Trading Spaces

Last night, for the first time since it was put on hold for us a month and a half ago, Luke and I walked through the two-bedroom unit we're scheduled to move into this weekend.

When we first discussed the possibility of upgrading our apartment, we were given the keys to the model unit behind the clubhouse and oohed and ahhed at the thought of gaining an extra few hundred square feet. Our bedroom would be smaller, but we'd have a separate dwelling place for the baby. Our living room would shrink, but we'd gain a dining room. There'd be less overall closet space but an extra bathroom. For the extra ninety-five dollars a month, the trade-offs seemed worth it.

I don't know what I was expecting when we entered the premises yesterday evening, but for some reason I was taken aback at how small everything seemed. Either the model falsely advertises a more spacious unit or my imagination's spent the last forty-five days restructuring the entire floor plan to its liking. Both are possible, but either way, we'll have just enough space for the impending third member of our family. Nothing less, and definitely nothing more.

My heart sank a little as I viewed what would soon be our home. I love the unit that Luke and I currently live in, and I hate the idea of moving into a place I'm not as crazy about. On the other hand, I'm so glad we can afford to make this move, and I know it's necessary. It really is the best thing for us.

When I was younger, I always thought that your "next step up" was bound to be better than the one you took before. As in, the next job I get will be more fulfilling than the one I have now. The next place we move to will be more exciting. This moving experience is the best example I have to show me each life upgrade won't be one-hundred-percent satisfactory. In any situation, you'll always find flaws.

Luckily, though, it can still bring you a whole lot of joy.

I've never lived in a two-bedroom apartment before, and I'm excited that Luke and I are doing this to make room for a child we created out of love for each other and the family we want to build. That's a pretty awesome upgrade, if you ask me.

Although I think we've changed our minds on the changing table. Ain't nothin' wrong with the crib or the floor.

(Luke also suggested the couch--the beautiful queen-sized sleeper sofa we ordered in beige to better match our decor--and if looks could kill, I'd be welcoming Freke into the world as a single mother.)

Comments

[VirginiaGal]

It's my opinion that model units are never really set up for someone to actually live there. They suck you in by giving you the illusion of SO MUCH SPACE {Echo, echo}. But if you were to live there, you'd notice things missing, like a microwave (which eats up precious counter space), or a tv in the living room (which also takes up precious floor space).

But two bathrooms and a separate room for lil' Freke, that's something to be happy about!

[Silly Hily]

Good luck with the move this weekend. Maybe once you get everything in there, you'll find that it all fits better in the new unit or that you have a little extra walking room or something.
Changing table. I've made it through two kids without one. The crib, the floor, our bed? They all work fine. A new couch that you are in love with? Not so much.

[Rachel]

I hope the move goes smoothly and I bet once you get all your stuff in there and get it all set up and decorated you will love it just as much as the old one! Even more, once little Freke is there.

I use a changing table with Alyssa, but only because the living room doesn't have room to put a basket of diapers and wipes and such and it's nice to have those 2 extra shelves on the changing table.

But, the couch? Uh, hell no!

[Lizarita]

Good luck with the move. I hope it goes smoothly for you guys.
Changing tables? Overrated. You guys will be glad you decided against one !

[Molly]

You gotta love the model unit being a little tweaked. I am sorry to hear that it's less than you had wanted. Do they have any other layouts?

[Amanda]

A space saving trick we used in our baby's nursery: we received a hand-me-down dresser which we repainted and put new knobs on. It's a low dresser and the tops hits right at hip level - we use the top as a changing table, and it will be easily converted to a regular ol' dresser top when we're done using it as such. Don't waste your money on a separate changing table - make them do double duty to save money and space!

[Angela]

Yep, I was going to say just what VirginiaGal did, models are always set up in a way that sucks you in--professionally decorated to maximize space and definitely not really livable. I'm sure as soon as you've got everything moved in and in just the right place you'll love your new place just as much as your old one!

[Jana]

I love my changing table! I always change baby girl on it. Plus, lots of storage for diapers, wipes, etc. But, I also had room for one. Am I the only one who uses a changing table?

[Jana]

Oh, we did save money by using an existing dresser and bought the crib and changing table to match the color of the dresser.

[Liza]

We spent a little extra on a nice dresser that flips over to have a changing table -- with anti-rolling-off-the-top edges and fully finished interior -- on the "bottom."

If someone in your family is handy, a regular dresser, flipped over and finished on the usually unfinished bottom, would probably work.

I like having the height so I don't have to constantly bend over to change Noah, and he's wiggly enough that I wouldn't do it without the sides. But YMMV.

[HW]

I also recommend the dresser idea. You can purchase a changing pad, with sides, that can fit right on top of the dresser and has a belt to secure Freke when she (I'm betting it's a girl) gets into serious wiggle-worminess when it comes to diaper changing. You can use one drawer for clothing and the other for diapers, wipes, everything else you'll need. We've got a lovely antique dresser right in our living room with a changing pad on top and it works wonderfully (the nursery is upstairs and it just made more sense to have a central changing location on our main floor of living space since we have twins).

Total aside, don't bother with a wipes warmer - a total waste of money.

[TasterSpoon]

I heard on the radio last night that the average apartment in Hong Kong is about 400 square feet.

[Debbie]

I'm sorry it's not what you had thought it was going to be :( Hopefully once you get all of your stuff in there it will be much better!

Personally, I would die without a changing table...especially with a boy. Between my two kids I have had so many accidents while changing them that I would have never dared changing them anywhere else when they were babies. And I'm not just talking peeing accidents either :) Ours is a dresser that has the top at a good height that you add a changing pad and it's a changing table.

[Kris H.]

Trust me when I tell you you don't need a changing table. We had TWO (both gifts), and after the first month or two of our first child, they just took up space. It was far more convenient and comfortable to change them on our bed...

[mjd]

That is an awesome upgrade. The changing table decision sounds good to me. Let us know if you need our help with the moving. We plan to be back home on Friday.

[daddy d]

Good to new and more space, except that there is never enough no matter what.

[Professor Art Nerd]

I use my sister's bed when I watch my nephew. Or the living room floor. Wherever I can make him stop moving, basically. But his changing table is actually his dresser top. There's a pad with sides and a belt- actually, my sister took it off the dresser and uses that for poops now. Unless, you know, he strips himself naked and shats on the bathroom floor... Two year olds. I don't recommend them.