Nursery Furniture!

The great debate is over!

Well, I guess it never really began, except for in my head.

And this week, it's wham-bam D O N E.

Furniture AND bedding, that is!

Final bedding choices:

Carousel Designs' gorgeous gorgeous line of fabrics at babybedding.com.
-2 bubblegum pink fitted sheets (one for use while one is washing)
-gathered lovebird damask bedskirt (a splurge, but I just ADORE the fabric)
-no custom bumper (opting for a breathable green one, instead)
-no custom quilt (opting for a cheaper, softer fuzzy blanket - maybe green or pink) instead

Final furniture choices:

Munire's Rockport Collection (which is being discontinued!) - in white

-the 3-drawer dresser/changing station
-the lifetime crib
-the armoire

Oh, and this guy!

NOT BROWN... celery green

Best Chair's Storytime Series
-the Tryp in celery green, no contrast cording




We've still got quite a few main things (like a rug and lighting and curtains) to knock-out but at least there is furniture ordered and on its way in the many weeks to come (this stuff takes FOREVER to come in) hence my nail-biting over getting it done this week. And all this week I've been making trips here and there to our local craft stores for supplies for my DIY nursery accents and I can't WAIT for that week to come... yay for getting things done!

Baby Bedding...

is positively maddening. Well, for me at least. Because, quite frankly, I'm picky... and a planner. So I know - or at least - have an idea of what I want and what I can find in the store JUST isn't cutting it. And so, of course, that means we might end up spending a pretty penny for something custom... and once I researched my options for going that route, I'm afraid I can't turn back. 

There's just so much and all of it is absolutely gorgeous.

Most recent design...

(verdict's still out on the bumper... I'm pretty certain, as pretty as they actually are, we won't be using one. and in that case, the sheet set would maybe be green... and yes, that is our actual floor, wall, and trim colors. www.babybedding.com is amazing.)

I'm not married to this design, it's just the one I happened to come up with today... after these two, yesterday:

Upon further review, this might be my favorite.

and this one the day before:

and so on.


What do you think?!

Virginia's Nursery

About in the same way the name-planning came relatively easily, so did the nursery themeing. Granted, we haven't got started on too much when it comes to the nursery except for clearing it (mostly) out and having the walls painted (thanks to some chance of foresight when we bought and subsequently painted the house more than a year and a half ago)... but somewhere, early in the game, the idea for the colors and concept came to me. I was sitting, in fact, on this very same couch e-mailing my best friends with the idea... "what about an oh-the-places-you'll-go (as in, travel-like) theme?" 

Which paired perfectly with the already existing Benjamin Moore Waterfall of the room and our love for travel... and books! Dr. Seuss is classic and I plan for Virginia to have the motherload of children's books. BUT. I didn't want it to be too Dr. Seuss-y, if you know what I mean? So leave it to colors, printed quotes from the book, and maybe a few hot air baloons (oh, and hopefully the full Dr. Seuss collection)... and then a good dose of maps, globes, possibly a few vintage suitcases and you've got our nursery.

Can you see it?

If not, check out my Pinterest Board for the Nursery that I've been collecting ideas in for the last, oh... (according to Pinterest) 15 weeks (which is only a week after learning we were pregnant - how's that for planning?!):

CLICK on the picture to see more :)

Places to Go and See

It just fully occurred to me this week that our big-time travel season kicks into gear in just over a week. And appropriately so, as the countdown to "traveling is no longer fun, or comfortable" has begun with my first trimester coming to a close at the end of this week. One trimester more and it's NO MORE FLYING for me!

What's on the docket has me all in a bother. Because it's just lovely and wild and beautiful, all at once (but not really, because they're all separate trips). But to see it all at once, as we will do in just a moment, is breathtaking and I'm positively giddy that there are so many new places to see and a just a couple of old ones to revisit. Can't wait!!

Behold...

Yosemite NP

Redwood NP - Forest

Redwood NP - Coast

Crater Lake NP

Lassen Volcanic NP

Destin

Charleston

Tybee Island (w/ the girls!! sorry, Cliffy)

Savannah (w/ the girls!! sorry, Cliffy)

House Fund: First Anniversary

The journey officially started this day last year.

Looking back on that entry, I can't help but linger over the part that reads:

But we hope our friends and family will be rooting for us and helping keep us accountable to dreaming big. We can't do this on our own, and to that same degree, are hoping to rely fully on the wisdom and provisions of God who has been so gracious to lead us this far.

And you have. And we have. And more than both of those combined, He has.

I am so very thankful for that and excited about what lies ahead. We are more than halfway to our year-end goal and hope to remain faithful in giving and free to enjoy what a little extra savings beyond the house affords us in the way of trips to visit family and the requisite get-aways we so enjoy.

Let us always be mindful of how much we are blessed, in whatever way God chooses to do so, and of what, then, is required of us because of that.

"Top Three" Life List

On Sunday, I spent some time journaling and perusing a summer edition of Real Simple. In it, there was a feature on readers' responses to the "top three things" they'd like to accomplish in their lifetime. Already in an inspired mood, I started jotting down the list I've been running in my head for a long time. And then I realized there were far too many things on the list and that three, was in fact, a qualifying number.

Then, last night, in the middle of FPU class, I slipped Cliff my tiny yellow legal pad I use to doodle/dream/plan on in settings such as those, with a query as to what his top three life goals would be. It was important for me to know that he didn't know what mine were, so I told him after he thoughtfully jotted down his answers.

So, after much (of my own personal) debate, here's our lists:

Kristine
1. Grow in a lifetime marriage of adventure and laughter, while raising children who are happily whole, who love the Lord, and who are equipped to (and who believe they can) change the world.
2. Write and publish a good book that inspires and encourages normal people to dream big, take leaps, and enjoy the journey.
3. Spend time in all 50 states of this beautiful, free country I call home.

Cliff
1. Have a happy, healthy family that is spiritually and financially well-rounded and stronger than the previous generation.
2. Be a part of a cause that makes a difference in my community and the world.
3. Be a wise man who can feed into others' lives and who is a leader.


What are yours?