Wow, it's already been a year since we moved into our Stanley Martin home, and I can't help but feel a little nostalgic about the past year. It's been a whirlwind of milestones, some growing pains and everyday joys.
Home in the Time of Covid
When we first began discussing buying a new home, I was not completely sold on the idea. It was the height of the pandemic, and my husband and I were both working from home. Our son's daycare shut down, and I was pregnant with our second child, a baby girl.
"Once the baby's born, we'll need more room if we're all going to be home all the time," my husband told me.
With a baby, a four-year-old, two dogs, a partridge and a pear tree, things were getting a bit tight.
Choosing Our Dream Home
Deciding to move was challenging for me. I was attached to our home. I'd brought both of my babies from the hospital to that house, and we spent countless hours and dollars customizing it to our liking. But with the change in our home life, we needed a place that fit our new reality.
We wanted a home that felt more like a retreat—a space where we could all do our own thing without tripping over each other.
Finding a spot on a quiet cul-de-sac surrounded by trees in Elgin, SC, felt like hitting the jackpot.
Even before we purchased our first home, we had considered making Elgin our permanent residence. At the time, things did not align with the home we were considering, and I found and fell in love with the house that we did end up buying. So we moved on.
But even after five years, we found ourselves back in that same Elgin neighborhood, this time with two children and a new outlook on homeownership and all that it entails. It was the final phase of the neighborhood, so this was our last chance to move into something brand new there.
Buying and Selling
As a member of the Stanley Martin team who rarely gets a chance to witness the buying process in real-time, buying and building a home from the ground up was a new experience. Now, I was the one on the other side of the table. The construction process of our home moved pretty smoothly. Every week, we would go to the site and marvel at the latest progress that had been made. I would speak to our Neighborhood Construction Manager about the project updates and what we could expect next. I spoke with our soon-to-be neighbors and got feedback on their experiences with Stanley Martin, which I was able to take back to the team. Things were coming together.
We closed on our old home and, three days later, moved into our new one.
Home Sweet Home
One of the things we love most about our house is how well it works for us. There's a spot for everyone and everything. The kids have their play areas (which are lifesavers since everything has a place), we've got our workspaces, and it feels just right. It's made juggling work and the kids' homeschooling (shoutout to our superhero nanny!) really manageable.
When we brought the kids to the site before construction began, our son said, "Wow! It's a forest. I can have a treehouse!"
Now, we weren't able to make a treehouse happen, but there is a clubhouse complete with a telescope perch, so, close enough. The kids spend hours playing outside, and we've had countless family walks exploring the area.
Another highlight of this home is how easy it is to clean. With a larger home comes more chores, and this home addresses them head-on. The LVP flooring is easy to maintain and holds up well to two dogs and two kids. White kitchen cabinets could be a pain, but with ours, I can use a damp cloth and quickly wipe them clean. And with the included smart switches, we've automated certain home functions to make our household run smoothly.
A Year of Firsts
First steps, first neighborhood friend, first time riding a bike without training wheels—we've had a lot of firsts in this house. I'll never forget cleaning dishes in the kitchen and watching our little girl take her first steps across the living room, heading straight for the windows facing the backyard. And our son has really taken to homeschooling here, turning the media room into a mini classroom where he's learning new things every day.
Our Community
Having an inviting community is essential for us. I became good friends with our previous neighbors—one even expressed feeling betrayed when the for sale sign went up in our front yard. Everything is fine now, but I was genuinely uneasy about what the people would be like in our new neighborhood.
Fortunately, our new neighbors have been nothing short of incredible. After spending so much time only really interacting with cousins, our kids are excited to see and play with other kids. We've managed to connect with everyone on our little cul-de-sac and even beyond that. It's common to see groups of kids and adults congregating in someone's front yard.
We've hosted multiple backyard movie nights, taking advantage of our new home's expansive outdoor space. Our new home was made for entertaining.
Looking Back and Forward
Reflecting on this past year, I feel so grateful for the peace and happiness our home has brought us. It's more than just walls and windows to us—it's the backdrop to our life, where we grow, laugh, and play together. I'm excited for the future, for more celebrations, quiet moments, and everything in between.
Living here in our Stanley Martin home, we've found our perfect fit—a place that meets our needs today and feels like it'll be just right for many tomorrows. Here's to many more happy years. Cheers to that!