Monday, March 31, 2008

Nope, not yet...

Well, we got through the weekend, and no baby yet. Kristen is back to school again today, somehow teaching and dealing with MCAS testing, all while 9 months pregnant. She has always planned on working until at least April 3rd, which would allow her to take the rest of the year for maternity leave. Perhaps the baby knows to stay put until Kristen is ready to bid her students farewell for the rest of the school year.

I will update when I can with any big news, but for now, still waiting...

Friday, March 28, 2008

Final Room Accessory?

I doubt it's the last one, but it is the most recent. We got a table lamp, from Pottery Barn Kids of course, to match the furniture we have already. Cousin Hayley is all about the coupons/discounts there, and we somehow managed to save around 75% of what the lamp and shade should have cost us. It is actually pretty cool. No turny knob to switch it on or off, you just lightly tap the metal ring on the base to cycle through 3 light settings.



We also got some blinds for the previously bare windows. I managed to install them myself, which is no small feat if you know my handiwork skills. My 'go to' guy for electrical and plumbing, neighbor Guy F., installed the overhead light and dimmer switch for us as well, so now we are really all set. Only 5 days away from the due date now, it seems like the last few weeks have flown by. I'll keep you posted on any news.

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Update...

Kristen is just past 39 weeks now, a week away from the due date, so our little girl could be here anytime. People have been placing wagers on the date she'll be born. My brother, ever the comedian, suggested April Fools Day, and that "she" would end up being a boy. If that ends up being the case, I would like to thank him for jinxing us, and tell him to repaint the room blue while we are at the hospital. Either way, our child will be pretty in pink for at least a while, until we can make some returns and exchanges. Whether boy or girl, the lion with the crazy eyes cannot be trusted...

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Thoughts on the mobile...

I haven't posted anything in a while, because now we are really just waiting for the baby to come. Kristen is just over 38 weeks, so it could really be anytime now. I don't know how she is still teaching, but she manages, and she is clearly tougher than I could ever be...


Yesterday, I was in the room, checking things out, and I started to think about the mobile in the crib. I have decided that if it were hanging above my bed, I might never get to sleep. Just look at the crazy-eyes on the lion below, and the monkey.






They are surely pleasing to the eye of a baby, since they are bright, and make noise, and spin around. But if these guys were staring down at me, I would be having nightmares about giant googley-eyed animals trying to take me away in the night...




Monday, March 10, 2008

After the Baby Shower

Kristen had her baby shower yesterday, and wow, did we get lots of stuff. Thank you to everyone involved in pulling it off, it was really a great time and very well done! Thank you also to everyone who came, we hope you had a good time.

The room is pretty much ready for the baby now. The crib is all set up, the mirror doors are installed, the drawers and closets are filled with clothes, the rocking chair is assembled and comfortable! Here are some more pictures of the setup.

The crib

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The changing table and bookshelf

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The rocking chair

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Now we just need a baby to put in the room, and it will be all set!

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Baby's Room Update

We have done a little more work on the room in the last couple days and it is really coming together. I was able to install new electrical outlets without shocking myself too badly. I also managed to assemble the crib and bookshelf without too much trouble two nights ago. The crib was pretty straight-forward, but the bookshelf had about 300 pieces. I didn't have to use any duct tape, and didn't end up with any extra nuts or screws, so I'm thinking I pulled it off without any problems. Now the room has new plugs, a crib, bureau/changing table, bookshelf and area rug in it.

Here is the bureau/changing table and bookshelf

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and the crib

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and the rug.

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Looking good so far, next we'll get some closet doors and we already have a rocking chair on order.

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Baby's Room

Here are some before and after shots of the baby's new room, starting with the demo work.

Notice the lovely wood that covered half the walls...

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Note the beautiful pink wallpaper, which was under that wood. It was tough to let go, but in the end we decided it would be best to cover it over with blueboard and plaster.

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Kristen's cousin Jessica was a big help with the demo work.

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Here is a nice shot of the new baseboard, window sills, casing, and trim work, by none other than the master carpenter, and my old man, Roberto Parsons, and his sidekick Ryan.

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Another shot of the trim work including the door.

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Here is the newly refinished wide pine flooring. It used to look like it came straight out of a 19th century saw mill (which it did), but now it is smooth, flat and shiny. Talk about character, check out those knots...

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Now I just need to assemble all the furniture...

Monday, March 3, 2008

First post, first baby...

Just leaving my first post on the new "blog" site. I thought this would be a good way to stay in touch with friends in various places. Actually Taylor suggested the "blog," being so hip, trendy and up to date with all this new-fangled technology the young folk are using these days. I was just planning to send a telegram to everyone, but he convinced me otherwise, since the cost would be prohibitive.

Anyway, the wife and I are expecting our first, a girl, in the next few weeks. We just finished the baby's room, blueboard, plaster, trim, paint, refinished the wood floor; lots of work, and it looks great. We will be putting together the crib and furniture over the next few days and getting the room ready for our new addition.

It's too bad we did so much work on the room, because now that I am a "blogger," I live in my parents' basement.