Motherhood is such a weird thing. One minute, you want your baby to just fall asleep so you can get something done. The next minute they’re sleeping through the night in their crib and you’re missing them wishing they would wake up.
When we found out we were having a boy, the first thing I thought, of course after all the excitement and knowing what our sweet little miracle was, was how the heck will I decorate his room?! I know silly, but I have dreamt of getting to decorate a nursery for so long. We were convinced we were having a girl, so I just assumed I’d be doing all the typical girly colors or all the neutrals with pretty bows. This was going to be so exciting and different than I had thought.
I am such a basic, plain jane person when it comes to paint colors on walls. It takes some real convincing to do much more than beige, cream or grey on the walls in our house. I thought, “beige is too boring for a babies room!” So of course I started Pinterest-ing. I still wasn’t convinced to paint the entire room one color though - I know, I’m basic - but one thing I was certain about was a board and batten wall, so I thought I’d do an accent color on that wall. After taking all the green colored samples I could get from Sherwin Williams, I finally settled for Evergreen Fog, the color of the year. I put Mitchell to work and it turned out great! (Thankful for my handyman)
You don’t realize when decorating a nursery and getting things setup and ready for their arrival just how much time you’ll be spending in that room. Every night when I rock Brayden to sleep in his room, I just soak up the moment of him being this age. All the tiny outfits hanging in the closet, the baby books, and the stuffed animals. Some day he won’t need all of those. Some day I’m sure it will all be hockey sticks, stinky socks, and sports posters. But right now it’s the best room in the house! The best snuggles before bed, the best place to read a book, and the best place to rest your head.
I swapped out those newborn clothes for 3 month clothes a few weeks ago, and man, it goes so fast! In the midst of it all, it’s hard not to look forward to the next phase or the next exciting milestone, but trying to soak in the right now is something we take for granted and then it’s gone. Have you ever read the book “Love You Forever” while rocking your one month old to sleep in your postpartum hormonal bliss? Let me tell ya, It’ll get you good!
I think looking back is an important part of being a parent, but so is looking ahead. What can you learn from the past? What was frustrating, stressful or upsetting that you can you laugh at now? When looking ahead, what do you have to look forward to? What can you improve on this year?That would be the business owner in me talking! Those are the two things everyone talks about…but what about the right now? I think it’s okay, good even, to be in the now and to feel all the feels without moving on right this instance.
There’s this pregnant Willow Tree figurine in Brayden’s room that makes me think of all the Willow Tree figurines we had in our house growing up. It seemed like the go-to gift for milestones in life. Someone graduated? Willow Tree figurine. Someone got married? Willow Tree figurine. Someone passed away? Willow Tree figurine. I thought they were so cheesy, but of course I think they’re cute now. My mom also collected frogs growing up - no, not real ones. Literally my parents entire bedroom when I was in elementary school had so many stuffed animal frog figurines. So strange, I know, but we laugh about it now! She’s moved on from that phase, although I think it may be gnomes now. But anyway, it seems like everyone has something odd they like to keep around the house.
I had surgery in high school. I had a bar put in my chest that stayed in for three years. After my second surgery to remove the bar, my surgeon came in the room to check on me and give me a little gift. It was the bar/rod that was just in my chest for three years (yes it was sanitized). Pretty cool to see, but what am I supposed to do with this? It still sits in our nightstand (don’t bring it up to my husband - he thinks it’s the strangest thing in the world!) But what am I supposed to do with it? I can’t just get rid of it, it was in me for 3 years! But for real, what do I do with it?
All these things are kind of like antique furniture or items from grandparents that you keep around the house. Or that bin from your parents full of your childhood stuff, the things you don’t want to get rid of but you’re really unsure why you still have it when you think about it. I think it’s the memories and thought of where it came from that makes you keep it around. The meaning behind it. Do you have things around your house like this? Maybe a picture on the wall is enough for you! (Hey, I’m all about less clutter - big fan of the home edit.) Regardless, I hope there’s a little something in your home to remind you to be in the now and soak it all up!
The pregnant figurine in Brayden’s room will always be a reminder of carrying that sweet boy for 9 months and his wild ride into this world. The reminder to be thankful for what you have and enjoy where you are now.