Six Years In Our Family Home: The House That Built Us
A little love letter to our home – the place we’ve grown as a family of four.
Today marks exactly six years since we got the keys to this house. Six years since we walked through the front door, filled with hope, plans, and a little bit of fear. In some ways, it feels like we’ve always been here—like this has always been home. But at the same time…how has it already been six years?!
Our Lives in 2019…
When we bought our house in 2019, it was just Finn and me. We were deep in the trenches of a long infertility battle—three years of heartbreak, miscarriages, and failed cycles that felt endless. We didn’t know what our future would look like. We didn’t know if kids would ever be part of our story.
But we did know we needed something new. A fresh project. A way to feel hopeful again.
That’s how this home came into our lives.
It felt enormous to us at the time! We were coming from a two-bedroom condo and suddenly had this big ol’ house to take care of. But more than anything, it felt like a blank slate. Yes, it was a distraction from our personal lives. But, it was also a dream!
We moved in with my mom, rolled up our sleeves, and launched into a whirlwind three-month renovation.
And somewhere in the middle of drywall dust and paint sample, we did one last IVF cycle. It worked.
A Home for our Growing Family
I found out I was pregnant with Rory the week we moved in. This house that had started as a way to lift us out of a dark season quickly became the backdrop to a completely new chapter. It was no longer just a project. It was the place where we would bring our daughter home.
We spent the rest of 2019 making it feel warm and ready. Finishing the laundry room, my home office, and the baby’s nursery just in time!
Rory was born in April 2020, and just as we were settling into newborn life, the world shut down. But honestly? We were okay with that. We had this cozy, safe haven to hunker down in. We had each other. We had space to breathe, a backyard to enjoy, and a baby to snuggle.
This house became our little world, and we were thrilled to be in it.
In 2021, Ellis arrived, and our hearts grew even more. Slowly, room by room, project by project, this place turned into a true family home.
Our Home – Now
These days, the walls aren’t just decorated with art – they’re filled with giggles, toy clutter, and sticky fingerprints. There’s a giant family calendar in the kitchen. Artwork hangs proudly on the fridge. The floors are worn in all the right places and constantly covered in crumbs.
And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I still love the pretty things, but now it’s less about perfection and more about comfort – lived-in, loved-on, and full of life. It’s the kind of home I dreamed about during all those years of wondering if kids were ever going to really happen.
Beyond These Four Walls
But as much as this home means to us, it’s not just the paint colors or the nursery we brought our babies home to that made it special. What really surprised me is how the meaning of “home” has stretched far beyond these four walls.
This neighborhood has wrapped its arms around us in the most unexpected and beautiful way. I always hoped we’d like our neighbors, but I never expected to find some of my best friends here.
Over the last few years, I’ve formed the deepest friendships with women I now see almost every day. Our kids go to the same schools; we walk to each other’s houses; we text constantly about our kids’ activities, drop-offs, and life. It’s the kind of village I never knew I needed. Being able to form these new adult friendships, right in the thick of motherhood, has been such a gift—a little reawakening in this season of life.
We’re Staying Put
People often ask if we’ll ever move. Honestly? We don’t know what the future holds. Maybe someday we’ll take on a new renovation or invest in another property. But right now? This home, this street, this community…it’s everything we could want.
It’s not just a house anymore. It’s our safe place, our celebration space, our soft landing. It’s the house that built our family and I’m so grateful we get to call it home.
What I Know Now, Six Years Later
If there’s one thing these six years have taught me, it’s that life can change quickly—and in the most unexpected ways. We bought this house at a time when we didn’t know what our future would look like. We were holding on to hope, craving a fresh start, and this home gave us just that…and so much more.
To anyone in a season of waiting or uncertainty, I just want to say—I see you. I remember that ache, that limbo, that longing for something more. And while I don’t have answers, I do believe that life has a way of surprising us. The chapter you’re in right now isn’t the whole story. There can be joy ahead. A new beginning. A tiny glimmer of hope. Or just a space that feels safe and truly yours.
Six years ago, we stepped into this house with heavy hearts and big dreams. We didn’t know what the future would hold. Today, I’m so grateful for everything this home has seen and held. It’s been messy and beautiful and not always easy, but it’s ours. And I wouldn’t trade the journey that brought us here.
P.S. If you’re interested in the physical transformation of this home (not just the emotional aspect), I dive into all of the before and afters in this blog post. It truly has come such a long way, and some of those before photos are shocking!
