Bear Room Phase 2: The Big Bed

One weekend night the three of us stayed up past the sun, putting the "big boy" furniture together. We bounced on the mattresses. Caught our breath. Helped Dad screw the bed together. Threw out the clingy Styrofoam (piece-by-piece). Jumped from top mattress to trundle. And watched the stars from the turtle’s starlit shell dance on the ceiling. By midnight, Jack had crawled into our bed (I hadn’t washed his new bed sheets) and fell asleep.

The next morning we were back exploring the new full-size furniture. Even had our morning snack of Goldfish there. And now anyone who comes to visit gets a tour of his newly prized "big boy" bed. 

Items:

Captain's bed, trundle, mattresses & matching dresser: Art Van Furniture

Sheets: Target (Circo set)

Camping red alternative down comforter: Target (on clearance)

Gigantic bear: Costco $30

Bear Room Phase 1: Baby & Blue Gone

Tears collected in my eyes as I watched Justin roll whistling wind green paint over the Carolina blue walls of Jack’s room. For the first time I felt the reality of my snuggling baby sweeping away into the running independent world of childhood. I’ve been so busy absorbing the greatness of toddler Jack that I missed the disappearance of baby Jack.

Cinnamon and dirt smells replaced lavender and fresh powder. Soft dimpled hands and  are covered with markers and cuts. Chubby smooth legs are now lean, tall and speckled with scrapes and bruises. Baby coos swapped for real conversations.

As I watched Jack’s baby room disappear, I reminisced of those new days. Nursing in the glider, sunlight keeping us warm, Jack comfortably enjoying lunch, a tiny hand tucked regularly on my ribs. Changing clothes, singing Jack Johnson’s “Banana Pancakes” with my baby blissfully joining in. Rocking to Alison Kraus’ “Now That I Found You," humming in his ear. Socks that fit on my fingertips. Puppy-soft hair. The way he watched my every move. The concentration when he started to crawl. Baths filled with splashes. And naps on the couch with Jack nuzzled on my chest.

Amazing how I blinked and my baby became a boy.

Here's a few "before" shots of Jack's baby nursery. 

And now the transformation begins...

Jack's also in his "big boy" pants here. Happy day.

Filling Up On Books

We’re managing the battle with our “prepare for baby” to-do list.  I’m ridiculously over-organized; therefore, my desire to have the house complete is in overdrive. Some call it nesting. At 26 weeks pregnant, I prefer to say it’s my obsessive need to feel in control.

Justin’s in the midst of a three-month training for his new job. So he’s traveling cross-country constantly. Our remodeling to-do list time is limited. I set a goal to have Jack’s big boy room completed by his birthday, Sept. 16, which is approaching at warp speed.

Over the weekend we finished our hallway modifications with furniture, upgraded my closet (so we could remove my dresses from baby’s closet), picked & purchased the paint & supplies for Jack’s room and reorganized Jack’s closet (removing all baby items).

In our weekend overhaul, I realized we don’t’ have nearly as many classic books as I imagined. Naturally as a writer, I love to read. Fortunately, Jack shares my passion. He enjoys hearing stories, naming objects & flipping pages. Since he was born, our nighttime ritual has always included a bedtime story (currently Cat in the Hat). With number two on the way and Jack’s love for books rising, I decided it’s time to visit Border’s liquidation sale. The next Saturday morning shopping trip is planned.

Knowing our kids will share books and wanting to keep the bedtime story tradition with the new baby, I decided to combine all the books in one easy-to-choose location. Both bedrooms and their bathroom are steps away from each other, so we fitted the hallway corner with a bookcase (purchased at Ikea). I’ve been wondering what to do with that corner since we moved in….  

Board books on bottom, rip-able books higher.

Here are a few of our favorite & must-haves reads:

Goodnight Moon

Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See

Pat the Bunny

Dr. Seuss Hop on Pop

Richard Scarry’s Best Story Book Ever

The Very Hungary Caterpillar

Runaway Bunny

Go, Dog, Go

Caps for Sale

Curious George

The Little Engine That Could

The Tale of Peter Rabbit

Corduroy

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish

Fox in Sox

Where the Wild Things Are

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

The Napping House

Polar Express

Love You Forever

The Mitten

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

Guess How Much I Love You

Good Night Gorilla

Mother Goose

Frog and Toad Are Friends

The Cat in the Hat

Mr. Popper’s Penguins

The Giving Tree

Am I missing any?