Nursery Pics - Lots and Lots!

Hope you have a cup of coffee and some time on your hands! I took a ton of pictures of the nursery, both for myself and to share with you. I picked them last night and watched 24 with Michael while they uploaded. Do any of the rest of you watch 24? I mean, it is crazy good! I had to cover my eyes last night while they were torturing Jack (I know that it's fiction, but still!). I loved one part of the preview for next week when Jack is staring down the barrel of a gun pointed at him, and he is weaponless. Does he flench? No. Lift his hands and beg for mercy? Of course not. Instead he says, "You may want to put that down before you get hurt." (Or something like that). Oh, to live a life with such calm confidence! You go, Jack! Okay, I've digressed enough! So here is the big nursery reveal! I'm going to pretend for a moment that I'm Erica, and that hundreds of blog followers are salivating, dying to see the finished project. I'm delusional, I know. Erica did inspire the crib color, by the way, so you must go and see her nursery sometime. She's awesome, and I would never dare to compare myself to her. But I will unashamedly steal an idea or two. To the left of the door when you walk in, I made a little seating area with the rocking chair and two kids chairs from Target. I wanted a place that Luke and Leah could sit with me while I nursed and rocked. I also plan on using the chairs to complete Leah's tea party table when the girls are older and can play together.

Here are the chairs again, this time made much more beautiful by sweet girls in dress-up clothes.

It makes me laugh that girls seem to sense when I'm taking pictures and want to be the subject(s) of a few. I can't resist posting this one, too.

Okay, at this rate, I may never finish! Here is the bird mobile that I made that was almost the death of me! The pattern for the birds is free from Spool Sewing, and I made the birds from scraps that I had. I already had the branches too, so it was a project without cost! I have to be honest, though -- it did almost whoop me! I struggled to get the birds to perch and not flop over. A bird mobile with dead birds was not exactly what I was aiming for. Hot glue and rice in the belly of the bottom bird to balance it out was what saved me in the end. Should you consider making one, ask me for tips first so that you can avoid frustration. I do love the collected, quilt-like feeling this group of birds gives me. Does that make any sense?



By the sweet little chairs is an owl picture that I purchased from etsy. The seller painted it custom for me for only $48. She had one listed that was suitable for a boy's room, and changed it up for me a bit. If you haven't browsed etsy before, you need to. It's jam-packed with handmade items that are amazing. Above this owl picture, I'm going to frame a picture of the three kiddos together, once this newest nugget arrives.

Here is the dresser that you saw Michael painting in an earlier post.

And across the room is this lower dresser that I'm using as a changing table. This is a piece that I hope to keep for a long time, either in her room or elsewhere. I simply love the chunkiness, and subtle curves of empire antique furniture. I think that changing tables are a waste of money (not to offend you peeps that love yours:), because they serve no purpose later. So, for each of my kids, I have instead purchased dressers that were the right height for changing diapers, but that they could keep and take with them one day when they start their own homes. By the way, we have not decided that Ali will be her name. I was just trying it out.

Don't you just love those vintage wallpaper letters, though? They're from Land of Nod, and they're only $2.95 each. I will be getting the letters I need once I name her! I think they would make a nice shower gift that I could buy for a friend, too.

I found this wood/root basket at Southeastern Salvage in Mobile. I love to go and treasure hunt there. These can be kind of costly if you buy them from one of those fancy Napa Valley catalogs.

I switched out the manly fan that was in this room with a shell chandelier that is more feminine. I scored on this at World Market, because they had a sign saying that it was $19.99. It is normally $69.99, but was mistagged. The manager gave it to me for the lower price! Can I get a "Whoop! Whoop!"? My sweet father hung it for me when he was here for Christmas. Luke reminded me that I needed to cover the cord with fabric. I'll have to apologize to his wife one day for the fact that he even thinks that way!

Finally, the crib and the wall with the tree. I made the crib sheet and skirt and paid someone to make the bumper this time. I really wanted a box cushion for the bumper, but knew that it would be the end of me if I tried to make it. My Brother sewing machine jams on all those layers of piping, ties, and batting and I have come close to throwing it out the window each time I've made a crib bumper. The lady at Bitty Baby Designs in Mobile did a super job on the bumper and charged me only $126 (which is a deal for a box cushion). She even picked up my fabric from my home and delivered the finished product, too. Rock on! She doesn't have a website, but you can reach her at (251)450-5043. She gets a beaming recommendation from me, and is cheaper if you pick a less complicated bumper to make. I ended up ordering my vinyl tree from China, from a seller on Ebay. It took longer to receive, but was $65 instead of the one I found in the U.S. for $175. Let me know if you want his name, because his communication was great and I was very pleased.




Whew! You made it! Now that her room is ready, I may need to get the carseat set up and pack a hospital bag. I found out today that she is head down (hallelujah!), and that I am 2-3 centimeters. I still think I have about 2 weeks left, but the doc told me to be prepared. We'll be meeting her soon!