.a house into a home.

For the first six years of our marriage, my husband and I have rented apartments. They have always suited our needs, until now. 

We decided it was time for our growing family to have a house, and a yard. So we went hunting. 

And it was discouraging. And exhausting. 

Each house we looked at was too expensive, too small, too big, had a pool (a definite no-go with my boys!), or didn't have a fenced-in yard (which was at the top of the list of musts for us). 

So we narrowed it down to three. It was sort of Goldilocks and the Three Bears style. One big one, one small one, and one that seemed just right. 

We ended up with the small one. 

And we love it!!

I can't tell you how blessed we've been already by this little house...and we've only lived here three weeks. 

My kiddos don't have to be cajoled to eat their food anymore (a previously huge challenge with J) - instead they're starving all the time!

My blood pressure went down 10 points. It wasn't seriously high to begin with, but I was so surprised that it dropped so significantly!

And we've been having fun! 

From this:

Do you like my USMC camp stool? Bending over to pick up rocks at 8 mos. pregnant is not a pretty picture

 To this:

It's an orange tree!! (and we seeded the area around it)

My sweet husband has been working so hard on the yard. Me? I feel about as helpful as our 2 1/2 year old. 

.these guys.

These guys...

  they're crazy...

they're funny...

and I love them so much. 

As we enter the last couple months and weeks of it just being them and me, our days have been filled with sweet moments. 

I'm finding that the toddler days are filled with moments. Hard moments. Fun moments. Sad moments. Silly moments. Emotions are quick to come and quick to go. My patience can be stretched to the max and ten minutes later I can have my heart bursting from their little smiles and loving hearts. 

Life is good, even though sometimes it is difficult. 

We are having fun days. Days where we make pancakes with whipped cream for dinner. Days where we make popcorn and share it together. Days where being forced to finish your string cheese brings tears. It happens.  

.cabbage.

I love cabbage all the time. Coleslaw, sauerkraut...yum! But this pregnancy has kicked my cabbage consumption into high gear.
Maybe it's all the vitamins cabbage is loaded with. Who knows. I'll take a cabbage craving, though! 

I found this recipe in a new magazine I started getting, Eating Well. I have to say, I'm addicted. Sometimes I make this as a side for dinner and then make it the next day for my lunch (with a couple pieces of bacon or cheese on the side for protein). 

It's delicious, nutritious, and easy!

Click the read more below to find the recipe!

.oh good grief.

Oh, good grief. You'd think I didn't even enjoy blogging. But I do! 

We've been a bit busy around here...and I guess blogging is the first thing to go from my to-do list. 

Our biggest news as a family is a new little baby girl joining our family in less than two months! 

We are so excited to meet this baby girl, but this has been a very symptomatic pregnancy for me that has resulted in a lot of just snuggling on the couch watching movies with my two boys. Less than 8 weeks to go now, though! (And being the first girlie, I have lots of fun projects to share with you!)

And we moved. Just across town, but still. Everything has to be packed and unpacked. Does anyone else have a hard time deciding where things should go in the kitchen? I feel like I unpack. Then cook for a couple days. Then rearrange everything because it all of a sudden doesn't make any sense. 

But now we are renting a house! Not an apartment. Boy, does that ever make a difference to our family. It's a huge relaxer to eat at the table and see grass and trees and not a parking lot. 

And my husband is still in flight school. Which means a very busy schedule. I'm so grateful he's such a great guy and has managed balancing a family, a pregnant, sick wife, and moving so wonderfully! 

Oh, and my boys and I spent a wonderful month home with my family. We loved being with them and are looking forward to our next visit with baby girl, whenever that may be!

So that's what's been keeping me busy. Just a few things going on. But, I've got so much to share with you: projects, recipes, heart-to-hearts. So, please, don't give up on me!