Nolan's Nursery: baby boy nursery

I finally finished Nolan's nursery about a month ago.   I know that sounds pitiful seeing as he is now 10 months old (was 9 months old when completed)….but I will say that the only thing that I had left to complete was the bumpers.  When something intimidates me…I find that I procrastinate.  Big time.  And this was no different.

For some reason I reeeeally wanted to sew everything for Nolan's nursery myself.  I think I might have saved a little bit of money….but in the end….was it worth it?  I don't know.  If I had it to do over again, maybe I'd just buy them.  I will say that Grace had the stomach bug right about the time I finished these….and the thought of Nolan throwing up all over them made me rethink the amount of time spent on said crib bumpers.

But they are done!

When I first started planning for the nursery….I knew I wanted to use gray and navy, but definitely wanted to have a couple accent colors.  I went between yellow, orange, and green.  Then I came across the Riley Blake Chevron fabric in BOY that uses navy, gray, orange, and red…. and knew this would be my color scheme.  So from there...

Right when you walk in the door…to the left is the changing table.

Geoff spray painted the mirror frame with navy spray paint.  I had this mirror since our first house…it was silver….. from Target about 6 years ago.

I made this Dr. Seuss quote myself in Photoshop.

I made the changing pad cover myself.  I used a great tutorial from here….but she has since taken it down.  She sells them in her shop now called Iviebaby.

I love this fabric tote/basket.  My mom got it for me filled with stuff before he was born.  (She bought it from a shop on Etsy, but I'm unsure of the name.)

I really like how this wall turned out.  I suppose it's time to change out at least one of those maternity photos and put one of him….eventually.  

During my pregnancy with Nolan….this was the verse that I kept coming back to over and over and knew I wanted to be in his nursery.  I think this verse also had more meaning to me after the miscarriage I had a few months before I got pregnant with Nolan.   I made the typography in Photoshop then had it printed on a canvas at Costco.  

The book shelves are from Ikea…and we already had the books.  :)

I made the blackout curtains with the navy and white chevron fabric from Premier Prints, and lined them with blackout fabric from Joann's (used a 40% off coupon).  I followed the same steps I did in the DIY blackout curtain tutorial from when I made the curtains for the girls.

I made his mobile for a few dollars using a circle punch, embroidery hoops, and thread.  The tutorial can be found here.

I got this wooden letter from Canton and painted it navy.

THE bedding.  Ha ha ha!

THE bumpers.  I used a wonderful tutorial on how to make them from Leanne Barlow found here.  I got the crib sheet from a shop on Etsy.  I just didn't even want to mess with figuring out how to do that.  And ultimately….I wanted him to have a sheet!  :)  I made the minky blanket and the dust ruffle.

My mom embroidered his initials for me.

This was the first time I ever made bumpers….and the first time I ever used cording.

The lamp and orange lamp shade are from Ikea.

I got the swivel rocking chair from Wal Mart (we used site-to-store so shipping was free).  I wish it was solid navy…but for the price…the navy stripe it was.  This chair is also very comfy.  I actually went to Pottery Barn Kids one day while I was pregnant and purchased their nice swivel rocking chair….for $1200.  By the time I got home, buyer's remorse was eating away at me.  So I called and canceled my order.  I'm so happy I did and I love this chair…and for $900 less!!

Now that I sit here and type….I realize that this was actually the last thing I finished for the nursery.  The wall behind the chair and the lamp was just a little bla so I wanted to add something.  I just made this with scraps of fabric I already had in my stash.

And let me NOT forget to mention that Geoff painted those gray and white stripes for me.  He did an amazing job…so nice and neat and crisp.  And after the stripes he also painted when it was Grace's nursery….he's become a real pro!  (and I like the gray better….I can hardly remember the green!)

And turns out….the nursery is SO much cuter with this little guy in it.

{look at the whites of his fingers!}

________

Linking up with:
Handmade Tuesdays @ Ladybug Blessings
DIY Showoff

homeschool lately

I've been compiling pictures for this post for a couple of weeks now…and I didn't mean for it to get so long.  I've decided I like doing these 'homeschool lately' posts….to somewhat document our homeschool days, but mostly…to document my thoughts and such.  I feel like it will be good to be able to look back on as encouragement for myself when we hit future homeschooling 'bumps in the road'.  This is all a major learning curve for me.  And the main thing I think I've learned is that….as soon as I get it 'figured out'….it's probably time to make a few tweaks here and there and to 're-figure' it all out.  Her needs change…the rest of the family's needs change….her strengths and weaknesses change….and we just have to flow.

Ok….moving on.

A couple of weeks ago we had a little store to practice/learn how to add 2 digit numbers without regrouping.  I was so very impressed with this.  I was nervous to teach it, feeling like it was such a big concept….but she was adding the numbers in her head and counting out the correct money (dimes and pennies) and I didn't really have to teach her.  (also to note….that while she did do this wonderfully that day….as days have passed and as we continue to practice this skill….some days she does struggle with it).

We always (other than the store) do math in the school room.  This is the one scripted curriculum we use and we do it first thing while Nolan is napping….because I just need the structure and whatever supplies and manipulatives we need.

For our other subjects….we may use the school room or venture out to the rest of the house.  What's the point of schooling at home if we're always at the desk?!


For Bible one week, we read about Ruth and Naomi.  It is a good story, but kind of long and with no pictures.  So I found these little paper dolls from Danielle's Place and printed and cut them and mounted them to the popsicle sticks.  The girls loved this.  I am guilty of just running through the bible story and not focusing like I should and I've just started to feel very convicted about it.  For instance…I'll spend all of this 'extra' time working on things to help promote her reading and writing if I think she's struggling in that area…..and yet, I don't spend an extra second preparing for teaching her the Word. So….

Science.

We blew bubbles one afternoon and observed how the wind blew them.

Another science experiment.  

Tornados in a bottle.

Write the room.

The first time I did this was for Valentine's Day.  And I mentioned, then, how I wasn't exactly sure of the point of this…but did it anyways.  Well now I feel like I am starting to see a point.  Just her being able to see words with pictures (for Valentine's day there'd be a picture of a heart and the word 'heart' written beside it)... or just reading and writing her sight words.  Last week, I put up the St. Patrick's day themed pictures, but they had her sight words on them.  She'd read them and write them.  Then after she was done recording them on her sheet, she read them again.  Just changing up and reinforcing something we do anyways.

She even took Nolan along for a ride while trying to find all of her words.

School with Grace.  

I've talked before about how I've had the best of intentions of making lesson plans for her, but have still yet to do so.  I really need to step it up, though, because one day last week she kept on asking me over and over when it was going to be her to do school.  I kept putting her off like I usually do because in my mind, I think, "if I can just get finished with Parker's work we'd be done".  Well….she started crying a little.  It hurt her feelings and she really wanted to do her own school work.

Thankfully….I had a few 'ready to go' things for her to do in my filing cabinet.  This made her day.  It was so sweet.  I also think Parker enjoyed a break to play with toys and enjoy a little iPad time.  So ultimately- I think this will be very good for us…I just need to get my act together!

For a lot of the science videos or experiments, Bible, and reading books aloud….then she participates if she's interested.  

And lastly….I've been doing some work in the school room.  I've about got it like I want it.  Ha!   Yes….just 2 months shy of school ending.  But maybe this means that I'll just be better prepared for next year.  ;)

I think I was over thinking it a little (like I do a most things)…and just wasn't sure what I needed.  I thought I didn't need an alphabet since she knew her letters….but I've found that now I do want it up there for Grace.

I didn't want to put the 'colors' on the wall because she 'knew' her colors.  And she can even mostly recognize them when reading.  But she can't spell them.  And not that I expect her to at this point…but sometimes she needs to spell them in math and so there they are…displayed for her to see.

Shapes.  Just a good reference.

Days of the Week.  We have a calendar, but she has to write the day in math and so this just makes it a little more accessible.

I'm not sure if I even posted a pictures of this….but it's our "Cozy Corner".   It's meant to be for 'free' timer, or centers, or reading.  So far it's been used by Grace to watch the iPad.  So….we'll get there. Very slowly, but surely.

This guy came along for the ride when I wanted to snap a few pictures.

And the Word Wall.  We have a file folder that we use as her Word Wall for school which works just fine.  But since reading and writing was something I felt like we were struggling with a little, I wanted to do a little more.  

And now with all of this 'extra' stuff I've done in the school room….I have to openly and honestly report that Parker is pretty much unimpressed with any of the things I've added.  In my mind, I thought she'd think it was neat and fun to add some color to the walls.  But nope.  Not at all.  And that's important for me to remember.  But for this right now…I feel good about the things I have up there and I can already see how they've helped her.  And that was the goal!