The Babied Baby – Ethan's Farm Nursery

EthansNursery, originally uploaded by lucyschutte.

My friend Ellen is getting married, and watching her, I don't think anything can become quite as big of an obsession as planning your wedding. After you get married, you buy a house and become all-consumed with decorating. Still, it doesn't quite compare to planning a wedding because decorating a house is a long term (really an endless) project (plus, you just blew your whole budget on your wedding, so who can afford to make over their whole house at once?) Then, you get pregnant. Budget? Who cares about a budget when we're talking about you CHILD? As evidenced in $900+ chandeliers for a baby nursery from PoshTots. My husband and I tried for years to get pregnant and when we finally did, I was hesitant to start planning our nursery (although I had been secretly planning it in my head for a very long time.) When the time did come, I was pretty disheartened with the examples of baby nurseries out there. I couldn't really find anything. Eventually I would like to start a website where people can post pictures of their nursery so that expectant moms and dads can see all the cool things that people are doing in preparation for their newest member. Until I do, I decided to post pictures of my own nursery here.


I decided to do a Farm theme based on a print that was given to me from my grandma. It's a picture of a milk maid and a little kid drinking milk on a farm with cows and cats and a farmer standing in the background. My Grandma Young would hold me in front of the picture when I was a little girl and tell me stories about the farm family. I decided to hang it in Ethan's room. My husband and I added the mouldings and I painted all of the silhouetted animals. Also, in rebellion against paying $900 for a chandelier, I made my own. I sculpted a pig, a hen and chicks, a cow and out three dogs for each arm. (If you are interested in a custom chandelier, feel free to email me. dianacweir@yahoo.com)

Here are some images from the completed room...

Here's a list of where I bought everything:

• Freckles Farmyard 4-Piece Crib Set
  


• Espresso Pinehurst Lifetime Crib from Babies R' Us (It looks like they don't have the Espresso one anymore)


• Waverly® Carlton Drapery Rod - 26-48"


• Old MacDonald Had a Farm Rug

I'll add more to the list as I think of things, but if you have a specific question, just let me know.

If I Crotcheted (or had a cat)

Image from Lion Brand's Newsletter
Goldfish Cat Toy
This cracks me up. I can just see little kitties wriggling their little tushies in the pounce position and sending this little guy flying into the air with his little bulgy eyes.

E is for Easter, Ethan and Elmo?

I'm not exactly a huge fan of childhood characters. Don't get me wrong, I definitely qualify as immature when it comes to my love of cartoons and "kid" movies (at least the good ones.) However, I can't stand the syrupy, commercialized cartoon characters plastered on every kid product from diapers to baby yogurt. I also don't like to put my kid in "character"clothes. I just don't. I like the basics. Lately, however, in a quest to build my child's language skills and attention span (and to give mom and dad a break from climbing furniture, tormenting the dogs and throwing everything but what he's supposed to), we have Tivoed "Sesame Street" so that Ethan can have some quiet time. It has worked. He sits still for more than five minutes as Elmo rides his bike around talking to the same Gordon and Maria I watched 25 (maybe even 30) years ago. So, I have to admit, when he looked at his Elmo and Cookie Monster laden diapers and said ecstatically "MoMo" and "Cookie" it made my heart melt.


I really wasn't going to do anything for Easter, because he doesn't really get these things yet. He wants to throw Easter eggs, not hunt them, and God forbid he should get his hands on a bunny. Guilt (or Patti B. at my work) got to me and I decided he might enjoy an Elmo egg like the Ernie and Bert my dad made me when I was little. It was one of the most memorable things my dad did for me. I loved my Ernie and Bert eggs that he blew out and decorated. They were in my Easter basket every year. So hopefully Elmo can be in Ethan's. That is, if we can keep him from throwing it.

Finished Sweater for Ethan

So, I finished the sweater for Ethan with the yarn that my mother-in-law gave me. It's a little big. (At least in the arms and neck...ha! I'm definitely still learning.) Maybe if will fit him better next winter.

If you want to see more pictures of the sweater, click here.

If you would like the pattern for the Pullover Sweater, it is free from Lion Brand's website.

Pictures of My First Project

The very first project I completed was the Cross Over sweater from Debbie Bliss "Essential Baby". I didn't take pictures of it before I gave it to my niece for Christmas, but my sister-in-law brought her over in it last weekend. Here is is, (if you can see past the adorable dimples.)

Anniversary Flowers

Everytime we go to the local grocery store together, my husband goes to the flower case to try to guess the arrangement I would pick. After I'm done checking out, we compare notes. I love the flowers from this florist. He used unusual grocery items like cabbages, brussel sprouts and onions.

On Saturday, we had our 6th wedding anniversary and Greg surprised me with these. They are way too expensive, but they're beautiful.

Booties for Ethan's doctor

I don't think there are words for how much I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my son's pediatrician. Dr. Terrill is so upbeat, supportive and understanding. She is possibly one of the peppiest people I have ever met, but not in an annoying way. You just can't help but love her. She has two sons and is now expecting a daughter, so I decided to give a try at making the ever-famous Saartje's Booties [PDF] for her. I had a little trouble understanding how to make the strap, but I think they turned out OK.