Updates All Around

The House

We have been by the house every day, but it has been hard to get pictures because of all the equipment out front or it was too dark.  We went by this evening just in time to get a couple shots before it got too dark.  A lot happens in a few days.

We now have a roof, insulation, the beginnings of a porch and all the windows and a temporary door are in!  I am curious to know if the estimated finish date is the same.  They got started a week late, but things seem to be moving quickly.  I can't wait to walk through with our PM.

 The back of the house with the fireplace and morning room.

Next week they will install the roofing, HVAC, Plumbing and Electrical. 

Pregnancy

Our little princess is officially full term and I have hit the point where I am just ready for her to come.  I have been completely exhausted lately.  I have been having a hard time sleeping at night so I am tired and irritable during the day.  I feel like my little kindergarteners are testing my patience lately, but I know it is just exhaustion causing it.  I also have no motivation to get stuff done when I get off work.  I feel like an emotional mess lately.

Besides being exhausted, I feel ok physically.  I have started getting contractions.  Painful?  Yes. Regular? No.  It seems like they are worse in the evening.  Hopefully that means my body is getting ready for her arrival and she will be here soon!

School

As of Thursday, I officially have a long term sub.  The sub that was going to do it ended up getting hired on full time at our school!  I am so happy for her, but sad I don't get her.  This other sub seems like she will be a good match for my class though.  I have my plans ready and my daily schedule written up.  She is coming in to observe me on Monday and Tuesday and then I will be ready to hand my class over to her. 

Husband

He is being as amazing as ever.  He has really stepped up where I have been slacking.  He does most of the cooking, cleaning and laundry now.  I sure am lucky!  Most of all...he puts up with my emotional ups and downs.  I sure love him!

2nd Floor Framing

I have to give a huge shout out to the 4 guys that were working on our house today!  I was so impressed with them!  In the 20 minutes that I sat there and watched them, they basically got up all the outside walls of the 2nd floor.  They were working so fast I couldn't believe it!  Instead of walking over to get the level and bring it back, they quickly scurried back and forth!  There was not a wasted minute!

Here is what the house looked like when I first arrived:

This is what it looked like 20 minutes later!!  I watched it evolve right before my eyes!  It was so fun!

As I was leaving, a crane arrived.  I figured that they were getting it ready for tomorrow to move the lumber upstairs to frame the bedrooms.  Before I went to church, I stopped by the house with Travis.  I was shocked to see that the crane was up and the framing for the roof was almost complete!  Look!  It looks like a house!  They weren't kidding when they said things move fast! 

I can't wait until we get to walk through the house!  It is getting closer!

Next Week?

I went to the doctor today for my weekly visit.  I met with one of the Doctors that I haven't seen since October!  That is a looong time.  She was very positive and reassuring through out the appointment.  I would love it if she could be the one to deliver me!  She kept telling me how good I look and I couldn't help but laugh.  This past week, pregnancy has really hit me.  I have started retaining water and just feel puffy, my face, fingers and feet/legs mainly.  I have not been able to sleep through the night so I am just exhausted and feel like an emotional basket case. It was just ironic because this is the worst I have felt since the days of morning sickness and she was so nice.

Then she started asking if I had my bag packed and car seat in the car.  I said that I had my toiletries packed but that's about it.  She recommended that I go ahead and do those things.  Then she said, "she could come anytime starting next week."  NEXT WEEK?!?!  How did it get here so fast? 

All of the sudden I feel a little panic to get everything done!  I have my sub plans done...for the most part.  I have baby supplies...for the most part.  I know what I am doing...for the most part.  My house is ready...for the most part.  It is just a little crazy and stressful!  I am still waiting for that "nesting energy" that I hear all about to kick in.  I have had no desire to get things done lately.  I come home and just want to sleep.  I need a kick in the pants to finish these last few things!

I just can't believe how fast everything is happening (it has been 9 months in the making but it still seems fast)!  So, wish me luck these next few weeks and pray for my sanity.  I may be freaking out a little bit!  

Framing...First Floor

I didn't update over the weekend because we didn't really have any good pictures.  On Friday, they poured the basement and garage.  When I went by after school, they were all out working so I just stayed in the car.  I went by later with Travis when he got off work.  At that point, they covered up the concrete so there was no point in taking a picture.  Also on Friday, all the goodies arrived.  We had window frames, stairs and lots and lots of lumber.

We also got an email from our PM giving us an update on what was accomplished and what they hoped to do this week.  He said that they planned on starting the framing.  I was so excited to drive by after school because I have seen how fast they move.  I hear the first floor is up one day, the second the next and the roof on the next.

This is what the house looked like when I drove by at 4:00.

 Back of the house.  The morning room is complete!

 They made a mess of our yard!

They were working hard and working fast.  After taking a couple pictures, I drove around the block to see the progress on the other houses being built.  When I came back by our house, they had 2 more walls up!  I was amazed!

Travis and I went by at 6 and they were still there working!  It appeared to me that they had all the first floor framing, but I am not sure.  They could have just had the outside framing and not all the rooms.  We will have to go back tomorrow to look. 

Baby Shower

I just have to tell you how lucky I am to work at Brantwood Elementary!  I remember when I first moved to Ohio and started looking for a job the feeling I got as I drove up to the school.  I remember telling Travis that Brantwood was my school.  During the time that I had to transfer my teaching license over to an Ohio liscense, I substituted around the district.  Every time I was at Brantwood, it felt like home.  Now, a year later and being a teacher there, I can't deny that this is the place for me.  The staff is absolutely amazing!

That being said, they threw me a shower after school on Wednesday.  I was so shocked at how generous everyone was!  A couple teams went in together to get me some of my bigger registry items.  The best part about having a little girl are all the cute clothes!  I am so grateful for everything that has been given to us!

Travis keeps saying that he doesn't want me to decorate the baby's room "all princessy" because he doesn't want her to be spoiled.  Well, I am afraid that we are not off to a good start.  I walked into her room yesterday and laughed out loud because it is full of baby things (a lot of it still in boxes because we are waiting until we move to set things up).  Travis declared that she already has more stuff than him and that we need our new house just for her.  I am so excited for her to hurry up and get here!  Only 29 days to go (19 school days!!!) until my due date!  Hopefully she will make her appearance a week early to be a St. Patty's Day baby!

Gravel and Plumbing

After school I met up with someone over by our house so I took a minute after meeting to check out the house.  I honestly did not expect anything to be different, but wanted to just drive by anyways.  To my surprise, there were trucks out front. 

Since Monday, they put down the gravel for the garage and leveled out our big dirt mound.  As I peeked over the wall, I realized the foundation forms had been removed, they put in the rough-ins for the basement plumbing and placed the structural steel!!!  Things are really starting to pick up!

I also met one of our new neighbors.  She was driving by as I was getting out of the car to take some pictures.  I am excited to be in such a friendly community! 

Foundation Forms

I was so excited to drive by the house yesterday and see that the foundation forms were not only put up, but poured!  You can see that it it is turning into a house!  Now is when everything is going to start to pick up and move quickly.  Now if only the weather will cooperate!

This is a shot from the right side of the house.  The front mound of dirt is the garage.  You can see the main part of the house and morning room in the back.  I am soooooo excited that I can hardly stand it!

Pregnant moment of the week:  I wouldn't walk around the house because I was too scared of losing my balance and falling.  What happened to me jumping over large holes and climbing high mountains/rocks?  I had to get Travis walk around and take all the pictures.