Furniture for Baby Room

 We got the last of the big pieces of furniture for the baby room - the rocker - and managed to convince the delivery people to haul the armoire upstairs for us too. The armoire is an 1800's antique that has tons of storage space inside. Right now, we have all the clothing sorted into baskets inside but may switch it around and put the clothes in the dresser and store all of our other supplies inside.

 We got the chair from Pottery Barn - a little splurge that can be used as a normal chair after we no longer need a rocker if we choose. Tyler also hung a painting that he wanted to have in the room above the chair.

 Right now things are pretty much just piled in the room - as you can tell by the bathtub in the crib. Kristen will get to organizing more one of these days...

Shower Glass Doors Installed

 The glass shower doors are installed and the tub area is pretty much done. We still need to add a few beads of silicon caulking around the base of the doors but it is useable again.

Baby Room Dresser/Changing Table

After looking at antique shops for months, we finally found what we were looking for to use as a dresser in the baby's room. We will also use it as a changing table when needed.

Sad day for Astro Van

 Tyler's beloved Astro finally left us this week. After getting his new truck last year, we knew this day would come but it was quite sad. This car had been a part of our lives the last 15 years and was slowly needing more and more repairs. We decided not to register it this year and after receiving two parking tickets last week, decided that the time had come.

 We loved the Astro - it was the best possible car for our renovating needs. It held full sheets of plywood under cover, provided plenty of seating, and was dirty enough that Poppy could jump around it or it could be loaded with trash for hauling to the dump.

 

Poppy was not happy when the tow truck came and let the driver know by her crazy barking when he started to load it. Hopefully some other Astro lovers out there will be able to continue it's life by scavenging parts for their vehicles.

Bye bye Astro!

Tile border and grouting the shower

 This past weekend Tyler finished putting up the tile and worked on grouting the shower.

 The grout was not what we expected - the sand was brownish-red instead of white. This made our white grout look dirty or mildewy in some areas so we had to go back over it with more grout and elective wiping. It ended up ok but was more work than expected and we will make sure never to get the same grout again.

We are at a stand still for the next week or so while Tyler recovers from his surgery he had Monday but plan on cleaning off the tiles and sealing it this weekend.

Baby Room Update - Crib, curtains, and some furniture

 The room already had blinds so we just added some curtains to help block some light if needed.

 Our crib came in and we spent last night putting it together. It is made by Young America, called the stationary spindle crib in lilac. We loved the design because it fit with our other antique pieces well.

 The final positioning of furniture is not set in the room. We are still awaiting our rocker to be delivered (a cushy cream colored one) and will move the other rocker back into our bedroom. Then, once we get the other furniture moved into the room, we'll decide on the layout.

 This little antique table/mirror set was perfect for the tiny entry space.

And we finally went out and bought a stroller and car seat. Our doctor had been pushing getting the car seat the last few visits and since we are under two months to go, we decided that it was probably time to listen.

Each day we're getting a little more prepared for our new arrival - the next eight weeks will probably fly by but take forever at the same time.

Week off for a work trip to Germany

Subway Tile Shower

After the shower walls were removed the drywall had to be cut back because the new surround will go a little bit taller so that the shower head is tiled around and a little wider so that it is an even tile width. Here you can see that the drywall has been cut and the first piece of hardyboard is put up into place.

The board is up all around the surround and the joints have been taped and mortared. You can see the board that is placed as a ledger around the tub to use as a starter course.

Here you can see the first side going up. It is pretty quick except for the occasional cuts around the shelves that are placed in the corners.

Both of the end walls are now done and I am progressing along the back wall.

Now everything is installed above the ledger strip.

Time to take out the strip and start on the tiles under it. Here gravity is not working in your favor so all of the tiles need to be pulled up into placed with tape.

Once all of the tiles have set the tape and spacers are removed.

Next up is to get all of the boarder tiles in place and get things grouted. Maybe we can have a working shower by next weekend.

Shower Demolition

 The old shower tiling was a tan with a blue stripe and looked out dated. Our new tiles are going to be white and we are installing glass shower doors.

 Tyler started with a sledge hammer trying to get a piece off. The previous work was done very well, making it harder to take apart.

 Finally things started coming off in sheets and there was not as much debris.

 And the tile is removed! Now we just have to redo everything - a process that will take the next few days.

Bathroom Closet Doors Installed

While Tyler was in Germany on business the last few weeks, Kristen worked on sanding, painting, and installing the shutter doors in the upper part of the closet.