The nursery

There have been many requests for a post about the nursery. Remember I wanted to do a forest theme? 

Lesson #1: Finish your nursery before you have the baby! There is so much going on as a new parent you think your maternity leave is a vacation but it's actually more difficult than your day job!

Now I know....

MJ is now 2 months old and the nursery is still a work in progress. Just take a look:

When you walk in you see a window, laundry basket, artwork from my SIL and yep, that's my bridal portrait...guess I need a new place for that.

     

Close up of SIL artwork

To your right is the crib. Baby cribs are so simple. They can't have too many pillows or blankets so there's just the sheet and a few stuffed animals. Our "nino" sign is hanging up. And yes, we still need a mobile. The one from my previous blog looks cool when you look right at it, but it's not that interesting to the baby. Weird, once you have the kid you're more interested in his needs and not your own. Someone warned me that would happen!

Across from the crib is my dresser turned changing table turned baby's dresser. My jewelry and make up use to take up the entire surface of this dresser. Not any more! I don't even have all the drawers. He has three and I have four. 

This is his favorite place in the room because of this DIY mobile I made:

Babies can see in B&W so I made this mobile out of a paper plate, note cards and a sharpie. He could sit for hours under this mobile! Ok, more like 10 minutes straight, but to a new parent that time is a much needed breather!

What looks like clutter on the dresser is a two-tiered fruit basket that is a diaper holder and diaper accessory holder. We're still going through the disposable diapers that were given to use during our baby showers. I've tried cloth diapers on occasion. One brand did not hold in a #2 while the other brand was stolen by the neighbor dog when I left it outside to dry! Gotta love country dogs.

All the baby books from my baby book shower are displayed on top of this dresser. I emptied out this dresser thinking we'd move it but it hasn't made the move and is now full of extra baby stuff. Towels, blankets, clothes in the next size up, clothes he's outgrown...so it has come in handy and won't be moved into storage.

Things on the top of the dresser include:

Baby size crucifix, baby cross, frame (that needs an ultrasound picture in it - opps!), Sophie the giraffe, digital alarm clock used for nature sound feature and static (white noise), baby's hand print will be created soon and MJ's favorite accessory: the wipe warmer! 

Now you've had a quick tour of our nursery....

We have a rocking chair in the family room but MJ prefers to bounce rather than rock. So we use that yellow yoga ball and he's a happy camper! 

High Heels! 

p.s. there is a can of dirty diapers that didn't make the photoshoot. Because who wants a picture of a trash can?

Baby Nursery Brainstorming

Typical to my personality I am not satisfied with anything I can find in a jumbo store. While we registered at Babies R Us and Buy Buy Baby, there wasn't a "theme" that I loved. 

I feel it would be a huge waste to invest in something that wouldn't transition into a toddler or child's taste. Teddy bears? He'll grow out of that in a heart beat (A new mother's heart beat - wahh!! ). 

Hubby wanted a car theme but Hub's love of cars will be passed down regardless of the bedroom theme. 

I never had a brother, so I can only go by cousins and school boys. So I always think of dirty fingernails when I think of little boys. 

Etsy Vinyl  

Think Chic Dirt and you'll understand how

 I fell in love with this Lumberjack themed baby shower I saw on Pinterest 

Source

I let my imagination flow from there. 

IKEA Rug 

Not sure if we need a rug since the room has carpet.

2nd choice in IKEA duvet cover and pillow 

1st Choice in IKEA duvet cover and pillow 

I can see these easily transitioning into a toddler's bed. Since they are only the duvet and pillowcase, we don't need to worry about spills or bed wetting ruining them. These are VERY INexpensive compared to what they sell at Babies R Us and Buy Buy Baby. 

IKEA is great, but I don't always understand the European design. For example: these fruits and vegetables with faces. I'm not a fan.

IKEA Bed Set

The following Pin-spirations are embedded from www.pinterest.com/rachelkellar/baby 
If you're on a mobile phone or device you might not be able to see the rest of my nursery inspiration. 

Decor

Rachel Kellar's pin on Pinterest.

Baby Clothes
Rachel Kellar's pin on Pinterest. Rachel Kellar's pin on Pinterest. Rachel Kellar's pin on Pinterest.

Baby Toys

Are we seeing the theme now?
He'll grow up around cows, horses, chickens and goats but this is another side of nature I'd like him to learn about. He's more likely to encounter a fox than an elephant (no jungle or circus themes). 
At the end of the day, raising a child is hard enough, I didn't want to over think a nursery. Being a fan of camping and the outdoors, this came natural to me and if mommy is happy everyone is happy!


Of course a part of me LOVES the "little gentleman" theme too:

Rachel Kellar's pin on Pinterest. Rachel Kellar's pin on Pinterest. Rachel Kellar's pin on Pinterest. 

He may be a boy, but mommy still loves shoes!!

Baby Girl Baby Shower

Wow! The baby shower this weekend was a HUGE success. How can I tell it was a success? I'm exhausted!!

Here are a few photos of the décor - inspired by Pinterest...

Pink Rice Krispie Treats! DIY

Fabric Wreath as mentioned in previous blog post

Mommy Chair and backdrop

Mommy mum

Table Scape - lanterns and ceiling décor less than $20. (Hobby Lobby)

Frames and glass apothecary jars - FREE! (From previous wedding inventory)

Thank You area featuring rice krispies and sonogram of baby girl

Everyone who came in to the party commented on how pretty it was. And those who knew knew it was pinterest inspired.

The macaroons were sneaked in from Amarillo. The mommy-to-be's husband visited her favorite French bakery in Amarillo, put them in a gift bag and made up a story about how she should give the bag to me as soon as she arrived at the party. Little did she know...it was all for her!

Cake and cupcakes from Market Street Supermarkets. Delicious!!

Mommy to Be!

Guests playing "What's in my purse" winner had over 200 points.

Her big ticket items were diaper (50 points), social security card (50 points) and pay stub.

It helped she had a big purse!

Mommy with her newborn niece, Evelyn.

Snacks! Featuring some wedding gifts of mine...

silver appetizer tray, wooden cutting board and silver cake stand.

That was fun! Finally using my wedding presents!

Mommy reading the diaper messages her guests wrote. Her favorite author won a prize! 

 

"Don't come any closer!" "Gonna need a towel!!"

 

And the winner was....

 

"Woah! She's dropping bricks!"

 

 

Such a fun party to host with my sister-in-laws:



I have GOT to learn how to dress during this pregnancy. My goodness!

I was running around decorating all day I didn't realize I looked like this until the end of the party when this photo was taken. Ayayay

High Heels!

Renovation dismotivation

I am addicted to the home renovation blogs. 
Seriously, in my google reader I have over 1000 unread home reno blogs.  It's a dirty little secret. 

The thing that makes me sad is that we are living on a house that can't be renovateded.  At least not radically. 
I can't paint, move doors or change flooring. I'm even scared to hang things on the wall for fear out will leave a big hole in the wall.

I just needed to admit this out loud and proclaim my focus on organization and the other things going on, like farming,  wedding planning and losing weight.

But aren't these pantry doors to die for?!

Thanks Remodelaholic!!

Can't I just take off the door we have now, replace our with one of these and then reinstall when we move out?

Pretty please?!  Grr,
Grits!