Halloween 2009

I had a hard time deciding what Rylee would be for Halloween this year. She isn't into anything except maybe Mickey Mouse and I just don't like the overly commercialized costumes...besides the fact that the name brand costumes cost a FORTUNE. I figured this is probably my last year to really get to pick what she dresses up as, so after much debate I decided to let her be a cowgirl. My sister-in-law made her a cowgirl dress up outfit for her 2nd birthday and it fits her perfectly right now so I really only had to add a shirt and boots and guns, of course, to complete the look. I was gonna put her in a hat, but she said she wanted pigtails. I must say that that she was too cute!! I also included a picture of her with her new little cousin, Caelyn. She sure is proud of her...when she isn't jealous!! LOL!

We have Trunk or Treat at our church, so we didn't have to go door-to-door to fill up her pumpkin. I must say it is MUCH easier and a lot of fun seeing all our friends and their kids in costume. It was a fun night!

Disney

Ok...so I've been MIA for over a month now! I've been so unbelievably busy yet I can't seem to figure out exactly what I've accomplished. I think the 3rd trimester of pregnancy is catching up and the lack of sleep due to construction is not helping with my level of fatigue!! I plan to post several updates to try and catch up, so hold on for the ride!

We took Rylee to her first Disney trip on October 30th. My sister and her family were at Disney for the week and we made a day trip to see Mickey! I have never been much of a Disney buff... I don't get into the over commercialized stuff that is out there, but let me just say that Rylee is in LOVE with Mickey and has been for a while now. She was sooo excited to get to go and her excitement was very infectious. Damon and I were tickled pink to get to take her and see her experience Disney for the 1st time. It truly was magical watching her! My brother-in-law treated us to lunch with Pooh and Friends, which scared her to no end, but it was fun anyway...and the food was fabulous! She was absolutely mesmerized by the princesses, but totally petrified of the other characters. We decided not to wait in the VERY long line to let her see Mickey up close for fear of the the trauma it might cause, but she LOVED watching Mickey perform at Cinderella's Castle and in the parade. We left the park at just before dark and rode the monorail back to my sister's hotel. They had a pool where the kids could cool off and play. It overlooked a 'lagoon' and you could see fireworks over Cinderella's Castle to end the evening. As always, the day with my sister and her family went way too fast, but we had an amazing time. The pictures don't do justice to the fun we had, but I thought I'd share some anyway. I must say that we will definitely be going back!!

Mr. Sensitive (a.k.a. My Husband)

The other night I was laying on the couch watching TV...Rylee was already asleep...and Damon was laying on the floor. The baby started kicking pretty hard and since Damon hadn't had a chance to feel him yet, I asked if he wanted to feel. Of course, Damon jumped up at the chance. The baby kept up the kicks and Damon was impressed with how strong his little man is already. I'm laying there cherishing this special moment when Daddy first feels his son when Mr. Sensitive arrives... Damon kept trying to feel the baby kicking around my belly button and I kept having to move his hand a little lower. I told Damon that the baby isn't that high yet and he proceeded to grab a 'roll' above my belly button and say, "Then what's all this?!?" OMG! He never did have much tact!! LOL!! Luckily my pregnancy hormones must not have been raging because I was able to laugh hysterically at how insensitive he had been. I so gingerly explained to him that everything that used to take up the space below my belly button was now being pushed upwards... I must admit that I do feel a bit self conscious about the baby weight and his comment did NOT help. He really has got to learn how to think it and not say it!!

I have several friends who are expecting or have recently had babies that are also blogging. Their husbands have periodically posted touching sentiments about how wonderfully courageous and strong their wives have been during the pregnancy, delivery and etc. Not my husband!! I'm really not into all the sappiness, but come on!! A little sensitivity would be just fine!

10-23-2009 - What did my old house look like?

This is a side view so that you can see the look of the completed roofline.


It was about 6:30pm on Friday night and these fellas were busting butt to try and get the last bit finished before the weekend. As if it needs explaining...this is a front view of the house! I had to go on the other side of the fence to get the whole house in one view! SWEET!


Side view from the other end of the house.


View from the side showing the two houses joined together under one roof line. It took them one day to place the trusses for the back half and the other end of the house and it has taken 3 days to do the rest. It took some serious engineering, but it is pretty cool!!

View from the back of the house...

We have seen some unbelievable progress this week. It is hard to even picture what the house looked like before! My hubby is the best to have designed this project!! I could have never imagined that our little 'ole house could be anything other than what it was. He is soooo talented!!

We are now PRAYING that it won't rain over the weekend. The framers finished up the roof tonight at about 7:30pm. They removed the chimney today and had to peel back some of the old shingles in order to set the trusses on the block wall. Even though there is OSB covering the trusses, it is NOT dried in! They covered it with plastic before they left, but I'm sure a good Florida rain would make for some roof leaks! Damon thought they would come out tomorrow and put the tar paper on, but the inspector has to come out and see the nails in the OSB before they can cover it with tar paper! No government work occurs on the weekend, so that'll get done on Monday and then they'll tar paper it and hopefully shingle it next week. Cox Communications is coming out tomorrow to move our phone/cable line...which should fix the phone problems we've had for the last 2 weeks. We also have it scheduled to do work on the plumbing and electrical next week, too!

Aside from the house, I'm getting excited for an upcoming week off! My sister and her family is coming to Disney World for the week. Unfortunately Damon can't get much time off, so we are only planning to drive down for the day to take Rylee to Magic Kingdom with them. I thought about staying a few extra day since I have the time off, but I don't want to stay in a hotel by myself and I can't afford the one they are staying at! Oh well...almost 6 months pregnant and a 2 year old will probably make the one day we are there PLENTY of time with Mickey. She is so excited. Damon pulled it up on the website yesterday and was showing it to Rylee. She was so amazingly excited! Damon said he actually got chill bumps from watching her get so excited!! She tends to be frightened of big characters, so I hope she doesn't freak out over all the Disney characters, but I think she'll have a good time regardless. At this point we plan to go on Friday...I'm gonna watch the weather and if it looks like rain, we may have to alter the plans.

10-21-2009 - Interior

View of the dining room and a bathroom. To the left you can see where the french doors will be leading out into the back yard. To the right is the current glass sliding doors that will become a doorway into the existing house.


View of the living room from the dining room.


View of master bedroom from the doorway in the living room.

This is an unusual view. To the left you can see a 'hallway'. At the far end will become Rylee's new closet and at this end will be stairs leading to the bonus room over the garage. To the right you can see one of the master closets. Behind the closet is the garage.

View of master bathroom. Master bedroom is to the right. The closets in the previous picture are behind me where I'm taking the picture.

10-21-2009 - Unbelievable!

This is a view of the front corner of the house. You can see the trusses peering over the top of the current roof. They started the front porch covering today. You can see the headers over the porch.


This is a view of the end of the house.


This is a view from the back right corner of the house. From left to right on the bottom, you can see another shower window, bathroom window over the garden tub, and the garage opening. On top is a view of the bonus room over the garage.

This is a view from the back left corner of the house. You can see the progress of covering the trusses. The openings from left to right will be...french doors into the living room, 2 living room windows, 2 bedroom windows, water closet window, shower window. Also notice...we have very little grass an a LOT of dirt!! Ha!

View of the end of the house. This view shows the current roof and half of the new roof! They have to frame the rest of the trusses by hand...that should begin tomorrow!! The windows on the new addition will be in the dining room and a bathroom.

10-20-2009 (Trusses)

We didn't get many good pictures of the trusses because Damon and I didn't get home until after dark. They trussed half the house in ONE day and framed a lot on the inside, too! Amazing how much progress is taking place!