He's still working on me.

So lately..now that the house is sold, and we moved into the apartment, and we realize the next step for us is definitely Taylor - I have been struggling with my selfish heart. We had a message this week about money at church, about having a generous heart, and looking at everything we have as a gift from God, and while I really always felt like that was something I did..I have found there are areas of this that I struggle with. Like the idea of buying a home that is different than where I saw myself in life. I mean...if we're being honest I never saw Taylor in our future when we moved to Austin 4 years ago. I mean..I didn't even know what Taylor was.

But then we met these sweet friends of ours the Campise fam. Guess who lives in Taylor. That's right..those sweet Campises that we love. They are awesome and would makes trips to Round Rock all the time from Taylor. I still didn't see it in our future.

Then of course there are the Mullins. They were the very first sweet couple we met here in Austin. They brought us to the Stone. We bought a home in their neighborhood when we bought our first home. Obviously, they are another fam we love and we got REALLY used to them being right there all the time, for real I LOVED it!

So rewind to about a year ago. Brad and I are praying and talking and know we need to refinance/sell our house. The problem - we just didn't know where we were supposed to move. So I started looking in Round Rock, Georgetown (north of Round Rock), and Austin. I found nothing. Then a few months later the Mullins begin talking about moving to Taylor. Brad and I talked..I thought Taylor was where we were supposed to be...he didn't. So I kept looking everywhere but there..but secretly I would scout out the Taylor real estate. But found nothing.

Around Thanksgiving time we decided that once Noah was born, we would get the house on the market sometime in the spring. As time went on we decided by May (or I decided). It didn't quite happen by May..but June 3rd or something it was on the market. Ready to go.

All this time we continued to check out websites and found nothing anywhere. Except in Taylor...I found a couple I thought could be interesting but we just weren't sure.

Well then the Mullins moved. The night they moved we left their house and the Campises were still sitting on the couch..and I realized we had a 30ish minute drive home and I lost it. Started crying right there in the driveway. Part of this could have been the hormones of just having a baby..but really that was the day I knew we were moving to Taylor.

After this we have gotten to know the Benaglio's better, another family moving to Taylor, and have decided more and more that this is just where God is leading us.

Time went by..and Brad one day said..."so I think we're moving to Taylor." Or something along those lines. I was so so so excited!

So we started looking. Our sweet realtor took us to Taylor multiple times..and we just couldn't find anything. I would find one then Brad would..they never really matched up. (Except one..which we put an offer in on..but we couldn't match up with the seller)

Anyways..so here we are. Our house sold. We haven't found a house yet. But we know where we're headed. But I'm struggling with a selfish heart..and apparently I'm a little more worldly than I ever want to admit. Because I look at some of the houses and I think "Nope, no way, nope. Too much of a project. It's not level. We'd have to re-do the kitchen." Blah blah blah. Then I see some of the beautiful already redone homes and I think..I could totally live here. Conveniently those aren't in our price range.

But I need to get over that.

See moving to Taylor is about more than being with our friends. We feel called there. The people who live there - we're doing life with them. They are actively loving on babies in the foster system..and that is something we have a heart for. We actively feel that we are called to be a support team for these people and those precious babies, and then to hopefully at some point be loving on foster kiddos in our own home. It's also about financial freedom. We are choosing to move there because we can definitely spend less on a home there. I won't have to work full time. It won't be like Round Rock. It's not that kind of town. It's going to be a different life. It's definitely not suburban. But we want to be in Taylor, loving on the people of Taylor.

But if we're being honest. I'm struggling a bit with what that will look like for us. Apparently I am extremely attached to our old home. Or more to what that home was.

So anyways. All that to say. The Lord is working in my heart. Hard. He is changing me and growing me. I'm thankful but I think I'm fighting it. I'm praying for peace for the next few months while we take a break from looking at homes, and for guidance when we start looking again. That Brad and I would be able to find a compromise for what we have to have vs what we can do ourselves in a home. That we will faithfully pursue where we're feeling led. That we won't worry about all the selfish worldly things we could be worried about (and sometimes do). That we will pursue WITH JOY where God is leading us, despite not always understanding. That I will give up some of these things that I think are important..and remember that EVERYTHING we have is His first. He blessed us so we can bless others.

That's my story.
Long winded. But where we're at.
Of course I'll keep you updated. :)

Have a great week!

P.S. On a lighter note..our adorable little guy now scoots wherever he wants to go. Puts his head down, his bum in the air, and pushes himself wherever he wants to be. AWESOME! :) I'll update on him in the next post. He's rocking our socks. Just one awesome little guy!

I'm tired.

I hate to complain.

Because that's really not how I like to be.

But I'm tired.

It's been a long couple of weeks.

We just have to make it to Friday..that's what I keep telling myself.

I can do anything for that long.

Really until Saturday...because I have to work Saturday...so just 4 days and then we can rest.

REST. So excited.

Then in two weeks we leave for Colorado for a three night quick Allison Fam trip. I am SOOO excited! We haven't been since our first anniversary. So Noah and I will head up at the end of Brad's work up there and join him for a few nights as a family. So Stinking Pumped.

If we can just get through closing then I can do that!

Tomorrow I have to let the guy come in to hook up our internet and phone....into this crazy apartment. I'm so embarrassed. I mean, it's bad.

Sweet Brad came home tonight and helped me put it together a little though. Then I was able to get our master bath all cleaned and organized. ONE ROOM DOWN.

The house is looking good though. Everything is out of there. Today one of our sweet neighbors watched Noah so I could make runs back and forth with things. Tomorrow another neighbor is watching him so I can clean for a couple of hours uninterrupted. I'll be so sad to leave these neighbors.

Anyways..sorry for the downer of a post. Better next time! :) Have a great day!

Done. Almost.

We moved!
Did it!
Almost finished!

It was a crazy busy weekend! But oh my word are we thankful for friends and for Carl and Rosemary who came to help.

Friday night our sweet neighbors had a little going away get together for us. We LOVE our neighbors! How sad we are to be leaving them! It was wonderful to hang out on Friday night. Saturday was the big move and it took most of the day. Sunday I did a few things at the apartment and the house.

It's still chaotic in the apartment. It's crazy how many things need to be put away, but it surprisingly feels very like home. I'm so thankful for that. I haven't cried yet, and I really thought I would. But Saturday night when we went to bed in our new little apartment - so unorganized and out of control - we went to bed feeling like we were at home. I guess that's how it feels when you know you're exactly where you should be.

Still have a big week ahead. Need to finish up at the house with a few trips to the storage unit...and then closing..and then to say goodbye to our sweet first house. So there may be a few tears this week, but then we'll be clear and free to just live and relax for a bit. Thank goodness!

Have a great week! Once sweet Noah gets up it will be time to head to the house..so I better get a move on!

Oh goodness.

So I should be packing.
Really.
I should.
And I know this. But there's this little man sitting next to me, and he just takes my interest in packing and throws it out the window.
Because he's this precious beautiful boy who I much prefer spending time with over bins of our things.
But oh my goodness if you could see the chaos.
I have to keep reminding myself to get moving.
I have a tendency to freeze up when I'm trying to pack things. Like I get stuck in all the disorganization.
We can do this.
Saturday is the day.
HERE WE GO!
But here's a few pictures of a super sweet boy I know..because that's better than packing.



Have a great day!

5 Months Old!

One sweet little boy turned 5 months old yesterday! We're just adoring him! Every month I decide I like that stage better..and so far this month has been by far my favorite. I think Brad's too. Noah is growing and interacting and he brings us so much joy every day!

No stats this month..no appointment with his doctor. Judging by how he feels when I hold him I definitely think he maybe gained a pound or so in the last month. Give or take a bit. But he's feeling pretty big.

New developments this month:
He found his little feet. Maybe the cutest thing ever. He is constantly rolling onto his back to hold onto his toes.
He still hasn't mastered the giggle...but goodness does he try. He's such a happy baby though...always smiling...just no giggle comes out when he tries. It's pretty funny.
LOVES to talk. I was worried maybe he wasn't talking enough when we were back in Indiana. But I think that he just takes it all in..because when it's just us at home..boy can TALK. (Don't know where he learned that from)
LOVES to be sitting up seeing what's happening around him. Not big on laying down. If he's not grabbing his toes he will roll to his belly so he can watch everything that's going on. Loves to sit on our laps and watch what is everyone is doing in his little world.
Likes music. Thinks it's funny when mama dances silly to the music.
Still digs his exersaucer. Seems to be realizing that when he moves his feet that makes music.
Practicing on talking with consonants. So far I've heard Ba, Da, Ga. He is a big fan of bababa and then blows a raspberry.
Speaking of those..he has discovered the fun of blowing said raspberries. We were looking at an apartment last week, and the entire time through the apartment he was blowing raspberries. The sweet girl showing it was like "I think he likes it!" To which I was thinking "Nope..he's blowing those raspberries to say no way mama." (That place smelled badly of cat.)
He is getting much more coordinated with his hands. Definitely can grab anything he wants. Poor little guy though..his paci's don't have handles..and when he goes to grab that thing he just can't get it the way he wants to. He's determined though and I just know he's going to get it down.
He is soooo interested in what we're eating. He watches me every bite I take. I did put the spoon in his mouth this week. I'm just sure if he understood...but he looked at me funny. He has another month to get prepared for that.
His Aunt Sarah gave him his first taste of frosting this month. He won't be having any more of that anytime soon but he sure seemed to like it!
He likes the bumbo..but only for a bit.
He tried his highchair for the first time. It was adorable. Even just with him sitting in hit looking at us funny.
Still LOVES that daddy.
Wakes up almost every morning happy. I love it. He wakes up jabbering, and then when I go to get him up he's smiling at us from his crib.
Recently slept 10 hours straight. I think we're going to be more on this schedule it seems like. He had been doing closer to to 10-6 but we're getting him down earlier..so we're doing more like 9 to 6 or 7. That's fine with me.
He's a flexible baby. I'm so thankful for that. I can take him wherever and he'll find a way to nap and it allows me freedom to get out of the house and to help out in the Big T.
No separation anxiety yet...hoping we keep it that way. But last night when I got home he was a little fussy..after I had showered and I took him he stopped crying almost right away. Oooh how that made my day!

Oh this kiddo...what a joy he is! Can't wait to see what next month holds!

Pictures below:

Our monthly shoots our proving to be a bit more difficult. They are turning into this:

Or This:
Wearing his Daddy's hat. Boo KC. He'll be a cubs fan I just know it.
One happy little dude.
We will cheer for the Royals...just because we love Brad.
Have a great weekend! We're packing and moving some things. Next weekend will be the big final move. Whoa.

Packing.

If you were a follower of this blog three years ago...you might remember me saying I hate to pack.

Apparently - that hasn't changed.

I still hate it.

It has a purpose. I like that. It will have an end. I like that.

But putting everything in boxes to just unpack and reorganize. I don't like that. Especially when I had it all organized how I liked it.

This particular packing job is difficult because I started with the kitchen..and our kitchen that we're moving to is significantly smaller than the house. So trying to decide what will be unpacked and what will remain packed and put into storage is a bit challenging.

I think I'll recover.

That's all. I could write more..but what I'm really doing is procrastinating on the packing..and sweet little Noah is napping so I need to be taking advantage of this and knocking the rest of that kitchen out. Hope you have a great day!

New place...check.

So after days of going back and forth trying to decide where we are going to live...we made a decision today. We were still going back and forth, but then the people who are buying our house wanted to close a week early..which meant we needed to get a place right now...so we made the choice.

Thankfully, that closing date didn't work for our buyers either so we still have the same closing date..and we have three weeks to move. That's pretty awesome. We're going to start moving on Saturday, because we take possession of the apartment then. Brad's out of town a couple days next week...so Noah and I will be rocking out some serious movement of random things at our house.

Anyways...it's an apartment. Which I can honestly say is a HARD idea to swallow after living in our house. But we looked and looked and couldn't find a house at this time that we're willing to jump at. But the apartment is super nice. I really like it. It's much nicer than our last apartment. It's a second floor apartment, it overlooks a grassy area which is really nice. It has a really nice kitchen, with granite counter tops and everything. Those things are definitely not necessary in an apartment..but it was also the best deal we could find for the size and price...especially since we only signed an 8 month lease.

Though we're both really sad about leaving the house. I can say that we have lots of traveling to do..and there are a lot of things happening in life right now. It will be nice to have a smaller home to clean and take care of, no yard to mow, no maintenance we're responsible for. We can pick up and leave and travel without any worries. That will be so nice during this time. Plus, when we start looking for a house again..we won't have to worry about trying to sell one house while buying another.

So here's to a life change. One that we feel very strongly the Lord has blessed, and we think it will definitely be the best option for us as a family at this time. Financially, we're going to have so much freedom especially with me working only part time. It's so funny to be so torn.

But oh the relief that we felt today applying for that apartment. I guess I shouldn't say it's a definite..we have to be approved..but I don't see why we wouldn't be. That would be quite the shocker. So we're going to hope all goes smoothly and just say we're a go!

So if we're sparse on here in the next couple weeks..you know why. Have an amazing week!