You painted the baby's room BLUE??

One thing I love to create is a baby's room. Each of my children have had the sweetest nursery, and I have now nearly finished this new little one's first room. It has been a fun project. I really hunted around the web, magazines, and shops to determine what I really love. I found so many wonderful ideas and started forming ideas of what I would like to do for her nursery. Her nursery was done on a budget of course!!! I didn't take any before photos, which I now regret, but here is the finished product.

This crib was purchased for our first child. I remember roaming through RC Willey looking for a crib to last my tastes and bouncing babies. I have loved this crib. Four children have napped here, cried here, jumped here, giggled here, and eventually out-grew this space. I gave the crib a new look by painting the once honey wood this beautiful antique white. I sanded down the crib with an electric sander and then set to painting. I picked a matte-finish spray paint. I went with spray paint so I could get in all the nooks and rails of the crib. I removed the plastic guard rails for the spraying, but left the wheels on for the full coverage. Spray painting was not easy. It took three days and 16 cans of paint to get the coverage I desired. I covered up my face with a mask and eye googles. I looked hilarious and I was covered in paint!!

Through my brainstorming of nursery ideas, I realized I loved the fun tree wallies that were everywhere. I decided I wanted to do a tree on the baby's wall. I began the hunt. I found most decals were quite pricey and I was unsure how they would look since I only viewed them via web. One day I was shopping at Kohl's and I found these fun mini trees at 50% off. They were different than I had imagined, but I thought 'I'll buy them and play with them, and see how they look.' Well, I played and measured and pre-taped them up to get an idea of how they would be. That is when I decided her walls would be a calm, soothing blue and the walls would serve as a beautiful backdrop for these fun brown trees. They were very stressful to put up, as they are not vinyl, but more of a decal. But I managed with my children's help. I then put up the birds and grouped them in ones, twos, and threes.

It was fun to see them on the wall. Next were the curtains. Finding the right color was quite the task. I searched the web, shopped all the stores, and ended up finding these gorgeous pink curtains at my local Target. There was a slight problem though, they were too short. I wanted them to pool at floor. I enlisted a friend with a sewing machine and bought some pretty satin fabric to lengthen the curtains. I love them!! Thank you, JANA. The curtain rod is a dark brown and looks perfect.

The bed set is my own mix and match fun. I purchased each piece separately. The bedskirt is a Pottery Barn one I bought for Marshall's room. I bought pink fabric to lengthen the skirt and give it a tiered look. My mother-in-law hand stitched it on. Thanks, LETHA. The bumper is a Carter's dotted-minkie fabric. It is so soft. The sheet is so darling. You can't really tell from the photos, but it is so cute. I placed a small bench at the cribs front so my littler children can peek and poke no doubt at their new sister. Marshall already puts dolls to bed here, so cute!

This flower is a creation my talented mother-in-law whipped up. I asked her to do some big flowers to attach to the bedding and I was so tickled with the results.

This was the one nursery splurge. I found it at Robert's Craft and was so excited with how it complimented the nursery. Soon it will be full of little one's favorite books and things.

This piece of furniture it a replica of an antique dry sink. I painted over it's brick red paint and it turned out wonderfully. I kept the original hardware. I bought a changing pad. I have never had one for the other children, so I am excited for this new feature in the nursery. However, the changing pad cover was a little costly and I hope it cleans well. HAHA. Notice the mother bird and her chicks perched above her closet.

This rocker was the rocker Tyler was cradled in!! I painted it a few years back, and then distressed it. I have rocked all my babies here, and now retreat to her room to sit and rock alone. I imagine what it will feel like when she is here and when I will hold her close. This chair is now my place of refuge. The children do not think to look for me in the nursery. But, it's funny, I have found each of my children quietly escaping to the little one's nest. It is so sweet!! I placed one of my favorite prints in her room. It is of the mother Mary and her beloved son, the Christ child. This picture adds such peace to the room, and I love to think of Mary and her sweet newborn, the Savior of the World, only hers for that quiet moment.

This little shelf was something I had around the house, along with the serene angel. I think she looks so gentle and adds beauty to the room.

Here is another photo of the room in complete. I wished I had a wide lens to give the room the depth it contains. I am sure pleased with how it came together. It seems so simple.

Finally, this was Tyler's Great-Grandmother's mirror. I sanded around the edges to go with the general feel of the room and I think it completes the room. I hope you enjoyed this mini tour as much as I enjoyed putting it together. I still have a few things up my sleeve, but if they never become a reality, I am sure blessed to have a home where we are preparing for a choice little one to grace us with her presence.