July 14, 2008
The Annoying Part
With less than two weeks to go until we move out, I am getting to that annoying and annoyed stage of packing. Certain things need to stay out like hair dryers and shampoo; certain things I’m not sure about like razors for example. I found myself contemplating whether or not I could get away with not shaving my legs until we move in with my parents. I decided that I’d like to use the pool a few more times before we go, so I should probably keep the razor handy. Honestly, I think I’d like to just buy everything new and just forget this packing and moving business altogether.
Each room in my house is in various stages of deconstruction. Pictures are off half the walls and things are starting to look empty. Curtains that aren’t staying are packed and moved. Mr. BBM and I have taken about six or seven van loads of boxes to my parent’s house and I feel like we’ve barely made a dent. It is absolutely stunning how much stuff you can accumulate after five years in one place.
Previously, Mr. BBM and I have only ever stayed for a maximum of about two years at any given location. I am really hoping that this will be our last move. There is really nothing fun about moving. As Mr. BBM was bringing container after container and box after box out of our crawl space yesterday, he kept making little comments about getting rid of things.
I’ll be honest. I am 99% sure that I am done having children. Lately I’ve been feeling that two is plenty. I can’t even imagine the whining and fighting if there were more than Big I and Lil C. There’s just that 1% of me that refuses to say so, because that means I’m closing the door on that part of my life. Right now, I want to keep that door cracked, just a bit. And if that means hauling all of the baby stuff across town, then so be it. Mr. BBM is just going to have to deal with it.
I have decided to get rid of some baby things that I never much liked, like an inflatable nursing pillow which never worked anyway. I’m also going to get rid of some of my maternity clothes that I know I won’t wear again if I ever get to the basketball belly stage again.
As I was packing yesterday, I came across three of my knee braces/wraps, two wrist braces and a soft collar that I used when I had whiplash. That was another box I wasn’t sure if I should seal or not. You just never know. Considering how good my knee has been feeling after going on hiatus from working out (as per my PT), I think I may seal it up today. Leaving this house is going to mean packing up all the memories, but I’m going to pack up the injuries too. I’m hoping that box is one that will remain in the basement indefinitely.
July 13, 2008
Scratch That
On Saturday morning, we met with the builder rep and completely changed all of our exterior colors, with the exception of the trim and window heads. We totally panicked. While driving through the development after selection, we realized we chose the wrong stone. I hated the stone we chose, up on an actual house.
So, we switched our siding to "frost" (white), our shutters to "midnight blue," and also chose our stucco color (light grayish white) and roof (slate). We basically recreated another house that we like that’s in the next development.
I told the builder representative that this was the last time I’d be "bothering him about this." He laughed and said, "Yeah right." I told him to remember that I specifically said "about this." I gave myself an out, so I can complain and change my mind about other things. It’s one thing to spend a lot of money on a shirt that you don’t like. It’s an entirely different thing to pick out the colors for your dream house and choose wrong.
Speaking of "wrong," we also got our inspection report on Saturday from the marathon home inspection. Apparently we have a radon problem. The EPA recommends that homes have a radon reading under 4.0. Our two cannisters came back at 4.2 and 4.9. Of course, the buyers want us to install a radon mitigation system and retest. I feel sort of like Leona Lewis right about now. "I keep bleeding, keep, keep bleeding" because I feel like I’m being completely bled dry of any money I was going to have to buy things like tissue holders and towel bars for the new house.
While Mr. BBM was all zen about it, I was fired up. We’re already giving them seller’s assist in no small amount. I’m not thrilled about having to spend more money on the house I’m leaving in just two weeks. My realtor also thought it was a little ridiculous. The levels were only slightly over normal and those levels can vary depending on the season, humidity level, etc. I read online that they recommend you retest if the levels come in below 5.0 before you put in a radon mitigation system, because you may not really even have a problem.
The problem is that we don’t really have time and I doubt the buyers would want that anyway. Lately it seems to be all about what the buyers want, and I’m not a give-in kind of girl. I told Mr. BBM that if we put this system in, he can expect me to be unpleasant at closing. I don’t know what he’s more afraid of: the possibility of the buyers walking, or the prospect of dealing with a grumpy me at closing.
If I were him, I’d be afraid of me.
July 11, 2008
Selection
We met our realtor and the builder representative today at the design center. It took us just under three hours to pick most of our colors, lights and other items. Keep in mind that we have to meet directly with the kitchen people and the flooring people within the next few weeks. I know those visits will take hours too.
We chose the color "bone" for our siding which is an off-white. We chose "classic blue" for our shutters, front door and sidelights. We picked white window heads and cottage white colored soffit, gutters and downspouts to match the siding. We also picked a gray stone for the center column of the house and up to the windowsills on the front and garage. We panicked after we left when we realized we picked the wrong stone. We want the stone that’s on a pre-existing home and so we called the selection agent and left a message for him to call us back asap. If we don’t catch him before he copies it and sends it off to the multiple foremen working on the site, we can pretty much forget getting the stone we want.
We’re still up in the air about the stucco color for the doorway. They didn’t have the choices there for us so we have to go back; and he wasn’t sure whether or not we can get the blue toned roof we want.
We picked our exterior lights (satin nickel) and our interior lights (satin nickel). We also chose white marbled tops for our vanities and door knobs for the entire house (pewter levered ones).
Now we’re negotiating to upgrade our hardwood floors to tigerwood and for granite countertops and some staggered cabinets. We wanted to have it all wrapped up nicely today, but it looks like we won’t have it completely done until sometime next week.
It’s all very confusing. We got credits back for not using their mirrors in the bathrooms, and a credit for the kitchen light that looks like a hanging nipple. No thanks. If I want to see something like that I’ll consult National Geographic. If you don’t believe me, just do a google image search for "boob light" and just image that, but more suspended from the ceiling. We’re picking pendant lights instead. We have to make appointments with all the subs who will be working on our house. We even have to meet with the electrician once our house has been framed to tell him where we want outlets to be located. Shouldn’t he know this better than I would?
Tomorrow we’re going to go browse appliances and maybe pick them out. We have some time, but we just want it all decided. We were told that we’ll have our basement within the next week to 10 days and that once the beams and lumber are delivered, our home will be framed up in about a week. By the time school starts I should have some interesting pictures to share with you instead of just a field with some stakes in it.
Mr. BBM and I didn’t argue about anything. We pretty much agreed on everything. I’m thinking that trend won’t continue once we get to flooring and counter-tops. While we were talking about pricing out options, the agent was telling us that if we want anything special when it comes to excavation, we’ll have to talk to a certain sub. Mr. BBM says, "you mean like in case we want a moat or something." After three hours of staring at siding, stone, lighting and fixtures, you get a little bit punchy. I about fell out of my chair laughing because Big I would so love a moat.
It’s overwhelming alright, but I have to say. . . so far, I’m having a blast and enjoying every second of it.
July 10, 2008
Tumbling Class Drop-Out
A mother can only tolerate so much screaming before saying "enough is enough." Today: enough. After trying unsuccessfully, for the fourth time, to get Lil C to try her tumbling class, I finally gave up. I tricked her into staying in the room today and thought maybe she’d do o.k. if she couldn’t see me.
I was wrong.
She screamed and cried and her mood never improved. With 10 minutes left to go in the class, I grabbed her and left. We’re done with tumbling class. Tumbling is not in our genes I guess.
I spoke to the school director as we were leaving. One look at Lil C’s swollen and tear-stained face convinced her to help us out a bit. So, on Saturday, Lil C is going to try an art class. She’s been begging me to go to an art class, so Saturday she’ll get her chance. The best part about it being on a Saturday, is that I can make Mr. BBM take her. I’m off the hook. He just doesn’t know it yet.
On the home front, there’s a bulldozer parked in our lot as of tonight. They started to dig the lot out across the street, so I think we’re next. Tomorrow we make our selections and fight about colors. I doubt I’ll sleep tonight; I’m just that excited!
In other news, my best friend is away on vacation this week and I promised her I would write a post for her blog. The only problem is that I don’t have the password to log into her site. I thought I did have it. So, in lieu of me writing a fabulous post over there, please just go click over there and say hello. If I can’t write for her, I’ll flood her with traffic and link love.
July 8, 2008
Home Inspection
This morning, the home inspector and pest inspector showed up bright and early at 8:30 a.m. Mr. BBM was working from home today so we were told he could stay. I took the girls to the post office and out to breakfast and figured that by the time I got home, they would be gone. I was very wrong.
The inspection took 3.5 hours.
When you have a little one who happens to be potty-training and by potty-training I mean making me take her to the bathroom every 15 minutes because she might have to pee, or she’d just like to wash her hands. . . again, you can’t walk around the mall for three hours. So, we kept ourselves busy and out of the way as much as possible. Occasionally Big I would approach the buyer and her realtor and start gabbing it up. She just can’t help herself. When I finally got the girls occupied, the inspection was drawing to a close.
Due to my mad eavesdropping skills, I heard the inspector say "no major issues or problems." He told us a few minor things, all of which are easily remedied, especially considering that one of the buyers’ dads is an electrician (I also eavesdropped that bit of news).
As the buyer was leaving, she said she’d be seeing me soon, so I’m assuming they’re still going to buy the house. Because we bought this house without first having a home inspection, we were sort of nervous. We figured that if something was wrong, in five years time it would have showed up; but you never know. Stranger things have happened.
I spent the afternoon packing like a mad woman, realizing that in just 2.5 weeks, we’ll have to be out of here. Since we settle on a Friday, we’ll need to move the big stuff out the weekend before if we want help. We do.
Since it seems like it’s all officially going to happen, I wore a huge grin this afternoon as I packed up books and dishes. I realized that after over four months of being on the market, I can officially go on strike when it comes to cleaning.
I think I’m going to take a three month hiatus on making any beds and my days of vacuuming perfect lines into the carpet are officially over until October. . . 20th to be exact.
Tonight, we drove by our lot to see if there was any action. We were thrilled to see stakes marking each of the four corners of our house on the lot. Mr. BBM got out and walked around in it and I just sat there thinking, "Now he’s in the family room, the living room, the dining room, the kitchen. . .". It’s amazing how four little pieces of wood with blue flags on them can make you so happy.
I told Mr. BBM that I feel about our new house, the way I felt when I was pregnant. The excitment and anticipation is almost too much at times. It’s all you can think about, and you’re just filled to the brim with joy. The only difference is that this time, our "baby" is made mostly of wood and the wait time is a whole lot shorter.
104 days until the big joyous move-in! With any luck, maybe we’ll have some pictures of a big hole in the ground by next week. We pick our colors on Friday!
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