Welcome Home

I've had the urge to write a lot lately, but the time hasn't been there. We've been busy and in the moments that are slow, we've been trying to relax. Easier said than done. Baby A didn't go to sleep until 11:30 last night and the night before? He was up every.single.hour. We are so tired and feeling awful that we're keeping everyone in the house awake, too. I may or may not have been strolling around a whiny kid in the dark last night, barefoot, and holding back tears. Why does life feel so much harder when a baby won't sleep? Ha! Honestly, he has NEVER been like this. Even as a newborn and young babe, he slept more than this. It's quite an adjustment.

Good news, though...

I've got an appointment today to get my tubes tied.

Kidding.

The good news is that we have found a house we love and pending inspections going well today, it's ours! Isn't she a beauty?

We love it and can't wait to settle in. It will be awhile, though. You know what I'm talking about if you've ever worked with the VA before!

I hope we'll be happy there for a long time. I'm sure we will. We are used to making houses we don't love home and we really really like this one! We are looking forward to not mooching off our families anymore. Whether it's dog sitting, baby sitting, groceries, or moving help, we have exhausted our welcome here, I'm sure. We are very blessed by the wonderful friends and family who have helped us in our journey "home"!

I can't believe this kitchen will soon be part of our very own home...

I'm going to bake all kinds of goodies in there.

Anyway, I just wanted to pop in and show you a glimpse into our house since so many of you requested it on facebook and IG. More to come in the next few weeks.

Love,

Florida Digs- Work in Progress

I hadn't even left Tennessee yet and I was already getting texts, "Send us pictures of your new place!" My blogging community has expressed the same desire so here I am...with anti-climatic photos of our new digs.

It still feels slightly bare because our walls are still waiting to be covered, but already it's home. I like it here.

It's not the nicest house we've ever had, but that'll happen when you shop for rentals online. I'm pretty pleased with it, though. It could have been a real dump.

The bathrooms could use some work. The kitchen doesn't have the bells and whistles...

but it does have a pantry, a garbage disposal and a dishwasher so that's more than I could ever ask for, really.

The "random area" listed above? I'm pretty sure it's supposed to be the dining room. But who puts carpet in a dining room? Furthermore, why is it as soon as you walk in the front door? And, oh yeah, it's separated from the kitchen area, too. I don't get it hence the stick-all-the-extra-furniture-there-for-now logic.

My favorite area is our bedroom. It's spacious and has a huge soaking tub in the attached bathroom (i.e. ALL I'VE EVER WANTED).

The rest is kind of a work in progress. Give me a break, people. I just got here ;)

How's that for a tour? Chances are if you're reading this and you care enough to make it this far, I wish I was giving you a tour in person. Just pretend I've just poured you a glass of wine (or a cup of coffee)- name your poison. Can we also pretend you're sitting on my couch now and we're swapping adventure stories? This housewife is officially bored! You know what helps with boredom? YouTube.

Thanks to my friend, Whittney, I just laughed at this so hard I had my toddler pretty worried. Now every time I turn it on, he laughs, too.

Oh my gosh. I'm dying.

Dream Homes

With our upcoming move on the brain, it's hard not to start picturing my family settled into a house that we'll (hopefully) have for years- one that we'll actually own. If there's one thing about the military lifestyle that is a constant reminder of how tough it can be, it's writing a check for rent each month. I hate seeing that money go right down the drain. Thousands of dollars each month goes toward a rental house...and then what? That money is just gone. We can't wait until we're paying for a house to keep. We can paint her walls! We can remodel if we wish. We can hang a wreath on the front door and maybe, just maybe it will feel more like our permanent home.

Where's that VA Savings Loan application? Sign us up. We're very much looking forward to being homeowners. Pinterest doesn't help either. I keep finding fabulous rooms or design ideas that keep me browsing (and daydreaming) for hours...

Source: lesapea.tumblr.com via Mrs. on Pinterest

Source: bhg.com via Mrs. on Pinterest

Source: ernestogarciadesign.com via Mrs. on Pinterest

I'm dreaming of deep claw foot bath tubs, colorful, elegant kitchens, and a heavenly reading nook with built in bookshelves- *swoon*

What's a must have in your dream home?

(This post is brought to you by MilitaryVALoan.com )

If You Could Step Into My Head

I know if I write today, it will be too personal. Yet here I am, typing, looking for something to fill my time besides cleaning up toys and washing dishes. I feel uninspired. Minutes ago, I opened the notes I've collected for the personal memoir I'm writing. I don't know if it's something anyone else will ever read, but I want it for myself. I want to finish for my family. Wouldn't it be neat for my boys to have the story of how their parents met to read when I'm long gone? It's just this passion of mine that has taken a backseat to life.

As I said, I opened the book notes to write a little more but it didn't take long for Baby K to crawl over to me, pull himself up, and begin gnawing on my leg. I don't know how anyone works from home with children. Kudos to you. I've tried. I try to write, but I only manage the words on this blog. It's because I can just hit publish and it doesn't matter if I end my sentences in prepositions because this space is just my voice.

I search for acceptance and a feeling of productivity in other ways, too. It's no secret that I struggle with  that nagging feeling that I don't contribute enough to my family. It's amazing what a paycheck- a visual example of work well done- will do for my mood. But how do I force myself to recognize value in saving money? In taking care of the household? In raising my young son?

I enjoy cloth diapering because I know how much money it saves us every month. Recently, I started making cloth diapers in order to save even more money, but even as I accomplish these tasks it doesn't feel like enough. When I clean the kitchen for the zillionth time, it's only a chore. I don't strap on an apron and a smile and think about how I'm taking care of my growing family.

What does it take to make these things feel more important to my life?

I love that I get to stay at home with my boy. I can't imagine leaving him with someone else, only to get him back in time for bed. It would break my heart. Still, I want to do both. I want to make money with an actual job. I want to write and sell my articles again. I want to type with one hand and sew diapers with the other. I want to be supermom and I'm not her. 

I'm not her at all.

I'm stuck in this house. I'm stuck in this state. I'm stuck in limbo- wanting so desperately to cherish every single moment with Baby K, but also wishing my time away when we're in a different state and out of the Army lifestyle. Today, a wise woman of God posted on my facebook that this was just a season of my life.

And seasons are temporary.

Praise be to God.

Yesterday, PWOC (Protestant Women of the Chapel) started back for our fall semester. I was torn between which class I wanted to take. There are so many that interested me. After writing this, I realized that God has placed me exactly where he wants me. I chose a class called The Resolution for Women. It's supposed to inspire women to resolve to become "purposefully feminine, surprisingly satisfied, and faithfully His."

God is so awesome. His plan is always so much better than my own and I trust Him. Now, that's a good feeling.

Sew What?

I started a 30 by 30 list. I know what you're thinking. I won't bore you with all my mediocre goals for the next four years- mostly b/c I could only think of 5 and I don't want you to laugh. But! One that is on my list of To Dos is : learn how to sew, dang it.

Captain J bought me a sewing machine for my birthday last year (or maybe it was for Christmas?). Anyway, I unpacked it, tried to set it up, and nothing. I couldn't figure it out and who likes to read directions? Not this girl. Besides, those directions are vague, inaccurate, and INFURIATING! So, there my shiny new machine sat with no one to create lovely things with her.

Enter Jenn.

We've been discussing taking a sewing class since she got to post a few months ago. Instead, she said her husband, Hunter, would teach us the basics. And by basics, I mean how to thread the freakin' needle. Half the battle (maybe over half the battle) in sewing is just getting the stinkin' machine to work. She texted me saying they'd both be over the following day to help.

What did I do?

I did what any eager student would do- I studied the machine. I oriented myself with the mechanics. Ok, that's a fib.

I actually decided my sewing room needed a facelift and I completely re-arranged everything in that room. Makes sense, right? I even hung pictures. I was working on the feng shui, people! I wanted to be in the room after I was done so I thought that was a pretty good first step in using my "sewing room"- aka guest bedroom.

Oh, there. That's better.

Now, I can work.

The following day, they came over and showed me how to work this machine which I find anything but simple. Alas, that's the machine's name. Liars.

Anyway, on Sunday I decided I was going to make something. The only thing I could think of that sounded easy was a baby bib. I scoured the house for material. I ended up finding a shirt I shouldn't have worn past high school although I was definitely guilty of rocking it well into my twenties. Also, I found an old hand towel that was too ugly to display in my house anymore.

I started cutting out the pattern...

Pinning it together...

Sewing successfully.

and then THEN the darn thing breaks and I have to figure out how to thread it again. The machine I have does not allow you to see the bobbin as you sew so it's a little difficult to get threaded again. That's my excuse anyway. After phone calls to Hunter, youtube instruction videos, and maybe a few dirty words (If you say them to yourself, do they still count?) - I was back in business!

The result was a homely, very pink, but very obvious baby bib! I'm so proud. I mean, I know it's not pretty, but it's going to work like a charm and that's all that matters, right? Note: I don't know if it's a girl or a boy, but this fabric is what I had around so I went with it. Speaking of...have you voted in my current poll? Most of you think Baby #2 is a girl, but it's a close call. You only have a few more weeks to guess.

Anyway, I'm going to end my post now. This is the point where you praise my tenacity of keeping with something that is so dreadfully hard and not killing anyone in the process. Ready, go!

Won't you come in?

As we try and fail to figure out which light switches go with which lights, we do have something to rejoice about- The house is totally unpacked! Isn't that glorious? Now, watch them deploy J in two months and we'll have to pack it all up again. Such is life, I suppose.

I'm feeling pretty good about a clean house, though. Won't you come in?



Just follow me this way and you can have seat...



Look, I even unpacked our bedroom today.



We have been sleeping in the spare bedroom because I didn't want to face the boxes of clothes inside our own that don't fit me anymore. As I lovingly dumped the mounds of clothing on our bed to sort, I made a deal with myself that I shall wear them all again. I have begun thinking about my workout plan after the doctor gives me the okay to start exercising again. Perhaps P90x? I'll definitely be taking my little man out for strolls :) I can't wait.