Progress in Mili's Room

So these pictures are a long time coming.  We've made a lot of additions to the room, including a Mandal bed frame, Hemnes dresser, and the world's most awesome glider.  I'd love to show you a picture of the room as a whole, however I have no photography skills and the room is small, so until Caleb gets home you'll have to make do with a mental picture instead.  But enough talk! 

Time for more blurry pictures!

 

Here is the world's most awesome recliner/glider!  We opted to spend a little  more to get something we could later incorporate into our living room and wouldn't look all "I see you held onto the baby glider."  

We had it shipped to the store (Babies R Us) and I have to admit to being more than a little nervous on the way to pick it up.  I was really wondering if we made the right decision.  Fortunately it looks fantastic in the room!  AND it is INCREDIBLY COMFORTABLE!  Seriously.  Every time I see Caleb sitting in it, I get a little grumpy thinking how I'd like to be sitting in it instead.  Hoorah!

A detail shot of the windowsill, because it is so bright and makes me happy.  The flowers came from Mili's Dallas shower, the piggy bank from Garvan Woodland Gardens (discounted with our membership!), and the alphabet tile box is a handmade gift from Caleb's brother Colton.  Did I mention this corner makes me happy?  Because this corner makes me happy. 

So the crib was originally in our room, but we were able to move it into the nursery since my grandparents gifted us an awesome Pack N Play.  Moving it from one room to another only required taking two doors off their hinges.  Do I have pictures of this process?  No.  Because I'm lame.  Trust me though.  It was legendary. 

Mobile close up.

Embroidery hoops above the bed

The new dresser!  I switched out the standard pulls for some unique ones from Hobby Lobby to the tune of $2 - $3 a pop.  The best thing about this dresser though is that it's sturdy and easily accommodates the changing table + a little dresser top storage.  And speaking of storage, we found that and another storage basket on clearance at Target for $4 each!

And finally... Mili's reading corner.  Eventually we'd like to put up some vertical bookcases or some sort of vertical book storage.  Until then this is really accessible for the Bean. 

So we still have some work to do.  Walls to fill with pictures.  Hazards to address.  A closet to clean out.  But things are coming together!  And we've received so many lovely gifts that are stashed away here and there.  We are so thankful for the generosity of friends and family!  

And I'll get those pictures of the whole room up soon! (-ish).

Outdoor baby cage

 

For the parent who would like to leave their toddler outside unsupervised, but is afraid of what the neighbors might think.  Save $15.  

Vintage Kids' Books My Kid Loves

Stumbled upon this blog today while looking for images of Maurice Sendak's illustrations.  You know Maurice Sendak, even if you don't immediately recognize the name.  He wrote and illustrated Where the Wild Things Are and also illustrated Wilhelm Grimm's Dear Mili.

The latter book was "Preserved in a letter written to a young girl, Mili, in 1816 and not discovered until 1983, the Grimm story is prefaced by a tender address in which he underscores the story's message: although there are many obstacles that can prevent people from being together, 'one human heart can go out to another, undeterred by what lies between.' The story that follows implies that love transcends even death." (-Publisher's Weekly). 

I had this book growing up, and I think it, along with George MacDonald's The Lost Princess are the only two children's books that made the transition with me through apartments in college, grad school, and now onto a bookshelf in my first "grown up home."  Reading the letter from Grimm to his niece about the power of love, especially between parent and child, between human beings separated by obstacles and tragedies, cemented the name Amelia and the nickname Mili for our little beanette.  

But I ramble.  Vintage Kids' Books My Kid Loves is a treasure trove of old books, classics you will remember from your own chilhood and the forgotten books you've never heard of, but should.  The blogger, B. Streetman, shares books with her son that I plan to peruse with our Mili, and is a great example of how reading to your child can increase their love of literacy.

"I love that my son --at almost six-- still loves me to read him anything... from Percy Jackson to a toddler book about colors. As long as the pictures are good and/or the story is well-written, he will turn no book away. I can't tell you how many play dates we've had when a child finds a book in our house and I start to read and then they realize how long it is (as in a picture book with more than 36 words) and they ask me to stop and just go through and show them the pictures. With the exception of some children who just have a natural aversion to sitting for extended periods of time, if you read to a child daily, they will want to be read to. Period."

Anyway, definitely a long post.  But I had to share this blog.  It is truly fantastic.

In other news, I will definitely get on announcing Mili's middle name, officially, as well as taking some pictures of how her room is shaping up as per your requests (via Facebook) ...now that my husband and I finally relocated our camera.   =)

And to those of you in school, teaching, or lucky enough to have one:  Happy Spring Break!!!

"Grisham Family... You are 'In'"

If you're anything like me, you just read that title in a Heidi Klum Project Runway accent.  As you well should.  And if you don't know what I'm talking about, well then you're clearly not watching enough Bravo TV.

This weekend Caleb and I haphazardly registered for some baby gear and scored some free stuff in the process, such as February's issue of Baby Talk Magazine.  And what do you know?
Baby Talk had an article on what is "In" and "Out" in baby gear, including this gem on cribs...

"out: dangerous drop-side cribs and overpriced designer varieties that don't grow with baby.  in: stationary-side cribs that emphasize substance and safety over style.  Check out the sturdy Ikea Leksvik made from beechwood and spruce, it converts into a toddler bed."

Well said Baby Talk Magazine!  I always knew Caleb and I were destined to be oh-so-trendy parents.  Seeing how we picked up our Ikea Leksvik* crib earlier that day, I now have irrefutable only slightly refutable evidence of how awesomely "with it" we are.

Anyway, we put the crib together in our room last night, much to the chagrin of our downstairs neighbors I'm sure, and I have to say... it looks quite nice.  

*Or maybe we picked up the Hensvik, which I consider to be close enough.

 And no, our apartment is not crooked, that's just how I take my pictures.  Word. 


I also finished (for now) hanging some artwork in Mili's room.

And that giant, aesthetically pleasing cardboard box hanging out on the right hand side of this picture?  Well that's the larger Ikea Hemnes dresser we picked up this weekend for changing table/storage purposes that Caleb argued "you could actually fit a baby on".  He's so picky.

Well that is all for today folks.  Hope everyone had a lovely Valentine's Day!

 

Artwork for Mili

This week in Grisham land...

Art for above the dresser/changing table in Mili's room.  Things seem to have evolved into a blue - green theme.  When I started out I really was going for a green and yellow color scheme.  But I like this first painting so much, I've been designing everything else around it.  And by designing I mean, imagining, not actually purchasing.  You may notice my reflection in the first one...  this is a result of my awesome photography skills, and not some impressive tromp l'oeil artistry skills.  Shocking.  I know.

Little Boxes on a Hillside

And here's where I'm going to go ahead and apologize for being the worst photographer I know.  Before you get to enjoy more picturey goodness (that's a word).  Anytime I'm asked to take a picture of a group of random strangers, I begin to wildly gesticulate towards other random strangers, trying to point the "would be subjects" in the right direction... which is "Not me."  So, not only are my pictures populated by shadows, reflections of self, and random glowing objects, but I really don't know how to use photo editing software.  It's a skill I'd like to address someday.  ...After I also learn how to use a sewing machine.  Crazy new fangled technology. We continue.

The Zoo

Balloons

Buttons

Ameliaopolis

That little elephant makes me so happy!  I have to say, I'm pretty happy with how things have turned out.  I'm also including some other prints I've collected via Etsy over time, and I'll be sure to include them in the post where I stick 20 holes in the wall while trying to figure out how to arrange picture frames.  

Any links pointing me in the right direction would be greatly appreciated!  Probably even more so by my landlord.

A fit pregnancy

Started the day off with exercise.  And by exercise I mean walking on the treadmill. 
For ten minutes.
At "old man in rehab" speed. 
Speed of 1.0.

Which I actually "worked up" to.  =D

"Dear Mili,
What you experienced today was exercise  
activity
movement (other than getting up off the couch to pee).
Love,
Mom"

Mili's Music

While amusing myself over at OhDeeDoh with stories of baby showers gone horribly awry, I came across the nifty idea to create a CD of baby bedtime music as a party favor.  So I decided a playlist of music for our own newbie, Mili, would make a great first gift from Mommy and Daddy to our baby girl!

I just started, so the list is uber short.  So far:

How Glad I Am by The Living Sisters
Angel by Jack Johnson
If My Heart Was A House by Owl City
My Little Girl by Jack Johnson

I'm wanting to add songs that are soothing, that show our love for Mili, but are not too cliche.

I'll be sure to share the final list, but until then, suggestions?