Baby and Kid Rooms!

One of the best parts about being a mom is decorating baby and kid rooms! I genuinely love getting to know what little odds and ends would help make each child's room feel extra special. Its hard to believe we have one teeny little nursery that has been decorated three different ways...once for Van, once for Jean-Margaret, and once for our "we have no idea what to expect" baby :)

This time around we decided to paint over the green walls. While green proves to be one of the most versatile gender-neutral colors, since we were keeping the same furniture (other than a borrowed crib from cousin Oliver)-- I decided to switch it up somehow and found this adorable neutral shade called "Cotton Balls" from Pottery Barn. I love how soft and cozy it makes the room!

I spotted the nursery rhyme toile bedding when I was pregnant with Jean-Margaret but I knew I wanted something a little more girly for her. Not knowing this baby's gender proved the perfect time to use such a fun gender-neutral print.

It features ladies having a tea party and watering a garden; simultaneously men hunting and humpty dumpty. The decor could go either boy or girl! G-Mommy sewed the beautiful curtains and crib skirt to match. 

As for unique personal touches...maybe we will add some monogrammed items and artwork--we will just have to wait and see the gender before we reveal our names!!

We moved Jean-Margaret into the old playroom (a risky transition because this room is full of bookshelves and she is quite a climber).  So far it has been the cutest little girl's room I could ask for. I really love the way it turned out.

We kept her chair in the nursery so we borrowed Van's old glider.  The denim-colored blue paired with her adorable pink curtains and dark brown walls created a great palate to incorporate some fresh colors into her existing color palate.

For her bedding, I used a combination of this and this and this.

Her room has a rather large closet (for a ranch-style house anyway) and she and Van play in there with mounds of pillows, stuffed animals, and books. When they are in their prime, they tell Evans and me to "stay out" and slam the door in our face. (A good sign we are ready for baby 3 who may want mom and dad around a little more often!!:)

For sweet Van, we decided it was time to create a little work space for him so that he could express his creativity during his down time. (Sounds like a good idea in theory right?)

What was supposed to be a picturesque little boy's desk and work bench has actually turned into a portable stool for him to reach things in his closet he isn't supposed to have access to. And as for the storage bench? We filled it with construction paper, crayons, stickers, and markers--which has led to little wads of paper all over his room and random marks on his furniture. At least he is expressing his creativity somehow, right?

For his bedding, I found this cute bedspread from PBK.

 His curtains and sheets are from Target--G-Mommy sewed the valance for his closet and window to match. The lamp I picked up for about $3 at a kid's consignment store in Chapel Hill.

Well that sums up our decorating spree over the past 9 months.

 Here's to two sweet kids:

 

...and our sneaky 3rd on the way!!

 

Van's 4th Birthday Party

How/when/why is my baby almost 4 years old?

Van--
You are a DELIGHTFUL human being. I just cannot imagine life without you. Saturday morning after your party, you proclaimed that soccer is your "most favorite-ist sport ever" and sat down beside us on the couch. There was a picture of Nancy Pelosi on the TV screen and you said: "Whew, that's what I look like when I wake up in the morning!!" And made us laugh instantly. Where do you come up with this stuff?

The other day during your and Jean-Margaret's nap times, I feel asleep on the couch. When I woke up, you were standing 2 inches from my face and said: "you had a great nap, sweetie!" How long do you watch me sleep? Aren't I supposed to be watching you sleep? Since when do we call mom "sweetie"? :)

After witnessing some 'worker men' at G-Mommy's house and our neighbor's landscapers the other day, you started calling Jean-Margaret: "Carlos!!!" and asked her help you out in the yard. You two now enjoy your landscaping venture pulling weeds in our driveway and mowing our grass. Your energy is amazing.

You have a wonderful heart and the most entertaining personality. Your most recent concern is when your hair will be curly enough to resemble "the old Don Henley" (ie: an afro from the 70s) so you intentionally mess up your hair and check it in the mirror to see: "Is it curly yet???"

All fun aside, I cannot wait to watch you become a big brother again. I am so excited to watch your unique personality transform into a little boy. At dinner the other night we were discussing how everyone has strengths and weaknesses and how all people have differences. We asked you: "What is your favorite thing in the world?" --- To which you thoughtfully replied: "God." This was the same day you had just received your new bike and a few other special toys.

Evans and I were amazed by your mature response and tried to hide our tears.  We are so so proud of you and glad to have enjoyed such a special evening celebrating your 4th birthday!! Love Mom

Mommy+Daughter; Father+Son

This phenomenon will be cut short before it really takes off! This past weekend we enjoyed the cutest date night. We split up (for the first time) and Evans took Van to a UNC soccer game and I took Jeanie.  Evans and Van had a blast eating hot dogs, watching soccer, and listening to the band. 

 (After witnessing the pep band at the soccer game, Van decided he wants a tuba. He was in heaven observing the drummers at the Hopscotch festival a few weekends ago).

Jean-Margaret and I have been enjoying some girly time. I don't exactly consider her to be prissy-- she seems to find equal joy in running around in a football helment as she does playing dress-up-- but there is something so rewarding about taking a little girl to gymnastics class and on shopping trips.  She loves toting around a bag...whether its a real pocket book or a plastic bag...and dressing up in my jewelry.

Only recently have we experienced how neat it is to have one child each to entertain and give 100% of our attention.  I thought about this blog post and how a little over 2 years ago I was sentimental about splitting my time between two children and how overwhelming that must feel.  Now that we have settled into life with two children, I am growing sentimental about losing our one-on-one dates! Baby #3 was measuring two weeks ahead of schedule today (but right on time in my opinion). We are potentially looking at 4 weeks to go. Clinging to each little bit of time with our family of 4!!

Back to School!

Today started off a little differently than the past two years! For starters--both of my children are in school today. Secondly, I realized Van is no longer a toddler.  Van dressed himself (in 3T clothes that are getting too small...how is he almost 4?!?), put on his own shoes, and fed Sophie. He has evolved into such a grown-up helper recently...he delights in fetching my newspaper from the driveway each morning, helps Evans mow/edge/leaf blow the entire yard, and his new skill is vacuuming our entire house! What a big boy. He has been accumulating quite a bundle in his piggy bank, although 3 pennies still means more to him than 1 quarter. ;)

Contrary to her sassy pictures, she is quite the sweet heart. She loves snuggling and yet at drop off today, she poked out her lip but did not cry!! She was trying so hard to be tough and it just broke me to pieces and made me proud at the same time!!

 

We spent  labor day on stay-cation mode in effort to nurture a shockingly exhausted momma (who labored on this...)

And laughed at our two budding musicians...

 

 

 

We love you two sweeties!!

 

 

Lake Gaston 2013

Thanks to the Morisey family we enjoyed a quick but fun trip to the lake! Van is already asking when he can go back :)

One...

Two...

Three!

Repeat.

As we have learned from the boat, little Jeanie is still not too wild about being "stuck" in a life jacket but its amazing to compare how much she has changed in just one year.

The Final Lap

Dear Pregnancy,

Next week marks my last trimester ever. I am grateful for the capacity you provide to bring children into the world and I know there will come a time in my future when I long for the sensation of nurturing our child in my own body...feeling the kicks, bumps, and wiggles--knowing that our child is safely tucked away in my belly. 

BUT. I am itching to get my energy back. I would like to enjoy a nice meal without feeling every centimeter of the digestive process. I would like to pack up every article of maternity clothing and pass it on to a lucky lady! I would like to chase my kids around without getting out of breath. I would like to sleep at night...

...Okay sleep is not going to happen for a while...but most of all--I want to meet our third baby!! I am literally counting down the minutes to find out if this is a boy or a girl, to give him/her a name, to hold him/her in my arms, and to introduce him/her to our family!! The last doctor's appointment scheduled November 6th for the big birthday...that's 12 weeks away! 

I hope Van and Jean-Margaret are as cute and sweet to the baby once he/she arrives home as they have been to the baby in my belly.

 

I will miss Jean-Margaret racing towards me with her arms stretched towards my belly shouting: "bay-beee! bay-bee!!" followed by lots of smothering kisses. I will miss Van patting my belly and asking: "Whats him sayin' now?" (Van--I hope you aren't disappointed if this is a girl!)

Thank you for allowing me to experience this process but I am ready for November!! :)

Sincerely,
Emily