Mary's Nursery - A Dream Come True

Well, Mary is now 13 months old and we have finally put the finishing touches on her nursery.

I've had lots of dreams in my life - some big and some small - some more meaningful than others. I've had lots of my dreams come true. And some dreams haven't materialized no matter how hard I've tried to make them. That is how life goes I guess. Sometimes you dream dreams that you don't really ever think will happen. I used to want to be Miss America, but of course, that never happened. I used to think it would be neat to win Prom royalty - and that did happen - though I really never thought it would.

One thing that I think many women dream about is their wedding and in addition to that I have always hoped I could have a beautiful nursery. I didn't really know if I'd ever be able to have one. There are many more important things in life than a beautiful nursery and I knew and know that sometimes you just have to spend money on more important things.

But . . . I am happy and grateful that I did get to have a beautiful nursery for my Mary - at least I think it is beautiful. I mean, I'm sure it won't win any interior decorating awards, but it is beautiful to me. It is a happy place to be.

I have to give most of the credit to my in-laws - particularly my MIL, Ellen. She helped me pick out items and material when I was frozen in "Indecision Central". She sewed all the fabric because I didn't like the cartoony styles at the stores. I feel kind of bad that I even asked because I know she spent a lot of time doing it. But I also love how it all turned out - so I'm glad I did. But I promise I won't ask again Ellen!

So . . .here's to dreams coming true whether they be big or small! I'm a dreamer. That is the one thing that I know about myself for sure.



Here is what her outside door has on it. "Mary" sign was made by the nurses in the ICU. I loved it. "Beware: Wyld Babis" is a sign Jeff made for Mary early on. : )

Mary's room is bright and sunny. I love her octagonal window. I also love this recliner rocking chair. It is so comfortable. Both Jeff and I slept in it on occasion. See that cute Mary peeking out? She has recently discovered new spots in her room.

This floral fabric on the bumper pads was the inspiration fabric. There are several other fabrics in the room that coordinate with it(the lamp, skirt on the bear, other side of bumper is a toile which you can't see well here.

Crib skirt.


Here is her dresser with a removeable diaper changing top. Crib also converts to toddler bed and double bed later. I made the pics up on the wall.

Here is close up:

One of the things Ellen and I both fell in love with was this beautiful Moses basket with dotted swiss fabric. I plan on moving that and the rocker into the next nursery too. I also love the pillows and the lamb stuffed animal.
And here on her nightstand: A lamp from Jeff's nursery, a very handy clock, and sound machine (a necessity in my view).

Closet: Dollhouse bookcase was given to me from Renell Parker and her girls. Cute eh?

This decorative hanger? is kinda fun! Given to me by Cathryn and Emma Grover. Fun to hang Mary's cute clothes on!


So anyway, like I said, it isn't perfect I'm sure. The wall above crib and the wall to the left of the window are blank (any suggestions for that?). But we love it and are so grateful for it.

Thanksgiving

We had a real nice Thanksgiving at my folk's house. Here are some pics . . .



With Aunt Jennifer and Uncle Scott (I think Mary looks a lot like my baby pictures in this photo)


And here is a cutie cute photo of Mary with her cousin, H last week. Aren't they a cute kitty and giraffe?

Signing is really coming along

Wow. This past month, Mary's signing vocabulary has really grown. It makes me so happy and proud! I am glad she has a few more tools to communicate.
So anyway, she knows the following signs:
more
eat
dog
potty
daddy
baby signing time
milk

And she is really working on:
all done
banana
drink
bird
cat

Last week, the most amazing thing happened. Previously, I would say something like "more?" and she'd sign more. Or I'd say, "Mary shall we go downstairs and eat breakfast?" and she'd sign eat. But last week after lunch one day, I put her in her baby zone. I try not to use the baby zone too much. But often when I do I will put on her baby signing time video so I can clean or cook for awhile. But this time I didn't because I only had to do a little cleaning. So I put her in the baby zone and went about my business. Then I look up at her and she is bouncing and smiling. It took me a second to realize, but she was signing "baby signing time". She wanted to watch her baby signing time video and was telling me so! It was very cool. And it was completely unprompted. (BTW, I knew she could sign this because before I would ask her, "do you want to watch baby signing time?" and she'd imitate the signs at the start of the video. She has asked now for the video 2 more times since. I'm so happy that there is another way that she can tell me what she wants.

Here is a video. Just a note: the signs for "baby signing time" are rocking a baby, then moving your hands in a circle around each other and then touching your wrist. When Mary does it, it doesn't look that perfect. She tries to do the circle, but it looks more like she's brushing her hands. Enjoy!

Squirrel Teeth

Last time Grandpa Charles came to visit he said to Mary, "Oh look at those little squirrel teeth!". It was kind of a cute, higher pitched tone. It was sweet and funny at the same time.


So I thought I'd share Mary's squirrel teeth. I love how on the bottom there are spaces on either side of her center teeth. My doctor thought maybe teeth would grow inbetween those spaces, but I guess we'll see. Ellen, were Jeff's teeth like that? If they are spaces, I'm told that is a good thing. Better to have space than crowding (like my teeth).

Morning Rituals

It is so fun to be Mary's Momma.
Every morning - when I go to get her out of her crib, we have several things we usually do. First she has her bottle, and then a diaper change/potty. We also almost always do a few other things too... look out her octagonal window, play with the clock and noise machine and play with and try on Momma's glasses.


Yes these are slightly embarrassing - they are my old old glasses that I got back in the 8th grade I think. I do actually have another pair of glasses to wear when I don't wear my contacts, but these 80's glasses are nice and big in terms of line of vision. My other glasses, you can pretty much only look one direction if you want it to be in focus, you can't look up or to the side much. Also these old things are sturdy even if they are broken (one side the plastic has broken and if Mary grabs them, the left lens falls right out. But hey! That lens is great to put in the mouth too and you can just put it right back when you need to. : )

Mary Had A Little Lamb

. . . or rather IS a little lamb.



Yesterday Jeff got the day off! It was nice to have him home and for lunch we went to one of our favorites, Cafe de France (in Aspen Grove). Tara - our favorite waitress came by and greeted Mary by name and said she had been wondering about us - it had been awhile since we'd been in. Nice huh?
Anyway, it was a perfect day to break out Mary's new lamb outfit. How could I resist getting it? It is even cuter in person. But I promise you that I won't buy all things lamb like I seem to with giraffes. : )
I like lambs. I think I'd rather own a lamb than a dog. I once did a show with a couple of kids who had a baby goat. It was really cute and sweet.
I know. I'm being random. I'll stop now.

"Dizzy Baby"

In college, one of my fondest memories was being in the "Theatre Under the Stars" production of COLE - a musical review of Cole Porter music. There were only four men and four women and so many great memories. I developed a life long love for the music of Cole Porter. But anyway . . . one of the numbers was titled "Dizzy Baby" in which I danced and two guys sang to me. Here is a photo of the very number in action taken from a newspaper clipping from the Collegian (our college newspaper).


I've made a concerted effort not to project myself and my dreams onto Mary. When Jeff and I saw her in the ultrasound I bit my tongue so I wouldn't say, "she's just dancing all around!" But in fact, Jeff was the one who - when telling his parents about the ultrasound used the term dancing (or dancer or something similar).

Last week though, it was pretty hard to NOT imagine Mary following in her Momma's footsteps and becoming a "dizzy baby" in her own right. (I found myself humming the tune.)
Check her out up on her tippy toes bouncing around (she was actually on the very tips of her toes, but I couldn't catch it with my camera).


and playing the piano.


And the lyrics of the song . . . well they seem quite appropriate for a mother trying to keep up with her daughter.
"Dizzy Baby,
Dizzy Baby,
Won't you please slow down?
Can't you find one moment to relax?
Look behind - I'm falling in your tracks
You're so busy
Being dizzy,
I get dizzy too -
Still, it may be
Because you're dizzy baby
I love you."

Our latest photo shoot

A few weeks ago, we had a Sullins family photo shoot. We had originally planned to do it as an anniversary gift for Charles and Ellen last year. But we wanted to wait until none of us were pregnant and until the babies were just a bit older.
I'm happy with the shoot and I am thrilled that Jeff and Mary and me will also have our own family picture to hang in our home.

Go to caydenphotography.com (for some reason I'm never able to figure out how to add a link here. sorry. You'll just have to remember it), click on "Full Site" (the photo on the far right) and then select "clients" along the bottom right hand side of the sideshow. From there, enter the password "sullins" into the box. The slide show will automatically start playing.

Enjoy!