Fin's Nursery

Welcome to Finley's nursery!  I started this post on June 27th and am just getting around to finishing it up for you guys.  I am way behind, so let's get started... I have had the hardest time getting these in a decent order with the (new to me) photo loading format, so I'm just going with the order they're in!

I kept waiting for decent lighting to take pictures of the nursery.  There is very little natural light in his room, so I would have kept you waiting forever.  The room is pretty little, so it was hard to get good pictures from all of the angles.  I apologize for the image quality.  I have a few better pictures, but they're on my old laptop that isn't cooperating right now.

Sources:
Crib paint-- Behr Disney Timeless Tales (at 80%)
Wall paint-- Benjamin Moore Pale Oak (at 75%)
Dresser-- Ikea
Knobs on Dresser-- Bellacor
Overhead Light-- Ikea
Shelves-- Ikea
Shelf Bracket-- Ikea
Rocker-- Wal-Mart (You have to buy the slip-cover, as the chair needs one. I no longer see the actual chair on the site and would not recommend it if someone tall will sit in it.)
Afghan on Rocker-- Gifted by Oma and made by her aunt
Pouf-- Overstock (no longer available)
Rug-- Overstock (no longer available)
Mobile-- Bla Bla Kids (It started off a lot higher and has stretched.)
Rattle-- Bla Bla Kids
Bear and Owl on Shelves-- Bla Bla Kids
Owl and Zebra-- Pier 1
Elephant Hamper-- Home Decorators
Pillow in Crib-- Urban Outfitters (no longer available)
Pillow on Rocker-- Crate and Barrel (no longer available)
LOVE Print-- Made By Girl
Take a Hike Print-- The Wheatfield
Numbers Letterpress and Sleepy Letterpress Prints-- Sycamore Street Press (I highly recommend them.  Eva and Kirk are two very genuine people who love their work.  My last adventure before having Finley was driving 6 hours to take their letterpress class!)
Sheet-- Koala Baby (no longer available-- came in a 2 pack with a solid green sheet)
Bumper-- Breathe Easy Mesh Bumper (We switched to this one when he could roll over, as it's less likely to cause suffocation.  It also helps keep his legs from getting caught.)
Back-up Sheets & Bumpers-- Dwell Studio (We have the dots set of sheets/bumper, as well as the zoo/safari set of sheets/bumper)
Crib Skirt-- Carousel Designs (I'm not a fan of the material.  It was supposed to be cotton, but it feels thin and plasticy to me.)
Mirror-- Local shop
F sign-- Anthropologie (no longer available)
Star above Door-- Amish-made and have had for years
Baby Pictures on Shelf-- Big one is J and small one is me.  These were displayed at the shower.
Skinny Leg Nursery Rhyme Figures-- Lori C. Mitchell Designs gifted by Oma
Large Basket Next to Rocker-- HomeGoods (for $19!)
Wicker Baskets on Shelves-- Wal-Mart
Vintage Owl Hooks-- High Street Market
Side Table-- Urban Outfitters
Alphabet Block Wagon-- Anthropologie

Since these pictures were taken, a few things have changed.  The outfit hanging from the owl hooks has been replaced with his summer hats.  He has different sheets, as we change them out for washings frequently.  His piggy bank was replaced with this one.  I think the room is in a constant state of evolution.  I find things that just don't work-- sometimes due to the look and sometimes due to Fin's mobility!  What I love is how neutral it is, as it makes it so easy to switch things out.  I'm still looking for the perfect lamp or sconce to put over the rocker, but I just haven't found it yet.  I have a certain something in my head... that preferably doesn't cost $500.   Also, I'd like to hang curtains over the "window" that leads out to the open space above our living room.  I have been having the hardest time finding the perfect print for them.  I'd also like to switch out the crib skirt for something fun.

If I had to do anything over again, I would have invested in a better rocker.  I am really disappointed that I could have spent a few hundred more for something I really would have liked that would have transitioned well into another room, like this or this or this.   Oh well!

If you have any questions, let me know!

Nursery Sneak Peek

I have had a nursery post in drafts for a week now while I worked on the sources portion.  But-- if you'd like a sneak peek, you can check out Sycamore Street Press's Facebook page for a quick look.   A full post to come...

Yay for Three Day Weekends

Wow. It's September. I had fully intended to do some "what I would love for my birthday" posts before my birthday actually came and went, and now, it's already September. I'm a little behind. I think I'm going to have to do some "what I would love if I had an unlimited supply of money" posts instead. :)

To keep you from leaving me all together from my lack of posts, I figured I'd tide you over with a mock up of the nursery. I was going to keep it a surprise until after the baby shower (which is next weekend), but I decided I really, really wanted to share it. I'm loving it. Really, really loving it. Can I say "really, really" more? Because I do. If you don't, that's okay. The only item that isn't truly in the room is the really expensive pillow on the rocker, and the crib is actually a pale turquoise. We also replaced the boring dresser knobs with brass ring pulls. When we have most of the items placed, I'll post actual pictures, but until then, you'll have to imagine it. Without further ado...

Nursery Board by bloggernextdoor on Polyvore.com

Hand-tufted Green Stripes Festival Rug (4' x 6') | Overstock.com
$100 - overstock.com

IKEA | Bedroom | Chests of drawers
$199 - ikea.com

Walmart.com: Baby: Furniture: Gliders & Rockers
$170 - walmart.com

Rattan Elephant Hamper - Laundry Hampers - Bath | HomeDecorators.com
$69 - homedecorators.com

LERAN
$90 - ikea.com

Geometric Green & Tan Pillow | Pieces
$350 - piecesinc.com

Metal Accordion Side Table
$60 - urbanoutfitters.com

Amazon.com: DaVinci Jenny Lind Baby Crib: Baby
$230 - amazon.com

Pouf, Pouf, Pass - Get 'Em Girls
getemgirls.com

Have a fabulous weekend! For those of you in the states, happy Labor Day weekend!

Monday, Monday

It's amazing how hard it is to pull myself out of bed on a Monday. I go to bed with the full realization that the weekend is over, yet I still find myself surprised when the alarm goes off on Monday morning. The past two weekends have whirled by in a flash, so I wanted to recap before I got to another one.

Two weekends ago, I went on my last solo road trip before the baby is born. I was really looking forward to the trip, but let me tell you... it was a killer. My feet swelled up to three times their normal size, and I had to stop every couple of hours to relieve myself. Amazing how a "quick" 5.5 hour drive can turn into 7+! The temps were quite a bit warmer in UT than they were in Steamboat, and my body wasn't enjoying it. Even with my legs elevated overnight, the swelling didn't go down. I found myself covering my face with a wet washcloth that I'd stuck in the mini-fridge's freezer in order to make my nose (and entire face) look like it hadn't been stung by a poisonous insect. It was rid-on-culous. But... c'est la vie. Eventually, I got over my Humongo-girl negativity and headed to the letterpress class that Sycamore Street Press was holding. I had a great time learning about their press and how they run their business. Eva, one half of the married duo behind the company, is due with a baby girl just two days before me... so it was fun to hear the two of them answer questions from everyone about their upcoming "addition" to the team. While I was there, I couldn't help but pick up a few fun pieces for the nursery, as well as a 2011 calendar for a friend who happens to have an obsession. (Maybe I should change my obsession... hers seems much cheaper than cowboy boots!) I would show you a picture of the calendar, but it's not yet in their shop. Cyndi got an extra special early edition... at least that's what I'm telling her. ;)



After the class, I drove onward to meet my friend, Stephanie, at Ikea. We were there for 3 hours! Of course, some of the items that were on my must-get list were out of stock yet again. I was really bummed at first, but I decided to make due with some alternatives... after I'd already checked out. I just couldn't drive all that way and go home without shelves. You can't find decent shelves in Steamboat anywhere, and those you can find are much more expensive. So, back in I went. By the time I checked out again, it was late, so we jetted off to dinner and then back to her house. She and her hubby were nice enough to offer me a place to stay for the night. I returned the favor by keeping her up until 1:30 in the morning griping/venting. I don't know how I suddenly contracted verbal diarrhea, but Steph suffered the consequences! Sorry, Steph! The next morning, I was off to make the trek back. Amazingly, it seemed to go by quite a bit faster than the drive out did.

This past weekend, J and I had plans to put up the shelves and finish some much needed home projects. On Friday, I was sidelined with a nasty migraine that lasted until midday Saturday. Even though I had a residual headache, I was determined to bang out a few items on my ever-growing to-do list. While J was cursing and banging his head against the wall trying to hang the shelves in the nursery (apparently the studs in our house are curved because there was no consistency whatsoever), I put the newly purchased artwork in Ikea frames. I also added this print from Sparkle Power that I won on Tales and Trials (another Abby blogger friend) and the prints that I had already purchased from The Wheatfield.
We got so much done in the nursery. It was refreshing to see it all come together. I'll show pics as we get a bit closer. It's actually getting me so excited.

Yesterday, while J painted the deck railings, I spent most of the day following your advice from this post. I feel like this almost deserves a post for itself, but because I didn't take pictures of the process, I will spare you. Earlier this month, I decided to listen to you all and actually go through my magazine stash after getting the urge to purge. I honestly don't know how many I had to begin with, but it was gross. Amazingly gross. Over the course of three weeks, I got rid of 250 of them. Yesterday, I got rid of another 100. Are you sicked out yet? Here's the worst part... I'm not even close to being done. J asked me if he could "help", which I knew meant handing him the entire stack without perusing so he could head straight to the dumpster. I let him know that I needed to go through the process. It is helping me realize that I really, really don't want to end up on the show Hoarders. Please don't stop following me now. I promise I'm not a complete whack-job.

That's it for the update. It doesn't seem like much when written down, but I am feeling so free! What's on the agenda for this week? I have many more to-dos to tackle, but the most exciting item on the agenda is the visit to the birthing rooms at the hospital tonight. In ten short weeks, our to-do list is going to get a lot more complicated!

Vendor Spotlight: The Wheatfield

I am excited to shine the spotlight on Etsy seller The Wheatfield today. I recently purchased three of Katie Daisy's prints for our little guy's nursery, and I couldn't be happier with her work... or the price! Seriously, she should be charging more for her pieces. I was blown away by the detail in the three pieces we purchased:





We decided to get prints of the states where the grandparents live, so our little boy will know exactly where they are calling from. Katie is currently working on other states to add to her product list, so shoot her a message on Etsy if you're looking for something you don't see. I have already nagged her about Arkansas, so if you want Arkansas, too, let her know! :) She is constantly adding some sold pieces back into the shop, so check out those as well.

Also, I can't go without mentioning that she has a listing that gives half of the sale proceeds to the NWF oil spill cleanup in the Gulf. That's huge. So, swing by her shop, get something pretty, and help a great cause.