Fans and lights!

So, after our exciting news about closing on our house yesterday, I have something else exciting to share! Although, this might only be exciting to me, and a few others that really truly love decorating a house.

A few weeks ago we went to the Menards 4th of July sale and bought some lights for our new home! It was nerve-wracking to make our first larger purchase for the house, but I am glad we did it because we got a super great deal (as we are trying to be nice but really cheap, since we are newbies at this and have a ton of loans). 

We got these fans for the living room, office, and master bedroom;  

these for the nursery and guest bedroom;

and this for the dining room.

Yay!

Our house to make a home.

This post has been a long time in the making. A year long- literally. I am happy to be able to share it now!

I haven't been too blunt about our future plans for our (growing) family, but have casually hinted at the possibility of us moving to NW Iowa once Kley graduates. 

After a lot of waiting, praying, making plans, changing plans, and making new plans, we have some official news!

Kley is graduating in December (can I get a round of applause?!?), and after that we will be moving to Orange City, IA, where Kley will be joining his dad's law practice.

Last July we started our house search, back when we thought Kley was graduating last May. We happened to be in NW Iowa for my cousin's wedding, so we met with a realtor and looked through a few houses. None really panned out, but it was super helpful to get a head start at looking, just so we could know what the process is like. It also helped us get a handle on our budget and all the lovely things that go along with buying a house. The initial house I loved was way out of our price range. Oops.

Since then, we have been keeping a close eye on the three NW Iowa realty websites (meaning checking them almost daily), and had my MIL walk through several houses for us over the last year. It's hard when you don't live there. Houses go fast in a small town. There aren't a ton available, and it seems like they come in a rush and go in a rush, so I am so grateful that Kley's family is there because they have been monumentally helpful to us in this process.

Sometime late last summer/early fall we also had the idea presented to buy Kley's great aunt's house. They were downsizing and moving, and heard through the grapevine that we were thinking about moving to OC. They contacted us and asked if we would be interested in buying it.

What proceeded after that is a long, but really good, story. We walked through it, liked it, but didn't feel confident enough to make an offer that far back. Also, we had to work through some budget/loan stuff. We basically told them that we were interested, but that was it. Then we found out Kley was graduating later than we thought, so we told them we weren't interested anymore. They said okay, but that's too bad. Then they called back about a month later saying that they weren't going to move as early as they originally thought either, and asked if we were interested again.

We talked about it, and decided that since our offer would be at the absolute top of our budget, it was too risky right now, so we told them no. So they listed it and we thought it was gone for sure, again.

About a month after that, Kley's grandparents made a hugely generous offer to loan us the money for the first few years, instead of taking a bank loan. With that offer, we felt that it wasn't as risky, so we made an offer. 

Then we didn't hear anything back for another month, so we thought it was gone again. They called after a few weeks, and said they would accept our offer, but wanted to close earlier. We had about two weeks with thinking/talking about closing dates, but in the end another couple came in and made an offer and wanted it immediately. That took away our opportunity to close later, but we are thankful that they took our offer.

So, we are THRILLED to say that we ended up buying their house, through a private sale, and we are closing TODAY! While it's earlier than we wanted to close, since we aren't moving until Christmas-ish, it's working out super well. Now we have time to paint and get everything ready before we move, and we can move stuff in slowly over time.

All in all, I am really happy and content with how this process turned out. Even though it took a long time to figure out, that time helped me learn to depend on God and not on things. Since the house came and went so many times, we had to trust Him to provide with what He has in mind for us. If He gave us the house, great. If not, He had something else in mind. I am thankful that God really gave me a peace throughout this process. I am usually a huge worrier, and not that I didn't worry during this (because I certainly did), but God blessed me with a great sense of peace in that He was taking care of us. And He certainly was/is! 

We are homeowners! I am so excited to bring our baby home there and to take this next step with our family, although it will be really sad to leave Des Moines.

I'm ready to make our house a home!

Take your rings off!

Today was a sad day. My wedding ring was just cut off. I hated watching it happen. I love my ring and I never want to take it off, but unfortunately it had to be done. 

When I got pregnant, the only thing I knew for sure would happen would be that my stomach would get really big. All the other side effects are a possibility, but not a guarantee, so it's hard to know what to plan for. My hands and feet swelling has been the thing that bothered me the most, for some reason. It freaked me out to have huge ankles. Kley didn't understand that, claiming that it's not a big deal, and out of all the things to happen, why would something so minor seem like such a big deal?

I don't really know, other than the fact that I didn't know that would happen. My stomach getting big doesn't bother me because I knew that would happen for sure. Everything else was a guess.

I had never heard of fingers swelling so bad that you had to cut your ring off. So, pregnant ladies everywhere- it happens! Whenever you notice the slightest swelling- take your rings off right away!

I noticed my rings getting super tight a couple weeks ago, but it never occurred to me to take them off. Dumb. The past few days it got even tighter. I wear three rings- yesterday I was able to get one off with lots of pulling/twisting, and the other off with lots of lotion and twisting. But my wedding ring wouldn't budge.

We tried everything- lotion, ice, water and soap, conditioner, soaking it in the shower, windex, floss, etc. Nothing worked, and the floss was incredibly painful. I tried to do it to myself and Kley tried also, but he couldn't do it when I started crying. I admit that I don't handle pain very well, but it really hurt. Basically, it's where you thread the floss through your ring and then wrap it really tight and close together all the way up your finger. Then you start pulling the piece you threaded through, and it's supposed to twist your ring all the way off.  

After trying all of these things, we went to the doctor. She tried the floss too (apparently that's the best method), but couldn't get it. So we headed to the jewelers and it was cut off.

It was so sad, but I'm glad we did it. My finger immediately started to feel better, so I know it was getting too tight. Also, we were thinking about resizing it anyways, because it was pretty tight before pregnancy, so I'm telling myself it's fine that it's cut because we were going to resize it.

Goodbye my beautiful ring, for a few months. I will miss you!

(You can see in the picture the nice chunk of skin that got ripped off during the floss process, and you can see the indent from how tight the ring was. Wow.)

Second/Third Trimester weeks 23-26.

I can't believe we are in the third trimester already! Today I am 26 weeks. It feels fast and slow, excited and anxious all at the same time. I am so thankful to have a relatively easy pregnancy. My job (teaching 3-year-olds) is very active and demanding, so feeling pretty good has been a huge blessing. The main symptom I have had in the last weeks is swelling- my hands and feet are much bigger than normal. I've also had some backaches, and a few cramps, but not too bad.

The most exciting part is feeling baby move! The kicks are getting harder and more frequent. Baby is still the most active late at night/early in the morning when I'm laying in bed. Two days ago I felt the baby as hard as it's ever been, and I'm pretty sure I felt it do an actual flip!

We start our first childbirth class tomorrow! I'm excited to meet our little one.

Week 23

Week 24

Week 25

Week 26

I love my family- girl time.

Today was a really great day. I spent the whole day with my mom and sisters, and it was wonderful. I truly treasure time with them, and am so blessed that God gave me such a great family.

This morning we got manicures AND pedicures (my dad's gift to my mom/us for Mother's Day), which was glorious. Then we headed to the mall, had lunch at Panera, and did a little shopping.

This was one of those really good days that I will always remember. :)

Interesting article.

5 Reasons Modern-Day Parenting is in Crisis

I read this article, and thought it was pretty good. Definitely some interesting/true points!

I also personally love the way she uses the word "rubbish." :)

4th of July weekend 2014.

This 4th of July was pretty special. First off, I was just plain so excited to have Friday off of work. I love my job, but it's definitely so nice to have those holiday breaks, that don't seem to come often enough.

Thursday night after work, Kley and I headed off to OC (Orange City, IA) for the weekend to visit his family. Unfortunately, they do everything there on the 3rd, so we missed most of the celebration. We pulled in for the tail end of the fireworks. Thankfully we got to see the finale, the best part! It was also great to see all the extended family, even if it was only for about 20 minutes.

Friday for lunch we headed to Pizza Ranch to eat with my grandparents and aunt/uncle, and then we went to their house to play a little Heartland Strategy. If you don't know what that is, you should learn. It's like Sorry.

Friday afternoon until we left Saturday night we just hung out with Kley's family. It was so nice to catch up, talk, and relax together. Family is the best.

This afternoon we went to the pool with my brother and sister, which was also awesome.

Happy 4th of July! We are so blessed to live in the USA. :)

(Also, look for a few more fun things we did this weekend to come soon!)