change of plans

after penciling an array of flowers in what i like to call organized chaos around the new baby's room, i have repainted over it all and created the exact canvas that was there initially. i am usually great at seeing the bigger picture, the end result, but i think the problem was more simple: i flat-out don't have the energy! the flowers were going to create a border around the room (at my eye level) and for me nowadays, standing for any period of time is taxing on my lower back. with that being said, if i do paint it will likely be when i have not one but two kids to sneak away from...

the crib is assembled, the shelves have been lacquered and the token butterflies are already hung. i had purchased monarch butterflies for jack's room before i knew what HE was going to be. i thought, well, butterflies don't scream manly but orange can be boyish. and actually, jack has really loved them. the dozen or so monarchs are strung on fishing line and are very delicate themselves, almost feather-like. so when our furnace kicks on, the butterflies have the slightest movement, usually enough to capture jackie's attention. so while i was visiting mn (where i bought the initial ones) this fall, i thought, ok, pretty sure it's a girl... i'm going to go with the strand of butterflies in pinks, yellows, purples and blues. i really could have been jinxing myself! but i will say: a mother's intuition is usually spot-on. so butterflies are hung and i even have some uppercase living-type butterflies for the walls. might stick a few here or there. the valance is hung and the fabric is brown with flowers in pinks, oranges, yellows, greens and blues. all the flowers have the look of being hand-drawn, rather messy doodles. the fabric that will cover the window is an off-white with the same (but larger flowers) from the valance. this line of fabric has 6 or so mix and match patterns. so dang cute! i have another project that will include sewing letters (her name), and i will likely use one of the other patterns.

valance

fabric for curtain

baby girl's closet

see? i don't need ANY clothes!

onesies, sleep sacks, got it covered!

(up until 12 months...)

i've also been busy organizing the laundry room. (gosh, can you tell i'm in nest-mode?) back in october, ben built me a fabulous "stand" for our washer and dryer. i don't know if stand is the best word for it though... we have front-load w/d that usually come with those bottom storage bins, raising the machines a good foot off the ground. well, they were an extra amount, and i didn't think i'd actually use the storage way down there with a baby (plus i had heard they tend to rattle like crazy) so we opted out. nearly two years later, and i have my completed stand. i was so impressed with ben's finish work! he used matching laminate flooring and trim pieces, stain the same color as all our trim. really turned out beautiful. there is enough room for a laundry basket underneath and a small trash bin for the other side. i sewed some panels to hide both bins, and i even sewed some mats for the tops of the washer and dryer since leaving the detergent and other miscellaneous items have scratched the surface. these days, nothing makes me happier than organization.

great hiding place too!

"uh-oh, uh-oh"

"hi, mama!"

as always, more to come...