Remodel 7

Take a tour of the completed portion of the remodel. Along with the bedrooms and bathroom the attic was completed, didn't take a picture but it does look good.

We have about 10% left to be completed, this includes the mirror and blinds for the downstairs bathroom, blinds for the hallway and babies room, pictures on the walls, repairs to the upstairs bathroom, cabinetts and clearing out of the garage.

Our new bedroom

Our new bathroom (still waiting for the mirror)

Pillows on futon were all handmade by Gramee (Donna Dugaw)


Our baby room

Happy Mother's Day

As a pending mother I would like to wish all the mothers out there a Happy Day.

Remodel 6a

The living room floors are complete. What do we have left to do? Well, the bathroom downstairs still needs a countertop, faucets and a toilet. The attic needs a ladder and floor boards and the upstairs bathroom needs all of it's plumbing redone and the bathtub needs a new finish. We have moved into the downstairs bedroom and the babies room is on it's way to being ready.

We emptied our storage unit and we currently have all of our "stuff" in the garage. That's a bit of a headache but we are hoping that we can get everything in it's place in the next week or two.

I've attached a picture of me, sorry it's taken me so long to get one up on the blog. Not a great picture, took it myself without a tripod.

37 weeks

Remodel 6

We're not done yet. As you can see we had to live in the living room for about 1-week while they put carpet in the office, babies room, downstairs bedroom and hallway along with painting the nursary. What do you think of the colour? It's Dill Pickle.

So as of today, we have moved into our new room downstairs, which we love, and we've moved back into the office. The downstairs bathroom still has some work to be done to it and this week I will be moving out as we are refinishing the hardwood floors in the living room. Yes, it went from very full to empty in one day. We're about 2-weeks from being finished and I'm 4-weeks from my due date. The nursary is currently storing everything from the living room and I can only hope and pray that I will be actually fixing up that room next weekend.

We were living in a studio (our living room) for a while

The bathroom is coming along

The garage got new cabinets

The downstairs bedroom now has carpet

The office also got new carpet, I wish I had painted it

The babies room got new carpet and a new paint job

Remodel 5a

I've got colour on my walls and I love it. Check it out, the hallways are Alaskan Skies, the bedroom is Cotswald and the bathroom is Meadow Trail . The vanity will be installed in the bathroom tomorrow along with the garage cabinets, the bathroom fixtures should go in sometime next week. The shower doors will be installed in about two weeks along with the carpet. At that point we move it to the upstairs. I wasn't too sure when we were going to get to this point...whew!

Remodel 5

We're getting really close to being finished with the downstairs. The bathroom has been tiled, the walls have been primed, the trim and doors are up and the new window has been installed.

Next week the bathroom will be grouted, the walls will be painted, the vanity and bathroom fixtures will be installed as well as the garage cabinets.

Things are looking good and we seem to be on track for completion.

Pictures - Bedroom, hallway (linen closet) and bathroom

Remodel 4

It was a week of dry walling. From hanging, to mudding, to drying, to sanding. Next up, the painter (see samples below). I'm having a hard time finding the right colour for the bathroom - greens to the right. The babies room is all set - two colours in the middle and the bedroom and hallways are in the light beige colour scheme - colours to the left. Again, I could use my sisters help with this one. Oh well, back to the colour board.

Welcome to our remodel



Bathroom

Bedroom

Bedroom

Remodel 3

Our insulation is now in. For all those Jamaicans out there, that means that the place will be nice and warm in the winter and it makes the place amazingly quiet. Plus, it should help save us some money on our electrical bill. With the insulation in olace the rooms actually look like rooms. Next week, the Sheetrock will go up and I can check out my paint samples.

30-Weeks

Can you imagine I only have 10 more weeks to go. The little person inside of me likes to move around mainly in the mornings and late evenings. It's been fun watching my belly move in all sorts of directions. We've been told by the majority of people in the states that it's a boy and when we were home, in Jamaica, we were told by the majority that it's a girl. Tim's guess is a puppy. Only the big guy and possibly my doctor knows what we're having.

No doubt I am getting bigger, I have put on about 19lbs which means I'm on track to put on about 30lbs by the end of this pregnancy. The required amount of weight is 25-30lbs so I'm feeling okay with where I'm at. At the beginning of the pregnancy I didn't want to be around sugar. All of a sudden, I'm craving it worse than ever before. This is something I'm going to be watching over these final two months.

To think that I'm approaching my 8th month, it has certainly started to slow itself down and with my sleep pattern and back aches, I was hoping this was going to be the fast part.

I promise to post a picture, so if you get here before I do, check back later.

Remodel 2b

The deck is complete. Yeah, one project down about 50 more to go. Martin has done a wonderful job with it. We weren't sure about the colour but it turned out really nicely. The deck can now hold more than one without feeling like it's going to collapse...party!

Check out the electrical work in Remodel 2a

Remodel 2a

The following are pictures of pure confusion. It's a big job, the entire downstairs is being rewired. We even had to move the panel on the outside of the house. The first picture shows some of the plumbing - red tube for hot water and blue tube for cold water.

Hot and cold water for the washing machine and sink

Don't ask me, I just hope somebody knows what's going on

Our new panel

Remodel 2

It's been a crazy week at the house. We've moved the furnace, which left us without heat for one night - the night it snowed. We've also retrofitted the house for earthquakes, it was the perfect day to be at work. I heard the noise was unbelievable. The new deck is on it's way, as I said the weather took a turn and so that came to a halt and the pipes for the return or waste are in and have been covered again by concrete. Oh I forgot, Tim added a job, he wanted to have his garage finished so that was also ripped out this week.

Next week the electrician comes in to move the panel, rewire the house and clean up the electrical mess everywhere. The tile guy, sheet rock guy and carpet guy should be coming in to give us quotes and the plumber will also be here to put in all of the water lines.

Tim and I have been spending our weekends going to home improvement stores looking at ideas and pretty much making some choices. The good news is that we found our bathroom sinks, I love them. There is so much to be done and I pray that we have these folks out of here by the end of April.

Our deck, a work in progress

The garage, waste line in and covered

The bathroom waste lines

Remodel 1a

I come home everyday to see something new. It's amazing to watch our ideas move from conversation to drawings and now construction. I'm now starting to make choices and that's been a little scary for me. I know what I like and I know what I don't like, the problem is that all the things that I like don't necessarily look good together. However, I have had my personal consultant, Lisa, close by - thank God for the phone!

I came home on Monday and our deck was gone.

By Wednesday there was framing for our new deck already put in

We are changing all of the plumbing in the house,

this is a big job and so far

Terry our plumber is doing a great job

This is piping for the new bathroom in the basement

Remodel 1

View from bottom of stairs, bedroom in back, bathroom to right

Inside bedroom with walk in closet, bathroom in left corner

Inside bathroom, bedroom in back

Dust Everywhere

Our weekend was all about clearing out our basement and garage and by 3pm on Sunday evening we were happy to see our last large piece of furniture go into storage.

The demolition has begun. That's right folks for all that have not heard, we are finishing our basement and adding a bathroom. Once that is complete we will be moving out of the upstairs to lift our carpet and expose hardwood floors, finish our attic and replace all of the plumbing in the upstairs bathroom.

Needless to say we have dust everywhere and I wish my creative sister, Lisa, was here to help me with tile, paint, tub choices. I will post pictures to show the progress.

Surprise!

Tim and I just returned from our two week trip to Miami and Jamaica. We couldn't write about it before we left because of the 4 maybe 5 people that read my blog my mother is one of them and our trip home was a surprise for her. Mummy turned 75 on February 2nd and my sisters and I planned a celebration in her honour.

We spent two days in Miami visiting with family and friends. My cousins even threw us a baby shower to celebrate the wee one. On January 25th, along with my cousin Mari and my Aunt Gem from Miami we headed to Jamaica for about 8 days. Upon our arrival we surprised mummy at her office. We told her that we were having a shower for me on the Sunday. However, we surprised her with a birthday party. Other aspects of our trip included a family trip to the beach, time spent with the neice and nephews, a tour of the Bob Marley Museum, dinner with good friends and a yup a shower for Tim and I which included more of my closest friends.

Share in the fun by checking out our pictures, click here.

Winter Wonderland

We had more snow last night. The roads were just beginning to get back to normal and we get hit once again. It's been really cold in Seattle, an unusual winter. However, I must say that I have enjoyed the beautiful white powder on the ground.

My sister-in-law, Mary Jo, lives in Fall City and she's been enjoying 10" of snow since last week. Cross country skiing and snow shoeing around her property - FUN!

Happy New Year Everyone!

Here's the belly at 20+ weeks.

I know it's all about the baby so all you get to see for the first picture is di big belly. Wishing you all the best for the New Year. May all of your dreams come true.

Click here for Christmas Eve pictures with the Dugaw Family

To All of My Family and Friends

May your home be filled with many blessings.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

It's Like A Good Novel

Tuesday of this week I had the privilege of replacing all of my camera equipment. It was certainly a weird experience spending that much money at one time and not having to worry about how I was going to pay for it. My goal, not to go over the cheque amount that the insurance company gave us. I was successful and I am extremely pleased with my new equipment.

Well, the next day I get a phone call at work from a stranger that asks me if I lost a camera and he knows who has it. Are you kidding me. I ask him how he knows it's mine and he says that the guy tried to sell it to him and while looking through the manual a receipt for a photography course fell out with my name on it. He took the receipt without this other guy noticing and googled me. That's right folks, you too can be googled...scary. Anyhow he realized that this was some expensive s**t so he felt it was only the right thing to do.

I called Tim, we called his brother the lawyer and he advised us to call the police and our insurance company. After calling our kind stranger back he was willing to give us not only the guys name but his phone number and where he hangs out. Once we got the police involved they went to the guys house but he wasn't home. Not sure where things are at the moment the one thing we've learnt is that there are still good people out there that will do the right thing.

As for my new equipment, if they retrieve the old stuff they have given me two choices. I can return the new stuff and keep the old stuff OR I can keep the new stuff and the old stuff will then be owned by the insurance company. Not knowing what this guy has done to my old equipment, I think I will stick to my new purchases.

19-Weeks (5 months)

It's an exciting time of the pregnancy. You have your energy fully back, you are now showing, although you are at the point where someone could think that you've just put on weight and you start to feel things that everyone that has had a baby or two says is your baby moving. Okay folks, whatever you say.

The only difference with me is that I don't have a great appetite. I have cravings for a certain type of food every once in a while, and I get what I want, but most of the time I'm not always sure what will taste good or what I feel for.

I don't have pictures to show, you know with the camera gone, although the good news is that I can replace ALL of my equipment and that's what good insurance does for you.

Merry Christmas!

Two Teefin Bwoy

So last night I had the worst night ever. I was leaving work yesterday evening at around 4:45pm to go to a Family Forum for the YMCA, I was in charge of taking pictures. When I got to my car I realized that I had forgotten my purse inside so I placed my camera bag in the car shut the door and ran in to get my handbag. I was in the branch for no more than 3-minutes. I use the bathroom, I got my bag and I was out the door- no dilly dallying. When I got back to my car well, I think you must all know where I am going from here. My camera bag was gone. I thought I was in the middle of some cruel joke, I kinda wish I was. My heart began to race and I began to search the area like a mad woman. It was gone, it was time to call 911. We later found out that a members car window had been punched in, nothing was taken from his car.

The contents of that bag was worth over $8,000. It had been 3-years of me accumulating every piece of equipment that I own. It was with great care and serious thought that each piece was purchased and that is what was of value to me.

So the sad news is that I will not have the opportunity to capture the events over the Christmas season and it also means that I must put a hault on my portfolio. It does NOT mean that I plan on giving up on my photography, it's just given me the fuel to continue what I love to do and to really address the subjects that I am passionate about.

Have a wonderful Christmas and be safe.
Walk Good!

Snow in the City

Too lazy to get the flash

It began in the morning as a light dusting of snow or what the weather man calls a trace however, by 5:00pm we ended up with about 1" of snow fall. Ever since I moved to Seattle we get at least one day of snow in the city during the winter season and I like it. It was early this year so we may get another one later on. Hey man, we don't have to worry about shovelling it on a daily basis so the change is nice.



With a substancial snow fall comes a beautiful white layer on our lawn and trees, giggling kids, snowmen, snow angels and SNOWBALL FIGHTS. Along with the 14 kids in our neighbourhood, Tim and Scott, our neighbour, were the two biggest kids out there. While the kids were outside having fun I was inside, warm and cozy trimming our tree. Tis the season..
Happy holidays everyone.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is not a holiday that we celebrate in Jamaica so, for me it's been a time I have had to embrace in my adult life. In the 7-years that I have lived in the United States, I've celebrated Thanksgiving in Miami, Boston and Seattle and each year I have been welcomed with open arms by family and friends.

I have thought about the people that have no where to go, the people that are either homeless, have no friends or family in the area (because of a move) or the people that have chosen to be alone. This year I have a dear friend that has been working extremely hard at school and work and has done exactly that, she has chosen to be alone for the holiday. I was worried that she needed that time to be with her family and she reminded me that this was a great opportunity for her to take a well deserved break and enjoy a day off - that she is thankful for. For my friend at work that has recently moved to Seattle and has no where to go with her fiance, she has reminded me of the importance of volunteering and the need in our communities to feed the homeless. Well then, I guess they do have somewhere to go after all.

So to all of you out there, no matter what you have chosen to do this holiday, no matter where you are from be thankful, be thankful for it all. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

I Guess The Picture Says It All...

Red Haired Dreadlocks Baby

Well, not everything. We made the official announcement about 2-weeks ago, but I am happy to make this announcement on my blog. I am pregnant and currently 13.5-weeks along. The due date was originally May 19th but after today's ultrasound we were given a due date of May 11th. I just have to say that this calculating of how many weeks I am and when the due date is tends to be a little off and some what confusing so as far as I'm concerned the wee one will choose to come when he/she is ready.

So far I've been feeling really good. No morning sickness but felt nauseated most mornings while on my Montana trip. I have been extremely tired and require at least an hour nap in the middle of my day and I haven't noticed any major or should I say specific cravings apart from always wanting carbs. Getting into a regular exercise routine has had it's challenges since I returned from Missoula so I am trying to get my body out (even in the rain) for at least a 2-4 mile walk each day. I will probably add swimming to my workout as the weather continues to change.

This is an exciting time for Tim and I and we are looking forward to sharing more photos and updates on the wee one with all of our family and friends.

Happy Halloween

I know I have not posted in a long time. It's just been one of those weeks where I don't have a lot to talk about. I can tell you that we had a fun Halloween with the kids in our neighbourhood. It was a cold night but that didn't seem to stop them from gathering enough candy to last them an entire year. My favorite costume for the night was the little boy dressed as a candy corn...adorable, sorry I didn't take a picture.

I hope you all had a safe and fun night.