If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen the big reveal on Saturday night. In case you missed it, I posted the photo above with the caption: “Perfect timing for a move down to the Holy City. More details on the blog this week.” We had just left SEWE (Southeastern Wildlife Exposition), and were headed back to our new home.
And we did just that. We moved to Charleston from Charlotte (a little over three hours away). Lanier has been commuting during the week since September, and we finally made the big move to join him. We’re renting for now, until we get a lay of the land and find a house we love.
This will definitely be a new experience for us, as we’re moving away from both our parents, and Charlotte is all we know. We were all very sad, especially over these last few weeks, since we had to say goodbye to schools and good friends and more importantly family, knowing we wouldn’t see everyone as often. Sad to leave our home of eight years, our sweet little home…
It’s hard to put into words how much our home has meant to me. To think when we moved in we’d be here two years max, maybe buy a dog and move out before children. That was 2006, when the housing market crashed. I still remember our realtor showing us this house saying “I really like it, but I don’t think you could have a child in this house” (as space was limited). Little did she know…
Our bungalow of 1574sqft, give or take a few, has been our home for over eight years. Let’s just say we learned to be professionals of multi-function. No space in our house was ever wasted. Every time we added another kiddo to the brood, we’d rearrange the rooms and “make it work.” And I wouldn’t change it for the world. I swear this is why my children are as close-knit as they are. They don’t know anything else. Now that we’ve moved, Wheeler and Effie will still share a room. They wouldn’t let us separate them even when the topic was broached.
As for how the children are feeling, they’re excited! We’ve built up the move so much, that they’ve left little room for being sad. We just didn’t want them to resent Charleston and think of it with negative thoughts. Plus, kids at their age are resilient. They’ll find new friends and new parks and new schools, but deep down, I know the bonds they’ve developed with some of their buddies will be eventually missed. I mean even little Vaughn was used to having a running playdate once a week, and at times he still asks about his friend. That one always gets me. And just being away from their grandparents and not seeing them as often, will soon hit them. It’s already hit me.
It’s definitely going to be an adjustment, that’s for sure..we knew that.
But we keep reminding ourselves…it’s Charleston! And it’s not too far from our hometown. So we’re excited too! Happy to have more time to spend near the water, whether it be at the pool or the beach! Lanier and I both grew up going to Wild Dunes and Kiawah with our families, so we know the area pretty well. Except we keep saying how we feel like we’re just on vacation, that it’s not permanent. But it is.
Charleston has always been a very special place to me, so when Lanier got promoted and had the opportunity to move down here, we knew we wanted to accept this adventure. Lanier proposed to me here almost eleven years ago. We still have a Rainbow Row painting we were gifted from a friend after our engagement, hanging on our wall ever since then. When my dad was little, his mother (my grandmother Mimi) lived on Sullivan’s Island with his three younger brothers and sister (she had another boy after they moved), while his father attended MUSC. We do love big families don’t we? He used to talk about all the fun he and his brothers had playing at all the forts there. And now, my boys will do the same. My dad went to the Citadel and MUSC, so every time we went to the beach, we always made a trip downtown to sightsee and visit his school. Thankfully, I know this area well now.
I know I surprised so many of you with this announcement. We just wanted to get settled here before the big reveal. If you’ve been following me for awhile, you’ll know that I never shared Logan and Vaughn’s pregnancies and surprised you with a newborn announcement after nine months with each of them. I guess I can really keep a secret, right? So now when you see more photos of new sights and different locations, you’ll know why.
Over the last few weeks, one Phillip Phillips song has kept showing up on my running Pandora station, and I couldn’t help but think of how fitting it is for us.
Hold on, to me as we go
As we roll down this unfamiliar road
And although this wave is stringing us along
Just know you’re not alone
Cause I’m going to make this place your home
Girl, I am SO EXCITED for y'all! Charleston is just the best. Matthew and I both love Richmond, a lot, but we always joke that we would move back to Charleston in a heart beat if the opportunity came up. There is just no place like it. It's magical. Can't wait to see your new adventures and have a new coffee/wine buddy to play with on my next trip down! xo
Welcome to Charleston! We're excited to have you! 🙂
– Lanie
Classicallycurrentblog.com
I can imagine you're feelings of nervousness and sadness as you leave family/friends/comfort. But I have to say I am quite envious. We have seriously considered moving there as well, but we would be taking our kids 6 hours away from family. It's such a hard thing to do, but I do hope it'll be in our future.. Good luck as you take on this new adventure!! I'll be living vicariously through you as you post IG pics of your new city! 🙂
congrats!! this is such exciting news 🙂 I LOVE charleston and I'm so happy we made the move here from chicago! can't wait to see your adventures in the city! xo jillian – cornflake dreams
SO excited to have one of my favorite bloggers in Charleston! Welcome!!!!
Congrats on the move! The good news is you can return to Charlotte frequently to visit friends and family with it being so close. Enjoy your new adventure!
As someone who has relocated recently to a coastal city (Mobile), I am sure you will love your new home!
I have family in Charleston. My son and his wife live on James Island. My daughter in law's father is a Citadel graduate and his family has a beach house on Sullivans Island. We love eating at Poe's. My sister and her husband live in Park West. I wish you and your family much happiness in your new adventure!
How exciting!! Congrats on the move. I love Charleston, it will be so nice to be so close to water and near so many great restaurants and sights.
Welcome to Charleston! I have lived here my whole life and have family here..can't imagine being any other place. Enjoy making new memories together as a family! 🙂
Welcome to Charleston!!! We have been here for a little over two years and love it!
How exciting!!! I love Charleston… I wish I could move there. I hope the move will be easy and that everyone will adjust….
Chelsea@ thewilliamsjourney1.blogspot.com
Congratulations!! Charleston is my FAVORITE city and I'm super jealous you get to make it home! Best wishes as you are getting all settled in!
XO,
Gentry
Girl Meets Bow
Charleston is so nice!! Congrats!
Congrats on the big move, and yes, you are an amazing secret keeper! Wow! You'll have to show us a tour of the house soon. 🙂
What a fun adventure although I know what it is like being away from your family…thankfully it's just a car ride away! Congrats!
Such a fun adventure!! It will be so nice to be close to the beach and the water and 3 hours really isn't that far away at all. Good luck house hunting.
Yay!! You all are going to LOVE living in Charleston! I moved here two and half years ago and never looked back! Welcome, and best of luck getting settled in!
We are so so happy to have you hear girl!! Can't wait to play with y'all soon!! xoxo
Let me know if I can help w/ anything. I know all of the fab playgrounds around here. 😉 welcome to Charleston!! xo
Congratulations on your move (and Lanier's promotion). I know how hard it is to leave family (my husband turned down a great job offer because it would have been five hours away from our families instead of the half an hour it is now).
Congratulations on your move and your husband's promotion. While I'm sure it will be an adjustment, Charleston seems like a beautiful place to raise a family. Best of luck!
Ellen | A Pop of Pink
Congrats on your move! Looks like it will be a great new adventure for your family 🙂
Congrats on your move! Charleston is one of my all-time favorite places!
Yay congrats! Charleston is the best! 🙂
Congrats on the move!!! I relocated here from Virginia @17 years ago and it still feels like vacation. I hope that your new home has a guest room, because I think you will find family visiting often!! If you need help finding a new home to buy, my other half is a realtor with Berkshire Hathaway in Mt. P.
~~Michelle
thecharlestonlens.com
Congratulations your big move and good luck getting settled. Lanier must be so happy to eliminate his weekly commute and to have more time with everyone now.
Congrats on your move! That's so exciting.
xoxo
Bethany
Maryland Pink and Green
Yay! Welcome home! You will love it here! If you need ANYTHING or have any questions or need any recommendations please reach out to me!!!
Congratulations on your big move! I love Charleston and would love to live there someday. It will be a big adjustment but I hope it starts to feel like home soon!
I know you'll bloom where you grow…..and I would love to 'grow' on Charleston. We visit each fall and rent in Mt. Pleasant. My husband was so impressed with your Dad's CV! The Citadel and MUSC! It doesn't get better than that. Congratulations to Lanier on his promotion.
Wow! you surely know how to keep a secret! As a blog reader I'm excited for the new ideas and pics that will come, Charleston is my favorite city in the South! As someone who comes from a big family as well (6 siblings, all back home) I can't imagine how you're feeling, I know I was used to operate as a group, and always knew I would not be short of help with the kids, and of people to constantly be with. Luckily you're only 3 hours away!
Congratulations on your new adventure! Charleston is a wonderful city and I look forward to seeing more of it through your eyes!
Congratulations to you and your family! I can't wait to see all the adventures and memories that will be created in Charleston! Xo, Stephanie
Welcome to the Palmetto State! Our family of six made the move from West Palm Beach to just up the road from you in DeBordieu. My only regret was not doing it sooner! Best of luck! Janice
Welcome to Charleston!! I moved here from Atlanta 22 yrs ago to attend school & never looked back? we live in the "Old Village" in Mt P. Love it!! Kids ride their bikes to school & we can be on SI in less then 5mins! It's the best!!?