Paint

Well this is awufl, but these are the last photos I took. The house looks totally different now. The crown is up, the cabinets are in, the bookcases are in, etc. I will try to update my photos this weekend! But this was last weekend...

playroom meeting dining room

living room and kitchen

upstairs hall

Walls

For the past few weeks the house progress has been boooooring! They've been doing plumbing, electrical, and HVAC. But this week we got walls and siding!!! I love our cedar shakes!

Windows and Doors and Tubs

The rough plumbing was done this week, which involves a lot of behind the scenes work. However, when I went today I was surprised to find exterior doors and (most) windows!

playroom and patio door
mudroom/driveway door

living room

Roman's/guest bathroom

master bathroom

master bedroom

Roman's bedroom

guest bedroom

Now I didn't take a photo of the front door. This is because surely the door there now is temporary. Our door is wood and black. The door on there right now is aluminum and white. Also the exterior doors have nickel hardware and it should be oil-rubbed bronze. Now the previous "mistakes" I found, were not really mistakes. They just did things one way and came back to adjust. I am hoping the doors came nickel and they are just going to come back later to switch to oil-rubbed bronze. Again, I am hoping!

Next week they are roughing in the HVAC and late next week, or early the following week, we will meet with the electrician to plan the lighting! Yay! Well I don't actually know why I say "yay" because I know I am going to be a pain in their butt in regards to getting what I want in budget. Anyways, that's it on the house for the holiday weekend!

Upstairs

Our contractor called yesterday to say that they were completely finished framing and had cleaned up. So we went to take a look...

living room, with fireplace in correct location

guest bedroom

Roman's bedroom

master bedroom

my closet, woot woot

master bath walking into closet

stairs

I think they are working on roughing in the plumbing and HVAC next. Less exciting.

More House Over the Weekend

Warren and I, armed with measuring tape, went to examine the rest of the work today. Luckily, everything measured out correctly. However, they did not frame for our attic door or our under the stairs storage door. We're meeting with our contractor tomorrow, so hopefully these are easy fixes. In the meantime, here is what is finished now...

front view
from left to right: half bath, furnace (exciting!), opening for the staircase
standing in the living room facing the kitchen, the playroom sets back, the dining room is to the right
dining room, with playroom and mudroom to the left, laundry room to the right
future backyard
playroom, mudroom on right

We are so, so excited! As you can see from the hole that is the staircase, we weren't able to get upstairs. Actually, Warren spidermanned it up there, but I wouldn't let him take the camera!

A Second Floor

Last night we were at Downs After Dark, for a co-bachelor/bachelorette party. My friend Tricia, who lives on Fountain (the one selling her house to my bestie), texted me "You have a second floor." My dad drove by to investigate this morning and snapped this!

and A House

Finally, we have some progress!!!

The foundation was completed on Wednesday. The first floor was framed in yesterday. Unfortunately, when we took this last night we realized our fireplace was framed in the wrong spot and they had to work this morning on moving it. Yet another delay :( But we were thrilled to see so much work done. Our contractor says it will be framed by Saturday night.

Sweet Baby

I am sitting here looking at my sweet boy, thinking about how fast this is all going by. Today Roman had his first laugh. It seems like yesterday when I held him in my arms the first time. There are so many things I don't want to forget. Like how he curls up against me and we rock, cuddled cheek to cheek, as he falls asleep. The way I am the only person who can get him to sleep, and how just at that time he'll cry for his mama. The sweet smell of milk on his breath. His wide beautiful smile. Him curling his arm around his bottle, trying to figure out how to hold it. His long conversations with himself in the mirror and his fascinated coos. His eyes following me around the room when he plays on his mat. I could go on forever. I am just feeling quite reflective and very thankful today for my sweet boy.

In other news, our builder FINALLY got his loan to build our house. Yes, the house that was supposed to be finished May 1. I designed my kitchen yesterday and selected my flooring today. Yay!

Roman is teething and I have had a heck of a time finding Orajel without food coloring. But luckily the Little Remedies brand makes some! Orajel make a "natural" brand with cloves, but from the look on Roman's face it is awful. That poor baby fussed last week while his Nana had him, all while gnawing on his fist. It also seemed to help that we increased the giant's food intake. I can't WAIT to go to the doctor at the end of the month and see how much Roman the Giant weighs! Oh and also to ask Dr. Corba about the heat. Roman scared the crap out of me last weekend at the Farmer's Market. I had him in the Bjorn and he started doing this scary wheezing. Christie and I looked at each other, both of us just totally freaked out, and she just started ripping him out of the carrier. It was early and not too hot yet, so I'm not sure what the deal was. Anyways, I would like some summer safety advice other than "Stay Inside".

Well my week at work wasn't too bad, and now I'm back home and will try to post more :)

Mother's Day

I had a lovely first Mother's Day. Warren made me pancakes for breakfast, we went on a picnic at Cherokee and snacked on my favorite cheese, Truffle Tremor, and we had a yummy mexican dinner followed by blackberry peach cobbler. I got an adorable birdie charm bracelet and a cute purse with an embroidered bird. I am one lucky mama. And the icing on the cake was that Roman rolled over for the first time Mother's Day afternoon!!! We also got the sweetest visit from our downstairs neighbors, a couple about our age with a 6 month old. They brought us cookies and me a mother's day card. How precious!!! So obviously, I must start doing baby stuff with her.

picnic

baby zen

bracelet

This weekend was also exciting because (and no I'm not going to say the Derby) our friends Lee and Tricia are selling their house. They live on the same street as we lived/will live. So Ashley caught wind of this (through an immediate phone call by yours truly) and her and Jeremiah are making an offer!!!!! To quote Ashley, "All my childhood dreams are coming true!" Lee and Tricia have an adorable house and I of course love the neighborhood.
Speaking of houses, allegedly they are going to start building ours soon. Considering it was supposed to be finished May 1, I really hope they get this show on the road. I have been selecting things at Lowes and will be very excited to take pictures when I finally have a house to take pictures of.
Annnd speaking of pictures, I recently went to pick up the photos from Roman's newborn photo session. I must say, I love Jessie Kreich-Higdon. She is a doll. When I picked the pictures up, we sat and talked forever about pediatricians, bullys, music class, and all kinds of other mama stuff. I just enjoy talking to people who are the same speed as me in regards to parenting. I think I might start going to this new mom's group at Mama's Hip for the same reason. They also have Mommy and Me yoga, hosted by Owl Tree Yoga that I might try as well. Oh and I am going to sign up for the Music Together summer session. I have GOT to get out of this condo, can you tell?
Jessie and I were talking about pediatricians because I am sorry to say, but after stringing us along, our pediatrician said that we could not been seen without the pertussis vaccine. Now, I know she has other patients who are not vaccinated so I am not quite sure what is going on with that. I suspect it has something to do with the fact that when I took Roman in for his two month checkup, our doctor, who is in practice by herself, was out and there was a substitute doctor who was NOT a fan of us skipping the DTaP and the Hep B. I am wondering if she said something to my doctor. I am working up the nerve to call them back and be assertive. I would still like to go there, mostly just because I don't feel like looking for another doctor.
My OB, now there's a good doctor. The Reglan worked great. I never made MORE milk than ever, but I consistently made daily what I had made at my best on my own. However, I have been off it for two days and have NO milk. My OB is writing a prescription for domperidone, which I have to order from a compounding pharmacy in North Carolina. It has less side effects than Reglan, which is great, but I think I am going to have to pay out of pocket for it. Which is not great.
I found out last week that I have to go back to work. So I can keep paying for all these drugs I am taking! My benefits expire May 27th. So I have to go back that day. It won't be too bad. It's a Friday and an overlap day for me and the sub. Mom will have the baby. They we are going to go to Murray for Memorial Day, see my adorable niece's dance recital, and bring Joy back here with us. I have to work with kids Tuesday-Thursday and Friday is teachers' last day. So Joy will watch Roman all week. Fred's going to come get her and help out as well. My visit at work last week went well. It was nicer than I thought to see my coworkers, and not as nice as I thought to see my kids. They were CRAZY! Thank goodness I only have to go back for a few days!
Warren is talking about going back to school. To learn, not to teach :) He is setting up to take his GRE and apply to grad school for his Masters in Public Health. Baptist East pays for his school so it sounds good to me.
Christie had a dentist appointment today and is coming to hang out the rest of the day! Yay!!!!

Counting Down

We moved and are now settled into our little condo. I am loving it because I know life is about to be crazy and it is nice to live somewhere that you can clean in ten minutes. However, moving, selling my house, preparing for baby, etc. have all kept me from blogging.
The thing I am most excited about is hiring our doula, Kim Tabler. I am so, so excited to have a doula period, but Kim is awesome and I am so happy she will be with us to support us through the birth. She was recommended to me by our birthing class teacher, Nicole. Birthing class is also going great. I think Warren and I have this natural childbirth on lockdown :) Our doctor said last week that Roman is 6 1/2 lbs. by her estimate. He is head down and ready to go. I am so physically miserable right now and just counting down days. I can't sleep, my back hurts, I am exhausted, and I am sick of not being able to bend over to pick something up!!! And, though I must say I am keeping my sense of humor about this, I am sick right now and I can't cough without peeing a little. Other than my physical ailments, things are going great. Warren and I are loving the little, easy to manage condo, the baby clothes and cloth diapers are washed, car seat is in, and the hospital bag is mostly packed. My extensive to-do lists are almost complete!
About two weeks ago I had an awesome day when I had two showers on the same day. My kids in my class threw me a surprise shower. It was ADORABLE!!! Some moms brought in cookie cake (because of my chocolate chip cookie love) and punch. The kids all played games and I got a ton of cute gifts! It was so touching that all the parents were so supportive. I have a bunch of pictures, but unfortunately I can't share because I can't go posting my babies' faces on the internet :) That afternoon was also my work shower which was a shared shower with my former teammate Sarah. Sarah and I were 2 1/2 weeks apart, however she now has a two week old son!!!!! Just a reminder that Roman really could come any second!
Last weekend I had my final shower. It was for family and family friends, though I of course drug Christie along. My mom's bff, Beth, was the hostess with the mostess. I finished up all my thank yous today (finally)!
After go go going non-stop it was nice to just take it easy this weekend. I internet window shopped for new post-preggo clothes, napped, and got more baby stuff ready. I can't wait to photograph Roman with all his cute new stuff :) Next weekend's agenda: a busy schedule of a Saturday facial and massage and a whole bunch of nothing.
Happy Valentine's Day!