Living in Bellevue with a toddler

Hi — working mom with a toddler, thinking about moving to the Bellevue/Spring District area. Currently have a long commute and it’s wearing us down.

Honestly, I’m a little nervous about apartment life with a young kid. Where we live now we don’t even see our friends that often, but there’s comfort in knowing they’re close by. I think what I’m really asking is — if we move, will it feel like starting from zero?

For anyone who’s done this with little ones — did you find your people? How long did it take to feel settled? Do your kids actually build real friendships with other kids in the building — like, the kind where they grow up together — or is it more of a rotating door with families moving in and out every couple of years?

Any honest experiences welcome. Thank you ❤️