This week, I did a guest post for a series on Darlene’s blog, where she asked me to design a nursery without worrying about any budget or space constraints. I just got to pick out pretty stuff. It made me think about our first nursery, which was kind of the opposite of that.
A peek at my nursery design. You can see the full plan on Darlene’s blog.
It’s hard to believe that it was nine years ago when I was trying to get everything just so before baby came—not knowing that the room would never look perfect once he got here, not knowing that we were having a boy, not knowing that four others would follow. . . (There’s a reason God doesn’t let us see into the future. It would completely freak us out.)
Pre-baby circa 2004. Look how rested I look. . .
I was working at Ethan Allen at the time (up until the day before I had him), and the crib was one of the few purchases I made with my employee discount. I was so proud of it, and thought it was the most beautiful bed. We’re still using it, and now that it’s covered in baby teeth marks, I’ll probably never get rid of it.
(And, before I get emails, yes—all of the stuffed animals, the frame over the bed and the crib bumper went away when the baby came. I am a nervous nelly about anything in the crib with a newborn. On a side note, the print was a gift to my mom on her first mother’s day.)
I still remember the day we went shopping for the crib bedding. What a hard decision about something we really didn’t even need! We ended up finding a set on sale that was covered in nursery rhyme toile with a matching plaid crib skirt. I thought it was so fabulous that I searched for the same plaid and had the glider (that I bought at a yard sale) recovered in it, too. By the way, if you have a clue that you’ll be having more kids over a eight-year period, I’d go neutral. . . Live and learn.
When we first brought him home from the hospital, I would sit in that plaid glider and listen to all of those love songs on Delilah (my husband’s least favorite radio show in the universe), look at my sweet baby and cry because I was so happy/hormonal/overwhelmed. You see, now I can’t get rid of that ugly glider, either.
Thanks for letting me reminisce. I feel like I need to go hug his neck before I send him off to third grade next week.
And, don’t forget to pop over to Fieldstone Hill Design to see my “pretend” nursery project. (She’ll be welcoming a baby girl in just a couple of weeks!)
That is so precious! What an angel! They grow up fast. My oldest son started junior high this year. My baby will start junior high next. Enjoy those sweeties! Oh and you haven’t aged a day.
Ha! Thanks, but he was looking over my shoulder while I was finishing this post and said “uh, you look different.” I think that meant older…
Doesn’t it go so fast?! I loved the time before the first baby because you have nothing but time to think about what you’ll do for their nursery. After the first, I was lucky to get the crib set up before I went into labor. :)
This made me tear up. My oldest is off to kindergarten next week. And I am so glad we aren’t the only ones with teeth marks all over the crib. It is funny to think how much time I spent picking the right bedding, then how often it was pooped, spit up, or peed on.
I’m sending my twins off to kindergarten next week and, honestly, don’t know how we got here. They were the tiniest babies just a minute ago. Time is flying…a little too fast, but it’s such a joy to watch them grow. Great post!
So sweet Emily… I actually didn’t have a nursery for any of my children.. we were strugggling residents back then and we didnt have the space or money for such, and so now, I try to really go all out with their bedrooms. How I wish I to have had one, but then the memory of my baby right beside my bed the whole time, is something I treasure as well, and probably wouldn’t have another way… Thanks for sharing..:-)
To be honest, I think he may have stayed in our room for the first 4-6 months. I remember standing in his doorway crying the first night he slept in the nursery.
so sweet, love the nursery design you came up with too!
Aww, that is such a sweet memory. It all went so fast, I would love to go back and relive a day or two.
The last picture captures the meaning of LOVE!
Oh Emily, I can so identify with many of your sentiments! I’ve thought before that I should go back and do posts of our old nurseries. Wow, a nine year old! I’m sure it has flown…our oldest is going to kindergarten soon, and I am sick over it.
It is fabulous you have photos – great memories. I had my first baby almost 19 years ago!
Love it! We are expecting our first in March and anything baby makes me cry. What sweet memories.
Aww, this is such a sweet post. A lot has happened to you all in nine years!
preciousness! No matter where our babies sleep, we are blessed that they are with us! Loved this sweet post, and THANK YOU so much for hanging out over at Fieldstone Hill Design yesterday!
I love Darlene’s series! Nurseries are my favorite and I loved that glider you picked.
Oh, the days of toile and plaid. I was so there with you! I can’t believe our boys are headed into third grade. I’m in total denial. Thank you for sharing these sweet memories with us! It’s always fun to look back on designs. You’re such a good mom!
xo, Abby M.
I never got to do a much of a nursery- our {military} moves always seemed to come right after the babies were born…and most of our moves have been international. Loved your pictures!! :)
Love this post! I had that same Dutailier glider (those were THE thing 10 years ago!) and also didn’t want to get rid of it due to the memories attached to it but I finally donated it to Goodwill just two weeks ago because we have absolutely no place for it in our new house. So sad! Hopefully some other mommy is using it now with her little one…
Love! We will have our first child in November and I love reading your thoughts on looking back at your first choices.
Emily, you’ve only gotten more beautiful! This was so fun to see and read. Thanks for sharing a bit of your past with us! I’m sure those 9 years have flown by.
Picking out our baby bedding was so special. I saved it for our son to use for his babies, but when the time came, he didn’t want it. I know I should donate it, but I haven’t had the heart yet. I wish I still had my glider!
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i still adore toile and plaid….
Goodness. You look so young! But still beautiful…..and so is your family:)
Wow! You made me cry. I remember those feeling with my first born. I wish I could hug him now. Those sweet memories are what get me through the rough patches and you are right God doesn’t let us look into the future for a reason, some of us wouldn’t want to go on . I feel so blessed in so many ways. oxox
Love the pictures, brings back a lot of wonderful memories of my first too :)
XO
Kristin