Work in Progress...

Welcome to Utah. Those were the words from the pilot of the plane as we slowly descended into Provo. I couldn't believe it. Suddenly, right before my eyes, all this change was REALLY happening. I walked off that plane with my son's hand in mine, towards our new future. I have never been more excited, scared, nervous, and happy at the same time. Thoughts were FLOODING through my head (mostly about how freakn cold it was as I stood in capris and flip flops!!!) but I tried my best to act calm, cool, and collected. We grabbed our luggage and hoped into the nice warm truck to head to the house. As we drove through the different cities, a weird feeling of peace came over me. I knew, for the first time, that I was where I needed to be. My little family was going through a MAJOR change, from a new city, to a new state, to a new job, to a new baby, to a new house, but I felt content knowing everything was going to be okay. Funny thing, that EXACT moment I felt calm, I also got an overwhelming feeling that it was going to be a ROUGH transition. Not that I ever expected it to be easy, but I knew it was going to be harder than I ever allowed myself to think. 

We pulled up to the house in Layton. The house we bought without EVER seeing it in person. My heart raced before I opened the door HOPING it would be as good as the Realtor made it seem. HOPING it didn't need major work. HOPING it would work for our little, growing family. Surprise Surprise...IT WORKS!!! It is just as I imagined, and with a little paint, and care, it is going to be the perfect little starter house for us! I couldn't be more thrilled. Finally a HUGE yard for Lincoln to play in, a lovely basement for entertaining, and a bedroom for both kids so they don't have to share! Things were once again, going to be okay. 

That week flew by. Shaun and I must have made over 30 trips to Lowe's to get things for the house. With every little project we tackled, a sense of pride of ownership shinned through on both our ends. With a little paint, the rooms were starting to feel like home. By the way, NO ONE EVER mentioned how HARD and TIRING it is to paint!!! Oh my lanta...I have not felt THAT tired in a LONG time!!! In fact, we have taken a break from painting...but now it makes me NOT want to start again! HA. 

Of course the first room we tackled was Lincoln's. We both wanted him to feel at home here, and we knew his little 3 year old mind couldn't fully understand what was happening in his life so we figured the best way to make him comfortable, was to give him his old room back. The picture below will show a DARK GREEN room (Lincoln was drawn to that room from the beginning...he walked right in and said, "this my room"). We had to do a coat of primer AND 2 more coats of paint WITH the primer included, to get this room to the light grey we wanted. Finally after a day of drying/airing it out, we were able to move all his bedroom things in. His little face would light up everytime an old piece of his room went upstairs. He has been sleeping in there wonderfully and I am sooo thankful for his huge amount of flexibility. 

                                                  

To keep on track with Lincoln and making him feel comfortable, I wanted to complete the basement. I knew part of it was going to be the 'family/entertainment' area, and another part was going to be the play area. FINALLY a place for ALL his toys that is NOT in my main living area...a mom could NOT be happier!!! This room was a PAIN to prep. In fact, towards the end of the prep, we gave up on sealing the ceiling and just said "be careful towards the top". HA...it was a pain! We lucked out BIG TIME with the paint color for the basement. While at Lowe's I happened to notice a 5 gallon bucket of paint with a color pretty similar to the one I originally wanted marked for only $30!!! These buckets go for $150 at Lowe's...and just 1 gallon is $45...I was ALL OVER THIS DEAL!!! It is a little darker than I originally wanted, BUT it works lovely in there! Once I find the right pictures/art for the room (vintage looking theater stuff) it will lighten it up JUST enough! :) *Bonus I found those AMAZING red/white ottomans at Target for $15...originally $50...when I bought them I wasn't even sure where I would put them...BUT I KNEW that was a killer deal and I wanted them! :) All Lincoln's toys fit LOVELY in the little cut out in the basement and he LOVES being able to go down, make a mess, and leave it all day, until I make him clean it up at bedtime. We still need to add a couple long shelves to display all his board games, and stain all the oak color wood a darker color,

 




but other than that, it is finished! Well, we do have to decide on what to do with the bathroom down there...it's pretty plain but I actually really like it! 

Now onto upstairs...the living room is just an open room right now. We need to find the right couches to get in there, and once I find those, we will choose a paint color and go from there. It just sits empty for now! :) The dining room is half down (remember how I mentioned taking a break from painting!??) I LOVE the red color on the bottom and HOPEFULLY next week we will get the grey ontop of the red and finish the dining room. We are going to hire someone to do the kitchen the same grey color (I dread going around the cupboards) so that part will be on hold for a couple months. 

The tape was still on in this picture...we aren't THAT bad of painters! ;) 

My FAVORITE room is the upstairs bathroom!!! If you know ANYTHING about me, it is my LOVE for teal/black together!!! I have always loved the combo and when I saw a picture on Pinterest with a bathroom based on those colors, I KNEW I HAD to have it!!! I dumped the ugly typical boring mirror that comes with homes (I think they are called builder grade mirrors or something) and threw up my HUGE black mirror I scored at Ross for $30. Then it was all about the right color blue, and finding all the black accents that I wanted/needed. I still need to find items to go on the 2 shelves that are in there, and I hope to get the vanity stained next week (going all black) AND one day, we will redo the floors...I have seen these awesome tile that look like wood in a grey/slate color...oh yeah those are totally going in...ONE DAY! 

So as I said, the first week went by FAST! We had project after project to work on. This week though, reality has set in a little. Shaun is back at work, and Lincoln and I are home. Luckily the weather has been AMAZING so we play outside every morning and after naps. I realized I need to get him more outside toys (thank goodness Easter is right around the corner). It has been hard with Shaun gone, wanting to tackle all these other projects, being in a new state, AND trying to find the energy to entertain a toddler while in the 1st trimester of pregnancy...BUT we are managing. It is a learning experience every single day....and I wouldn't trade it for the world!!! 

Hopefully next week we can tackle our Master Bedroom (we LUCKED OUT BIG TIME and don't have to paint that room...it's a color we already wanted!!!) so we just need new bedding, some curtains, and new lamp shades (everything that goes on the walls will come in due time..I am just focusing on the MAIN ASPECTS of each room). I also really want to get the vanity stained so it can be DONE!!! Knowing we have 1 room completely finished is a great feeling...I just can't wait till the WHOLE HOUSE is finished...or even till we have a couch upstairs! ;)