The Nursery -- Stage 3: Mural Complete + Furniture

Finally!!!

I finished the mural this past Friday night as I mentioned in the last post, a couple weeks after all of our nursery furniture arrived that we had ordered from Simon's -- many, many thanks to my Mom & Gerry for all of the furniture! I gave in to Stace and let her see the mural before it was done when the furniture came and she was very happy to finally be able to get back into the room (she loved the mural as well!!) Overall I am pleased with how it came out, as it was quite a task to complete and must say I'm happy to be done, as it took a lot more effort and time than I originally thought it would! I'm also really digging how everything came together (colors, furniture, mural, etc.), and as close to my original vision as I could have hoped for. Was a bit nervous that I was going to screw something up along the way... Alas, now that the paint has dried, we are definitely hoping the doctor did not make a mistake and that we are in fact having a girl!!! Especially with all of the clothes, shoes, and other misc. female items that have now accumulated in her closet / armoire -- such a spoiled baby already...

I've posted a few pictures below, but you can check them all out by Clicking Here - enjoy! (Pictures were taken before 1st Baby Shower - the room is quite a bit more full now...) Now all that's left to finish is installing the new main and closet doors (Stage 4) and it'll be all set for Grace's arrival in about 6 weeks! That's all for now - next post will be after Baby Shower #2 on the 30th - until then...

(You can click on an image to view it full size).

Baby Shower #1 & Other Misc. Updates

~ THIRTY-THREE WEEKS ~

On Saturday we had our first of two baby showers, thrown by my Mom, at Hawthorne's on East Ave. near Pittsford (second shower is on the 30th of this month). About 30 people were in attendance, the food was great, and everyone seemed to have a good time. Thanks again to everyone for the many gifts for Grace and I'm sure we will put them all to good use! The most popular gift for sure was the "Bumbo" seat, as we received three of them because for some reason it never was removed from our registry once the first one was purchased... but thats okay. Below are a few photos from the shower --- you can also view the full album here: Baby Shower #1. Sorry, didn't have a chance to get any of Stace opening gifts as I was busy helping out, but if anybody has any they took, please be sure to send them this way!

Last week we finished our 5 week long birth class and I think we have retained quite a bit of useful knowledge that will help us both with the upcoming delivery --- hopefully I won't forget most of it as I need to be on top of my coaching game when the day arrives. We also completed a breastfeeding class last weekend together and learned a bunch of tools, Stacey especially, as she attempts to undergo the feedings once Grace arrives. I'm sure it will be a trying process that will hopefully go smooth and well enough for all parties involved.

Also, the nursery is almosttt complete as the mural has been finished & baby furniture has been furnished, however we hit a little snag putting in the main and closet doors... Hopefully those will be in sometime this coming week with some more help from my Dad. I will however post some pictures of the completed mural and furniture in the upcoming days as it has been a very busy weekend and I wanted to get these up first --- so stay tuned!

(You can click on an image to view it full size).

The Nursery -- Stage 2: Molding Complete, Mural Underway & Other Misc. Updates!

~ THIRTY WEEKS ~

Okay, another lengthy delay between posts, but boy have we been busy!! First an update on mother and child --- They both survived a tiring week of 3 DMB concerts & weekend in Saratoga and both Stacey & Grace continue to do well as we are nearing the two-month to go mark. Everything has checked out well with Stace recently at the doctors and no complications to report besides the to-be-expected hands/feet swelling and sore body. Grace continues to grow as she often plays Stacey's stomach like a drum with her feet and arms.

Our birth classes have started at Rochester General (our birthing hospital) and have been pretty interesting, as we are two weeks in (three to go). First class was mainly information, second was massage / breathing techniques. Some things that stick out in my mind up to this point: "T.A.C.O." and "Howt / Hee-hee-hoo". Feeling a bit more comfortable than before about the whole process, which is definately a good thing!

The nursery continues to progress as with A LOT of help from my Dad, we were able to get the molding up around the middle of the room and it looks great! I started on the mural as well, drew everything on the wall and started painting a few weeks back. It has been a bit more difficult than I thought it would be painting with wall paint, instead of something like acrylic, as I've had to do 2-3 coats for each color so far, which is adding a lot more time than I had originally anticipated. However, it is looking pretty much as good as I had hoped so far and about 30% complete -- sorry no pics 'til it's done!! Our furniture is FINALLY in from Simon's (crib, dresser/hutch/changing table, armoire, glider/rocking chair) and will be to us on Saturday, so I'm hoping to have the mural mostly done by then.

August should be a very busy month for us --- two baby showers, a couple weddings, & more --- I'll be sure to post updates of the showers after they happen. We have started to accumulate a couple main necessities last week to go with the piles of clothes and other misc. small items we have so far, as we were able to score a nice breast pump off Ebay and received a travel system (stroller / car seat) from Stacey's Dad. Also, I finally went ahead and bought a new digital camera (Nikon D60), and it's pretty awesome. The picture quality is pretty amazing and it's definitely gonna get worn out once Grace arrives! All right, think that's all I have for now --- enjoy the pictures below --- the last 6 were taken with the new camera, the one of the ceiling fan (in the nursery) is a personal fav., and also threw in some of the boys relaxing in what they think is "their" room (gonna be angry when they don't have that empty room to play in anymore once Grace is here!)

Pics 1-3: Molding, 4: Travel System, 5: Bassinet Close-Up, 6: Ceiling Fan, 7: Toby in Living Room, 8-9: Orville, Toby, Buddy in Nursery
(You can click on an image to view it full size).

The Nursery -- Stage 1: Main Colors Painted

~ TWENTY-THREE WEEKS ~

It's been a month since the last post, and its long past the half way point -- figured I should give an update of recent happenings around here...

I started painting Grace's nursery a couple weeks ago -- had to prime over 2 shades of blue which we had previously painted over the original room's (previous owner's) color of orange, then put on the two new main colors, since we've now turned what was once the spare bedroom, into the nursery. I was given complete creative control on the project and it's all in my hands, so hopefully all turns out well... so far so good though - at least the colors look the way I had hoped up to this point. Big thanks though to Stacey's mom, Patty, for helping with the priming! The next stage commences this weekend as I'll be starting to draw out the mural that I'll be painting on the main wall (the top part). Stacey wants to be surprised as she doesn't know what it's going to be until I finish - I guess I'll leave ya'll in suspense as well. I'm hoping it turns out OK as I've never really done a mural before, or any creative painting in a long time (hopefully it's like riding a bike...), and don't want to mess it up! I'm hoping to have it finished by the time our nursery furniture arrives in a month or so. The final stages will be placing white molding where you see the current stripe going around the room in the pics below, and getting all of the furniture set up.

Nursery Pics - Stage 1: (You can click on an image to view it full size).












FYI: Current paint colors are -- BEHR: Vanilla Custard (the yellow) & Foxgloves (the purple)

Other miscellaneous news to report --- Stacey is doing well and everything checked out in good measure at the last doctors appointment- she goes in for her glucose check in 3 weeks. Grace has been very active, kicking quite a bit, especially on Stace's bladder, which needless to say she doesn't enjoy the frequent bathroom trips very much! Grace seems to be especially active after Stacey eats ice cream or something sweet. It's been quite hot and humid up here the past week or so, and luckily we have a pool because they've been in it quite a bit - and I'm sure will be most of the summer if it stays this hot! Next week Grace will be experiencing her first Dave Matthews Band concerts - one at Darien Lake, and two in Saratoga Springs over the weekend - as we'll be away for probably the last time before she arrives. If she's kicking away in there, I think we'll know we have a fan in training... haha. --- OK, that's about all from this front as this is long enough already, but I'll be sure to post again once the nursery is further along and we have more news to report!