[PlentyCoup]

Everything sounds like a pretty solid start. Like @johnwesley0 said cloudiness is pretty normal.
Some pictures would help. Also to show layout... i am not sure of your layout but from your list it looks as though you might be a little light on your plant stocking. Do you have any floaters?
I am a bit of a crypt fanatic so i would say add a few more of those. Houdori, greern gecko, and tropica have done well for me. Maybe look for rotala catetpillar or h'ra both have never failed me in the 3 tanks i have tried so far. Also D. Sag is another no brainer. I have also had fabulous luck with AR variegated.
Other then the plant list looks good just maybe more plants. Oh also a asian knot weed that i have in my native tank. I adore that plant but it is probably to large for a 10gal.

As for fish those sound good. I am a sucker for bettas (i have a betta with 4 ember tetras) and absolutely love love love rainbow shiners.

 

[PlentyCoup]

Thank you for the suggestions, I will look into getting more plants this week. I haven't measured the pH of my tap water but can do that and report back. What is the acceptable range for pH for the tank I have built and considering the fish I want to add? So there's no way around the water changing color with the wood piece?

The wood will temporally change the water color. Give it a few weeks and a couple water changes and it should clear up well.