Last night, we finally put the finishing touches on the nursery. We figured that, ten days before the baby's due date, we should probably stop procrastinating. But before you can appreciate the nursery, you have to see what this room looked like for the last year that we've lived in the house. It was an extra bedroom with no furniture, so it became a magnet for those boxes of stuff that everyone has and no one needs, as demonstrated here:
It was actually Dan who had the first idea for what we should do with the nursery, which was good, because I was really lacking in ideas for some reason. But Dan suggested that we should paint the room a nice, light blue color. We had this whole conversation about how we know blue is traditionally the baby boy color, but we just like it, and we should pick a color we like since it's not like the baby is going to care. And when I went to New York in February, Dan took it upon himself to clear the room out and paint it. So it sat, empty, but painted, until very recently, when the Marathon of Furniture-Building began. Really, it was just a crib and a dresser, but both came in giant boxes containing 26 random-looking pieces of white wood and 36,000 pieces of hardware, along with the obligatory multi-lingual assembly instructions containing inexplicable pictures that are supposed to make it obvious how Piece 26 fits into socket A-7. It's a good thing I have Dan, or I'd have given up and Kate would be sleeping in a laundry basket. Here's the great carpenter at work:
Now, I already told you that it was Dan's idea to paint the nursery blue. I followed that theme and bought blue and white polka dot crib linens and swiss dot curtains, and we put together our white furniture. And then Dan stood back, looked at the room, and said "Do you think it looks a little too much like a boy's room? Maybe we should buy something pink."
As his contribution, Dan bought Kate a little stuffed pink lamb toy when he was on a business trip, which will appear in the next photos. But it was my job to figure out how we were going to make this blue room girly. Which is where the butterflies come in. I bought them from Land of Nod:
And with accessories successfully added, we finished the room. Here it is:
Inside the crib, complete with the Boppy, and Winky the pink lamb. That's what the tab said her name was.
The changing table where Dan will be changing lots and lots of diapers. Right?
And a couple more:
And so, thanks to Dan and his awesome interior design, furniture-building, blinds-installing, curtain-hanging skills, we have a nursery. Now we just need a baby. As a heads up, the "Guess When the Baby Will be Born" contest will begin soon, so start thinking about your bets. I'll let you know when it's time to formally record them in the comments section.
Comments (11)
The room is beautiful. Kate wouldn't mind sleeping in the laundry basket though. Bubba Gene (6 weeks old next Tuesday) has had the best two nights of sleep this past week when we've put him down in his car seat.
We were told about this phenomenon when we took child birth classes for our daughter a couple of years ago... babies seem to be able to sense wide open spaces and may not initially like the crib. Gene has done ok in the crib, but does much better in the confined space of the car seat, so keep that laundry basket handy.
Posted by Tim Smith | August 24, 2007 11:32 AM
Posted on August 24, 2007 11:32
I really like the blue. I don't think it looks too boyish or girlish. With the butterflies it sort of looks like you have a sky theme going. :-) It's a soothing color.
Your nursery is lookin' great!
Posted by Jeannette | August 24, 2007 12:27 PM
Posted on August 24, 2007 12:27
Great job! I love the clean simplicity! V. serene and unique w/ the blue--the butterflies are an awesome mobile alternative!
Posted by Mrs. J | August 24, 2007 1:13 PM
Posted on August 24, 2007 13:13
A lovely nursery!
Posted by Jennifer | August 24, 2007 2:27 PM
Posted on August 24, 2007 14:27
Hi,
Room looks great! I like the color choice. I like the lamb; however, she needs a friend. I have this theory that everyone needs a friend. The lamb might be scared to be in a new place and at night, afraid to be in the dark alone. So PLEASE find her another "friend" (meaning another stuffed animal) to keep her company until Baby Kate arrives!
Hope you and Kate are well! I love you!
Posted by Robin | August 24, 2007 4:39 PM
Posted on August 24, 2007 16:39
The nursery is beautiful! I love the light blue, and the butterflies are beautiful and so interesting to watch! Here's to Baby Kate getting lots of sleep in her lovely room.
Posted by Katie | August 24, 2007 5:44 PM
Posted on August 24, 2007 17:44
Haley the nursery looks great and I love the butterflies and Kate's name on the wall! I guess I'm officially out of the guess when the baby is coming contest because I really thought you would have had her by now. Matthew was 12 days early so I guess I figured you should be at least that early too. Any prizes for last place?
Posted by Gwyn | August 24, 2007 7:09 PM
Posted on August 24, 2007 19:09
awesome.
Posted by daniel meigs | August 24, 2007 7:44 PM
Posted on August 24, 2007 19:44
The room looks great!! Good luck with these last few days!! I cannot wait to see her!
Posted by Adrian | August 25, 2007 1:38 AM
Posted on August 25, 2007 01:38
Kate's room looks so nice for a sweet baby girl. Let's hope she gets "lots" of sleep in it.
Posted by Aunt Emily | August 25, 2007 6:49 AM
Posted on August 25, 2007 06:49
Whatever! We all know that Dan named that little pink lamb "Winky"!
Posted by elizabeth taylor | August 25, 2007 8:22 AM
Posted on August 25, 2007 08:22