Friday, July 8, 2011

Baby Girl Nursery

Let me start by saying that I have had way too much fun decorating this nursery.
I didn't get into it as much with my boys.
I mean, I had fun picking out all of their stuff....
but girl stuff is waaaaay cuter!


We, meaning, me, Lana, James and my mom have all done our share of transforming the guest bedroom/office into a girly nursery :)



I had the hardest time figuring out what colors, bedding, etc. I wanted to go with until my mom handed me a Serena and Lily catalog.
First of all, I had never seen this company before.
[Where have you been all my life??]
My mom gets every catalog ever published sent to her house for some reason.
Let's just say, I fell in love with it.  I love their style and uniqueness.
We had to buy a crib [Tar-jay] because I got rid of the boys crib when Charlie was done with it...
My mom and I found this cool table at an antique store on Magazine Street in New Orleans last summer.  
We brought it home with glass shelves in it.
I thought it would be way cooler if it had wood shelves in it!
My friend, Nikki, has this husband who is super handy with woodworking and built these for me :)
Nikki did the distressing and paint job on it.
I think it looks amazing.
[many thanks to Nikki and Dan, the Man.]

The drapery panels were the last thing that I purchased.
I was running out of $$$,
Let me rephrase that...
I ran out of $$$ way before these curtains, but a girl's gotta have some sort of window coverings on her windows so I found a way!


.......found these white and green polka dot panels at PBK.
I think they go great with the colors :)

For some reason I kept my changing table that we had bought for Jackson.  It's from PBK and is still in great shape.  I had the baskets from Jackson and Charlie but ordered some personalized girl liners to go in them.

Sorry the lighting is so bad in these.  
I haven't figured out the secret to all that yet.
The pink is really a very pale pink.  
It's not pepto bismol pink as it appears here....

Bought this butterfly mobile at PBK a couple of weeks ago on clearance.
I love it!!

Hopefully it won't freak baby girl out because the air vent blows on it and the butterflies come to life :)

We had to keep this bed in the nursery for visiting moms and guests.  
I think it will also come in handy during those nighttime feedings.
We didn't have room in here for a glider, so the bed will have to do for now.
I had all the white bedding beforehand, so I just reused it.
My Grandma Reeger quilted the blanket on the bed.  
It is the perfect match :)
She does this for all of her great-grandchildren.
It's something I always look forward to receiving :)
Baby Girl will be #10 for her!
Then she'll be getting another one in December from Chelsea!


Ok, a chandelier was a requirement for baby girl's room.
I've ALWAYS said if I had a girl she was going to get a chandelier in her room.
Perhaps this stems from me always wanting one as a little girl [and never getting one, thanks mom]  
Just kidding, sort of.  not really.

So I saved my $$ and found one that worked perfectly.
It's pale, pale pink.
I added the ceiling medallion and cord cover to up the fancy-ness factor :)
This chandelier caused a major fight between my husband and me.
He didn't understand why the existing ceiling fan couldn't suffice.
He told me to take it back.
I told him no.
He hung it for me two weeks ago.
He said he really liked it.....

There you go :)

The iron headboard is actually two antique gates that I hung overlapping to create a headboard. 
It was something that we had already had prior and I really like them so they stayed.
Baby girl has a doll and pink jee jee's waiting for her
[as Charlie calls them].
He has tried to take that rabbit lookin' thingy there on the right to bed with him on several occasions....
all failed attempts.

Her closet has been fun to organize. 
I think we've got one of everything Tar-jay has in their baby aisles :)
I'm telling ya,  I'm sooooo ready for this baby!
I made the ribbon bow hanger [super easy]!  But now realizing I should have made it longer...

Does anyone have a Moby wrap/sling?
I bought one and am hoping I am smart enough to figure out how it works.

This isn't even the HALF of her clothes, people.
I'm gonna have to change her clothes three times a day just to say she's worn everything!
I appreciate all the mommas who have given me their great hand-me-downs too.  
Such a blessing when you're starting with nothing!

Mirror shot at 37 weeks and 3 days.
By the way,  I waddle now.


Ok, I fiddled with repositioning these photos at the top and failed so they're coming in last even though they should be first :(

Lana and Charlie tackled the paint job one day when Jackson was at school and I was out running errands.

He may or may not have been more of a hindrance than a help to Lana...

After she painted 3 walls pale pink [Benjamin Moore "Elephant Pink"]  we tackled the feature wall.
This design was featured in the Serena and Lily catalog.
They had painted wood floors white and stenciled this design around the border of the nursery.
It was super cute.
But I wasn't about to go painting some wood floors white...
so we put it up on the wall!

It was a tedious job.
It was back breaking [for me] laying on the floor with a "Laser" and Lana penciling in a straight line.
But we got it done :)
Where there's a will....there's a way!

She did a fantastic job of taping and painting [Benjamin Moore "Wales Green"] and doing two more coats.
We were so nervous to take off the blue painters tape.
It ended up perfect :)

I don't have any artwork on the walls yet.
I think we're going to stencil her monogram in the middle of the feature wall once we figure out what we're going to call her besides baby girl.
My talented, artistic, previously mentioned above, friend, Nikki, is also painting some artwork to hang above her crib.
Can't wait to see those!
Can't wait to see baby!

Thanks for joining me on my little tour.
Hope you enjoyed :)

Saturday, June 25, 2011

countdown to baby girl has commenced :)

The boys and I crafted today.
We made a paper chainlink to countdown to baby girl's arrival.
32 days...
32 chainlinks.
I got this idea from Christmas time when Jackson's kindergarten class made one and they counted down the days until Christmas.
It saves me a lot of repetitive conversations that go along the lines of, "Mommy, when is the baby coming?"
Sometimes I answer with, "Today I wish"

This one said he "needed" to make a funny face.
Jackson and I didn't let him get ahold of the glue stick too much.
 
Anyways, Jackson is too particular about his work and Charlie could care less.
I tend to lean towards Jackson's way of thinking in this case too.
Poor Charlie, two perfectionists at one project.
He's doomed. 
I cut the strips on my board and let Jackson glue the links all together. 
Here we have our final product!
32 chain links!
Jackson pointed at the one at the very top and said, "Mom, is this the day you will go to the hospital?"
 
I said I hope to be there much sooner than that last link.
He didn't get it.
But I know I am so ready to not be pregnant anymore.
 
I just want her in my arms.
We're all ready to meet her.
And so we wait.....

oh, and contemplate on what we shall call her besides "baby girl" for the rest of her life.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Father's Day 2011

This Father's Day the boys and I decided to have a Scavenger Hunt for James.
We woke up and I cooked breakfast for everyone and then came the fun part.

Jackson had no clue what a Scavenger Hunt was so I had lots of explaining to do.
I think we'll make this a tradition around our house from now on....it was so fun to plan too :)



His first clue led him to a stack of cards to read from all of us.  They happen to be hiding in Charlie's bed.

The next clue led him to the patio where he found a new grill brush....
Very much needed.
We go through lots of grill brushes.
Reading the next clue lead him to the kitchen where he discovered a larger than life pancake flipper.
[I failed to take a pic of that, sorry]
Charlie quickly took control of it and made a paddle out of it, smacking all of us on the butt with it.


The last clue [there were only 4] led him to our bedroom.
I swear he thought it was a new tv [the way he ran to the tv console and swung open the doors gave it away]...hahaha


but it wasn't ;)

What have we here???
Oh, here are the clue cards that I made up.
I got stuck on clue two and had to call in some reinforcements...
My friend, Michelle, is a master rhymer, no seriously....she really is.
I sent her all the info and she emailed me back asap with really cute ideas.
Thanks Bert :)

I love that happy surprised face!!!
Who can go wrong with an iPad2 for Father's Day?!


We love this man very very much.
Happy Father's Day to the best Dad and Husband ever.
:)

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Lately

Lately, we've been layin' low.
Could be because it's sweltering hot outside.
Could be because I'm carrying a baby in my belly the size of Texas and am miserable :)

Charlie has learned how to swim now on his own and is very proud of that feat.
He's got his "gaggles" and James' swim cap on and about to do some serious swimming in Nonna's pool.

We did go to Destin last Tuesday thru Sunday.
Our friends Rob and Tara from NY met us there and we had a great week together.

James, Rob and Charlie buried Jackson in the sand.
It didn't last long...
Jackson started to freak.


Every morning we were at the beach the boys wanted to do whatever exercise Daddy was doing.
This morning James and Charlie went running and Jackson decided to bike.
I decided to reaquaint [sp?] myself with my king sized bed again....
have fun boys!
Momma's goin back to bed.

They crack James and I up.
They want to do whatever James is doing.

One morning Jackson had extra energy so when they got back from Jackson's bike ride they had to go for a run.
I was in a deep slumber.

If you haven't been to SanDestin they have a really cool area called Baytowne Wharf.
It's family oriented with lots of restaurants and games and activities, etc.
Their newest attraction are the hampster balls!
These were not here in April....

Giant air filled balls floating on a shallow pool.
$10 per kid for 5 minutes of play.
Someone hit the jackpot on this invention...

Charlie having a go at it.
He was so funny to watch.

This would be a great toy to have in one's backyard.
Or at a birthday party.

back to May 19.
Family pic outside of Mr. B's Bistro in New Orleans for my birthday dinner.
a stranger took this pic.
It was windy.
Charlie wouldn't cooperate.
Yummy food
:)


and here I am in all my glory at 34 weeks.
only 6 more to go.
or less...I hope.
it's been a rough one.

That's about it.
We're all just waiting on baby to arrive!

Sunday, May 15, 2011

5i50 New Orleans Triathlon

James had a triathlon race this morning in New Orleans.
It was an inaugural race called the 5i50.
The race consisted of a 1.2 mile swim,
24 mile bike
and 6.2 mile run.
The swim part of the race was cancelled early this morning due to the conditions of Lake Pontchartrain.
The water was really choppy.
Oh, and if you've been following the news, the Bonnet Carre spillway opened up and is currently flowing from the mighty Mississippi River into Lake Pontchartrain.
Let's just say there was alot of debris and logs floating in the lake this morning.

James and his friend, Tad, were super happy they didn't have to do the swim part.
I don't blame them!

This is our friend, Micah, who placed first in the Clydesdales Division [over 200 pounds].

...and here comes my husband across the finish line.
I was watching this poor boy trying to give James his medal.
Excuse me Mister?
um, here's your medal.
Don't you want it?
James had no clue...

He was searching for his boys :)
And he found them!
His little cheerleaders :)
Wait until we get a girl in the mix!
I noticed this woman to the right taking their picture...
I wonder if she works for a newspaper or something?

Guess who got a sweaty hug and kiss next!?

James and his training partner, Tad.
They have done many races together over the years.
They also make sure each other get to the gym at 4:45 AM FIVE days a week!

Ah, here we are.
Family picture.
7 months pregnant :)

Way to go, James. We love you!
Finish time: 2:24

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Gilmore Garden 2011

Let me just start by saying that we LOVE where we live :)
It's been an interesting [to say the least] last 4 years with housing situations...
and we feel truly at home now.
We will have been in this house for one year in June!
...and we don't plan on going anywhere for a LONG time :)

One of the first things we said we wanted to do when we bought this house was to plant a garden.
We've got corn.
We've got squash.
We've got tomatoes.
We've got eggplant and bell peppers too!

and everything seems to to be growing happily!

James even built a garden for Jackson.
It's right next to the "big" garden.
He prays for his garden to grow every night.
It's so cute.
I told James he better start praying for his garden to grow or we're only going to be eating out of Jackson's garden... :)

Hopefully, we'll be eating the harvest in a month or so...

and here's my little bitty herb garden!
I've got basil, parsley and rosemary.
I've managed to kill off my mint and cilantro....
But I'm going to try again.
It's amazing how much rosemary I use!
I love to marinate chicken breasts in Italian Dressing and rosemary for a day then grill it.
Sooooo delicious!