Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Puppies and Trucks

It's hard to believe that I'm already starting to plan Ella Grace's "bigger girl" room. I'm going to try to keep her in her crib as long as possible, but I have a feeling I better be ready in about 4-6 months for her to be in a bigger bed. Therefore, I'm starting now...planning on a sweet room for a sweet girl. My sister still has a chest from when she and I shared a room as little girls. It is a beautiful piece of furniture...an antique that has a built in jewelry box at the top. When I was last at her house, she told me she was getting rid of it. I asked her if I could have it, and she gladly said yes. So, I'm going to get it repaired and painted pink or off-white depending (it is stained brown now). I think it will be sweet for Ella to have something of mine from when I was a little girl. I have vivid memories of that chest.

All of this planning, plus the excitement around Kelly and Sarah's new babies, has gotten me all sentimental about my own babies' rooms. I am extremely sentimental anyway, but when it comes to my babies growing up...oh my! I started thinking about Evan's little nursery. I loved that room. The theme of the room was puppies and trucks. We had an artist come in and paint trees and a puppy on the wall along with his name. She also painted some art for the wall above his chest.

I think why I loved this room so much, especially thinking about it now, is because it was before autism, before we had so many worries, before that terrible diagnosis. I just remember playing for hours in the floor of that room with my sweet boy without a care in the world. I loved watching Evan look out his huge picture window waiting for cars and trucks to pass by. We spent a lot of time in there. It was just a sweet, pure time. A time I'll always treasure.

These pictures really do not do the nursery justice. I scanned these pictures from Evan's baby book. Everything was inspired from his bedding. I loved that the puppy's collar said "EH". I never really noticed it before, but you can tell how well loved those wooden blinds were from Evan looking out of that window all the time. :)

I'm sure Derek would agree that it was a great nursery. However, when we got ready to move and the older lady that bought our house didn't have a need for a puppy dog on the wall, Derek came up with the rule for there to never ever be another mural on a wall. It was terribly hard to paint over for some reason.

One of my other favorite things in his room was this rocking truck. This picture was taken in the living room for a Christmas card, not taken in his room, but this truck sat in front of that big picture window that Evan loved and had puppies in it of course.

Evan age 9 months

If I had anything to tell new mommies, it would be to make your baby's nursery the one of your dreams. You will never regret it. It is such a sweet time and you will make a lot of wonderful memories there loving on your sweet baby.

Awww, I think I need to have another one!

JUST KIDDING!!!

20 comments:

Melissa said...

Love his nursery. He was so sweet when he was little, they both are beautiful. We had to paint over my daughters mural when we moved and felt the same. Now we paint on canvas, we can pack it with us, and when they outgrow them I can unroll them and bask in the memories.

Kelly said...

Thank you for sharing - his nursery was precious!!!!
My mom was telling me yesterday "they will only be in that room for a year or so" and I was saying "I don't care - I want it to be just like I imagine!!!" I may only get one chance at this!
Evan was such a precious baby! He has such a wonderful mama!

Deidre said...

I completely agree to make the nursery one of your dreams. I loved decorating both of my girls rooms. Now, we're planning big girl rooms and it makes me a little sad.

His nursery was SO cute!

mer@lifeat7000feet said...

His nursery was adorable, and I love that you have such sweet memories of spending time in there with him.

I can't wait to see what you do for EG...I'm sure it will be amazing. You definitely have the decorating gene!

LOVE YOU A GOOGLE... said...

Oh, that was so sweet. I loved Evan's room. I had so much fun decorating E & s's rooms. I just LOVED my E's room and then he never spent more than five minutes in his crib! I think the room was used for a diaper changing station and that was it! But I don't regret one bit making it exactly how I wanted it. Can't wait to see EG's new room.

Megan L Hutchings said...

One of my favorite post to date! His nursery is absolutely precious ;). I LOVE the dogs and the trucks are too cute. I really think you should use your chest in EG's room! The dresser and big boy bed Vance will use some day is almost 50 years old. My mom used it, my brother used it, I used it, and now Vance is. We had it refinised before Vance was born and I love it!

I know no matter what you do, it will be fabulous!

Heather said...

What an adorable nursery!! I know what you mean about getting sentimental about the little ones growing up. W. will be ELEVEN in three weeks!! I look at him and wonder how on earth can that be possible?!?! Maybe you should have another one ;)

Becky said...

How precious! I love anything with puppy dogs. Can't wait to see what you come up with for EG's room. I'm sure it will be darling. How special that you will be using a piece of furniture from your past. I love the idea!!!

Betsy said...

That is such a sweet story. I agree with you...make that nursery special!! You won't regret it.

That rocking truck is so cute! I can't believe you found that to match everything just perfectly.

I could just eat that sweet little boy up in that picture! How adorable. You are such a sweet mommy, Leigh Ann!

Abby said...

Sweet post! Maddy has my antique dresser from when I was a teenager. I was going to paint it but decided to leave it and am glad I did. She loves the fact that it was mine first.

Meagan said...

How precious!! I love Evan's old room! Too cute and all boy!

I think it is a wonderful idea to have your childhoot chest in Ella's Room! One day she might even be putting it in her own daughters room! So sweet!

Laurie said...

I loved this entry! I will be so sad not to have a nursery anymore. I think about it a lot. Evan's nursery was so cute! You keep Ella Grace in that crib till she is 4-trust me! haha!

Heather said...

I have tears running down my cheeks- this was so wonderful, Leigh Ann! You know my Connor-boo's nursery is fire trucks and puppy dogs! I love that room so much and you are so right about making the nursery the one of your dreams! Evan's nursery was adorable...so cute and I love that rocking truck!
You are the most wonderful mom and friend. Thank you for always being so encouraging to me. I am praying for you and your sweet family tonight and as always- praying for an autism cure for precious Evan!

Candy said...

Evan's baby room was SO adorable and I just love the baby pic of him!!! Our Ella's are getting big and it is sad!!! My mom told me today she thought I wasn't potty training her because I wanted her to stay a baby! I am getting baby fever, but I just don't know about 3 kids!!! :) Can't wait to see EG's room! :)

Kara said...

I am so sorry that I am just now blogging you back, I am trying to catch up this week. First, I am so proud of you and your speech at the Capital. The Lord used you and your voice in a mighty way! Keep on fighting for your son, people are listening.
I love the Pottery Barn puppy dog bedding. They were out of the shams when I tried to order for my middle son around 4-5 years ago. So cute!
Yall have a blessed weekend. I am praying for you!
Kara-Is. 43:1-3

Faith said...

What a sweet nursery! Oh, I just can't wait to be able to decorate one of my own!

P.S. I emailed you back, but maybe it didn't come through??

Julie said...

What an adorable theme for his nursery! I loved seeing these pictures. Your children are so loved. They are so blessed to have you as their mommy!

Jacquie said...

As a mom, I just wanted to give you a hug reading this post. It is so heart-felt.

I love that you get your old chest... that's the kind of stuff that means so much to me. You'll be so glad you've got it.

You sound like such a loving mother!

The Garners said...

What a precious room! I love it!

I totally agree--planning their rooms is SUCH a wonderful thing to get to do!!! I loved thinking and planning and shopping for everything in both the kids' rooms--we spend a lot of times in their rooms--reading, playing, telling stories, etc. I love that their rooms are special for each of them and not just plain with no "personality".

Lauren said...

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE his nursery! Adorable!