This Old House

New siding and insulation: $5,000
New roof: $10,000
New windows: $12,000
New HVAC: $15,000

Satisfaction in knowing I'm the new poster child for This Old House: Priceless

I am now the owner of a 3,000 square foot money pit. It has no driveway, a dilapidated garage, a bad roof, 50-year-old faux-brick celotex siding, rotting soffits, termite damage, sagging floors, no air conditioning, smelly carpets, a bathroom with a disgusting shower and a chimney that's caving in, (which, incidentally, is still the only way the furnace flue gases leave the house).

So why'd I buy it?

$31,000 on an auction is all I can say.

Maybe I should apply for an Extreme Makeover...

Family Update

Hey.

Whaddya lookin' at?

Micah is now almost 5 months old. At his 4-month checkup, he weighed in at 15 lbs, 8.5 ozs. and 27 inches. He wears 9-12 month-old clothes regularly and he just recently graduated to the next size in diapers. Not sure that's a cause for celebration, though I could see how some people might think so...

In any case, he gets more interesting by the day. He enjoys exporing his vocal chords and grabbing anything that gets within arm's reach. He's taken a keen interest to solid food that mom and dad eat, though the jury's out on when he'll get his first taste.

Beyond that, he's a squeaky, drooly baby boy for whom the cat carries no great affection...

A family update...

Just a little update on the family...

Micah, born just over two months ago, is a (sometimes) happy and generally healthy baby boy. His last checkup weighed him in at some 12.5 pounds and 25 inches. He's long and leggy. I keep hearing he's going to be a basketball player. We shall see.

Bit by bit, he grows more interesting to watch - smiles are more common, so is responding to your voice. Hand - eye coordination is impressive (he frequently stabs his eyes with his fingers). I suppose this is nothing compared to the full range of experiences I'm yet due for, but as a new dad, I'm fascinated.

We're greatly enamored with the baby boy, but not so much that my wife wants another... at least, not yet...

A Week Off... For Real

Tuesday, June 6th, 2006

Micah Orin Graff was born at 2:29 am. He weighed 9 lbs, 8 ozs, and is 23 1/2 inches long. Labor was complicated by a posterior delivery and no drugs for mom. Tough day.

Both mother and baby are doing well.

See you next week.

- Graffy