Having a kid changes things.

We haven't had our child yet, being only at the halfway point right now, but I can sense one palpable change already: The majority of our conversations seem to revolve around this unknown child. We expected that, of course. I can't imagine bringing a child into this world without obsessing over every little thing. We try to make the world perfect for our children, and that takes a lot of effort.

So things are changing, and it is an interesting thing to participate in.

Some of the changes are concrete. Almost literally. We are working on the house to prepare it for our new family member (some might say that we are in the nesting phase, trying to ensure that the house is a perfect haven). Our driveway was recently completed, covered now in pavers and much less muddy than it was last year during the rainy season. Couches and artwork have been ordered and/or purchased and are transforming the upstairs. We are nearly finished with the family room and guest room, ensuring that our future guests will have a comfortable place to stay.

Downstairs is still a work in progress. We expect new office furniture tomorrow, which will take its place in the landing at the bottom of the stairs. A crowded place, to be sure, but the only real option we currently have for a small work area. The nursery is still in its infancy (no pun intended). My brother Seth will be up here in a few weeks to install new windows, which will mark the beginning of its heady transformation. Paint, furniture, supplies and love will be given to that room, with the hope that it will be done by late December, several months before the arrival of our newborn and still during a time when Erin will have energy to work on it.

Of course, these are just the current plans. Between now and the end of the year, we could change our minds again. We hope to repaint the outside of the house, upgrade the electrical feed (and adding a new ground wire to the panel), do some maintenance on the fireplace/chimney, and begin some external landscaping. Then, after a year or two, we will take on the herculean task of retrofitting our decks. An expensive project, to be sure, but one that will calm my nerves once our little one is running around.

The nursery, though, is the priority and I will try to upload photos of the final product once we get there.

Other quick bits of news -- Erin's class this year is great, my job is still going well, we are about to attend our second Mill Valley Film Festival, Matt and Michelle are also pregnant (as is another Erin that we know, Gina C., several other friends and several other co-workers), and we expect to be in Southern California in the middle of November.