Sophia's nursery!

We have finished the nursery! Before we started, the nursery was just an empty cream colored room with lots of plans. :) Then, we painted:

I took some heat for painting our daughter's room blue. Could it be a subconscious urge because I'm afraid I'm really having a boy? Maybe. However, blue is my favorite color. And I think you can agree that the finished product is clearly a little girl's room.

One of the first things I set out to do was create a library. It's the teacher/reader in me. Most of these books come from my classroom. The board books are mostly from our wonderful shower and purchases I have made along the way. Nearly 25 of them are filled with sweet love notes to our little Sophia. I want to point out some special things in this picture: the banner above the bookcase was hand made by my friend Sara as a gift and we love it! The rocking chair is the same one my mom used to rock me to sleep as a baby. The large pink blanket was made by my aunt Barb when I was born and has all my measurements, birth date, etc. It's called my "ducky blanket." The bear in the rocking chair is Molly. I got Molly as a little girl- she was a gift from my aunt Sandy all the way from Germany.

I love balloon shades, so when I found this one at Target, I knew it would be perfect for Sophia's room! The end table is one of my favorite furniture pieces in our house- it was a great find on a flea market trip with girlfriends to La Grange. (I'm still waiting for our next trip, girls!) The dresser and matching mirror are antique pieces that my dad refinished. They were in my room all through growing up!

I knew I wanted to go with a dark wood for the crib, rather than white. It was actually quite hard to find, as most of the cribs we found that we liked were white. We just loved this one when we saw it! (It's also very practical- it will convert into a toddler bed, and then into a regular full size bed. People are so clever these days.) The rug was a great find at Ikea. The decor above the crib was hand-made (as if you couldn't tell) by Andy and me. I went with a bird theme, so I loved the idea of incorporating real branches. We tried to soften the look with the ribbon and wallpaper letters from the Land of Nod. This was so fun to make together and we love the way it looks! The cradle was made by my dad and I used to be rocked to sleep in it as a baby. It's been so special to get to incorporate so many of my childhood things in this room!

I wanted to get a close up of the crib, because the bedding is one of my very favorite things we got (Brooke collection from Pottery Barn Kids). I love how colorfully whimsical it is! There is so much pink out there, I fell in love with the multi-colors right away! The mobile is also one of my favorite purchases, from a super cute boutique in Austin (Baby Coco right off Kerby Lane). This is also where the dog, Auggie, comes from. Growing up, I had a very special Gund dog named Mutsy. I have lost Mutsy over the years, so when my mom and I saw this one made by Gund, she felt she had to get it. It's the softest thing ever!

We aren't completely done, as we're still on the lookout for a few lamps. If you see any great ones out there- please let me know! The room is super dark- I had to use a flash for most of these pictures, even though I took them at two in the afternoon. Now that mostly everything is done, her clothes are washed and hung in the closet or folded in her dresser, hospital bags are packed, etc., we are waiting. We have only twenty-something days to go until she's here, but we are beside ourselves with excitement for all the little joys awaiting us!

Lord, thank you so much for the gift of Sophia! We have loved watching her grow in my belly, feeling her move and kick, preparing for her coming, and the anticipation of seeing and holding her. We acknowledge your goodness to us in her! Our hope is that you might be magnified in her life. Please open her eyes to Truth, transform her heart to one that is in love with you. Teach us to be parents of grace. As the beginning weeks and months will feel like a series of sacrifices, would you constantly remind us of the Fatherly Sacrifice you have made for us, your children, in Jesus! We love you!