Everyone brace yourselves…. after nearly eight LONG months we FINALLY have drywall at our new house! The last few months have felt painstakingly slow. I grew impatient and frustrated many times. I genuinely believe that the stage of house renovations we just went through is comparable to that last month of pregnancy!
As much as I dislike the pace at which this house is coming along, I will admit that it (combined with the effects of the virus) has given me some much needed time to rest and connect with my kiddos. Last year was so hard. It was long and yet I didn’t get to spend nearly enough quality time with my kids. I missed that and they missed that.
Over the last few months I’ve been able to start doing some things that we love again. I’m able read my kids a book any time they ask (which is very frequently!) and I can actually put my phone or laptop away and actually play with them. The way we lived last year was necessary, but we all desperately missed having a slower pace. I wish we could’ve been given a slower pace without the pandemic, but nevertheless I am grateful.
Since I updated you last we have finished quite a few things:
- wiring
- plumbing
- insulation
- duct work/ AC (there was some serious praise going on that day!!!)
- picked the cabinet & (some) wall colors
- ordered countertops
- chose a stain color for my hood range and open shelves
- replaced the old, rusty well tank
- hung drywall throughout the house!
I enjoyed picking out some decorative details, imagining furniture layout, and splashing in the crystal clear, ice cold water from our new well (that old one was NASTY!), but the real star of the show here… with a close runner-up being the air conditioning… was the drywall! It made such a difference!
I’m not going to lie, I almost cried when I walked in and saw the drywall hanging. After watching our first house be remodeled, I feel like I’ve been able to picture it better this time around. Even so, it is so much easier to visualize when there are actual walls instead of studs… even though quite a few of our walls were block so I could technically already picture the room, it still made it look so much closer to complete! I can see where my favorite chair will get the best light for reading (and snuggling), where our table can fit to get the most space out of our school room, and where the piles of laundry will inevitably stack up… seriously, I think the only think that’s multiplied more than our quality time is our laundry! Our house is finally starting to feel more like a home!
My excitement was slightly diminished when I realized how much still needed to be done, but I’m still excited because the next stage is all visible (except, thankfully, for the septic tank… that would not be a pretty sight!) and exciting. If I’d realized that my attempt at making a joke by saying I just wanted to be moved in by Christmas was an actual possibility, I might would’ve considered moving up my imaginary deadline!
Before we can move in, there are quite a few things to get done:
- Finish the drywall
- Install trim and doors
- Flooring
- Put the cabinets in and hang shelves
- Light fixtures
- Finish the bathroom (what I’m possibly most anxious for now!)
- Replace the septic tank
- Put on a new roof
- And probably way more things than I even realize… have I mentioned lately how amazing my husband is for doing all of this!?
Obviously this year has still been INCREDIBLY stressful, but we have been so blessed to be able to make the best of this time. If you’ve ever been pregnant I’m sure you remember how those last few weeks of pregnancy feel like they have about 427 days each (please don’t hold it against me that I’ve never made it past 38 weeks and still use this comparison!) then suddenly they’re here, newborn stage flies by, and you can’t remember life without them… in the same way, I know that once we get moved in it will all be so worth it!
Until then, I’ll be spending my days enjoying my babies, decluttering, squeezing in as much family time as possible, scrolling Pinterest for ideas, and wishing someone would come handle this laundry situation!
