operation nursery...

The long awaited post on our nursery...Enjoy!

Once we were back from Minnesota and still had two weeks of summer break, there was only one thing on our minds...Gizmo's nursery!  

We were both equally motivated to get as much done as we could in the time that we had.  Every day, we settled into a routine of crossing things off of our to-do list and working through most of each day and even the nights (don't worry, I took many breaks in between jobs)!  

It was definitely a lot more work than I expected, well...probably more for Andy than for me as he had to do much of the hard labor.  We were not just moving furniture and painting, we were taking the opportunity to sift through all of our junk that we had accumulated and decided what to keep and what to get rid of.  Sounds a lot like nesting, huh?!  It is insane (and it is still in full swing)! 

Here is a look at the transformation in numbers...

7 trips to Goodwill
4 bins of packed up books

3 pieces of large furniture packed up and moved to the basement
1 coat of primer

2 coats of paint

8 trips to IKEA
endless trips to Ace Hardware
lots of sweat and smiles

What came out in the end is exactly like I pictured in my head and maybe even better.  See for yourself!  Here is the transformation in pictures...

Preparation Stage: 

Paint color before and after with the "professional" painter!

Some room layouts... apparently, I missed my calling as an Interior Designer.  Maybe that will be my next career change when my mom needs an assistant!


Finished Product:

Things of note: gummy bear night light mounted to the wall, lots of books to start Gizmo as a reader early, beginning of a collection of stuffed animals, baskets for organization, play farm on bottom shelf (from IKEA, which may need a future post), and plush rocking dog!

Things of note: hanging bird mobile, changing pad, IKEA dresser with awesome drawer organizers, and a lamp base for a decorative lamp shade that is on order.  

Things of note: globe for our future traveler, crochet pea pod for newborn pictures, space for more organization baskets which are on order (yellow), and more stuffed animals.

Things of note: picture ledge (I have always wanted one and finally found a perfect spot for  it), baby's first piece of original art (in yellow frame), hamper for dirty baby clothes, sneak peak of the adorable wall decals we found on Etsy!

My favorite corner!  Things to note: comfy glider chair/ottoman, crib with cute sheets from Land of Nod, and another sneak peak of wall decals

A full look at the wall decals.  We wanted a forest look with aspen trees and birds.  Our favorite time of year is when the aspen leaves turn a golden color (almost neon yellow)!   These were definitely a labor of sweat and frustration love, but they are so worth it!

We have more items on the way, so there will be a future post with more pictures.  We were so lucky over Labor Day weekend to have my mother/interior designer in town to help with these final touches.  

I am well aware that becoming a parent is more than having a cute nursery.  I have to tell myself from time to time that all of the "stuff" doesn't matter.  But, I can't deny the little thing that I feel when I go into the nursery, sit in the glider chair, and visualize what the room will be like when it is actually in use and our baby boy is here.  It is indescribable...
{it doesn't hurt to have a cute room to have this feeling in though!}