Thanks I'll check them out!
to elaborate.
the blueiris software can turn your PC into a network DVR. It will monitor up to 64 cameras, do full motion sensing. Upload catpures to a remote FTP, email, send texts and allow you to login from anything with a web browser to view live or archive clips.
The foscam cameras are a great value. Good IR performance, true IR cut filters, tons of IR leds.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LpwYLFU-x4
the HD ones are worth the extra money because they encode the stream in 264 at the camera. It greatly reduces the space the videos take up on the DVR and cuts the network bandwidth nearly in half, even at a higher resolution.
You can choose wired or wireless. The wired ones support POE.
there's a bundle on newegg right now for the foscam router, two cameras and the software for like $250. You don't need a powerful PC for just a few cameras, so dust off an old PC and set it up. You can upgrade later with more cameras, more storage and a more powerful PC so you can view more cameras at once.
It's the non nerd option.
If you want to go full nerd just buy the cameras and do this:
http://www.zoneminder.com/