Playroom Furniture, Art and More

Can you tell I am SOOO excited about really getting going on the playroom?  We sold our bookcases and rug thanks to good ole' Craig's List, got rid of our old PC (minus the hard drive) on Freecycle, had our Internet cable connection moved down into the basement to reduce clutter and the number of wires in the room, ordered a new area rug, desk and chair, and Yellow Lotus is scheduled to be applied on today!!  Yay!!  I LOVE progress!! Now if we only had an endless bank of funds to furnish the rest of the room.

In the meantime, I have been searching for furniture, art work, accessories, etc. to ultimately fill the room.  I decided to put some mood boards together to organize myself.  Here's what I like so far:  

I would also love to include a play kitchen in the room but I'm not sure where it would fit.  Evelina is still too young to use it anyways but it's still something to think about. 

We have some hair growth people!! Evelina won't be a bald beauty forever!!  No sign of any wave or curls yet though. 

When I asked Evelina if she was happy that her hair was growing, she simply said:

Snooze News

This post is probably going to bite me in the ass, but seriously, the joy I feel knowing that Evelina is sleeping well at night again is immense.  She had a rough few months between 9 and 11 months for which she had to sleep in her car seat (in the crib) the majority of nights.  We aren't sure what the exact cause was, but it could have been one of any number of things: cutting 6 teeth in a month, colds and coughing, reflux flare ups, growing pains, or developmental leaps.  Needless to say, I thought she would create a sleep association with the car seat and we would have to battle with her to get her to sleep in the crib again but no battles this time around.  Thank goodness!! 

Over the past 3 weeks she has gone back to sleeping 7pm - 6am, sometimes even waking up around 5:45am and going back to sleep until a little after 7am. Not only does she seem more rested and pleasant during the day, WE feel more rested.  Always a good thing!!   

There does continue to be certain times of the night where she will wake up, do some moaning or drama queen fake crying, but she goes back to sleep on her own without intervention from Mama or Papa.  

Since Evelina is on the move, as soon as she wakes in the morning and finishes stretching, she will sit-up and start "doin' her work" in the crib until we fetch her at 7am. She will suck on Gigi, pull down and play with her small taggie blanket I hang up at the end of the crib, turn on her mobile and watch the projection on the ceiling, shake her soft monkey rattle, lay back down and relax, search for her binkie in the crib (we don't give it to her, we just put it in the crib and she can use it if she wants too) and either put it in her month or bang it on the crib rails, crawl around and/or stand, attempt to pull her Red Sox monkey into the crib that is hanging on the outside.  She has lots of safe options to keep her busy in the crib until her official start of the day, 7am.     

I know that at some point she will wake up again during the night (hopefully not starting tonight!!), but until then, we will continue to enjoy this ideal sleeping schedule for as long as we can.  

Nighty night zzzzzzz

Fave Baby Product :: Zoli

I am constantly reading baby product reviews because I feel like I am always in the market for some type of baby product.  Recently, I came across the Zoli BOT Straw Sippy Cup and decided we had to try it.  It arrived last week and has quickly become one of my favorite baby product. This is by far the best straw sippy that we've tried to date.  The best thing about it is that it has little flaps over the top of the straw so Evelina can easily suck liquid out but she can't backwash.  Hallelujah!!  The other GREAT innovation?  A weight at the bottom of the straw. It doesn't matter what angle she holds the cup, the straw will always move toward the liquid and she can continue to have productive sucks.  It is awesome!! 

We also have the Zoli on-the-go, and it is the bomb.  The top section holds her formula and the other 3 sections hold snacks, fruit and/or other meal options.  So convenient to slip right into the diaper bag.  Once she starts eating larger meals, I am definitely going to scoop up the SUMO Snack Stacker.

Playroom Color Palette

This is the color palette I'm leaning toward for the playroom. I think the bright kid-friendly colors will really get Evelina's creative juices flowing. It isn't ultra girly either so hopefully any of her little "boy" friends that come over will be able to enjoy it too.  But, of course, I have to throw a little bit of purple into the mix.

Historical Belly Shot

Exactly one year ago today, I looked like this.  36 weeks pregnant, my belly had dropped and my body was preparing to deliver the most beautiful little wee one that would change our lives forever...in only 2 short, unexpected, weeks.  This was my last belly shot while pregnant with Evelina.  I would love to have seen what I looked like the day before she arrived, but Miss Impatient had other plans. Gosh, I looked puffy and tired, but that didn't stop me from enjoying a beautiful and fun-filled day with friends in Portsmouth, dining al fresco by the water.  

Playroom Inspiration

Slowly but surely we have begun the process of transitioning our existing office space into a playroom for Evelina.  I've been on the lookout for inspiration but I've struggled a bit when compared to what I had envisioned for her nursery.  I think my biggest dilemma is that the playroom will be one of the first rooms you see when you enter through the front door. I don't want it to scream playroom, with girlie pinks and pastels everywhere.  While I want it to be a fun, creative, and functional space for her, I would also like it to be somewhat cohesive with the other rooms on the first floor.

After trying out a handful of different yellows (I love the little samples!!), we have decided to go with Benjamin Moore Yellow Lotus for the wall color.  It is actually a bit brighter and more yellow then the swatch, not as much gold. The room will be painted in the next couple of weeks...YAY!!  Chris is getting a free pass and we are hiring someone this time around :-)  Other then color selection, we haven't done much else with the exception of starting to clean the room out and searching for ideas and furniture.  

Yellow Lotus

Yellow Lotus looks very much like this room. I like the red accents, too. 

Via

I love this room.  The rug is to die for and the pennant banner is perfection.  I definitely want to snag the pennant canopy for a reading corner.

Via

This playroom is also appealing to me.  I love the Expedit bookcase from Ikea. They are so functional and I've seen them in so many rooms (including in the picture above).  We will definitely set up an easel for Evelina and I love the idea of displaying her artwork from a cable.  So easy to switch out old art for new art, and it will be a fun decorative element. 

Via

I've seen lots of indoor play tee pees throughout my inspiration search and can't get enough of 'em.  Since the room we are working with isn't huge, I don't think a tee pee will be an option, but I may just have to order one for fun backyard adventures.  

Can't remember where this picture came from

Again, if space permits, I would love to have a little dress up corner for Evelina. Love this one. 

Via

Our goal is to at least get the room painted and cleaned up before Evelina's "big" first birthday party so the room isn't an eyesore.  I know it would have been ideal for it to be completed BEFORE, to allow little attendees to use it, but there just aren't enough hours in the day.  After her party, we will start putting it together.  I'm excited to get started and see the transformation.   

Spring 2011 School Picture

I always hated school picture day growing up.  I was never the most photogenic person (and I'm still not) and I always had THE WORST hair (a tail?  Triangle head? What was I thinking?).  But, even though school pictures can be a bit tacky, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to capture Evelina from a lenses other than mine. And, admit it, who doesn't love the fence backdrop and fake rock with flowers, right?  Sure beats the lasers from my youth. 

She looks so much more grown up compared to her first school picture. 

How Depressing

Rain, rain and more rain.  This better mean we have a perfect June, July and August.  I haven't been to Seattle but I can only imagine this is what they frequently see on their 5-day forecast.  I want to wear Capri pants, short sleeved tops, dresses and sandals...accompanied by sunglasses!!! Waaaa.....

1st Mother's Day

A "hand"-made bouquet from Evelina

Last Sunday, I had the privilege of celebrating my very first mother's day.  It was a lovely day spent with my sweet husband, my darling Evelina, and the most wonderful Mimi and Poppy (previously known as Grumpa). A day filled with touching messages, pretty flowers, burgers on the grill, delectable strawberry shortcake...and we can't forget lots of kisses, hugs and giggles.   

There are many days that I still don't feel like I am really a mother.  Pregnancy was a surreal experience and motherhood has proven to be similar.  Throughout childhood, adolescence and early adulthood, I was never one of those women that dreamed about having children.  I never enjoyed babysitting or being around other people's kids.  Perhaps because I was the youngest of the family?  Even after Chris and I got married, we still weren't sure, but turned a corner and started yearning for a little one....and I'm so thankful, we're so thankful. 

Any resemblance what so ever?  Eyes?  Smile?  Nose?  Something?

Evelina is the light of my life, she brings a smile to my face each day just by simply being who she is.  She can be happy or cranky, up during the night or sleeping like a dream, easy or challenging, healthy or sick, independent or clingy, but no matter what, I am lucky enough to be her mother, and I wouldn't change a thing.  I love her more than life itself and I can't wait to celebrate mother's day with her for many more years to come.  

We love you Mimi, you are the best!!

Spring!!

The very definition of Spring to me is when the lilacs bloom.  They are for sure one of my favorite flowers and I look forward to each April/May when their little blossoms open.  When I was growing up we had huge purple and white Lilac bushes in our yard and the aroma would always fill the house with their yummy scent. Every time I walk by a lilac bush, I am transported back to my youth and our old house.  White pitchers filled with lilac blossoms decorating each room.  

 
We have planted a few tiny bushes (thanks Mimi and Poppy) but it will be a couple of years before they actually produce flowers.  Until then, I will just sneak off to the huge bush a block away and steal some blooms.  Nobody will ever know...except my side kick, Evelina.     

Finally, a beautiful Friday and diapers to be laundered.  The perfect sunny Friday chore.

Bye bye stains!!

Hurricane Evelina

Evelina is as we say, "Doin' her work"

One of Evelina's favorite activities these days is emptying out every possible toy or book bin and spreading the contents around, throwing them, or dragging them when she crawls.  You always know when Hurricane Evelina has struck because her play area in the living room ends up looking like this.  She has started to put toys inside of other toys but she hasn't mastered the skill enough to clean up after herself!!  Chris and I are at least hoping she inherited a little bit of our OCD genes :-) 

"El Destructo" at it again

"Crawling"

Even though Evelina can crawl on all fours, her preferred crawling method is rather unique. It is more of a pulling type method, but it's actually more effective on hard wood floors than crawling in correct form. The only problem may be that she slaps her hands down with so much force causing them to hurt.  After a couple of minutes of "crawling", she will stop and fuss, but then move on. 

11 Months!!

Dear Evelina,

You are 11 months!!  I've said it before and I will say it again, time is just zooming by.  With each blink of my eyes, another month goes by and you move closer and closer to becoming a toddler.  One month closer to celebrating your first birthday milestone, one month closer to walking and talking, one month closer to becoming more independent.

Last month had to be one of our most challenging months, but it brought forth one of the most fun months with you, sweet Evelina. The past month was full of so much happiness, so many giggles and smiles, so much excitement and so many accomplishments.

Your fun-loving, jovial personality has really shined through over the past month and you are feeling more and more comfortable about sharing it with others, including strangers.  You still remain a constant observer but you have really enjoyed opening up to others by flashing your pearly whites and waving at anyone (including your reflection in the mirror or Prince William and Kate while they were waving to on-lookers in preparation for their big kiss on the balcony after the Royal Wedding) and anything (trees, the grass, the sky, your toys)

You can now officially crawl on your hands and knees, but you often prefer your unique crawling technique which involves dragging your bum across the floor in a swift fashion.  Either way, you successfully make it from point A to point B with a smile and determination all your own.  You especially enjoy crawling toward shoes, they are most definitely your favorite non-toy, even if they don't taste very good, yuk.  Along with crawling, you can easily transition to a sitting position from laying down and have been known to fall asleep while sitting up and then hunching over, it could quite possibly be one of the cutest things, although, I can't imagine very comfortable.  You are an expert at pulling up to your knees and have completely pulled up to standing on many occasions.  Even though you love to stand and play, if you can only make it to your knees, you are happy, it doesn't take much to please you...well, sometimes that is.  Your other new skill, clapping.  You will clap when you are happy, when you hear music, when I say "Yaaayyy!!!" and clap with you, or just if you feel like it...in between all of your waving.

As we countdown to your first birthday, I can't help but think about how far you've come since your first moment on earth, how much you have learned and grown, and how much I love you.  I can't imagine life without you. There are still moments that I need to pinch myself because I honestly can't believe you are our daughter.  That we were lucky enough to be blessed by you each day. To be the recipients of your smiles, laughter, waves, hugs and kisses.  To be able to experience every day through your eyes, all the while making me want to be a better person...for you.  Happy 11 months sweet girl. 

You are the sunshine of my life,

Mommy