Baby M's Gender Neutral Nursery- Sneak Peak

Yep, we are "those people" who have decided to be surprised by the gender of our little one.  One of the main oppositions people often have is the nursery..how could you deny yourself the nesting instinct to get it all ready!

Inspiration Board: (Created in Photoshop by me)

My main advice is not to let the crib bedding dictate your whole design.  I decided to just do a white crib bedding until later when I might add some boyish or girly details. Also don't panic about the name over the bed factor..that can be something fun to add when the baby comes.  I personally am loving the gender neutral look and my goal was to have pieces that I can use elsewhere down the line when baby M gets bigger.

How to put together a room to save yourself time and money:

1. Put together an inspiration board from internet images for the overall look, color scheme etc. 

2. Make a floor plan of your room so you can make sure things fit.

3. Make a sketch of how the room will look in 3D.

4. Make a list of how much all this will cost!

5. Spluge and Save! Bring along print outs of all of your inspiration boards etc and attempt to find either the exact item you wanted if it is important to you and in budget(splurges) AND also attempt to find substitutes for things that achieve the same effect for a lesser cost (saves).

The  Shopping List! (websites are hyperlinked...couldn't get this all to fit...)

#	Item	website
1	Zig Zag- Blue Curtains	Urban Outfitters
2	Parklane 3-Drawer Changer - Two Tone	sams club
3	Pottery Barn Charleston Rocker	Pottery Barn- mine is craigslist $250.
4	CB2 Knitted Pouf ottoman	CB2
5	orange mod end table/stool	home furniture
6	Turquoise Clock	Urban Outfitters
7	Crib	Walmart ours=given yay!
8	Chevron Drum Shade	Shades of Light
9	Wall Art	DIY- Walmart project
10	Picture Ledge 45"	Ikea
11	Paint- gray horse,gray mist,citrus orange	Benjamin Moore
12	Prant Box Storage system	DIY+ Ikea
13	Danish Alphabet Poster	Spunky Sprout

Grand Total of this plan: $1,140.00. 

My initial sketch

BEFORE: How the nursery looked from the previous home owner...it was ok..just not the most functional use of the space.


AFTER?
Sorry, you will have to stay tuned int he coming weeks for the real images of how it all turned out!  But here is a little snip...

~ the damsel

Musings on Music in Utero

It is pretty crazy how much you can love this little unborn boy or girl.  I woke up this morning just excited to plug in my new belly speakers for baby M to dance to.  I found this at a discount store here for $60 bucks, which is over half the regular price so I thought I would give it a try...so far it is a little glitchy but works well overall- now I just need to download some more baby appropriate music. I know that sound is very important to your growing baby starting as early as week 17, and lately I have been thinking how my lifestyle can be VERY quiet since I work from home all day.  So I splurged!  Here is a picture of the Ritmo Advanced Sound System..

Apparently this is a popular tool for military dads who can't be present during pregnancy for their wives, which I found interesting.  The site even offers a free recording system where you or anyone else can record things to play to the baby.  You can also hook it to your cell phone and talk into it that way.

Music has always been something I cared about, although I admit I am pretty mainstream...but even as a little girl in 5th grade I attempted to belt out Mariah Carey's "Always be my Baby" in a talent show...two years in a row..same song.  My mom convinced me that I could do it better solo after the first year's joint performance with my old friend Kristina, and I guess I believed her.  I never took home the prize, but I look back and wish I was that fearless these days. 

Anyways, this morning I played a shuffle mix and this song came on.  I was trying to sing along but all I could do was cry (tears of joy). I haven't heard it since I have been pregnant, but I used to always hear it on my ipod and day dream about what it would be like.  I am so eager to see my baby boy or girl open their eyes and know I am their mom, without a doubt...if by nothing else- recognizing the not so perfect singing voice of mine.

 
Not really sure why this date is part of the video...but it is strange since January 16th is my birthday- the last time my mom had me in her belly :)


"She's got a baby inside
And holds her belly tight
All through the night
Just so she knows
She's sleeping so
Safely to keep
Her growing

Oh when she'll open her eyes
There'll be no surprise
She'll grow to be
so beautifully
just like her mother
that's carrying

Oh Capri
She's beauty
Baby inside She's loving
Oh Capri
She's Beauty
there is an angle growing peacefully
Oh Capri
Sweet Baby

Things will be hard at times
But I've learned to try
just listening
patiently
Oh Capri
Sweet Baby
Oh Capri
She's Beauty
Baby inside she's loving
Oh Capri
you're beauty
Just like your mother
that's carrying"

That is all for now I suppose,

~the damsel