The Nursery

I have been looking forward to Friday mornings for the past few weeks because Kelly (at Kelly's Korner) has been hosting a "Show Us Where You Live" blog event every Friday. I have had so much fun looking through other homes and was so close to joining in last week but just didn't get to it...things like playing catch and trying my best to pitch to my son are definitely more important these days! But, when it got time for today's featured rooms, I just couldn't pass it up! So...along with the pictures that are necessary to be a part of the blog fun today, I've got a little story that I've wanted to share and finally have the perfect opportunity.

First, a little history on our home...we live in an old home that was renovated and added on to about 8 years ago (we have been here for almost 4 years). The floor plan is less than ideal but when we saw this house, we were in love with it and could see our family staying here forever. The original part of the house is pretty traditional to what was built 80 something years ago...a main hallway with rooms off of it. All of the rooms, with the exception of the kitchen and bathrooms, can be just about whatever room you would like them to be. We also have a basement with two huge rooms but one is Wyatt's playroom and the other has been completely taken over by the Annabelle Baskets (although our plan is to eventually move those into a room in the guest house/Scott's office...the former owners had a business that they built a guest house for and Scott & Wyatt now call it "man town"...complete with fishing rods, wood paneled walls & a large mouth bass hanging on the wall that was NOT allowed in our main house!) We love the charm and character of it... the white picket fence and huge oak trees providing perfect shade in the summer. So, with that said here's the nursery story...

When we found out that we were expecting again, as I have mentioned before, I prayed for another girl. It would be so easy...the nursery was still all set up, baby girl clothes in the drawers and beautiful smocked dresses hanging in the closet. The room was ready for another girl but I was not. What God knew that I did not was that a little boy was on his way...a little boy that I needed to help me grieve and grow. I have a wonderful heart friend, Ashlee, who has walked this path ahead of me and really helped me not push myself to do anything that I am not completely ready to do. She did mention to me last summer that she has a special box of things that touched her daughter, London. In my mind, I thought this would be perfect if the house caught on fire and I needed to be able to grab some of the most special things of Annabelle's to keep. So, I gradually began to go through her room collecting the things that mean the most to me of hers...things that I can see her wearing, wrapped in or snuggled next to. It took me months. Most people would see Annabelle's room and think that nothing had changed, but to me and Scott it wasn't the same. I found myself going in there less and only looking through her drawers a couple of times in months...mostly because she wasn't there and my heart was little by little allowing my mind to be okay with that. So, when the things that I was gathering for Luke began to overtake the chest of drawers that I had set up in the laundry room, I realized that just as much as I am Annabelle's mommy, I am also Luke's mommy. Blame it on the nesting or hormones or whatever, I knew it was time to change things a bit...to make room in our home for Luke. Originally, our plan was to keep him in our room (although he will be in there for quite some time anyways) and then once he's bigger, he and Wyatt can share a room. The other idea was to move Wyatt into the Annabelle Basket/guest bedroom and put Luke in Wyatt's room. With time and healing, the decision was made for us...the nursery would remain a nursery but the pink would fade into blue.

A few weeks ago, I very slowly began to move things around a bit. As I was taking down the pink sailcloth panels last weekend, I prayed through it and began laughing so loudly when I just knew that I could hear the voice of my daughter reminding me that "Mommy, this is cotton! Don't cry over cotton." and asking me if I have any idea the luxuries she is experiencing in her nursery in Heaven..."No, darling. I don't. But, you are right...these are only earthly treasures." As a Christian, I hold tightly to Matthew 6:19-21..."Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth...But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." My heart belongs to Him and He is my treasure...amazing what you'll be reminded of when folding cotton! I just know that Annabelle would be so proud to see her nursery being lovingly prepared for her little brother!

I still have quite a bit to do but things are starting to shape up and a beautiful baby boy is making his way more and more into our hearts & home!

The view looking in...I just loved the canopy that we purchased for Annabelle so we decided to keep it for Luke. I am sure it will be coming down before too long...when he figures out how to yank it down!

How perfect! My blog friend, Danielle @ Living Out Loud, sent this to me for Mother's Day!

More goodies from Danielle & Suzie (Lindsay's mommy)!

A peek inside his drawers...

Luke's coming home gown & cap.

A close-up...I just knew this was it when I saw it!

A onesie that I ordered for Luke...

Some things will never change...a few of the bows that aren't packed away (so rotten!)...Wyatt picks out Annabelle's bow to change each week on her angel so keeping this in the nursery was mandatory. Luke has a lot to learn about his high maintenance sissy!