pregnancy

Wal-Mart finally had that table lamp in stock today, so I was able to finish off the nursery and take some pictures! It's as done as it's gonna be until we plop a baby in there! 

Here's what my mock-up idea started as:

And here's the finished room:

After trying to hang the paper lanterns, not liking the cord hanging from the ceiling, and then eventually ripping it, Ben made the genious suggestion that we use a ficus tree (that we had in our livingroom) in that empty corner.  WAY perfect.  He's a better decorator than me...no doubt about that...I just have to make a few mistakes before he's willing to help me correct them!

Here's where I'll be spending many middle-of-the-night feedings.  Thank you to Rachel for helping me make the rocking chair cushion and to Janel & Linda for the adorable monkey & gorilla!  

The crib (still sporting the fabulous gender-neutral bedding made by Betsy)
...and the animal wall canvases I made:

The rug was $15 at World Market.  I would have looked harder for a plain dark brown rug, but I couldn't beat the price, and after a week of dealing with washing everything in Ayla's room 50 times when she had the flu, I decided a $15 orange rug was a smarter choice than anything more expensive!

The changing table...now outfitted with a contoured changing pad (thank you Patricia) and stuffed with tons of blankets, socks, diapers, hats, bibs, wipes, and burp cloths:

And the last corner of the room...still a little bare, but I imagine it'll get filled with toys before too long.  The giant ruler has recorded my height, my brother's height, and Ayla's height at different ages throughout the past 30 years.  I LOVE that I get to have it hanging in our kids' rooms too!

And finally, some detail pics of the decorations and all the little baby clothes...just waiting for a baby:

Thanks everyone for all your help and advice on putting this room together.  I'm very happy with how it turned out! 

Inspired by these adorable t-shirts made by Amy Tangerine, I made these for Ayla & Baby Boy:

It really wasn't too hard...but I can't guarantee their launder-ability. :) I'll wait until after the photos are taken before I wash them! 

The steps:

1. Pick a simple block font and cursive print to make your t-shirt saying. 
2. Print it on computer paper.
3. Choose a t-shirt to alter and a contrasting color fabric for the block letters.
4. Use straight pins to pin the saying to the front of the shirt where you want it to be, layering the contrasting fabric BEHIND the front of the t-shirt.  (contrast fabric, then t-shirt, then printed paper on top).
5. Hand-stitch with a backstitch around the outline of the letters, including any center sections (as in B, R and O).
6. When you've finished stitching, gently tear away the paper (GENTLY).  You should see an outline of the letters you just stitched on the t-shirt.
7. Inside each letter, carefully separate the t-shirt from the contrasting fabric so that you can cut a small hole in the t-shirt fabric.  Do NOT cut through the contrasting fabric or the stitching.
8. Trim carefully around the inside of the stitched outline to reveal the contrasting fabric underneath.
9. Turn the t-shirt inside out and trim away any excess contrasting fabric.
10. When the block letters are finished, pin the cursive word above the block letters on the front of the t-shirt.  Use several pins to be sure it stays put.
11. Hand-stitch with a backstitch along the cursive font. 
12. When you've finished stitching the font, gently tear away the paper and you're finished!

Tip: 

• Use a light gray font on the paper and a contrasting thread color so that you can easily see where you've stitched.

I need some practice still, but I like how they turned out.  And I like the price.  I had everything on hand except the t-shirt for Ayla and brown thread.  Total cost: $4.50.  When compared with the prices you'd pay in a store...likely $30 each or more...

I put these thank you cards together this afternoon for my upcoming baby shower...

...love how they sort of "match" the new nursery decor...which will look something like this Photoshopped mock-up: