Monday, March 28, 2016

Nursery!

So here we are at 37 weeks. What a miraculous pregnancy this has been!

I am still having a hard time wrapping my brain around the fact that I am about to have a baby at 46. The past 9 months have been challenging, but I think I've needed every minute of this time to process what's happening. Today's sonogram shows a cutie pie who is still breech and looks pretty comfy in there, so I'll discuss options with the doc tomorrow about c-sections:


I thought you might like to take a peek at his room!  We left the walls white and did a gray and yellow color scheme. I had a dear friend offer to paint a mural for the wall, but I thought it might be too sad for me to paint over it in a few years as his interests move to trains, superheroes, or God forbid, Pokemon.

Jack had vintage schoolhouses on his blue nursery walls, Margaret had fairies, and this little guy has elephant decals that should remove quite nicely when the time comes.

My small group bought us the adorable yellow Jenny Lind crib, and my sis bought us the bedding. Don't worry, the bumper is just for show before we start putting the baby in there to sleep. The rug is from Target.

We have so many other sleeping options to start with, I'm not sure when he'll end up in the crib, but I hope he'll eventually find it to be a haven.


Next to the crib is a rocking leather recliner lent to us by friends as a place for me to sleep when my shoulders hurt. Next to that is a  bookcase from Ikea, and a stash of current magazines for any baby whisperers who are going to take a turn hanging out with Baby D between feedings while I sleep.

The lighting  looks terrible, but between the two windows we have two special prayers for the baby.  "Nothing but Joy" came from my friend Kate after I told her some of my fears and insecurities about having a baby at this point in life.  She assured me that this phrase is what she keeps coming back to in regards to our little one.


On the other side of the room is a twin bed, with Jack's navy comforter on top. I didn't mean to bring navy into the room, but after the big blue recliner, it seemed to work okay. This twin bed is for me, or for a kind soul who wants to take the baby between feedings for me. Do I sound like a broken record? 

With it we have the Rock and Play, which my (now grown-up) former students swear is a miracle worker, and a little bed for the baby so we won't roll over him if he's in bed with us. 

This wall is pretty blank. I want to hang shelves there for knick knacks and artwork, but I recently got rid of ours and need to figure out some options.


This is my mom's dresser. If I try really hard, I can still smell her perfume in it. I've always loved the little marble top. It holds swaddles and blankets and such. 

The room has a nice big closet, so one half is for baby clothes; the other is a changing station.


There's not enough height in here for Jack's origami bird mobile, but we'll have to find a way to have that somewhere in the room. We got the changing table for free from a yard sale site, and Tim and Margaret painted it gray. Love this soft minky changing pad cover.  Jack and Margaret just had the plastic changing pad.


Next to the closet is a calendar to record significant milestones. I did this with Jack and Margaret, and it's fun to look back through and see when they first got a tooth, etc. I found that hanging it on the wall, with a pen attached, was the best way to make sure I filled it out.


Well, bye to the room for now! In less than two weeks it will have an occupant. 

Goodness.


Note: some of the links in this post are affiliate links.

21 comments:

Jessica said...

So adorable! And now I really want to book plane tickets to go hold the baby for you while you sleep :) That's not creepy at all coming from a perfect stranger, right?

Susie - Walking Butterfly said...

Wow wow wow, so cute and ready to go! Every little touch is just perfect! yay for you and your sweet family.

Sandy A said...

What a sweet chubby cheeked little baby boy!! And the nursery is just darling. I'm sure you will have so many hands and hearts holding that little bundle and you when he is here. No worries...mama's, daddy's and sister's love will get you through...

Sandy A said...

What a sweet chubby cheeked little baby boy!! And the nursery is just darling. I'm sure you will have so many hands and hearts holding that little bundle and you when he is here. No worries...mama's, daddy's and sister's love will get you through...

Anonymous said...

Oh Anna...It's adorable...I love every aspect of it...I can feel the resting of the bones and soul on that bed..Haha...It's all so perfect. I really do wish I could come up and help out with this sweet little boy. I'm about to have a fit for my first grandbaby/boy to be here in 3 months. Love and hugs to you as await the arrival....Can't wait to know his name.

Cindy

Mags said...

LOVE that there's actually a baby bed product so you don't roll over on him if he sleeps in your bed... When our Jack was a baby, we used a Xerox box lid! 😂

Shannon said...

It is a soothing nursery. I would help with the baby if I wasn't in California. I'm so happy for you all!

Gretchen said...

I sooooo want to come take pictures of your baby in this amazing room!!!

Anonymous said...

So excited for you!! Wow, that last sentence blew me away too :) The room looks adorable.

And like Jessica, I want to help too! Will you have some kind of "sign-up sheet" or something for people in the area to stop by and help out? Not kidding! Best of luck to you and the family in these last few weeks. I know Jack is looking down at all of you with such joy.

Kate Coveny Hood said...

I love that the changing station is in a closet! Genius. I will be an uninvited guest for sure... xoxo

Anonymous said...

Dear Anna
Been following your blog for a while now.

Just wanted to de-lurk to send my best wishes and love to you and your family

Xx Sally

Greta @gfunkified said...

I love it so much! I can't wait to see pictures of the sweet snuggly boy in it.

Vickie said...

Let the adventure begin!!!
Best wishes for the arrival of this precious one!!!

Steph said...

Thank you for sharing with us! Adorable Baby D looks alot like his siblings. Cute nursery, too! Wishing you an easy delivery and quick recovery so you can enjoy his every sweet sigh, hiccup, and smile.

Idena said...

Adorable! Love it all!

Margaret said...

I loved this post. It is so beautiful. I can feel your anticipation and your joy and some of the uncertainty you must feel right through your words. You have a gift that way. Nothing but joy! What a lovely sentiment. The sonogram pictures is so detailed. I look at his sweet face and I wonder, in the moment you fist hold him, what that will be like for you. For your husband and daughter too.

I wish you only the best these last few weeks and a safe and uneventful delivery. I will hold a space in my heart for just that. Be well.
Margaret

Blackie said...

Adorable room! And what a sweet baby face you have coming your way. Has anyone told you that hypnotism can work to help the baby flip? My OB suggested it for me when my youngest was still sunny side up. I didn't have to try it, but she said it works every time!!

www.robinbotie.com said...

Oh my gosh! Look at that sweet little face! In less than 2 weeks - yikes! So excited for you.

Unknown said...

Beautiful room for your beautiful baby boy. Elephants are my favorite animal! I wish I weren't all the way across the country in L.A. so I could sign up to take a shift of babycare for you too. Blessings on you and your family as you count down to the little one's arrival.

My daughter was breech too, and we tried everything to turn her, including acupuncture and the Webster method. My doctor wisely said there was probably a good reason she didn't turn, and we decided to go with a scheduled c-section 10 days before my due date. It turned out she had a short umbilical cord. Everything went well, and we were very thankful. Can't wait to see pics of your newborn in a few weeks!

Anonymous said...

Wow, the U/S they do these days...how amazing! My boys are all in their 20's now and they sure weren't that detailed back then. My oldest was breech so they scheduled me for a c-section, he turned 2 days before I was to have it and holy heck, it felt like he was going to pop through my skin, literally rocked my body side to side! I ended up having a c-section anyway b/c he liked it too much in there:)

Your nursery looks adorable and can't wait to see your little guy!!!

Anonymous said...

The grey and yellow décor is lovely for a baby's room. You have the foresight of an experienced mom to know how it can be modified as the child grows out of the baby stage! I can't wait to meet the baby through your writing and photos! Wishing you well for the end of the pregnancy and the beginning of the next chapter.