750 Sq. Ft. of Happiness

Although it’s been trying, it’s been worth it. In 2019 we decided to buy a home that would never fit a family. We bought at 750 sq. ft. remodeled hay barn with one bedroom below a loft. It is kitschy and totally Airbnb worthy…for one couple. We really enjoyed the smallness of the home until Noah was born. For such a tiny human, he really took up some space, made his presence known. We knew quickly we would need an addition but figuring out the timing was important. Josh took a year to timber frame a shop. I swear if I hear the word timber frame one more time….

There are some things we enjoy about having a small home. It’s easy to clean. It’s easy to know where everyone is at all times. It’s great for continuing a conversation when someone has to go to the bathroom. Eaves dropping is easy. It helps us keep our “junk” to a minimum. Everything has a place. It’s cozy. However, with two children the coziness doesn’t have the same appeal. Having two children in our small home has been…fun? Some of our family members think we are crazy. We have definitely thought up some creative nap spots for both of them. Mostly we were putting Noah in the back storage room with a pack and play. Noah was sleeping with the dogs and cat for a while. I think he loved it. Ruby the cat used to sleep in his crib with him before Lou came around. He actually seemed to sleep better because of how dark and quiet it is. Putting them to sleep together in the same room has been very hard. It always seems like one will fall asleep and the other stays up to rage, waking the first one. There’s been some poop explosion that have made it from one crib to another. My brother in law calls their room, “The Thunder Dome.” It seems like the house explodes multiple times a day. Meal times is one of those. Food gets everywhere. We usually have the dogs do clean up but since we had to put them down we don’t have quite the cleaning crew we used to. The toys seems to spill from their little room out into the living room. Every time I am trying to bake, Noah finds his way into the flour and makes some great art on the walls. Honestly I don’t even know why I call them “rooms.” It’s mostly the “area” of the house you are in.

There are certain things I won’t miss about the small space. I won’t miss Josh butchering meat right behind the couch on a folding table all fall. I won’t miss the kids opening the bathroom door when I am trying to use it. I won’t miss the sound of the kids breathing throughout the night. I won’t miss the clutter that arises very quickly. I won’t miss doing dishes by hand. Thank God we are getting a dishwasher in the addition.

During the summer it works out well because we can open the screen doors to the porch and kids can roam as they please, free range children. Winter is another story. Not having a place to get energy out has been trying on everyone. I attempted swim lessons with Noah but he wasn’t that into it so we have found a homeostasis of winter days in our small home. I have taken him cross country skiing a bit as well. I’m hoping some arts and crafts are enjoyed this winter. We are also going to attempt downhill skiing with Noah this year….stay tuned and pray for us.

When we decided to plant a garden we plotted it where the previous owners had planned for one. We got some cheaper fencing and posts off Facebook and decided on the layout. Josh likes to make fun of me by saying when I decide to do something, I go BIG. When we plotted our garden out three years ago, it was my first time gardening. It was touch and go but we are definitely on the upswing. I remember the day I was looking at our house and garden, back and forth. I said to Josh, “our garden is bigger than our house.” He just laughed and was like, “yeah obviously, where have you been the past three years.”

This year we decided to make an addition happen. Noah is so excited everyday a truck shows up. He stands waving as they arrive and depart. The first day an excavator showed up he was in the kitchen and came running for the door. He stood at the glass in awe. Then he realized he could get outside and ran past the door to watch the excavator. It still amazes me how much “boy” is engrained in him. He is naturally drawn to trucks, planes, destruction, saws, knives. Some friends a doing the excavation and plumbing. They have been very sweet about letting Noah help them along the way. I could just envision him getting scooped by the excavator bucket thinking it was the best day of his tiny life.

Although I will be enthused to have more space, a small piece of me will miss the coziness and the intimacy with which we have been living our lives. We have gotten to know each other so well. We have learned how to co-exist, share and exude patience with each other. Our home has also taught us the importance of personal space, kindness, the need for alone time, the value of outdoors, imagination and being bored. Although Noah and Lou will have their own rooms, I can see them wanting to sleep together in the same room. They love each other so much and love being near each other. I don’t know if we would have otherwise gotten that with a bigger house. Our small home has forged relationship and shown us the meaning of being a family. Stay tuned for further addition updates…