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This post may be more for me than anyone else. Like a "dear diary" entry. I just need to work out my thoughts somewhere. Change is inevitable but that doesn't make it easier to accept, especially when it involves giving up something you've invested so much time and love into. 

This journey officially started back in November. Joel and I had just found out we were pregnant, which meant we would be raising our baby in an area we haven't felt completely safe in. When Joel bought our house in college it was perfect for our needs. He could walk to work and it was affordable. He bought the house, gutted it, and I moved in a year later. Nearly 6 years have passed now, Joel has a new job, and we are very involved in our church. The problem is both are across town. I love this house. It's where we had our "where is this relationship going" talk while redoing the floors late at night. I wanted to know I'd be living here if I was investing my time into it. The house we were newlyweds in, bringing our separate lives together to figure out how to make it work as one unit. We made a baby here and it will be the first place she will live, although she will not have any recollection of it. The walls in each room have been painted at least 3 times, furniture has been switched out numerous times, and we have learned the definition of compromise in the process. This place has not just been a place to house our treasures but it has been a part of us since the beginning. How do you leave a place to begin a new chapter when this one feels so comfortable and complete?

That leads me to the biggest blessing and answer to prayer I've ever been a part of. Like I said this started in November when our friend Jason introduced us to a drinking buddy of his named Jack. A kind older man that owned a home on Jason's street. This was his childhood home where his sister continued to live up until she passed a couple of years ago. The house was never on the market and Jack was not in any rush to sell either. It was more important to him that he find an owner that would take care of and love the home as he did as opposed to flipping it for a profit. That's where we come in. We fit the profile so we met with Jack and did a walk through. It is a charming home and more importantly in the area we want to live, close to church and all of our friends. While houses are depreciating in value everywhere else, this house due to the area it's in will only increase in value over time. How is it that we could afford a home in another area let alone one worth way more than the asking price? Like I said Jack is not only kind but generous, very generous. He is basically giving us a house. Who does that? It's really the only way it would be possible for us to move. 

I truly believe timing is everything...

Joel seemed more than ready to get the ball rolling back in November when we first saw the house but I was still a little skeptical. Refer back to the second paragraph. Was I really ready to leave our first home? The home we gutted that was practically brand new to move to a home we would have to work on little by little as we had the money and all while figuring out how to raise a baby? I allowed time to pass to see if God would change my heart or possibly Joel's. When May rolled around I began to pray that he would make it more than obvious if moving was for sure the route we needed to pursue. God reminded me that no matter what house we live in can be made into a home. This house surely did not start out looking the way we wanted it to but to move to an area where we can walk our baby to a friend's house or a store and feel safe is what's more important to me. Also, how often do you meet someone that wants to sell you a house for half of what it's worth because you are the right people to own it? A home that he has been willing to hold out selling as long as you say your interested? That is not an opportunity you pass up. 

When I finally told Joel we needed to actively pursue buying the house he was shocked. He had been praying for an answer as well and this was it. To know that it was something I finally wanted too was the answer he needed. We put our house on the market the next week, a week after that someone came through to look at it, and it was a matter of days before they made an offer. If you know anything about the housing market or even the housing market particularly in the area we live in you know this doesn't happen EVER. I had no doubt that our house would show well. I love our house, but for someone to make an offer on it 9 days after you list is unheard of. God, all God! We are meant to live in Oakley.

The way the details have come together is what gets me through. Knowing we can walk to a friend's house or church is what I have to keep reminding myself. A house is a house and it is what you make of it. Although it will be hard to leave and think about someone else living in it I know it will come to mean as much to the new owner as it has us. Thanks to everyone who has prayed for us and that this would come together as God willed it to. I have no doubt he has been in every last detail and it will be the biggest blessing we will know. Please continue to pray that I can be positive about this and not become too overwhelmed by the timing of it all. We will be moving with a newborn and I don't deal well with stress.

On a lighter note...

I hope to blog more now that I am unemployed so as we renovate little by little I hope to document the process here. 

Stay tuned!

A Dad Bag

In the time that I have been pregnant it has not taken long for me to realize that showers and baby stuff, especially girly baby stuff is more for me than Joel. I didn't want him to start feeling neglected well before the baby was even born so I decided to put a bag together with some odds and ends that were just for him. I planned to give it to him at our 4th and final shower. His co-workers at the school he teaches at were throwing it for us so he had to attend this one...I even made him open all the gifts this time.

I wrapped the gifts up to resemble mail, mostly to introduce him to some of the new titles he may be referred to as...procreator, pappy, and patriarch.

He got a new gym bag for the hospital, some chips and candy, a magazine, t-shirt, and frame I etched "Daddy and Harper" onto.
I'm sure I'm not the first person to think to do this and I didn't put anything too exciting together, but I think it was special for Joel and a small way to let him know that having a baby isn't just about me and the baby. He has been so supportive and nurturing throughout this experience. Of course I am excited about having a precious daughter at the end of this, but when people ask what I'm most excited about I have to say it's seeing Joel as a dad. He is so good with toddlers but to see him with our little baby will be such a special day for me. I picked a good one. 

Only a few more months to go!

Before I knew I was pregnant I had all of these ideas about how I'd document my pregnancy but here I am 6 months pregnant and only 2 pictures to show for it...where did the time go?

I am starting to come to the realization that this baby is coming sooner rather than later and we need to prepare NOW! It has been nice to feel motivated for once. We (Joel mostly) finally finished the coffee table and I love how it turned out. The boards are salvaged from Building Value and the legs are metal pipes from Home Depot. If you want to replicate it try to stick with as few pieces as you can, they start to add up quickly.

We have been buying the sweetest baby clothes lately. I keep having to talk myself out of buying newborn outfits because she won't have anything to wear when she's 3 months but they are just so much cuter when they're smaller. Joel was a little cowboy as a kid so his mom had to buy this horse onesie for the baby.

We also got this sweet little dress for her. I can't wait to see her in it!

Upstairs is a wreck but Harper's room is nearly finished. We chose a plum purple because the furniture is white. I thought it'd be a nice balance.

Our friends gave us the rocking chair and a little wooden chest. We already had a bookcase, the ottoman is from the living room, and my mom crocheted the rug for us.

This is just a sneak peak because we still need to get our crib and dresser. Things are starting to come together. We are getting excited and a little nervous but I can't wait to meet her.

It's a girl!

A week ago today we found out we are having a baby girl! I had a strong feeling it would be a girl, so much so I had already started buying decorations for her room.

At the sonogram appointment we got a little dose of what's to come-she had her arms behind her head and her legs crossed nearly the whole time. She will be a super model like her dad and modest like her mom. 

We would have been excited no matter what the outcome but now that I know I'm having a girl I intend to go all out with the ruffles and flowers. Sorry Joel.

I think we have settled on the name Harper Louise. When we first found out we were expecting Joel and  I separately made a list of boy and girl names we liked and then compared. Harper was one we both liked and it has grown on us more and more since then.

 It's crazy to say we are halfway there. In just a few short months I get to meet my baby...MY baby!

a test in humility

I don't know if this is a real thing or just something to blame my sudden lack of common sense on, but since I have been pregnant I feel stupid all of the time. The worst place to have this problem is at work but of course that's where I feel it the most. I don't know if there is any life lessons I can draw from this situation other than constantly feeling humbled. It has been very difficult for me too. I don't have a problem being humbled, it is the feeling stupid part that is hard to accept. I feel like I forget simple things or can't make decisions for myself because I might ruin something. All I can hope is that this "test" is temporary and keep reminding myself that God, my husband, and true friends accept me regardless. I believe there is a plan for everything and nothing is forever...but June cannot come soon enough!

Coming soon...baby Willison!

I love being able to finally talk openly about being pregnant. I have kept it a secret since October 9th! It has not been easy. Whenever we'd go out with friends or talk to someone in passing I'd give Joel a look and he would proceed to shake his head no...I can say now after nearly two months of silence I'm glad we kept it a secret. It was exciting to have something just between the two of us and to tell different groups of people in different ways. 

I love some of the reactions we got, especially from Joel's grandmas. When he called to tell his mom's mother Thanksgiving Day I could hear her squealing over the phone. This is not her first great grandchild but you would not be able to tell by how excited she was for us and for herself. She even had to call me later to congratulate me personally. She said it was all she could do to keep from running down the street, announcing it to everyone. She's so cute!

We combine Thanksgiving and Christmas with Joel's dad's side of the family because we don't see them in December. We exchange gifts with them at this time so we thought it would be a great way to announce that I was pregnant. We framed a picture of the ultrasound for his grandmother to open. Her reaction to the picture was priceless. She kept looking at it with a confused look on her face and then finally asked what it was. Not quite the obvious announcement we had planned but funny non the less.

Joel and I are very excited, of course. We have been "not preventing" since late April so I wasn't sure how long it would take. I can't wait to find out the gender of the baby to get the decorating underway. Joel is convinced it's a boy and I want a girl. He also wanted twins. In the end I think we both just want a healthy little baby. I can't even begin to imagine how this new member of our family will change everything forever but I'm ready to experience it with my husband. Actually, I think seeing him as a dad is what I'm most excited about. He typically refuses to hold newborns but will be forced to hold ours...I'm emotional just thinking about it. 

Accessory Antlers

I love all of the necklace holder alternatives out there, especially the ones using antlers and rake heads. What a great idea to have them on display all the time. I just had mine tucked away in my closet...they probably thought I was ashamed of them.

Luckily I was able to find my antlers at The Country Living Fair. Only $5 for the pair! What! The problem was that they were not yet mounted. All I needed was an unfinished wood plaque from the craft store and a piece of floral scrapbook paper. To start, lay the paper over the plaque and rub your finger around the raised edge...

I found that to be the easiest way to mark where you need to cut.

Cut out your oval then paint the lower part a color of your choice. Once the paint dries lay your paper in place and mark where you want your antlers to go.

I cut out small holes in the paper where the antlers would go so I would know where to drill my actual holes. Now you can glue your paper in place. I just used mod podge. To make my plaque look finished I sanded down the sides of the paper to get rid of any overhang and make it one with the wood...

It's time to drill some holes. I would drill through the wood and also through the antlers first to avoid splitting them. 

Holes in antlers...

Almost done! It will be worth it, I promise. Finally all you need to do is hold your antler in place and put a screw through the back with a screwdriver. Make sure to attach your hanger before screwing in the antlers though.

I love it! Also, I was able to customize it by doing the work myself. Who knew an animal part could look so feminine?

My mother in law knew I was in search of a rake head as well so she bought and sent me one she found for $5 at an antique store. I think they work well together.

And again...

I will be linking up to The Shabby Nest and French Country Cottage this week. 

Thanks for stopping by!