Re-fi-fo Fun

We're refinancing our house. Great financial decision, super low interest rate, but a huuuuuuge kick in the pants to finish house projects that have been lingering since, oh, we bought the house. Like the cracked lightswitch by the front door. Yes, it's an easy change, yes, it's a bit of an eyesore, no, we didn't get to it until two days ago.

Daddy's been busy doing all of the handy man projects. He really is an incredibly handy man! Things that have been bugging him for years are now getting done, like the trim in the kitchen. It looks much better. Mama's been busy cleaning, organizing, and doing little handy-ish things that are safe for daddy's sanity and our baby, like changing the light switch. You have been busy watching TV, helping me clean, and generally keeping yourself busy for the past few days. It's nice that Grammy & Oscar are now in town to shower you with attention since you have definitely earned it baby girl!!

Cross your fingers for a great appraisal Wed!

Murray Family Holiday Letter

Happy Holidays to you and yours!!

Shortly after Christmas last year, we learned that our family would be growing in September. We were able to share the exciting news with both sets of grandparents-to-be together, which given the distance was quite the special experience! Needless to say, the impending arrival shaped much of the rest of our year! In addition to our news, we knew of at least 1 baby being born each month of this year – and even had several months with 3 new bundles of joy! Emma is blessed to have so many friends her age to grow up with!

Steve has stayed busy working at Macalester and really enjoys what he’s doing. We invested in a rental property early in the year and his connection with students has provided excellent renters and an overall good situation. Steve spent a lot of time this spring preparing the house for renters, after which he transitioned his focus on to our house. He began a full basement remodel early this year and has done a wonderful job expanding our space. Literally every room in our house (except for maybe the kitchen and bathroom) has been rearranged in the process. He’s looking forward to the day when house projects are not quite so intense, but has enjoyed the power tools and help of family and friends. His ‘contractors fee’ was a large flat-screen TV that has made this football season that much more enjoyable!

Katie continued to work as a postdoctoral fellow at a private practice in Burnsville. Once the wave of morning sickness wore off, she spent much of her time preparing for the national licensing exam for psychology. It was a huge relief to pass that on the first try and after jumping through a few more hoops, she became licensed as a clinical psychologist in November of this year. She’s returned to work and feels blessed to be able to do so part-time and still enjoy several days home with Emma. Katie’s aunt has generously been watching Emma during the day while Katie’s at work and Emma and her daddy get to spend Thursday nights together – a win-win for all! Katie accepted a position on our church council and has enjoyed the opportunity to get more involved in the community. She’s also continued to stay active with her bookclub, a group that expanded by 3 babies this year as well!

This year we were able to spend a few days in January in Nashville while Steve had a conference and enjoyed Easter in New Mexico. Once again, weather in MN was unseasonably warm while we were gone (and we had snow Easter morning). Much of the summer was spent in preparation for the baby, but we enjoyed several visits with Katie’s parents and time with Steve’s family as we were able. Thanksgiving was a special treat as the whole Murray family was together for a holiday – a first in many years!

Emma made her grand entrance on 10 September and changed our world in ways we’re continuing to discover. She is growing like a weed and is an absolute joy. Over Thanksgiving she really began to giggle and we’re excited to bring her to NM for a few weeks at Christmas to spread some cheer as only a new baby can.

Wish you and yours a blessed holiday season and joy in 2010!

~Steve, Katie, and Emma

And then there were 3

Animals that is. And people I guess. We're evening the playing field tomorrow. We've made the grown up decision to give Charlie to a friend. He's a sweet dog, beautiful, playful, aloof, but his energy level is just too much for us and our growing family. These friends house sat over Easter and after I'd joked that they should take a dog, they said they were really interested in Charlie. As it became increasingly apparent to both of us that this was just a bit too much, we got in touch and worked things out. He'll have a new doggie brother, Riley, and may even learn some tricks from people who have time and knowledge to train a dog. It'll be sad to see him go, but we know it's best for our family.

Going home!

Getting home was quite the adventure. . . Daddy went to put bags in the car and get the car seat and came back with the car seat - the whole car seat. He didn't know how to detach it from the base. Then he went back out to install the car seat and came back with the base. . . He'd forgotten the keys (and the manual). Then it was time to figure out the heck to get her in that thing and after a bit of negotiation (and a consult with a nurse), mommy was right and we got her in. It was such a strange feeling to be wheeled out with a baby after having been wheeled in to the postpartum ward with her in my arms just a few days before.

Cutest.Baby.Ever.



Emma in her going home outfit - it looks a lot like our wedding invitations and I LOVE it!

Not so sure about this carseat deal

But she settled in for the ride

Last family moment in the hospital

Ready to roll! Getting home - daddy was dealing with the crazy dogs

Dog #1 got to meet her first while dog #2 was taken to burn off some energy

In her room for the first time

Sweatshop Grandma Came To Town

Sewing on a ma-chine,
Made some curtains,
Hung them up,
And made the room look so keen.

Ok, so that's pretty cheesy, but the curtains really have made the room look even more finished!

The Irish Blessing from my friend Brittany also makes a wonderful addition to the room!!

Super husband

Steve had told me that if the baby came Friday, I wouldn't have a bathroom, but if (s)he waited until Saturday, there was a good chance. I think he meant this past weekend, but it seems like that may be more accurate about the coming one. The floor tiles look great, but took a bit longer to dry than anticipated, so we're a little behind. Oh well. It's coming together really nicely and will be great when it's finished. And just like I have faith this baby will eventually make his/her way out in to the world, I have just as much faith that the bathroom will be finished. Eventually. Bathroom flooring

Shower tile

Trim going up

A busy past week!

How much can we shove in to a 9 month pregnancy?! Man alive! I think we've done about as much as anyone could - purchased & fixed up a rental property, totally redone and rearranged our house, passed two licensing exams, etc. . . Are you tired yet?! I think we need to have our baby so we can relax! Here are a few pictures of what's been going on.







Upstairs paint after floor was finished

Room set up and being used!

Office/Guest room space

Office/guest room hallway

Former guest room, now craft room/catch all room - still some organizing and moving to do as the basement gets finished

Finished Product - almost

The nursery is ready, minus Sweatshop Gmas curtains & cushion (and hanging a few pics). The curtain rods just need to be hung by Steve, the cushion's coming up with Gpa Wilson comes up to meet this kiddo. I'm totally in love with it now, I can hardly wait to see it all together!

Total Makeover, Home Edition

We've had a few more worker bees around recently and lots has been done! My dad came back from a successful Canadian fishing trip (and don't worry mom, he didn't leave all the fish in our freezer this time. . . Dang it.) for a week of intense labor under the watchful eye of his son-in-law. I think there are two kinds of workers, the intense, perfectionists, and those other guys. ;o) We had one of each down there, Steve making sure that everything met his "piano maker" standard as my dad labeled it and my dad making sure not to let Steve see his eyes roll.

Seriously, they worked incredibly hard, we so appreciate the extra help, and we will have the best looking closet trim in the land when this is all done! Steve's parents came up yesterday, his mom to class up the baby's room and his dad to lend an extra hand in the basement, and the bedroom may be done this weekend. Pretty incredible thinking of where this all began!

No words

Pictures of the finished project to be up later today

Blown away!

My kid has the most. talented. grandmas. EVER. Holy cow! Today Steve's mom emailed me the plans for the mural and all I can say is wow! I hope we are able to help our child grow up realizing how truly blessed and loved (s)he is. It's amazing! AND to top it all off, this baby got his/her first piece of mail addressed to him/her. . . Curtains! They look goregous and I think are going to add so much to the room!! This weekend is going to pull the room together on an even greater level and I am just in awe, seriously. Pictures will come, don't you worry!

Nobody puts Baby in the garage

This had been a fear - that the baby could come, the room wouldn't be ready, and (s)he'd have to sleep in his/her crib that was out in the garage.

OK, so of course I wasn't really worried that we'd put our baby in the garage, but seriously, now that the furniture is in the room and cleaned off I feel GREAT!! I'm about to hit Babies R Us to get a mattress and crib skirt (to cover up the metal things allowing the mattress to be raised) and am one happy momma to be!!

**Serengeti Grandma will be up Friday to add the mural and Sweatshop Grandma got the curtains in the mail today!! Now there's just the glider cushion to finish to replace the hideous one that's on it now... Steve left it on so I could sit in there (on a sheet) to read to the baby as it gets closer. Nice gesture!**

A House in Transition

At lunch last week I commented that the construction chaos has officially entered our main living area. A client of mine called me out and said that I've been saying that for the past 2 months. She's probably right, but seriously, it really is chaotic up here now!!!

Last Friday night Steve & I cleared out the baby's room - mostly. There's 1 desk left that wouldn't fit in our (tiny) dining room. This met the 1 August deadline for beginning the baby's room and allowed me to take a deep breath. At least until I remembered all the other stuff going on.

So as it stands right now, our living room has an extra table in it, our dining room is now the office, the guest room is a catch all with various bags & containers filled with books from the office, and the baby's room is a whole lot closer to becoming the baby's room.

We also made the decision this week to hire out the mudding for the basement. Good call as now Ivan Ivanoff is able to do in 4 days when may have taken Steve 2 weeks, getting us back on track to get this place baby ready in the next few weeks.

The steps remaining are as follows:

*Finish our bedroom in the basement (flooring, trim, doors, paint, lighting)

*Move our bedroom in to the basement

*Rip up the rest of the carpet upstairs (my dad took out the carpet on the stairs last week, hooray!)

*Put down hardwood floors, paint, and put back the trim upstairs

*Move the office (out of the dining room) and the guest room upstairs

*Finish the bathroom downstairs (tiling, install vanity, toilet, lighting, paint, trim, door)

*Finish the family room (flooring, trim, paint, lighting)

*Finish laundry room (flooring, paint, trim)

*Install new stairs (up and down)

Should I add a new poll to see how far people think we will get?!