Playroom Ideas

A couple days ago I posted about the Pinterest Challenge I decided to link up to. I listed a couple of ideas I was wanting to try this week. Well... I got started. Kind of.

So, two of my three ideas were for the play room -- future play room. I thought they would be awesome decorations for a fun and whimsy sort of place. However -- you need to know the colors you want to focus on first. Yes. I'm a matchy-matchy sort of girl.

I have tossed around ideas about what I want the room to look like. I was leaning towards a sort of Tiffany blue.via

But I wasn't completely sold. So Lil and I visited a local fabric store for some color inspiration. These are a few of my favorites:
These first three are a set. I thought it would allow for multiple fabrics to be used. The con: darker colors.
Although similar, these two are different fabrics. I liked the striped feature and the color. I thought it would allow for more sophistication as the kids grew older. However, I want it to be fun since it will be a while until they need sophistication.
These are the two we decided on. I like it because it incorporates my blue. The spotted one would be the curtains. Then a combination of the two would be the seat cushions, pillows, bean bags, etc. I would probably try to find some solid colored fabrics to match the dots.

For the paint, I thought matching the background blue would be too much. So I think I'm going to match the lighter blue dot (see that bright red one near the center? there is a light blue dot to the right and up a bit -- bad picture, I know).

Lillian's Birthday

*Click on any pic to enlarge it.*
Lillian had a great party! Lots of people that mean a lot to us came & were super generous!

We decided to do a flower theme with pink, yellow, and green . I found these cute pinwheels at Hobby Lobby, so I threw them in there.

There were going to be a lot of kids there, so I decided to do sack lunches with kid friendly items. They enjoyed 1/2 a sandwich, a bag of chips, string cheese, and gummi fruit snacks. We laid out sheets on the floor they could sit on and have a picnic!

Brandon and I went out on a date a couple of weeks before the party and made this for her. We went to The Pottery Place. We had a really good time enjoying ourselves, but still focusing on Lil.

She really enjoyed opening all her gifts!

This is the best shot I have of her in her dress. It is from Baby Gap. So. Cute!
And the cupcake -- she had already blown out her candle by this time.
She loved it.
Cleaning up? Not so much.
The only family picture we got the whole day. And she wasn't even in her pretty dress. :(

These toys? For me??
Sweet!!

And yea, the dining room stayed like that for about 3 days!

We had so much fun at the party. She really did an awesome job socializing. I think we have an entertainer on our hands! It was bittersweet, but made for really nice memories.

Pinterest

In an attempt to take this blog to the next level (a.k.a. not all about baby -- although we love baby. Momma is just ready to write more/about other things) I'm linking up with Young House Love (fav blog ever) and their Pinterest Challenge.

I started using Pinterest a while ago, but didn't always "pin" the things I saw on blogs/websites/etc. Now, I've restructured my boards and am ready to go!! I'm trying really hard to have a section for "I wish..." and "I can do (for cheapish)..."

The idea of the Pinterest Challenge is to stop pinning and start doing! So, my goal this week is to choose 1 pin for the home/baby/recipe/whatever and do it. Then, review it and post about it here.

Here are some ideas I'm throwing around:

via

I'm a sucker for anything buffalo style. I'd love to give these a try.

via

A punch-out garland made from paint chips... pretty much free! I think this would be amazing as a make-shift border around the play room.

via

This could totally be free as well... mobile from paint chips! It would be cute to have a few of these hanging around or one large one in a corner of the play room.


We'll see what I decide. Considering I haven't decided on what color we are going to paint the play room.... yea. We'll see.

12 Months!!

Lil,

You are the big girl around here, now! Happy (late) birthday!!

I'll post later about your party and pictures and whatnot, but I want this post to be strictly a monthly update.

You have been sleeping from about 8 PM- 8 AM. However, it's no big deal if you go to bed later, like if we are out or something. You nap from about 9 AM-11:30 AM, then again at 2 PM- 4 PM. But again, if we skip a nap, it usually just means a slightly earlier bedtime. You usually don't get to cranky.

In the mornings, I will let you jabber in your crib until 8ish. Then we play in your room while I stuff your diapers. At around 8:30, I ask, "Lil? Are you ready for breakfast?" I used to wait for your response, then ask for your paci. But you've figured that out! So now, I ask if you are ready, you hand me your paci, then head for the door. I'm amazed at how much you are starting to understand! I feel like that was a sudden change.

You usually eat cereal (baby, still) and applesauce. Then may munch on a graham cracker while I eat. We'll play down stairs until your nap time. Recently, when it gets close to 9, you somehow know and start walking towards the kitchen pointing towards your bottle that may or may not be ready.... which makes for a cranky time right before nap. I'll learn eventually... I promise.

Some times you jabber in your crib for a while. But I think you enjoy laying there and relaxing. I enjoy putting you down for a nap because this is when I can sing your songs to you without fearing that Daddy hears me and will make fun of my voice. I know you like it though!!

When you wake up, we play in your room for a while, then I ask you if you are ready for lunch... which is when you run to your door! Lunch usually depends on what we have in the fridge. Lately, you've been loving blueberries. You will eat pretty much anything, which is awesome!

We'll play in the afternoon -- downstairs or up... depends on how hot it is. Sometimes we'll go for a short walk. If I have errands to run, we usually try to do them in the afternoon. I've learned your morning nap is more important than your afternoon one. But if we are home, you have your nap and wake up when Daddy is home!

You LOVE your Daddy!! If you are awake, you'll watch for him out the door's window. If you are napping, he is sure to get you when you wake up. You guys are best buds. It's bittersweet that you don't prefer me over him. I, of course, want you to love him and go to him and kiss him. But now you sometimes (not all the time) will want just him. You'll even push my hands away!

You guys pretty much hang out while I nap or clean, depending on the day. We eat supper, which again, is much easier now that you are eating a variety of things. Then bath time... which Daddy handles. He gets soaked every.time. We're talking about moving you into the big bathtub, but you are scared of it. I have no idea why. We'll work on it.

After bath time, you and Daddy go up to your room and play while I clean up dinner. I join you with a bottle ready for bed. We'll usually stay up there playing together until 8. Then, it's bottle, story, and bed! You go right to sleep and don't fight it at all.

New Things This Month: you know where your head and belly are (although you have to be in the right mood to show us), you lay your head down and we say "night night, Lil" and then you'll pop your head up, you constantly shake your head 'yes' when asked a question or when we grab the right thing that you were pointing at.

Walking: Your walking has become awesome. You even pushed around a cart at the store the other day! You're mastering walking backwards, too. I don't get it, but whatever.

Talking: You are getting better at saying the words you know. But you've started to say Mom-ma-ma-ma.... :) You understand much more than you say!! Like lunch, dinner, breakfast, eat, bite, paci, bottle, that, drink, toy, book.... it goes on for a while. I can't even think of it all. It seems you always know what I am saying.


This past year has been amazing, Lil. Daddy and I couldn't be more proud. You've grown up so much and it is so cool to see. You are perfect. We love you. Happy birthday!

Love,
Mommy