The End of 524

It's been 7 weeks since we moved.  March 12 was the move-out deadline for our apartment complex, and things have definitely started to happen since then. 

This is what the whole block used to look like:

Our building was the one at the bottom center of the shot above.  As far as we can tell, the people living in the three houses in the lower right haven't moved out yet, but everyone is out of the apartment buildings along the left/center.  The building at the top right hasn't been used at all during the time we've lived here, but the parking lot was used for commuters.  After the move-out date, things happened with our building almost immediately.  We've made a couple recent visits to see the progress.

March 19 (Ethan had been by a couple of days earlier when apparently there were just a few holes in the roof, but by the time we got there with a camera, this is what we found):

 Standing outside our bedroom window:

 Former laundry room:

And by March 23, this:

Gearing Up

We are lucky, particularly when it comes to baby prep, to live in an area that has tons of thrift stores, well-supplied ones, generally with some pretty good stuff.  This weekend we went a step further and attended a giant consignment event that carries all manner of baby stuff.  There are two of these events held in this area in both the spring and the fall.  Parents-to-be can get a pre-sale pass to shop on Saturday afternoon right before the week of the event.  So, we printed our pass, got there barely early enough to find a parking space, and then waited in line. 

There were a lot of people.  And once the doors were opened, it was pretty intense. 

Fortunately, we went with an agenda.  It was still pretty exhausting, but at least we weren't wandering aimlessly through small spaces filled with pregnant women and manic grandmas.  After a looong wait in the line to pay by credit card (note to self: bring cash next time), we made it out with a car seat, a tub, and a bouncy seat, for a total of about $45.  I guess that means success!

Then we brought the gear home, set it on our living room floor, and thought, "What is this stuff doing here?"  There won't be a baby in this house for another 3.5 months, so it's actually a little disorienting to have this stuff around at this stage.