Progress

We drove by the house today.  It was a beatufiul day and there were a lot of people outside.  Lots of kids!  That was nice to see.  It looks like a lot of the duct work is finished.  I'm also very excited that our brick has arrived.  I can't wait to see it when it's up.

Also, I'm really excited that we got our SOLD sign!  I didn't think we'd be getting one, so this was a nice surprise.

The pre-drywall meeting is on Monday.  Unfortunately I have to miss it :(  I'm giving my husband my camera and a list of things I'd like him to take pictures of.  I don't think things will be much different than they were earlier in the week, so hopefully I won't be missing much.  He is taking a home inspector along with him to check things out.  Hopefully it will already be perfect.

Happy New Year!

Our First Time Inside

We met with our PM and electrician today.  We decided to add some more recessed lights, some additional outlets, ceiling fan/light rough-ins, and some under cabinet lights which I'm very excited about!  We also got to go in our house for the very first time!  It feels so small, but I know it will feel bigger once it's finished.  Here are some of our inside pictures.

Kitchen

Morning Room

Looking into the garage from the kitchen

Dining Room

Stairs

Master Bath - the tub has arrived!

Master Bedroom

Master Closet  - I love it.

The other bedrooms.

Upstairs Bathroom



Heading Downstairs

I'm sure that's more pictures than you ever wanted to see!  I realized I forgot to take a few that I wanted, like the family room. 

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and hope you have a great new year.  I know that 2011 will bring changes for a lot of us as we move into our new homes.

Making Progress

I am amazed by how much has happened in a week.  This time last week we had a foundation.  Today we have our entire shell complete:

A couple other views:

So yesterday they hung the front door.  Today it was off.  Weird.  I'm not sure how I feel about it.  It's not something we chose and its different than any door in the neighborhood.  I just don't know that I like the rectangular window at the top (its a bit hard to see).  I don't know that there's much we can do about it.



Also, yesterday we didn't have a next door neighbor.  Today we do!

Since I wrote about it a couple of weeks ago, I thought I'd give an update on the food.  I ended up taking donuts with me when I went yesterday morning.  The man I gave them to was very grateful, but it was only his first day on the job!  He was a plumber and it was just him and one other guy.  He said he'd share with the guys working next door since they're the ones that built it.   I hope he did.  I think I'll do it again next week before I go back to work.

My husband spoke to our PM today.  We are going to meet with him Monday to go over some electrical specifications.  AND our pre-drywall meeting is set for the next Monday, Jan. 3.  It's going so fast now!

Windows and the Beginnings of a Roof!

I can't believe it, but all of the windows are in - in just one day! Half of the roof is on, too.  A finished roof is a pivotal point for us.  Our PM told us once the roof was on we'd be about 60 days out and able to lock in our rate.  We're are so eager to lock in, that's what was making us so impatient as we waited for construction to begin.  I know I keep saying it, but I'm so excited!!!

Second Floor

We popped by early in the afternoon yesterday and this had already happened:

I really can't believe how fast it's moving.  Part of me is worried that it's going too fast, but I know they know what they're doing. 
It still looks so small!

Shocked!

My husband stopped by the site on the way home from work today.  Look at what he saw!

The first floor is just about finished.  That happened in one day.  I was just there last night and there were was some decking done, but I thought this would take days.  I really can't believe how fast it went.  He also ran into our project manager who said they're working through the weekend and should have the second floor finished by Monday!!!  Those of you who told me it would go fast, now I believe you!  Our PM also told my husband that we'll probably be having our pre-drywall meeting the first week of January.  This is so awesome!  I'm kind of bummed I didn't stop today - I didn't think there would be much of a change.  Can't wait to get there later this weekend!

Playing Catch-up

I've been pretty bad about posting pictures lately, so I wanted to get caught up. As I mentioned in a previous post (okay MANY posts) the big delay on starting construction was putting the road in. So although its just some asphalt, it was a huge deal to me once it was paved.


Here are a couple of shots from before the road was paved.

This one is looking down the hill to our right.

This is the culdesac road across the street from us.

Here's what it looks like now!

Looking down the hill.

 

The culdesac road. (BTW the houses on this street are starting at $20K more than our base price!!!  They are great lots!)

Here's our house all staked out.  It looks soooooooooooo small!  I should've zoomed in...not a great shot.

Here's me standing where I'll be spending countless hours over the years...the kitchen.



Okay, I know this isn't exciting, but here's our first delivery!  That's the $850 egress window for the basement that was the "upgrade" that really wasn't an upgrade.  That $850 dollars could have bought me my extra morning room windows ;(

 

 

Fast forward a couple of weeks.  Here's the foundation.  They are not great pictures either.  There are these huge mounds of dirt/rocks at the front of our house that were preventing me from getting great shots.  But, you get the idea.  I'm really liking the brick!

 

 

And finally, here's the rest of the house!

We were told framing would start today and it did!  I'm so excited!  We are right on target now.  These next couple of weeks are going to be so exciting.  And the best part?  Tomorrow is my last day of work until 2011 so I'll have lots of daylight opportunities for pictures!

Impressed

My goal today was to get some daylight pictures of our foundation.  Who knew I'd be so excited about some cinder blocks and cement!  Of course by the time I got there after all of my Christmas shopping it was already dark - at 5:30!  I did get a few pictures, they're not great, but they'll do until I can get back (maybe tomorrow if we don't get the bad winter weather they're predicting).  Anyway I was so impressed (and feeling badly) that there was a man working on the foundation...by himself...after hours...on a cold Saturday evening.  He was working in the dark with a little light on his hard hat.  He was super nice!  He said he wanted to get a lot finished today since we're looking at snow and ice on Monday.  I know its his job, but I was just really impressed by this.  After all of my frustration in getting the house started, I couldn't be happier with how things are moving along now.  Also, the lumber was delivered!  They'll start framing on Thursday!

Electrical Additions

We've got a foundation (well most of a foundation)!  I'm hoping to stop by over the weekend and take some pictures in daylight.  I know they will not be exciting pictures, but I'll still love them :)

We're getting ready to submit our electrical additions.  We're planning on getting the rough-ins in all of the bedrooms and family room.  We're also going to add recessed lights in the morning room, kitchen, and family room.  We're adding another outlet to the island and some additional outlets in the garage.  Do any of you have recommendations for any other lighting additions - either things you're really glad you got or something you wish you had?  Thanks!

Ground Breaking

I was shocked today when our PM called my husband to let us know they dug our hole!  We had nearly 3.5 inches of rain yesterday (which has since turned to snow), so I thought they'd wait a few days for things to dry a bit. What a pleasant surprise!  I'm a bit bummed that by the time I can leave work and head to the site each day it will already be dark.  That's going to seriously cut down on my picture taking opportunities.  Luckily my husband drove by tonight (and I mean drove by because he didn't get out of the car to get a close up look - I'd have been all over it) and got a shot.  It's finally becoming so real.  If I can get myself out of bed early enough I may drive by in the morning.  It's not anywhere close to being on my way to work, but I really want to see it and get some better shots.  The obsession begins!