Luke's Nursery

For Luke's nursery I wanted to do something modern and up to date, which is totally out of my league, but with the help of my designer sister, Mary, and the encouragement I received I decided to go forth with it. I searched Pinterest before I found out what I was having and pinned a few things. I fell in love with more girl nurseries than boy nurseries, imagine that! I did find one boy nursery I could work with and kinda started leaning towards it if I was to have a boy. Well guess what, it turned out to be a boy and everything I kept finding on Pinterest that I liked kept falling into place. I looked to see if there was anything else I liked and nothing hit my hot spot. So we ended up going with what I found originally.

On Pinterest, I found a girl who had blogged about the nursery she did on www.projectnursery.com called Graham's Bright and Modern Nursery. She had used all kinds of things that I just loved and even modeled it after the book "Oh the Places You'll Go" by Dr Suess. Well Dr Suess books are a big thing in our house because Will absolutely LOVES to read them. Then I found Baby "T" nursery another project done on www.projectnursery.com that had very similar colors and design to it. So I put the two together and formed Luke's Nursery.

First of all we had to repaint the room because it was a bright yellow and I need a modern calm color. My talented sister, Mary, helped me pick out a good light, warm, and inviting gray color to use. We also painted Will's big boy room this color too. I found all the fabric at Premier Prints in Tupelo and put my momma to work on the bedding, pillows, and window seat. I used the same lady to do the pinch pleat curtains that did the curtains in Will's room. I decided to go out on a whim and get the crib Annie Chalk painted a white color because it was a dark wood and in order to make everything look right I need a white crib and I didn't want to buy one when I already had a crib. I ended up selling the changing table we used for Will's nursery to a local church to use in their nursery and replaced it with a dresser I found at The Mustard Seed in Oxford, MS to use as a dresser/changing table. I found a few items on The Mustard Seed's facebook page that I liked but ended up buying something totally different than what I went in for. When I saw this dresser, I literally fell in LOVE with it and Doug said he knew it was the "one" because of the way I lit up when I saw it. It's an off gray distressed dresser and absolutely beautiful and fits perfectly. I also picked up a few more items to use as accessories in the nursery such as a frame, an orange pillow, and a small side table to go by the rocker we had already.

It was going together perfectly. I was going to try and Annie Chalk paint the crib and rocker by myself but with a wild and crazy 3 year old it was impossible to do. So I called up The Farmhouse in Tupelo and found out that a good friend of mine, Lauren Barber, works there and does the Annie Chalk paint. Lauren was so good to work with me and my crazy undecisive self and recreate the perfect crib and rocker that turned out better than I could have imagined.

I found all the prints I was going to use off of Etsy. I purchased a window bench to store toys in from www.hayneedle.com. I got floating shelves to go above the dresser from Ikea and got the bookshelves from Wayfair. I spent hours searching for these items and I found exactly what I was looking for.

I was trying to decide what to do above the crib. So Doug and I brainstormed after seeing an idea on Pinterest from the two nurseries I was working from. One of the girls had bought a canvas print from Hobby Lobby to match perfectly with her bedding. So Doug and I got to thinking we could just make this and do something similar and personal for Luke. So we sent Will off to the grandparents for the weekend and we went to Hobby Lobby and stayed for about 2 hours trying to figure out what to do. Plus I wanted to make a custom door hanger for Luke too and we were working on that project too. Our idea came together perfectly and we created the perfect piece above Luke's crib with leftover fabric pieces, 8x10 canvas boards, a nail gun, and some wood. My friend Kim Leathers at Swirlz did the monogramming of his name. I am so proud to display this in his room because it is something personal and custom made by his mom and dad that no one else will have but him.

I found an idea on Etsy to do the door hanger followed by some of the words from the book "Oh the Places You'll Go" but never could find anyone to do the door hanger for me. So I brainstormed again and spent more time in Hobby Lobby trying to get the exact length and size as Will's door hanger. We covered it with fabric we had, found ribbon to go with it, found and painted the letters to spell Luke, placed a few animals on the board, and painted the canvas board at the bottom for my good friend Christy Whitley to write on when he's born. It is perfect and again handmade just for him from us!

The nursery turned out more than I could imagine it being. Doug's quote was "wow" and "I think I might need sunglasses on to come in here." Yes it is bright but so cheerful when you walk in. It literally brings a smile to my face every time I step in his room. Yes we spent way more money, time, effort, and planning on creating the perfect nursery than we ever did on Will's nursery. I guess things have changed but I was going to go ALL OUT on this one because yes it is the last one I will be doing for a child of mine. Unfortunately this shop is closing after Luke gets here.

So let's show this nursery off and add some pictures. Here you go! Enjoy!

The nursery

The crib

Over the crib

The window bench and the "Read" bookshelf

The giraffe was in Will's room. It matched perfect and we decided to add it to Luke's nursery

The dresser/changing table

Above the dresser/changing table

Prints on the wall by the closet

Door hanger and packed diaper bag

The carseat ready to go

33 weeks

33 weeks we made it and we also made it to April. Yeah, now let's bring on May because we are ready. I had a terrible head cold this past week and when we went to the doctor's appointment this week he prescribed me some medicine that made me feel so much better. I think it's this crazy weather we have been having. It's 80 degrees and sunny one day and the next its 50s and rainy. 

Everything went well at the doctor's appointment this week. Baby Luke's heartbeat was in the 150s and he is measuring still on time. We didn't have a sonogram this week so we don't know what he weighs. We go back in a week for another check up. For the most part, he's staying put and having a ball in my stomach. 

It's Easter weekend so we have been busy with egg hunts and preparing for Easter Sunday. I had my prenatal massage Thursday night and it was fabulous! I took off work on Friday to enjoy a manicure and pedicure and also to get somethings done around the house that I've been needing to do but just didn't have the time to do. Will spent some good quality time with Papaw on Good Friday and had a good time seeing the firetrucks and the trains. 

I'll end with a picture Will's teacher sent me from their egg hunts at school. Since I work I was unable to attend the egg hunts on Wednesday and Thursday this week. But thanks to his sweet teacher who texted me a picture of Will egg hunting with his cowboy boots on. Enjoy! 

32 weeks

32 weeks, what can I say?? I'm so glad to be 32 weeks pregnant but I'm so ready to meet Baby Luke and knock this pregnancy to the curb. I have enjoyed every minute of it and tried not to complain. But this week I've felt like Baby Luke was going to slide on out or pop out through my belly button. I've never felt so uncomfortable in my life that I have been this week. A good friend told me today that it just gets worse until he's here. Oh well I guess I'll let the suffering and waiting continue. I've also developed a head cold that I cannot shake and sleeping is minimal these days. So if you see me I may be a walking zombie. Other than that we go to the doctor on Monday for a check up and I get my prenatal massage on Thursday and I'm taking off work Friday to go pamper myself even more with a manicure and pedicure.

Thank goodness for Doug who has been helping so much with Will. I couldn't do it without him. I literally have a wild and crazy 3 year old that loves to play, play all the time. Full of life doesn't describe Will these days. I honestly don't know how I can describe him other than a wild bambino. 

I work at a bank and have some great customers that I deal with during the day. I've had some of the funniest things said to me that I just have to laugh it off. One man said that I was going to drop this baby out next week. Most of them just go "whoa" you are not going to make it to May. The lady at Walmart told me I was going to have a "Big Ole Baby." I really want to say back to them that it's better than having a 1lb 1oz baby and having to watch your baby survive in the Nicu for 133 days and wonder if he's going to live through the night. But I just take all the comments and laugh and go on. As I said before I'll take a "big ole baby" any day. 

Nursery is done and Luke's hospital clothes are just about packed and ours are too. So let's rock and roll on into April then May. Here we go! 

Update on Will

Donuts with Dad was held at Will's school this week and Doug got to go an enjoy this special time with him. 

Also Will has seen me prop my feet up because my feet are swelling. So last night I was ironing and putting clothes up and I walk by and see Will doing this. 

He got the pillow under his feet and began to prop his feet up like me while watching Mickey on iPad and just having a good old time. The things this child picks up literally crack me up. Never a dull moment in his life!!

31 weeks and a trip to Oxford

31 weeks today. Yippee and I feel every bit of it. Bending over and being tired are issues this week. Luke has been moving around so much these days. I got hot this week so I had to go buy a few spring things because the girls are burning me up at the bank. Hormones and hot flashes I guess! Oh well nothing new to report other than that we are counting down the weeks until Baby Luke arrives.

We took a fun trip to Oxford today to shop, eat lunch, and watch the Rebels play baseball. We took Nana and Papaw with us and had a great day. 

We went to Square Jr. Books and got Will some new books for his Easter basket. We ate lunch at South Depot Taco Shop then I took Will to get his handprints done in clay at Belles and Beaus. 

After the square we headed to the baseball game. We played the Florida Gators and won 5-2. It was a little overcast and sprinkling a bit so we stayed through the 5th inning and then left because the sprinkling became heavier and turned into rain. Other than that we had a great time. We did our traditional baseball family selfie and Will devoured a bucket of popcorn. 

On the ride home someone passed out! So I would say it was a fun and successful day!!!

30 week appointment

We had our 30 week doctors appointment today and got to see our sweet Baby Luke in 3D today which was so awesome. I didn't realize how much I missed seeing his face. We got to see him wiggle around and kick and just be content. He kept sucking his thumb and moving his arms around his face. He does have a touch of hair. That is shadows on top of his head in the picture, not alot of hair. He was all so snuggled up. I'm hoping I have a good cuddle bug. We got some good pictures and a great DVD video to keep.

He weighs in at 3lbs 9oz and is measuring 4 days ahead of schedule. Yay!! He is head down with lots of fluid surrounding him. We had an appointment with our doctor next. We asked a ton of questions about delivery and some other things we had on our list. He was very pleased with our progress and so excited about us making it to 30 weeks. My due date is May 23rd and if I don't go by then then I'll be induced on May 26th so we will see. He won't let me go to June 5th which would put me at 2 weeks past my due date. At least we have a date range in mind though and that makes us feel good. 

We go back in 2 weeks for another appointment so more info later. 

30 weeks and the count down begins!

30 weeks, we made it! We had a little scare this week and I didn't think we would make it. I landed in the hospital Tuesday morning for a little observation because I couldn't feel Luke move anymore. He hadn't moved much since Sunday morning and then Monday I never felt him at all. I even ate what I could to get him to move and laid down on my left side and I couldn't feel him move. Tuesday morning I called the doctor and they advised me to go to the Women's hospital to get checked out. As soon as they hooked me up to the monitors, all was good. I heard a perfect heartbeat and Luke was kicking away. I laid there for about an hour and a half hooked up to the monitors while they monitored his movements. I was given Apple juice and he really got to moving. I guess I just got really scared but I was advised by the nurse practitioner on call that I did the right thing. She said he was probably running out of room and sometimes babies slow their movements down and don't move as much. I left there with good instructions and was told to come back if I didn't feel him move. Since then he has been moving up a storm. I was lying on the couch the other night and all of a sudden I saw this ball roll across my stomach. It was him of course but one of the neatest things I've seen.

We go back to the doctor on Monday for a 30 week appointment and we are getting a 3D ultrasound and I'm so excited to see my little man. We can't wait to find out how much he's grown. 

Nursery Progress

All the crib bedding is done. Mom finished the bumpers and brought them over. The only thing left is a bench seat, pillow, and finish the project over the bed. I absolutely LOVE his nursery!!!

I enjoyed a cookie and cupcake with this sweet little one Friday while we waited on daddy to get a haircut! I sugared him up and sent him home with daddy while I went back to work. 

All clean and ready for bed and ready to be a BIG BROTHER soon

29 weeks

Ah 29 weeks, we made it yet once again! So thankful for Baby Luke staying put and hanging out for another week. 11 more weeks to go and we just cannot wait!

I'm still doing well. Waddling now as Doug calls it is the new thing this week. So nothing new much this week other than waddling. Luke is still active as can be. He loves to move around just at the time I lay down to sleep. Crazy sweet boy!!! We go back to the doctor in a week for a 3D sonogram and check up. I can't wait to see how much he weighs! Someone told me at the bank the other day I was going to have a linebacker. Guess they think I am really big to not be due until May! Oh well who cares! I'll take a linebacker and a healthy full term baby any day! 

It's been very crazy and hectic at work this week and I have been truly exhausted. Doug got the stomach bug from Will this week so I've have been doing everything and trying to avoid it. I've been lucky so far! Thursday it iced here and I decided that it was too dangerous to drive to work in this being 7 months pregnant so I just took the day off. I relaxed and hung out with Will and Doug and it was nice. 

So if I make it to 30 weeks a prenatal massage is in store for this girl!!! Here's to 29 weeks and onto 30 weeks, Let's GO!!!! 

Nursery Update

We have curtains up and I'm completely obsessed with them! It completes the room! We are still waiting on bumpers to be finished. I'm absolutely loving this room. I will do a complete blog post on the nursery once it's finished! 

Here's the curtains

Here is what's done so far

Wall as you walk in. Prints are from Etsy

Area over the changing table/dresser

Reading Wall

And this kiddo cannot wait for Baby Luke or as Will calls him "Baby Wooke" to get here! 

What in the world am I gonna do with 2 sweet little boys?!?!?!?