We are into the stressful home stretch on finishing the house. Things are starting to take on a finished look around the new place, and we've got exactly 3 and a half weeks until the bank comes out and takes a look around to see if we're done. Will we make it? The house won't be finished, but we're hoping to have enough done to appease the loan officer, which essentially means that we'll have everything done except for baseboard trim and ceiling trim (around the pine ceiling) upstairs.

We essentially have five big projects left to finish that we'll keep you updated on. Finishing the jambs and trim around the doors and windows is the first, and Joe and Nate have gotten a vast majority of that project done, with maybe a day or two left to go. Drywall taping/sanding/painting has been a monster task, but I've only got AJ's room left to sand, and Nate has been keeping up behind me on the painting very well. The upstairs bathroom is now painted. That room was a beast every step of the way, and getting it done was a bright spot in the construction process.

Another of the big outstanding tasks is putting in the railings and bookcases around the stairs and second floor hole. Joe picked up some oak from a local yard and milled it down, and has started constructing the railings, which are beautiful. Nate and I sorted out some wide (13-14") pine boards from the monster tree we had cut down in front of our house, cut them to length and width, and are planning on getting it planed down for the bookcases. The other two big chores are installing the cabinets and vanities (including the countertops and sinks), and laying the hardwood floors. The cabinets get here next Weds, and these two jobs should take up the majority of our final two weeks.

We also have numerous little tasks that will need to be completed; sanding the upstairs floor, painting and installing joist hangers, outlets, smoke detectors, lighting fixtures, appliances. It's going to be hard to make the deadline, but we're trying to feel positive about it. As you might have been able to tell, we've given Nate a job for the month of March, which has significantly helped push us along. We've also set a move in date, for Easter weekend, as we have to have out rental house completely cleaned and ready for someone else to move into by the following weekend.

There are TONS of pictures to take of new things out at the house. I'm going to try to start being better about documenting the progress over the next month. Stay tuned.