Family Update

Per some requests . . . . the family update.

Abby turned 1 on February 1st.  She is developing quite the personality.  She is very vocal and makes it very clear when she wants something (sounds like her mom or maybe takes after Finley).  She can walk but still prefers to crawl.  She continues to survive beatings from Jace.  And continues to follow him around and want to do everything he does.  Teething and 2 ear infections has made our life a little exhausting but she is a happy girl most of the time!

Jace is testing his boundaries.  This phase . . . I figure will last the rest of his life.  It seems he may have a little of my stubborn personality.  He still likes school and just got his first bike.  He is very entertaining and is a charmer like Jay.

Jay's work has started to settled down a bit and he is enjoying more than when we moved here.  I am back to work.  20-25 hours a week and only 2 1/2 days in the office and some work from home.  I really enjoy it so far.  It is the perfect balance for me.  Staying at home this past year full time was great with everything that was going on but I am excited to have some adult time during the week.  I am the marketing manager for a Tutoring / Test prep company.  Very happy I found it.  

Finley is doing good.  He moved in with Aunt Jen for about 5 weeks.  It was just too much having him here, the construction workers, and kids.  Mainly felt bad for our babysitter who watches the kids during the day.  Finley tried to eat one of the construction works one day and it was just too much.  So she is our life saver.  And be honest, Abby is going to miss him the most.  They are buddies.  

We really like living here and look forward to a week without snow!

I am back . . for real!

I’m back!  Really .. .  this time is for real.  I want to keep track of the progress.  I always regret not keeping track on our work in the past 3 renovations! 

We are rolling now.  Update since my last post.  We have a contractor (after interviewing many, negotiating, etc. etc.).  We are really happy with him so far.  Joe Simpson of JDS Construction.  I am not taking any credit for this.  Jay did it all. 

And this is what we are doing: 

Kitchen and family room – changing layout, new cabinets, new counter tops, lighting, painting (no more wood), raising the ceiling in kitchen, removing half the wall between dining room and kitchen, increasing window size over the sink . . .. .

Half bath main floor – making it a full bath (adding wainscoting, shower, new tile, vanity, toilet, etc).  Removing the cabinet in hall beside bathroom and making a closet. 

Basement – Refinishing the basement (walls, ceilings, floors), fixing stairs, changing layout, making a finished laundry, and adding a full bath

Changing all windows and doors on main level – putting in new WHITE vinyl windows, changing doors, painting all the trim to white on main level

Dining Room – fixing the famous hole in the ceiling, adding wainscoting.  Paint and remove wallpaper.  

Dumpster arrived and Wednesday and demo started.  Jay and I have focused on purchasing things.  We have all of the appliances, most of the light fixtures, the tile for the bathroom upstairs comes in next week, toilets, pedestal sink, and vanity mirror for upstairs.  We still have a lot left to pick out and buy.  This weekend we have a babysitter on Saturday so we can have our final meeting with the cabinet company and to pick out our slabs for the counter tops.  We have it narrowed down, just need to pick out the actual slab.  We are three days into the project and things are moving faster than expected.  The kitchen they have done some demo but mostly to work on the load bearing wall.  They also demoed the basement.  

I will show more pictures next post.  Too dark tonight to get updated pictures.  Got in late tonight from a trip to NC.  Will post this week on an update on life in VA also!