The New Nursery: Part 1

I've been working really hard on creating a nursery for baby boy #2. I was inspired by one nursery I found online and tried closely to copy her ideas.

http://www.domesticadventure.com/2010/12/the-nursery-reveal/  

Imitation is the highest form of flatery right? I first found a used (but solid, quality oak that will last forever) dresser since storage is oh so important. (Only $70 too!) I primed it (2 coats) and painted it (4 coats) and finished it off with a clear, gloss seal. I also painted and attached hardware since it did not originally come with any. The top shelf folds over the front and it converts to a changing table on top. I'm happy with the result. It was a lot of work and very time consuming but now we have a quality piece of furniture that should last a while.  

"Before"

"After"

Next up, painting the boring, white walls a light grey. (You should have seen Sean's face when I told him I wanted to paint the walls grey.) Boy I didn't realize how hard it was to find the right shade. Some look purple, some look green, and some look blue. I ended up using Glidden's "Smooth Stone" in semigloss and am happy with it. If you look above the door you can see the original white compared to the grey. Don't worry, the green is just painter's tape.

Every nursery needs a rocking chair right? I mean come on, how many hours do we mothers spend sitting in a chair and nursing? I wanted a smaller chair since our bedrooms are on the small side. I also wanted something the rocks and swivels. I went to the Mesa Antique Mart and found this chair for only $29. It's bones are great--solid piece of furniture, no structural problems, rocks, and swivels. However, the upholstery was dirty and needed some attention. So I bought a duvet cover at Ross ($16), and with all the help of my mom and mother-in-law, we cut up the fabric and sewed a 3-piece slip cover for the chair. This was a ton of work but again, I'm happy with the result, and happy with the cost. (The professional re-upholstery quotes I got were between $207-$350. No way was I going to spend that.   

"Before"

"After" (I also whipped up this grey and white pillow with extra fabric I already had.)

Check back for more nursery updates coming soon. I've made artwork for the walls, a curtain valence, and accessories to dress things up.

April so far...

Grant absolutely adores his cousin Lucas and loves it whenever they get together. Luckily we live close and get to see them at least weekly. When we can't play together, the boys beg us to skype so they can see each other.
We had a low-key easter which is just the way we like it. We dyed easter eggs Saturday afternoon. Grant did enjoy the bright colors and eating the eggs too. He's had one every day this week and isn't getting tired of them.

Sunday morning (Easter) we had a little egg hunt in our backyard. This is the first year he's really understanding these little traditions that are connected with certain holidays and it is a lot of fun for us as parents.

Side note: our roses are doing so well and I am excited! I do not have a green thumb but finally, something is working in our garden!!

I made Grant a photo book with lots of his favorite family pictures and also pictures of trucks and cars. He can't get enough of them!!

Sean has been so busy with work right now. He's putting in around 60 hours a week and some days doesn't see Grant at all since he leaves early and comes home late. It has been rough but we are surviving (barely). When Sean doesn't have to work Saturdays (which is a rare but delightful thing) he takes Grant to the Lowe's Build and Grow Workshops. Grant has so much fun building and spending time with dad. He talks about it for weeks later and wears his apron around the house. He is very proud that he uses a hammer to bang the nails in. =)

The weather has been fantastic lately and we sure enjoy our time at the park. We go at least 3 times a week to play and get fresh air. I think it is just part of boys' dna to know how to get so dirty in the sand.

And better late than never? Here is me at 22 weeks (in a hotel in California).

I forgot to take a picture at 24 weeks but here we are in our glory at 26 weeks. Baby is measuring big at every appointment so I doubt I'll make it to my due date. I'm feeling contractions already but nothing consistent or really painful. I also experience the zinging shocks of sciatic nerve pain at least daily. Even still, pregnancy is going well and I'm grateful for that.

Grant's Room

Ever since we moved into our new house 1.5 years ago I've been piecing together a fun room for Grant. I guess I can't really call it our "nursery" anymore since that's what another bedroom will become for baby #2. Although we bought a few things brand new (crib, lamp, vinyl tree), most everything else is used, repurposed, gifted, or DIY-type projects. (The beautiful quilt above the crib was made by a dear friend Rebecca and given to me when Grant was born. It was the inspiration for the rest of the room.)

It's nothing amazing but I enjoy the bright colors and most of all I enjoy the little one who calls this room home.