Ryan has to work all weekend so this is probably the only house progress we will make but I’m secretly hoing he has time to just cut the shelves for the closet so I can put the closet all together if baby girl naps tomorrow.

I realized today I could watch netflix on my phone, much better than sitting here doing nothing while alex eats. 

Birth Announcement in cross stitch and a new hat (that matches her blanket!). The cross stitch is on the dresser for now but I'm trying to decide where to hang it so it's proudly displayed!

And for my first Mother’s Day from Ryan…

A silver locket so I can carry a picture of Alex with me always.

Yesterday we had a very busy day, with my allergy shots in the morning, walking the dog since we finally had nice weather to do so, then down to Worcester to pick up our stripped doors!  Finally a stop at my aunt’s quilt shop and then stitch night.  Needless to say we went to bed early last night!

Today we have mother’s group (find out how much Squishy ways – that’s her new nickname), then cleaning the house!

Mom came out this weekend to help with Alex, and of course to see her so ryan and I took full advantage and finished up the nursery.
Things accomplished saturday:
- she molding installed the rest of the way, nail holes filled, sanded for last coat
- fan/light and switch installed
- ceiling of closet sanded, primed and painted
- closet light installed
- outlets almost all installed
- rug put dow, crib put together, bed frame together and dressers moved in
- mural drawn (sarah came up in the evening and drew the mural for us so I just have to paint it now!)

On Sunday we finished everything up:
- finished outlets
- closet switch installed
- painted shoe molding
- mattress moved in and furniture all set up in final spots

Nursery almost done

another view

the crib almost set up

It's hard to see since it's a sketch but here's the mural Sarah drew for us! Can't wait to paint this in this week!

More pictures to come once I have things more set up.  We did move the rocking chair in last night so it’s getting close.

What’s left on the nursery?

- Installing the closet system
- Priming/painting the doors and putting them up
- Priming/painting the window sashes
- Installing cable/ethernet drops
- Painting the mural

What a great weekend and great first mothers day!  I got to sleep in so in total I got 7 hours of sleep which is a first since alex was born!

After working with Lutron to get our Maestro fan/light double dimmer switch working, which failed by the way, they left me with one last idea. They said the way it’s behaving it’s acting like there’s interference from a CFL or plasma tv or something.  Problem is that taking the CFLs and plasma tv off the circuit in that room did not help.  So the last idea was to turn off everything at the breaker box except the one light circuit and then slowly add them back on until I could pinpoint the interference.
Well this is time consuming but finally today I had some time and wouldn’t you know it, it worked!  The CFL on the kitchen circuit somehow was interfering (note that it’s a difference circuit).  So I changed that to incandescent and boom – it all worked like a charm.  Holy Moly that was a real project.  So now I have to get back to the Lutron folks and they can send me some sort of filter so I can use said CFL again but until then, we have a fan!

The fan all installed!

Some photos of the cousins before little jason had to head home on sunday. Unfortunately Alex wasn't really in the mood

Jason however was a complete ham for me while i rocked alex and took pictures of him playing.

Alex was much happier being snuggled

My favorite pic of little Jason the monster I have no idea how I caught this one but it was a great face!

And now it’s back to the week, counting down the days until the next weekend.  Monday Alex and I drove down to Worcester and dropped off 6 doors to be dipped/stripped (goodbye lead paint!).  That includes the 2 doors for the nursery!  Plus all the tvroom doors (3) and our closet door for our bedroom.  Going to have a lot of doors and windows to paint as soon as the weather is warm enough to keep the windows out for a period of time!

The nursery floor, trim and walls all done. Just the shoe molding left.

On sunday ryan did start the shoe molding install, a couple of long pieces have to be trimmed and the saw isn’t set up at the moment but soon we can finish that up.  The floor has to cure for 2 weeks before we can put the rug down and bring in all the furniture.  I’m hoping to start the mural this weekend though and we can get the outlets in and work on the closet ceiling.  Can’t wait for the weekend!

I did the cutting in on the walls while ryan watched alex, then we switched off and he rolled the walls (so they are done!) And put a coat of paint on the shoe molding so once that’s installed tomorrow we just have to touch up the nail holes.

After dinner aimee snuggled peanut while I did the final coat of poly on the floor (another tinted coat).  Tomorrow the floor should be dry and we can finish up the room (the closet has a bit left including a molding and the ceiling but we can put the room togwther sans closet for now.  Tomorrow ryan will install the shoe molding and I’ll do the outlets and we’re done!

We also have an errand to run (truck inspection) and I’m hoping to fit in a shower today so I feel normal.

Monday we had errands to run outside the house and when we got home Alex just wanted to be held (she had spent a lot of time in her car seat so it was understandable).

Today was a rainy day though so we stayed in. She had a fussy morning but after lunch she slept between feedings so I managed to get the trim mostly sanded during one of her naps. I’m hoping to head back in and finish sanding and vacuum so it’s ready for paint. I’m not optimistic that I’ll get the painting done tonight as well but maybe.

First coat on the trim and it's sanded for the second coat.

Right now it’s time to go get some dinner made, I wasn’t good about meals yesterday and paid for it with a headache so I’m trying to be better today.

hyacinths in full bloom out front

Friday night I managed to get everything in the nursery primed (trim) except for the windows which i’ll wait until it’s a bit warmer out to do so they can stay out for a bit.  That’s also not dependent on leaving the room empty since the windows can be removed to another room.

So the trim is primed and ready to be lightly sanded for the first coat of paint (today?).

Chillin on friday

Saturday Alex and I went over to Celebrations with my friends to shop! When we got home Aunt Erica (Tia) came for a visit!  We went out to lunch (after miss alex ate first of course), then just chilled at home.

Now it’s sunday and I am hoping to get some painting done once this headache eases up a bit.

I slept for 5 hours straight last night thanks to this chair!!!!