I think my last house-related entry was pretty negative so I’d better update. It turns out we ARE getting the house! (A call from Michael’s brother, Ian, this morning reminded me that we haven’t really spread the news that widely.)
The sellers came back to us with a reasonable offer with regard to repairs. The price will be the same, but, at the closing, we’ll get checks written out to the repair people of our choice, so we can get most of the major things fixed. Then we’ll have to repair other things ourselves, or get them done after we move in.
We actually found this out on Michael’s birthday, so his fancy birthday dinner was not only a celebration of Michael — it was also a celebration of our future family house together. Since then, we’ve been very positive but still disbelieving that it’s actually happening. It’s hard to believe that we’re on track to buy our little house. (I added a couple more pictures to the album today.)
We’ve set a date of Tueday May 24 to sign the final paperwork (and write lots of checks) on our end. Then the official close is on Friday the 27th. That’s when we’ll get the keys. It’s right before Memorial Day weekend, so I think Michael will have both the Friday and the Monday off work. I believe I just get the Monday. Also that weekend, is a sidewalk chalk art and chocolate tasting festival along Solano Avenue — so we’ll have a nice opportunity to get to know the ‘hood. (Picture above is chalk art example from the event Web site.)
Then, the repairs can commence! Of course, then we get to move.
So less than a month before the baby is due, we’ll be moving. It’s great, though, because now we have a room for him and we can be preparing it for his arrival. We’re holding off buying the crib — which my dad has generously offered to pay for — until we get into the new place. We’re going for a safari theme — not too boyish — so it would hold up if we eventually have another child.
And speaking of children, I’ll use this opportunity to say everything is looking fine. I have been going in for twice-weekly monitoring (non-stress tests and ultrasounds). Every time, my blood pressure is just fine (way down from the high reading that was cause for concern before), and the baby seems to be doing well. One added benefit, I guess, is that I’m getting quite comfortable with the hospital where I’ll be giving birth. On the way to the monitoring area, I get to pass the nursery and see the newborns.
