Baby update

Things are going well, and in just 3 weeks we get to find out the gender. We'll see if my hunch is right that it's a boy, though talking to a friend the other day, she said the fast heartbeat may indicate a girl. (It was 160). Of course, no one knows for sure, but it would be a major shift in thought for me if it were a girl! But I'll be happy either way.

And I am 95% sure I can feel the baby moving! The other day while eating a Sonic Reeses' Blast (insane amount of crushed Reese's in there...it is almost criminal) I felt about 7-8 little "pops" in the same exact spot. It didn't really feel like tummy rumbles, because it was in the same spot and very quick, like a machine gun. I kept feeling that every time I took a few more bites. I told Jeff and his first thought was, "oh no...our baby's inherited my sweet tooth!"

This really is the feel-good trimester. Sometimes I even forget I'm pregnant. No cravings, no sickness. Jeff has to remind me not to carry groceries or other heavy things (I'm sure it's fine but he gets paranoid).

The time is starting to come that I'm glad I have a few things in my closet that 1) were once too big and 2) have elastic waists. I have 3 skirts left that fit that I can rotate for church and teaching. I bought some Tall Old Navy jeans on ebay, and got them in yesterday (Laura...they fit...my savings of $7 was worth it! :D ) I've still been wearing my regular jeans, though, but after getting my new ones, Jeff told me I need to stop wearing the others. He's afraid I'll give the baby a conehead and keeps reminding me to unbutton my jeans when I'm sitting in the car. I'm just glad there are tall pregnancy clothes out there. Talking with a tall friend, she said just two years ago when she was pregnant she could find nothing, even checking internationally on the web.

The house will be done two weeks early! We saw how fast they were progressing, and Jeff went to talk to the realtor to say he's fine with moving up the closing date if they finish early. April 18th was their conservative estimate so they might actually be done sooner. The carpet is in, lights, lots of other little details...Jeff and I made carpet angels in the loft and tested the soundproof-ness of the music room.

Pics






























And a belly shot at 4 months.

A fun Saturday

It was sunny and clear, though pretty windy, so Jeff and I decided to spend the day outside. We couldn't resist going out to our house again (second time this week!) to see the progress. These men are machines! The wood flooring, all the plumbing, counter tops in kitchen and bathrooms, tile in master bath, linoleum--all this was done in two days!! I posted a few pictures below. The outside bricking is almost done.
After checking out the house, we explored yet another trail at Tribble Mill. This one led us to the old mill...we had fun exploring the stone foundations and the rusted old millwheel. Then we went poking around in Home Depot for rugs and paint chips. We found the perfect color for the nursery, Champagne Dance. It's very pale yellow and doesn't look green, even in flourescent light. I was also snagged by the seed display near the checkout line. Jeff let me buy a few seed packets so that my itchy fingers would stay away from the potted flowers. :) Every year I seem to have a specific "color lust"--last year it was blue flowers, this year it's lavenders and purples. I bought lavender and violet zinnias (the dumb gardener's flower...tough as leather and bloom within a month), some morning glories for around the mailbox, forget-me-nots for the shady spots in the back of the house, and "Convulvus"--big purple flowers that look like morning glories, with yellow centers. I keep looking them over, gloating over my treasures...Jeff just laughs at me!
God is so good to us, and I'm thankful for all the blessings we have done nothing to deserve. Even His beautiful world is a much larger blessing than we could ever ask for. Jeff and I spent the day thanking Him for His lovingkindness!

Tagged

It took me awhile, but I always intended to answer this meme! Thanks, Laura. :)

1. What is your occupation? Music teacher--guitar and piano

2. What color are your socks right now? No socks! But when I am wearing them they rarely match. Sometimes I wear Jeff's.

3. What are you listening to right now? The washing machine going.

4. What was the last thing that you ate? Raisin bran and grapefruit.

5. Can you drive a stick shift? yes, I was forced to learn when we bought a car with one :)

6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? maybe a dark green. When I was a kid, my favorite was Burnt Sienna.

7. Last person you spoke to on the phone? One of my students' parents about cancelling a lesson

8. Do you like the person who sent this to you? Who, Supermom? You betcha!

9. How old are you today? 29 years and about 4 months.

10. Favorite drink: Just about anything hot. Cider, tea, coffee.

11. What is your favorite sport to watch? none?

12. Have you ever dyed your hair? Yes, I dyed it darker during grad school but it wasn't that noticeable. Didn't love it.

13. Pets? Yes; a very large cat, Frodo

14. Favorite food? Soup! Or anything salty like chips. Also I'm crazy about banana peppers! And I love Subway...

15. What was the last movie you watched? wow...it's been a while. Oh yeah, Jimmy Stewart in a Alfred Hitchcock movie...Rear Window...very good actually and I don't usually like suspense

16. Favorite holiday? Thanksgiving! I like the food...

17. What do you do to vent anger? Huff and puff. Get quiet. Sometimes write out an angry letter (which I throw away). Of course, what should I be doing? Well, you asked what I DO...

18. What were your favorite toys as a kid? I really liked playing with my brother's G.I. Joes. :D Also Barbies. And I remember a favorite pocketknife. Just a touch of tomboy. :)

19. What is your favorite: I've always said fall, so I'll stick with that, though it's a toss-up between it and spring!

20. Hugs or kisses? hugs; Jeff gives the best

21. Cherry or Blueberry? Cherry! I love cordial cherries and Nyquil (maybe it's the alcohol)

22. Do you want your friends to do this survey too? sure, if they want :)

23. Who is most likely to respond? Karanena? Maybe? Please? :)

24. Who is least likely to respond? Erin, because she is studying, keeping up with two kids, and has twins on the way.

25. Living arrangements? living with in-laws, moving at the end of April to a lovely house.

26. When was the last time you cried? It's been awhile since I bawled, but pregnancy has had me tearing up quite a bit in the last few months, over little things.

27. What is on the floor of your closet? Jeff's big shoes, my smaller shoes, and the collapsible laundry basket.

28. Who is the friend you have had the longest that you are sending this to? I've known Elizabeth all my life...she's been a great friend and cousin and is a wonderful, funny, strong person!

29. What did you do last night? made some lasagna, and while it was baking, Jeff and I went to look at fabric for curtains (he's such a sweetie)

30. Who is your role model? There are many! But I'll just say, my mom. I've grown to appreciate her more the older I get. Her patience and goodwill toward everyone is amazing. I remember being critical of her growing up, but now I see how her spirit shines through and how her training has helped me be kinder and more giving to others! Especially now as I'm about to be a mom myself, I'm beginning to understand a little more all she's done for me.

Gray baby at 3 months

I finally got these scanned. This is our baby at 3 months. Once he/she woke up, he couldn't keep his fingers away from his face and in his mouth. It's amazing how God is knitting him together so perfectly. Though our baby is only about the size of a lemon, everything is in place and growing. Human life really is a miracle!

Blogger malfunction!!

Anyone else having trouble downloading pictures? When I choose a file, blogger does not recognize it. The message says "Please choose at least one file." I've tried this with small pictures, large pictures...nothing works! Just wondering if anyone else is having this problem.

Spring and Christians

I think my moods are affected a lot by the weather! This winter I have been more ready than usual for spring. Things are starting to bloom and my hands are itching to plant something! I'm avoiding Home Depot and the Walmart garden section because once in, I can't resist buying something colorful and pretty! I'm glad God creates so much beauty in the world. It reminds me of His hand at work and His beauty, even admid ugliness...everything is still brown except for a few beautiful, blooming trees.
I think followers of Christ are supposed to be like that. In a world of ugly things we're supposed to stand out and draw people. I met a family that showed Christ's beauty so clearly yesterday. They are from Romania, and the two boys will probably be taking piano lessons with me...and they are really delightful boys, 13 and 10. (This is usually not a delightful age!) When she was a little girl, their mother heard that the president of the United States was a Christian. She was amazed and from then on prayed every night that she could come to America some day. They have been here 11 years now. She told me story after story of answered prayer...she could not find a job for a very long time, and got the kids and her husband to pray...finally found a very good job in a lab, testing for pollutants. Her kids now tell everyone "my mom has a really good job!" because they've seen God answer prayer firsthand. Her youngest boy had meningitis and TB when he was 2, and they happened to be visiting in Romania. The doctor gave him a 0% chance to live. He lived, though, but was totally blind. The doctor said he'd be blind and mentally/physically handicapped his entire life, but God gave her peace about it and she knew he'd be okay. She went in to check his vision. He could see! She brought in the doctor and they tested his vision. He steadily improved over the next few months. Now, he is a normal, vivacious kid with dimples and a quick smile! This family prays about everything, and the boys are an outspoken witness in their public school. The youngest had to stand against the wall for saying his favorite subject was the Bible. The oldest explained the story of Creation to his friends when the class talked about evolution. They're not a bit shy, and I found myself really enjoying their company in a way I enjoy few new acquaintances' company! I really want my kids to be like these two boys. And I'm really looking forward to having them as students...they also want to take in the summer, which is a bonus for me!
I was rebuked and uplifted talking to them...how many times do I forget to take simple problems and requests to God in childlike faith? I have such a cynical, self-sufficient attitude at times! Meeting this lovely family was a breath of fresh air to me...like the scent of flowers in spring. :)

Two more months!

I'm having a hard time just resting in the Lord and waiting for the next two months to pass. I just can't wait to move in and get settled. I'm thinking about all my neglected furniture sitting there in storage unused, and all that lovely SPACE in our house, and it makes me antsy. And, of course, this morning I looked at Elizabeth's blog and saw her gorgeously decorated house, and had to swallow down my impatience again! :)
There are a few things I can do in the meantime to get us ready to move in. (NOT pack everything...thank goodness it's all labelled and boxed in storage!) But I measured the windows, so I can get started on the curtains we'll need right away for privacy. We loved the model home decorations, so I'm basing my curtains on theirs. I found a website for easy lined drapes: http://sewing.about.com/library/weekly/aa020106.htm.
Model home curtains. Simple, but they look great. The pictures don't do them justice.



























We've decided on the nursery colors and theme. We wanted to do something a little different than the traditional pink or blue, so we decided on pale yellow with sage green accents. I was at least partly influenced in my choice by the lovely yellow walls in Ella's nursery! I love the brightness. An instant pick-me-up. Of course we all know nurseries are decorated for the PARENTS, because the kid has no clue about color schemes. :D The theme I chose is "ducks and chicks."
We decided on plain yellow bedding, and Jeff will provide the chick artwork on the walls! (I'm forcing him to do some non-computer related art--he's says he's not good at it--pshaw--what were all those drawing/painting classes for anyway?)

I like the chicks, but ack, too busy!!















Plain yellow is better.

Ma-Ma is home!

Saturday I called my parents, and they couldn't talk long b/c Aunt Frances was bringing over supper for them, but Ma-Ma is out of the hospital and at home! They said she was sitting in her wheelchair in the den watching TV. :) Mom & Dad have a system worked out where the two of them can lift her into her chair and get her back into bed. Uncle Langdon will come by to help too, and Aunt Frances is helping with meals.
I'm so thankful my sweet grandma is out of the hospital where she can continue to recover. I haven't heard yet the status on the wound on her foot (won't heal because of her diabetes), but apparently the staff thought she was well enough to be at home. God is truly good!

Fashion Blurb

Ever since I was little and was ushered into the joys of sewing by my cousin Elizabeth when we were, what, 8? I've had a little part of me that's very interested in fashion. (This may surprise those of you who attended high school with me!) We sewed together, picking out whatever scrap from the "sewing pile" that caught our fancy. Sometimes we sewed without a pattern, certainly never following it exactly, and Elizabeth even made her own patterns occasionally.

I still sew skirts for myself. I have 6 or 7 in the closet, most of which are now a little tight. :( A blissful hour for me constitutes sitting on the high stools at Walmart looking through the Butterick or Simplicity patterns. (You have to keep in mind that they will look better on you than they do in the photos, and worse on you than the drawings! Nobody has legs that long.)

The summer before last, when I was trying to build up a studio at home and had next to nothing to do, I discovered hotpatterns.com. I haven't bought any of their patterns...they're pricey...but I like how up-to-the-minute they are. They had a reference on their site to style.com, and I like to surf it occasionally. You get a sometimes cutting, always intelligent, often completely off-kilter, review of each of the major fashion houses, along with pictures of their work for that season. (Warning: there is a lot of over-the-top stuff that NO ONE would wear, along with quite a bit of immodesty, so not a good idea to leave it on your computer if you have husbands or kids)

Last spring/fall my favorite designer was Olivier Theyskens for Rochas. I'm not original in that opinion, but his stuff seemed feminine, sane, even MODEST, and just exquisitely made.

Today I looked over just a few houses for fall and wanted to cry. The fashion scene couldn't be worse. This fall, skinny jeans, voluminous tops with shoulder pads, psychedelic colors, and just plain old drab, minimalist gray and black "structured" are IN. Zippers abound, "scarf" neck ties a la '70s breeze behind in the wake of models in dagger-sharp pointy heels. I'm seeing lots of shiny fabrics held in at the waist with huge, patent leather belts.

Is this what we have to look forward too?? Not the '80s again. We who lived through them never want to go there again by choice!!

I guess I can say thank goodness for Walmart and fashion-lag! I'm told that Americans are always five or six years behind the "real" fashion scene in Europe.

I actually liked the look we had going for the early 00's. Bell bottoms or bootcut are flattering to almost everyone. You can't say the same for pencil pants. The Boho chic look was sweet, craftsy and feminine. It has some humanity and femininity, unlike the impersonal, structured "tough girl-knight" look that seems to be upcoming. The earthy colors of before are being replaced by grays and blacks, or, when there is color, it's radioactive blue, hot pink, or lime yellow. It seems like we're returning to antiseptic "depressed" instead of glamorous, richly colored and feminine.

On a hopeful note, the '40s are back as well, with suits that look sharp and tailored. Just don't buy them in hot pink!!

Weekend in Greenville

The weekend before last, we went to Gville to see some friends, visit with Jeff's mom, and of course see Laura, Will, and Ella. Here are some pictures:

Jeff and his mom. She's saying, "I'm glad someone can make me look small."













Laura wanted to learn to crochet. It took me about 10 minutes to impart my "vast" knowledge of crocheting...I can do the simplest pattern! We started on a baby scarf for Ella.















Willie brought me some grapes to munch on. Ella kept stealing them, preferring my grapes to her cut-in-half grapes. Laura kept telling her, "no, those are Aunt Emily's grapes." Finally she got the message and started stuffing them in my mouth! It was so cute.








Ella in her little pink shirt.

Progress on the House

Sorry I haven't gotten those ultrasounds scanned yet...tomorrow, Jeff promises!
Meanwhile our house is no longer see-through. They did all the sheetrock (but none of the puttying) and also put most of the hardi-plank on.

Peeking in on our little Genie-us

Yesterday I had another ultrasound (standard policy for new patients at Preferred Women's). I didn't expect it to be so much fun!! First of all, I didn't have to drink 5 gallons of water within one hour and then have my bladder poked. In fact I didn't have to drink anything; and they said they would do an external ultrasound. Unlike my first ultrasound, they had a nifty screen on the wall that allowed me to see everything.
Fig Baby is AMAZING. He was sleeping when we first checked in on him, lying on his side with his back to us. (Good baby...you're on mommy's normal sleeping schedule...not waking up until 10...this appointment was at 9:00, so he was probably still in REM sleep!) We had to poke him a little to wake him up, and then he squirmed like he was grumpy about being waked up and was trying to snuggle back in and get comfortable! Finally, he woke up completely and started moving his hands near his face. He couldn't keep them away from his face, in fact. Rubbing his head, putting them in his mouth, just constantly moving. Then the legs started kicking. Tiny little skinny things. (Hmm...he/she probably has Jeff's skinny calves...the one part of him that won't bulk up, unlike my sturdy, thicker calves!) He stretched all the way out for us, and we could see his little rib cage.
The technician pointed out a lot of the features that I honestly couldn't see clearly myself, so I took a lot of it on faith, but some I could see plainly. The spindly blurr near his face she said were fingers. The two lobes of his brain I could see clearly, and his ear was clear in one pic, but facial features were blurry. It just made my day, though, to peek in on his world. It was like calling up a genie-in-a-bottle without knowing what they're doing...sleeping, taking a bath, whatever. How nice to have a little window in on Baby's Life! And what a life...comfy, warm, weightless...
I read something about the FDA limiting the use of ultrasounds to trained professionals only. This is ostensibly to discourage 3-D "keepsake videos" that expose the baby unnecessarily to a (potentially) harmful energy source. At first this seemed like a good idea to me, but what about crisis pregnancy centers? I think ultrasounds are the most effective tool they possess. I don't see how any mother could choose abortion after seeing her baby on an ultrasound. It's so obvious they're little people, even at 3 months.
Anyway. They gave me several pictures of the ultrasound (these are at 11 weeks, 5 days...almost 3 months, for you normal people. The "weeks" thing always annoyed me slightly. So, when the kid is twenty, are they going to be 1,045 weeks old?). They also "officially" confirmed the due date of Sept. 6th. I'll post the pics when Jeff can scan them in for me. :)

Wonderful Party, Pregnancy Brain

This past weekend was the highlight of this year (besides finding out about Kumquat). I say this reverently, but it was almost like heaven, where everyone you love is in one place enjoying each others' company! When I was little, I loved playing with Elizabeth when we visited Sumter in the summers. I liked it so much that when it was time to leave I told my mom that I wished Elizabeth and I could both die and go to heaven, so we could play with each other all the time! Fellowship with loving family and friends is a little taste of heaven, for sure.
I got to see Karanena, longtime friend from JH that I haven't seen for several years; my lovely sis-in-law Laura, HS best friend Abbie (and cousin-in-law?) and of course the wonderful, positive, caring friend that the whole party was about--Elizabeth. I'm so thankful for the time we had together growing up; Elizabeth helped me not be such a wimp, as we hurdled bushes, ran barefoot around the farm, rode Bucking Broncos and cleaned pigeon poop out of the barn, dressed up in crazy outfits, swung from vines, and ran breakneck speed on narrow mountain paths...I've never met anyone else with as much energy or zest for life as her! Everything's a party or an adventure when she's around. She can see the humor in absolutely everything (even riding to school with our heads smushed up against the back of the station wagon...I ride to school with Africans..) I'm so thankful for her! Abbie did a marvellous job planning her party. Everyone had a great time esp. me :) and playing modified Queen was a stroke of genius!
Now for the Pregnancy Brain part...in our rush to see Ma-Ma at the hospital in the morning, we forgot our camera! We went straight to the party afterward, with no camera. Thankfully I have friends who have more brain cells than I and will (hopefully) send me some pictures...pretty please? :)

Random pics

These don't go together at all, but here are some recent photos. Frodo pictures...he has writer's block in the first one. :) And our house. The first story was all framed in last weekend. Jeff tells me now the second story is as well! They're incredibly fast once they get started. Oh, and in the last picture, it looks like we're building in the middle of the wilderness, but that's just because the lots on either side have not been built on yet. We actually have a pretty small yard, but the trees behind will stay.

Day at Tribble Mill Park

When Jeff found the house we're now buying, he liked the neighborhood but didn't know there was an 800-acre park just down the road. It's clean, well-kept and has foot, bike, and equestrian trails. We've been exploring the area around Ozora Lake--about 6 miles of paved trail. The entire park is family and kid-friendly, even has a large, nice area with swings, slides and monkey bars, so our little Gray Monkey can grow up breathing some fresh air!
We went there today and took a few pictures. It was soooo nice to get outside and into nature--can't even explain it. It was a gorgeous, breezy, slightly overcast day, and it helped both of us unwind and get rid of some stress! I'm going to enjoy living within a quarter mile of this wonderful park! (Oh and if you have husbands interested in fishing, the lakes are stocked, so come see us!)

One of the two lakes
















On the trail















Resting spot along the trail
















Jeff loves climbing trees!
















I pretend to...fake smile :)
















Beavers at work!















There were several beautiful horses there while we were there...wish I could have gotten a better picture.

Dreams, Dreams, Dreams

Since I'm sharing all the strange and different things that are happening to me during my Prego journey, I thought I'd share this: never have I had so many weird dreams. They started before I even knew I was expecting, so I don't think they're due to conscious worry.
I gave birth to a Cat. He was furry like Frodo. Everyone was congratulating me and saying, "Aw, he looks just like Jeff." (The beard, maybe?) I didn't want to hurt my spawn's feelings, so didn't say anything at first, but finally burst out, "Does anyone see a problem with this situation? I was expecting a HUMAN." "Oh, you're right, but that's okay, better luck next time, these things happen" (This dream I have an explanation for. One of the cats enjoys giving midnight concerts. She's an alto. Her meows are deep, long, and drawn out. She keeps this up for an hour sometimes. These are the times Frodo does not get punished for attacking another cat.)
One constantly occurring dream is the Old Ancestral Home of Yore dream. Every time it's a different house, but usually it comes without modern bathrooms. We have to live there. They have unpainted boards, leaky roofs, dirty corners, rat poop and not nearly enough space. Hmmm...now where should we put the nursery? In one of them we had to live in the pump house behind our old house in Sumter, with a whole 5 square feet of space (there may be an easy explanation for that one too, hee hee).

Food Adventures with Raspberry Baby

I am experiencing the weirdest thing. Jeff says he understands me much better the way I am now. I am incredibly, viscerally, enthusiastically, whole-hoggedly enjoying FOOD. I have to have it NOW, and I have to have what I WANT. It's a contradiction that I can feel like throwing up one minute and like eating three or four hamburgers the next, but it's true!
This morning I had the worst nausea yet, and did throw up. I then had breakfast with Jeff like I always do at 5 a.m. and then tried to go back to sleep. Maybe it was the fact that I had three days' worth of grease in my hair, but I just couldn't get comfortable. Decided to take a shower to feel better, and sure enough did, for a few minutes, then back to nausea. I finally got back to sleep, and when I woke up, realized I HAD to have peanut butter crackers. I got dressed and left early for my guitar lesson so I could stop at the convenience store. I scarfed all six crackers within a matter of minutes, and they were incredibly, wonderfully, divinely good!!
After the lesson, I passed a Subway, (remember this is Cheapster talking, who is expert at talking Jeff out of his cravings) and didn't even think twice. I was getting a turkey sub with lots of pickles and tons of banana peppers, and that was the end of it. Can we say "bliss?" Unutterable bliss. I never in my life have enjoyed food quite so much. Finished off my kettle chips and felt incredibly satisfied.
Then...tonight went out to Ihop with Jeff (we're big couponers...just go wherever we have a coupon). I felt this primeval urge to sink my canines into a big hunk of beef and tear it apart, swallowing chunks whole. (This is not me, this is someone else in my body!) I ordered a thick hamburger, finished it off without any conversation (and usually I'm trying to draw Jeffrey out so we can talk; the meal is about the conversation, right? WRONG), and really wanted another one. I had to be content with eating all of my fries and Jeff's hash browns!
Jeff just kept staring at me with this dazed smile on his face. I felt like hugging the waitress and telling her this hamburger was a culinary triumph, that it was the most amazingly perfectly grilled hamburger with the most exquisite choice of condiments. Nobody told me it would be like this. I used to doubt the truth of pregnancy cravings, but they are feral, come from the gut, and will not be ignored!

Progress!

Thanks for following our progress through the Food Pyramid...now, at 7 wks, Lentil is Raspberry Baby.

I thought this was neat...from an e-newsletter I subscribe to:

"Now almost half an inch long — roughly the size of a raspberry — your baby has elbow joints and distinct, slightly webbed fingers and toes. In his oversized head, both hemispheres of his brain are developing. His teeth and the inside of his mouth are forming, and his ears continue to develop. Eyelid folds partially cover his tiny peepers and the tip of that nose you'll be tweaking someday is emerging. His skin is paper-thin, and his veins are clearly visible. Your little one also has an appendix and a pancreas, which will eventually produce the hormone insulin to aid in digestion. His liver is busy producing red blood cells, and a loop of your baby's growing intestines is bulging into his umbilical cord, which now has distinct blood vessels to carry oxygen and nutrients to and from his tiny body. Your baby still appears to have a small tail (actually, it's an extension of his tailbone), but it will disappear in the next few weeks.
You can't feel his gyrations yet, but your little jumping bean is moving in fits and starts around his watery home."

Still feeling pretty good up until today. Woke up feeling blah and it hasn't left all day. Maybe it's that I have had next to nothing to do today (besides straightening up, cooking, doing laundry) so I'm noticing how I feel more. I do feel pretty cooped up. Dreary outside, tiptoeing around b/c poor Tim stayed up all night, and watching the cats sleep. I'm going out tonight with Jeff to (whoopee) pick up some prenatal vitamins. :)

I think I'll feel better when I actually have a bump to show for all this icky feeling and can get one of these t-shirts.

Big House for a Rice Baby

Actually now I think he is a lentil baby. :)
We went by the Carrington model again and took a few more pictures...and window measurements so I can start working on curtains (nothing like privacy when you move in!) I especially like the coat room, which will become the cat room! And I have a PANTRY...ah.
Here are the pictures:

Music room--small but cozy. It's the first room on the left as you enter, so it would be perfect for teaching at home if I ever decide to do that.
















Dining room. We're going to paint the two walls red. The entire house is very white as you can see...the only paint choices we get with the house are shades of white, so we're going to add a little color ourselves here and there.

















Pantry and coat closet.




































Living room, complete with "altars." Note the side altars for small statues of Buddha and the large square altar for a TV. :D I don't know why, but every single house we looked at had these. We'll use them for books or maybe a vase of flowers....or art...



















Kitchen, though ours is lighter in color: light countertops, lighter cabinets, but darker floor (chocolate brown)


















Guest room downstairs. Y'all come see us!! We intend to use our guest room as much as we can.

















Guest bathroom. Sorry, no tub! I thought this was a drawback, but then my sis-in-law Kimberly told me she would never take a bath in someone else's tub. So, I guess it's staying as is.






















Master bedroom. I love the sitting nook! I had the idea of sectioning it off with sheer curtains, so it's like a private reading nook. We'll need some chairs or a bench there. Maybe I'll follow Elizabeth's lead and do some consignment shopping.


















Master bath (unfinished here) The tub is a pretty good size, but alas Jeffrey still does not fit. It's his dream to have a nice big tub where his legs aren't cramped! (Hmm...maybe we can get a baptismal for cheap somewhere)
















So that's the tour. It looks like they've started building. We went by the other day and they had leveled out the mountain on the lot and marked where drains and buried cable would go. They told us they could easily make the April 30th deadline. We're excited and feel so blessed to have found a nice community with some trees (if you've been in the Atlanta area, you realize how rare this is!) and very close to a state park. We feel so blessed that God led us to this community and can't wait to move in!