Nesting, Part 4: I... Have Made Booties!

You've seen it, haven't you? Tom Hanks, a Castaway on a deserted island, makes fire and announces it to the night air with great pride. (If you're not familiar with the scene, you absolutely must click here to see the 11-second clip on YouTube.)

So I had a Tom Hanks moment this week. I know how he feels!

Okay, not literally. But you get the idea.

I've been knitting for a couple of months, and the most I've been brave enough to do are things that are relatively small and flat. Like scarves. Lots of scarves. And one headband.

But my friend Meg encouraged me to give this a try, and if she she could make a pair while caring for two-year-old twins and a new baby, then surely I could do it, too. After watching a few more clips on the internet to learn two new variations of knitting stitches, I gave it a go. And I did it!

I...HAVE MADE BOOTIES!

See that picture up there? I made those. Oh, yes I did!

I have no idea if they will actually fit baby's feet or not, but I will at least love how they look on the shelf in the nursery. And I love having done something special for baby as we await his or her arrival.

I also have more confidence to attempt to follow other knitting patterns that previously intimidated me. Thanks, Meg!

NOTE: No, I am not taking orders. These took me the better part of two weeks worth of evening free time, lots of concentration, and the sacrifice of not having feeling in my hands because knitting is accentuating my pregnancy-induced carpal tunnel syndrome. But they were so worth it for my baby. Or perhaps if the price is right. If you have, say, $100 or so to throw my way.

Nesting, Part 3: The Kids' Rooms

It's been a time of transition in our home. And it continues to be. But we are so blessed to have the space to take our time in this phase of moving the kids into their new rooms, leaving the nursery just as it is for baby's arrival.

Pardon me while I freak out for just a brief moment at the nearness of this blessed event.

[Insert dramatic pause]

Okay, phew! Back to nesting!

For me it's been a super fun process. For John, who likes to paint about as much as he enjoys a good charlie horse, it's been a bit more of a chore, but he's tackled my to-do list with ambition and joy, and without making me nag him. Too much. The last few weeks have been loaded with patching old holes, taping, painting, pulling tape, touching up paint, making new holes, and moving furniture.

After a few tears were shed over the idea of leaving her beloved bedroom, we helped Lucy move into her new room (which was previously our guest room, which is now in the basement, which will be covered by another post at another time).

She liked the idea, and she loved the purple accent wall, but I know what sealed the deal and finally made her jump up and down, declaring one day she just couldn't stand it if she didn't move into her new room TONIGHT, was the canopy.
I'm so grateful I had the forethought over a year ago to make her valance extra long, just in case she ended up in this room. Big sigh of relief that it does indeed fit on her new window.
Once she was in her new room, it was time to paint the pink room blue and get it ready for Josiah. John did an amazing job executing these stripes, which I had previously only seen in my head, and I'm very happy with how they turned out and complement the safari theme.
Joey's a roller, so we are starting him out with a mattress on the floor. So far he has not actually slept on this mattress, but like I said, this is a time of transition.

And we love, love, love the trio of one-of-a-kind paintings that Auntie Anna made and gave him for Christmas to match the bedding. I won't even attempt to describe how she used things like butter knives and pen caps to achieve the textures and images. She's amazing!
A few shelves for his special things make the room feel like it's really his now. (Can I tell you how much John loved drilling the holes in his pristine blue wall to hang these shelves? He's a gem.)
Ahhh! One more thing checked off my ever-growing nesting list!