logistics were no object, what would be your dream place to live?
Re: GTKY: Where are you from?
2. My least favorite part of LA is the cost of living. Otherwise I love it here. I love the history (even though people don’t think we have any), the food, the culture and the arts. The city has such a vibrant pulse.
3. Because of the cost of living, we do plan to relocate to Austin at the beginning of 2019. We were actually just waiting to have our second here. I was born and raised here, so it makes me really sad to leave, but My brother is in Austin and my parents plan to move there too. So there’s that.
4. If money were no object, I’d live somewhere tropical and not work lol. Maybe Maui or Puerto Rico. I love both of those places
BFP #1: 7/15/15, SB: 11/14/15
Rainbow baby DS born 9/29/16!!
BFP #3 3/26/18 | Due 12/3/18
As discussed elsewhere, we also live in LA! High five @westcoastfoodie !
2. What is your favorite and least favorite part of where you live?
Favorites: As mentioned above, LA actually has way more culture and history than people know about, and there are just one million amazing things to do here at any given time. Every neighborhood is so unique and different and beautiful, it's just a great city. And, though I complain about it being boring sometimes, you really cannot beat sunny and 80 degrees as our weather the majority of the year. Least favorite: the traffic (of course) and the cost of living. It's always been bad but it's just skyrocketed the past few years and we are also considering an exit.
3. Do you plan to stay where you are for a while, or are there any moving plans in your future?
It's still up in the air, but if the housing prices don't settle by end of 2019 or early 2020, we're probably leaving. We may go back to the small, indie rock, college town where we met (Athens, GA) and I'd be a stay at home mom for a couple years til kid(s) were in school, or we may move to Atlanta, GA, where I could find work in my industry. Though housing prices and commutes there aren't too awesome either! We'll see!
4. If money/work/logistics were no object, what would be your dream place to live?
Oh I would live in Scotland! My husband and I got married in Edinburgh (kind of on a whim, didn't know too much about it) and absolutely fell in love. If getting UK citizenship was easy and money was no object, I'd move in a heartbeat and have a lovely house in Edinburgh and a wild lil cabin up in the Highlands.
2. Favorite part: a combo of lots of nice parks/ playgrounds and schools and the fact that you’re a weekend getaway from a ton of exciting towns to visit (Charleston, Savannah, and Atlanta). Yes I said I like being able to leave, but I used to live in Nashville and there’s something different about living in a destination city versus popping by a few weekends a year.
Least favorite part: the Masters. I will have a lot of griping about that next week when my ability to function normally drops to 0.
3. Husband has a very good job in a very niche industry and I’m an attorney, so we aren’t likely to move. I’d like to be a bit closer to family, say in the Atlanta area (it would cut 2 hours off all of our trips!) but I don’t know if he could find comparable work. Maybe I’ll work for Alston and Bird and he can be a stay at home dad (I kid, A&B is out of my career range.)
4. I really really loved living in Nashville. It was perfect. Big enough to be interesting and to have cheap flights, great weather- you had all 4 seasons and none of them lasted so long you got bored or annoyed.
2. Favorite part of this area is the architecture and the community vibes; favorite part of the Chicago area generally is the culture.... or rather, all the cultures. I loved that whatever you do, whoever you are, Chicago has a place that will feel just right for you. Least favorite part? The absurd property taxes.
3. We're here for the long haul; if we move, it'll be to another area in the same 'burb, most likely. The schools are great, and we love the access to the city.
4. An apartment in Trastevere in Rome, with a lovely villa we could escape to during weekends in Florence. Or maybe just a villa somewhere in between with olive groves and a vineyard? Decisions, decisions.
BFP #1: 7/15/15, SB: 11/14/15
Rainbow baby DS born 9/29/16!!
BFP #3 3/26/18 | Due 12/3/18
2. What is your favorite and least favorite part of where you live? My favorite part about where we live is that it is a very tight knit community. A lot of family owned businesses, I know a lot of people (of course, it keeps growing), everyone who grew up here will leave college and come back to invest their knowledge and efforts into making the city better. Least favorite thing- it keeps growing. There is a reason I didn't flat out say the city... it keeps growing and it really needs to stop. lol
3. Do you plan to stay where you are for a while, or are there any moving plans in your future? My husband and I live on the river. We love it here. Also, not even 10 minutes away, we are at the beach. We love our little community and we love that the city matches our hobbies.
4. If money/work/logistics were no object, what would be your dream place to live? Prague, Czechia. My family is from there and I've been so many times. It truly is a wondrous place.. but the tourism. Or Annecy, France.
@AGK2015 LOL at the white wallpaper - why on earth *would* someone do that??? But your house and neighborhood sound amazing!
2. What is your favorite and least favorite part of where you live? I love everything about it, except that everything is so expensive here. Also being hawaiian, I get a lot of questions from tourists like "Do you live in shacks and do you even have electricity?! Do you wear grass skirts and surf all day?" Lol. Sometimes its funny but then you get those really offensive questions every once in a while.
3. Do you plan to stay where you are for a while, or are there any moving plans in your future? We sometimes dream of jumping islands, Maui is growing and growing and I have a feeling this little island its going to get real crowded very soon! We might go to Moloka'i or Big Island.
4. If money/work/logistics were no object, what would be your dream place to live? Id stay in Hawaii, but in our own house, with some space to grow things and raise our family. (We live with in-laws and let me tell u, it tests my patience in new ways everyday)
@AGK2015 Chicago sounds fascinating, I bet the food (Omg, the food
BFP #1: 7/15/15, SB: 11/14/15
Rainbow baby DS born 9/29/16!!
BFP #3 3/26/18 | Due 12/3/18
I seriously almost cried when I realized it was wallpaper. We didn't know until I went to start prepping the floors and trim so we could do what we thought would be a quick plaster skim coat to fix some minor imperfections... Surprise!
@kuailanikaleo Yes! We lived about a mile away from a major thoroughfare with all these amazing Indian/Pakistani places, and there was a whole stretch of dingy-looking hole-in-the-wall Mexican places I walked past on my way home from work that served all kinds of amazing regional cuisine. I did get my first taste of Filipino food when we moved out this way, but man do I miss good tacos!
I live in Abilene, TX, about 2 1/2 hrs west of Dallas.
2. What is your favorite and least favorite part of where you live?
So we moved here less than 2 yrs ago for DH to attend grad school and we haven't really enjoyed the move at all. The job market here is terrible, its very nepotistic and all about who you know. I had an excellent job before we moved as an administrative assistant at a medical school with over 10 years experience in my field and since moving the best I could find was a part time job as a waitress. Other than the job market, the weather is okay. We're mid-westerners so its been an adjustment but its nice having warm weather early in the year!
3. Do you plan to stay where you are for a while, or are there any moving plans in your future?
We are moving in June - yay for pregnancy stress! We are either moving back to Iowa where our families are or we're heading to NC. My life is very much up in the air until DH gets things figured out with his graduation stuff.
4. If money/work/logistics were no object, what would be your dream place to live?
Ireland. I've never been to Europe but my family heritage is all Irish and I've always wanted to go. Plus I love the idea of how much easier it is to travel in Europe than here!
2. My favorite part is there are so many things to do- nice parks, restaurants, kid stuff. Least favorite - traffic
3. We are happy where we are, so I don’t see us moving. We bought our house based on school district so we could do public schools.
4. I’m not good at these question and because I overthink them too much. I think my most important things are living somewhere warm and near family. If it was just for a vacation - I’d say London.
2. My favorite part is I live 10 minutes from the beach and all of our family is less than an hoir away.
3. Our lease is ending so soon and we are currently house hunting but plan to stay in the same town.
4. I have no idea where i would choose to live. I love NJ. But if i could have a vacation home somewhere it would Northern Italy.
2. What is your favorite and least favorite part of where you live? Favorite: it's Texas!!! Least: the road construction
3. Do you plan to stay where you are for a while, or are there any moving plans in your future? stay put
4. If money/work/logistics were no object, what would be your dream place to live? I would love to stay living here, but have multiple vacation homes. Not sure where, lol
*Rainbow 8/2015*
*Expected Rainbows 12/2018*
*Loss of Twin 5/2018*
Long Island, NY
2. What is your favorite and least favorite part of where you live?
Favorite: There is so much to do here
Least favorite: So expensive to live here
3. Do you plan to stay where you are for a while, or are there any moving plans in your future?
Ideally I don't want to live here forever but no plans to move anytime soon l.
4. If money/work/logistics were no object, what would be your dream place to live?
Germany or Sweden
BFP #1: 6/25/09 EDD 2/13/10 @ 6 weeks- Saw HB @ 9 weeks - DS born 2/11/10 (39w5d)
BFP #2: 2/20/13 EDD 11/4/13 - Saw HB 3/19/13 (7w2d) - MMC discovered 4/13/13 (10w5d) - Est. loss @ 9w3d - D&C 4/14/13
BFP #4: 9/10/14 (3w6d) EDD 5/21/15 - natural MC 9/23/14 @ 5w5d
BFP #5: 11/23/14 (3w3d) EDD 8/4/15 - Please be our Rainbow!
Washington, DC
2. What is your favorite and least favorite part of where you live?
Favorite things: DC has a lot going on, but it does not have huge buildings and has lots of green space.
Least favorite things: Traffic and cost of living.
3. Do you plan to stay where you are for a while, or are there any moving plans in your future?
I doubt we'll stay here. I'm a serial mover (I've lived in 10 different apartments in four states and two countries since I graduated college in 2009). I'm hoping we find somewhere to stay put before our kid starts kindergarten. I'll be finished with my PhD in 2022 (fingers crossed) and will probably try to find a job as a professor somewhere. My husband works at a school and should be able to find a job most places. It would be ideal to be somewhere near Philadelphia since my husband's family is there and my family (right now in NJ) may also move to PA soon. My brother and his wife may also end up there. in about five years.
4. If money/work/logistics were no object, what would be your dream place to live?
I'd love to live in Norway, but I would miss my family too much. Philadelphia is probably the more realistic response.
What are you studying, out of curiosity?
Chicago is great and remodeling a house seems like equal parts fun & rewarding/pain & misery. I'd like to do it someday.
2. It's hard to say just one favorite - our family is nearby, the weather, 20 minutes from the beach, the food. Least favorite - hurricanes
3. We are not going anywhere. We live within 5 minutes of my parents, my husband's parents (best in-laws ever), my husband's sister and a Publix.
4. I think if money & time were not an issue, I would still live here but travel more.
2. What is your favorite and least favorite part of where you live? Well, our subdivision is pretty nice. And Publix! Least favorite is the ridiculous alcohol tax and the lack of anything cool. We came from Vegas, so we were pretty spoiled.
3. Do you plan to stay where you are for a while, or are there any moving plans in your future? Move. H is in the military, so we're down here for three years while he's a flight instructor. He actually wants to become a priest when his commitment is up, so we have no idea where we'd go to after he completes seminary!
4. If money/work/logistics were no object, what would be your dream place to live? So many answers. I'd love to go back to Indiana, where we're from. Northeast India, where we have a community of folks we love and rural living is just great. The PNW, in a beautiful, small craft home. Albuquerque, where we lived for several months during his initial training. I'd love to live in Scandinavia or Germany. Etc!
TTC #1 January 2016
BFP April 18 2016 | EDD December 29, 2016
Welcome baby A! January 9, 2017
TTC#2 March 2018
BFP March 30, 2018 | EDD December 12, 2018
2. My favorite thing is probably that I get to have the kind of life I wanted to here - big house with a yard, low cost of living, good restaurants. My least favorite thing is the climate. It can get pretty chilly here in the winter and hot in the summer.
3. The plan is to stay here indefinitely. My husband's parents are moving out here in a few years, which will be super helpful with little ones.
4. A beach. Man, that would be the life. My husband is not a huge beach fan so I guess I'd be single lol
Oklahoma City
2. What is your favorite and least favorite part of where you live?
I love that my husband’s family is all here- we are really close. I dislike the volatile weather.
3. Do you plan to stay where you are for a while, or are there any moving plans in your future?
We will most likely be here for the long haul
4. If money/work/logistics were no object, what would be your dream place to live?
I would love to live back in a place like Vermont- but with warmer weather. I love the small town feel.
2. My favorite thing about living in Maine is that everyone is generally friendly, and it is a safe and comfortable to live here. Least favorite is how long winter is! I'm just cold at this point!
3. We are in it for the long haul!
4. Probably somewhere in Europe so there would be easy access to travel around the world.
2. What is your favorite and least favorite part of where you live? My favorite part is that there is so much to do here and it is so beautiful! My least favorite part is the winter snow and cold! we live in a small town that is close to the city which is nice because we are close enough to enjoy the perks of a city without having to live that busy lifestyle.
3. Do you plan to stay where you are for a while, or are there any moving plans in your future? We plan to stay here long term. Both mine and DH’s family live 10 minutes away, which is nice but sometimes not. Lol. We lived away for about 10 years, 4 of them being out of state in Tennessee. After living away for a while we knew this was where we would want to end up to raise our family.
4. If money/work/logistics were no object, what would be your dream place to live?
somewhere warmer!!
Type 1 Diabetic
DS: Born 2/18/17
TTC #2: Jan. 2018 BFP: 3/27/18 EDD: 12/6/18
1. We live in a Northern NJ
2. I love that if I drive an hour south I will be at the beach, and if I drive an hour north I will be in the mountains
3. We plan on staying in the town we are in for a while. My mother in law lives in town and she watches my daughter while I’m at work, so we couldn’t go very far even if we wanted to. We are starting to think about a bigger house though, it’s getting tight with one baby, I’m sure it’ll feel even smaller with two!
4. Anyplace waterfront!
2. What is your favorite and least favorite part of where you live? The good: I love Houston's restaurant scene (unbelievably diverse) and performing arts scenes (fantastic theater, ballet, symphony, the works). The bad: humidity, mosquitoes, hurricanes.
3. Do you plan to stay where you are for a while, or are there any moving plans in your future? Planning on staying put, bought a house a couple of years ago and hoping to move to a bigger lot in the same area.
4. If money/work/logistics were no object, what would be your dream place to live? Hmm. I'd say someplace in Europe simply because I like the idea of being near tons of other places to visit.
@AGK2015 Your house sounds amazing! Love where I live but the carbon copy houses have zero character.
@kuailanikaleo Do people seriously ask you those stupid questions?? Props to you to you for not kicking a lot of tourist shins.
Iowa
2. What is your favorite and least favorite part of where you live?
I live in the middle of no where there is nothing I don't like about where I live it's so peaceful and quiet. We just love it. Right now it could be warmer I guess lol.
3. Do you plan to stay where you are for a while, or are there any moving plans in your future?
Yes we plan to stay for a while. We are just starting to establish our homestead
4. If money/work/logistics were no object, what would be your dream place to live?
I would live on 109 acres of timber land in Washington state.
2. Favorite: there is so much to do here all year round! And so many awesome restaurants. Omg so much good food.
Least favorite: weather! It's April 6th, we're potentially expecting snow this weekend.
3. I think we plan to stay in this area, but we do plan to move to a new house and maybe a new school district.
4. Honestly? I love KC! DH does too. So we'd probably just get a nice house and then travel if money wasn't an issue.
DS2 due 12/12/18
DS2 due 12/12/18
I live in Queensland, Australia
2. What is your favorite and least favorite part of where you live?
We are in a large regional town. One of the best votes placed in QLD to raise a family. Parks and schools on every corner. We love on an acre so plenty of room for the kids and dogs.
We live 20-25 minutes from town. So it always seems like a mission for any shopping/appointments.
3. Do you plan to stay where you are for a while, or are there any moving plans in your future?
Yes! We built our house a few years ago, so we are planning on staying till kids are in high school and then maybe moving closer to town.
4. If money/work/logistics were no object, what would be your dream place to live?
Probablu back closer to our family. We were able to buy a big block and build because being regional, it was cheaper. Would love the same space, but near our family (about a two hour drive away).
Madison, WI
2. What is your favorite and least favorite part of where you live?
I love the culture here and there are so many great things for families to do. It's also pretty affordable. Least favorite is probably Wisconsin winters and the fact that I'm far away from my two favorite things, mountains and the ocean.
3. Do you plan to stay where you are for a while, or are there any moving plans in your future?
We'll be staying here for a while, my H has a good job and we're close to my in-laws.
4. If money/work/logistics were no object, what would be your dream place to live?
I would love to move to Colorado at some point. They have the best weather and I've always wanted to live near mountains.
Married: 4/5/13
"You know that place between sleep and awake,
that place where you can still remember dreaming?
That's where I will always love you.
That's where I'll be waiting."
~Peter Pan
*TW*
BFP #2: 10/29/17 MMC dx @ 9 weeks
BFP #3: 2/2/18 MC 2/7/18
BFP #4: 3/2/18 MC 3/9/18
RPL testing and hysteroscopy: all normal
BFP #5: 4/1/18 MMC dx @ 14 weeks ----> genetically normal girl
Hysteroscopy to remove scar tissue 9/28
BFP #6 11/5/18 EDD 7/20/19
BFP #7 12/8/2021 EDD 8/22/2022
2. Cincinnati and the surrounding area is full of history and very strong heritage. I've lived here almost my entire life, except for about 2.5 years for graduate school. My father's family has been in the area for generations, since they came over from Germany. I love Bellevue in particular because it is a small, quaint river town (only about a square mile in size with a population of just under 6,000 people) but it is basically right in the urban core (downtown Cincinnati is about 1.5 miles away as the crow flies - I can see the skyline from my backyard!). Bellevue has a great variety of people, which I love. Families who have lived here for generations and people who just moved here, old people and young families, blue collar and white collar. And they all live packed in together so you get to interact with everyone.
Cincinnati has gotten very popular in the last 5-10 years, which is both fortunate and unfortunate in my opinion. It's been amazing for the city. The city is finally investing in itself and everything looks much more beautiful and a lot of places that I wouldn't have dared go in college are much safer, but it seems like every place I used to love to go to is now absolutely crawling with people all the time, when they used to be kind of hidden gems. It sounds selfish but it's annoying. It makes going anywhere such a hassle. And like all gentrification it's taken a toll on the little microneighborhoods and the residents, mostly lower-income people, that have lived in them for a long time.
3. I can see us being here for the foreseeable future, provided my husband gets a job here once he is done with his PhD. But if one of us gets a good opportunity somewhere else we wouldn't be opposed to moving (within reason - neither of us have any desire to live in huge cities. We would never go to NYC or DC/Baltimore or San Francisco no matter how good the opportunity). If we went anywhere else and had the choice we would pick western New York, which is where my husband is from and where a lot of his family still lives.
4. It's not really a place but more of a setting. I would buy a big old 19th century farmhouse with a bunch of land and spend all my time raising children, animals, and a huge garden.