It's taking shape...

It has been over a month since my last post on the kitchen project.  But don't for a moment think we haven't been working like mad!!  It has actually been rather enjoyable, believe it or not.  The project that was supposed to only add a pantry and take three months, has grown to a 70% demo of the entire kitchen and remodel.  But we are excited to see it finally taking shape.  There is still quite a bit to do so we are extending the completion date of this project till the end of the year...Lord willing, we will make it.

I must say the project has challenged me much more than I ever imagined.  I have learned how to frame a pantry, hang doors, build cabinets, install wood ceiling, install canned lighting (although I have actually done that before); hang beadboard molding and lay tile with accent pieces.  I have laid tile before but not with an accent piece.

Well the last post showed the pantry done and the flooring done.  Now for some more progress pictures... (cue drum roll)

Just to remind you of what we started with here are a couple of before shots.

The old breakfast room.  

Of course, the refrigerator was pushed back all the way.  We pulled it out to begin the demo.  The four doors (two top and two bottom) closest to the camera on this was the pantry...not adequate for a family of 7.
  

The very first cabinet (Thanks to Robert Simon for teaching me in an evening how to build cabinets)

The first two cabinets hung...woohoo and dishes put away. 

After getting a quote on retexturing the ceiling, we decided that was a little out of the budget, so we wooded it instead.  Well, actually it is beadboard but it looks like wood plank ceiling.  (truthfully this is what Lauren wanted to begin with.)  

Another shot of the ceiling.  Need to patch the seams.  

Fast forward a few weeks and voila...all kitchen cabinets are hung.  It went much better than I thought.  Still need to put the stiles on and make the doors, so these are just the boxes and shelves right now.  

The pantry again...finished and stocked...need to paint the doors and trim.  

The new and improving kitchen.  :)  Still a ways to go, though.  

Cabinet that will be over writing desk (still need to build) but I got the brilliant idea to build mail slots as well.  That will be a lifesaver.  

Breakfast area, you can sort of see the beadboard.  Need to finish up the trim on top of the beadboard and the trim pieces in the corners.  

The cabinet around the refigerator...yeah that one was a challenge and I had to work with that one as it didn't quite fit the first time.  But fortunately I was able to fix it without taking it apart.  FYI...nothing in this house is square!!!  :)

You can sort of see the skinny cabinet to the left of the refrigerator.  That is going to house the pots and pans (hanging) that are over the refrigerator in the picture.  We are going to put crown at the top so the gap at the top of the cabinets will be covered.

So we have some work still to do.  We need to finish the cabinets with the stiles and doors and then finish installing baseboards and patch all nail holes and then finally paint!!  We are looking to pain the cabinets, top and bottom as well as the trim a linen white.  The cabinets will then have a tea stain glaze applied to them to give them a little character.  We then need to paint the walls as well...still deciding on a color.  Then Lauren will get to add splashes of color in the decor.  Though the project has become the mammoth evolution...we are having fun.  

Just because I love my kiddos I will close with some pictures of them.  I realized, I need to take more pictures of the boys...I don't have any of just them recently.  I enjoy taking pictures of my littles!!!

Christyana

Cyniya

Caitlyn

Corban, Colin & Cyniya

7 years ago...

Today is a special day!  Today we celebrate the 7th anniversary of our first born son.  I remember the day as if it were yesterday.  Hard to believe 7 years have come and gone.

That day was a Thursday.  Lauren and I went to the doctor for her first of 4 weekly checkups...she was 36 weeks pregnant.  At this point, being first time parents, we had already been to labor and delivery twice with false labor.  But, she pressed on.  At the time, we worked in the same office at Wells Fargo Home Mortgage.  She, an admin and me a loan processor.  We had a baby shower scheduled that afternoon at work, which Lauren was very excited about.  We were getting a cake from her favorite place...RJ Goodies in Spring, TX.

So we sat in the doctors office and Lauren was having contractions.  The doctor examined her and as he got ready to leave the room, she had a heavy contraction and winced a bit.  The doctor had a concerned look on his face and sat back down and asked, "What just happened?".  She told him she had a contraction and that her back had been sore for several days to which he responded, "I think we will send you to labor and delivery...you're probably in labor."  So we walked across the hospital to labor and delivery.  When we arrived they instructed us to go back to the doctor.  So, confused, we went back, to which Lauren quipped, "If I wasn't in labor before, all this walking will throw me into it."  We got back to the doctor's office and he sat us down to inform us there was, "no room for us in the inn."  Hurricane Katrina had come through two days earlier and the hospital L & D unit was full.  So he sent us to a hospital just down the street.

We arrived and were taken immediately into triage for monitoring.  About 20 minutes later, the nurse came in to tell us that the doctor would be there in about an hour to perform the delivery.  We had elected a C-section (out of our own ignorance).  So needless to say, this came as a bit of a shock.  I went in the room to start making calls to work and family.  And thus began the whirlwind of a day.

Our precious baby boy was born that afternoon around 2:15pm.  The procedure went smoothly and after only about 15 minutes in the operating room, we heard the most beautiful sound...the first cry of our first child.  We both teared up as they introduced us.  They said he was beautiful...my first thought, "are you blind???"  For those that have had children you will agree, that a newborn before cleaning them up is a bit messy and cute isn't quite the word I would use to describe it.  :o)  They moved us to the room, a very nice and large room.  The rest of the day is a blur, but Colin was with us for all but about 20 minutes of the day after the delivery.

We, of course fell in love instantly!!  Lauren's boss and a couple of colleagues brought the baby shower to us.  It was a wonderful day.

So, to my dear oldest son let me say, I am so blessed to have you as my son.  I am so proud of the young man you are becoming and pray God's blessings over you.  I pray that he will tug at your heart, convict you of your sin and open your eyes to your need of Him.  You are such a wonderful role model for your younger sisters and brother.  I love so many things about you.  I love your giving spirit and your compassionate heart.  I pray God will shape you and mold you into a wonderful husband and father one day.  You are a treasure!!!

~Psalm 127:3~

Wanted to include a few pics of that amazing day...

Maternity shot of Lauren

At the hospital

Beautiful baby boy...

Meeting mommy for the first time. 

The next morning

After first night

The day we took him home from the hospital.

about a week old.

1 year

2 years

3 years

4 years

5 years

6 years

7 years