We were renting a house, so we didn't paint or wallpaper or anything. We had gotten a second hand dresser, and replaced the handles on it so it felt more fresh and "us". That was going to be the changing table, with a changing pad strapped on. We didn't actually ever get any other furniture. We weren't sure what we wanted in a crib, and we're pretty minimalist people to begin with. There was an armoir in her room that wouldn't fit anywhere else in the house, and a comfy lazy boy that I had planned to rock her in.
We did a lot of other kinds of peripheral preparation for her though. I painted the following pictures to hang in the room since we couldn't paint the walls.
We also made a mobile out of some Christmas ornaments L's grandmother had made for all the grandkids from the time they were born til 18 years old. They weren't particularly Christmas-y, so we thought they'd be fun to use at a time other than just December.
We had gobs of clothes for her already. We were so excited about our baby, that we'd buy clothes even before we knew the gender. So we had a basketful of clothes already. I was vehemently against everything being only pink, or only blue depending on what the 20 week sono showed. I made it clear to everyone that we wanted bold, bright colors for our baby, no matter if it were a boy or girl. None of this solid pink stuff. Looking back, I'd dress her top to bottom in pink and paint the room bright pink if it meant we could have her back.
No bedding was picked out since we never picked a crib, but we're not a 'full matching set' kind of people. We're pretty eclectic with mixed patterns and colors. If at that 30 week appointment we knew she was in distress instead of dead already, and we were able to have a c-section, we wouldn't have been fully ready for her. She probably would have been in the NICU for a bit, so we could have scrambled. We did have a car seat though.
So, it was a nursery, but not fully ready to bring a baby home to. Thanks for asking Lis. If anyone else has questions, be sure and ask and I'll try to be sure and answer them.
Those pictures are truly beautiful. We never went with a "theme" either or had anything matching. I also just wanted bright colours, boy or girl (we never found out Hope's gender). She was 5 days overdue, so her room was very much ready, but we didn't really change a thing when Angus arrived. He still has and uses all those bright things we got for her.
ReplyDeleteThis is a beautiful post. Thanks for sharing.
xo
I love the pictures you painted, very beautiful. And the mobile is very cute. I wish I were more artistic and creative to do things like that! The nursery would have been beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely idea for a nursery, painting the seasons. I love the way you see things!
ReplyDeleteI love your talent! What a lucky little girl Lyra is to have such an artistic mama...and this new baby too!
ReplyDeleteYou folks are quite eclectic and I think that is just marvelous. Thanks for sharing the nursery pictures and story with us.
ReplyDeletei hate that we never put together a nursery. we have hand-me-down nursery furniture from a friend, and we picked out bedding and registered for everything. but we weren't going to do anything to the room until after school got out, and i just didn't get that far.
ReplyDeleteit took me a few glances to realize that these paintings show the progression of the tree's growth. they're beautiful and full of joy. you are such an expressive painter - i enjoy every piece you do.
ReplyDeletebeautiful curls, i've just finished 4 paintings for my little ones room, not nearly as beautiful as yours but i'm renting too so i need something to brighten up the walls. thanks so much for sharing lyras room with us, i've just been given a crib and change table which i already had , but they have too many memories and i'd like my new little one to have their own. sending love xxx anne
ReplyDeleteLove the mobile. We never had a real nursery, either, even for our two babies who lived. It doesn't matter, though, and babies don't care about that stuff. We were ready then and we're ready now if we get another chance. I know you're so ready too even if you don't have all the 'stuff' yet. I think you could make incredible things out of almost nothing! You're amazing!
ReplyDeleteThose paintings are stunning. And the mobile is just such an incredible reuse. I love mobiles. I have two in the kids room. One I made and one with ABC and 123. Eclectic rooms always intrigue me. I have lots of weird found objects for the kids room, because Bea is always so interested in refinding things, and when she asks me about objects, I can tell a story with almost everything in her room. Sending you much love.
ReplyDeleteOh, I love those paintings! The mobile is fab too.x
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading this post!
ReplyDeletethose paintings are simply awesome.
Would you ever consider putting prints of them on etsy?
I really like how they show the seasons as well as the tree's growth... and how there is a creature in each one!
I LOVE the paintings, and all the ideas. Thank you for sharing so generously with us. xo
ReplyDeleteI love that mobile!! xo
ReplyDelete