Only nine more days...

and the kitchen project will be done. We think.

We expanded the kitchen project into our family room and spent the past four days painting the family room.

Our family room has cedar paneling that had been painted a stark white. We wanted to warm it up by painting it a tan color. We also had beams that are now painted a deep, dark brown. The room is finally warmed up and looks like a lodge. There are two things left to do to our family room: 1) flooring; 2) fireplace -- convert to gas and purchase a new screen. We've discovered that our fireplace opening is curved and not square; so we would like to enhance that feature.

Below are pictures of both our family room and kitchen. Our countertops, sink and faucet will be installed on Dec. 5. It will be a glorious day in the McFatridge household so that we will get our half bath back to its regular function.








We hope you had a great Thanksgiving.

So close...

Well, our kitchen is nearing completion.

It has been two years in the making. In the Fall of 2004, Kevin Taulman and I began the process when we removed the drop-ceiling the previous owners installed.

I took the first step in becoming a man by purchasing a sawzall from Home Depot. I removed the hanging cabinets over the peninsula and its soffit with my new sawzall.

Then it sat for a year.

We bought lights and went to three different remodeling companies. Finally, we decided on Benson Stone. We worked with Kelly to design our new kitchen -- picked out cabinets and granite.

Hired a contractor.

Bought a faucet.

Hired an electrician.

Hired a second contractor.

Fired our first contractor.

Bought hardware for the doors.

Everything should be completed next week. THANK GOD!

We are so tired of the dust, everything on our dining room tables collecting dust, and cooking only with a microwave -- something my mother has mastered. Did I mention that we have to wash our dishes in the bathroom sink?

That just isn't right.

To view the photos, click HERE to view the slideshow.

Keeping you in the loop...

Last weekend, we picked up our 4-n-1 convertible crib we purchased back in July. (I know, it's too early, but we're having fun so leave us alone.) The local company has been holding it for us until we, well, actually Kevin, was ready to bring it home. The idea of purchasing it and bringing it home in the same day gave him some anxiety, so we waited for a while.

This whole process is strange at times. A lot of people become pregnant and have a rough idea of when the bundle of joy will arrive to sleep in the crib. So they can plan accordingly to get the room ready. We, on the other hand, really have no control over the timeframe.

Not that we don't have an idea, if we follow the most recent group of referrals time frame (13-14 months), we should find out who our child is sometime in the early Summer of 2007. But as we have been told... the wait could speed up as it is known for doing... so we could find out earlier.

A little adoption lesson for you... referral's (photo/name/estimated date of birth/basic medical information) come in based on LID (log-in date). We are logged in on 4/24/06. Everyone that has a LID between 8/10/05-8/25/05 was issued their referral on November 2, 2006. It is estimated that these folks who found out about their children this week will travel to China middle to end of December of 2006.

Most of these people have the rooms ready. We are following the timeframe Web sites that we use for information to help determine when we will start the room. As of today, the room will be set up probably in April (a one year anniversary of officially being "paperwork pregnant"). So for now, the box will remain closed and leaning against the wall of the designated room. It will give us something to look forward to doing in the Spring. So for now we will share photos of the boxes in the room. Click here to see what the finish looks like. They actually discontinued our model, which is why we got a deal on it... which is why we purchased it.

Another adoption update for you is that all paperwork has been reviewed for those with LID's through 1/31/06. This is an update we look forward to at the moment as it means they are only three months away from viewing our dossier.

Kevin made his first clothing purchase all on his own. They are brown camo pants that he thought this little one needed to have.


I have made a purchase of a Notre Dame Fighting Irish shirt as I would hope this little one will be an Irish football fan like me, Auntie Monica, Uncle Jeff, Uncle Jason and Papaw Dunn.




















Congratulations to the following folks for their referrals...

Our next adventure

Are They All Yours

Our Journey to Madison Mei

San Diego Seigels

Our Daughter

Amy’s Space

Sebago Girl

The Three Miracles

Camille Chronicles

Three’s a Charm

Waiting for Michella

Lindsey’s MeiMei (Music)

Our Journey to Abbey Road

Journey to Emilia

Emily

To Tess & Back

Moon Pies and Moon Cakes

Our Family Journey (Music)

Malia

Caroline on my Mind

Our Journey to Baby Shanahan

Sara