IT’S BEEN ONE WEEK since my handyman installed the rainbow book ledges in my son’s room. I’m pleased to report we are seven days without a climbing incident, and I’ve somehow restrained myself from buying ALL THE BOOKS from my Amazon wish list. Even more impressive is that my wallet somehow survived a visit to a charming independent bookshop last week. I walked out with just one book: a gorgeous book of world maps that I will give to my son in a few years when he wont destroy the paper pages.
I did, however, make one tiny addition to the cobalt blue shelf at the bottom. This is a very special book, and I can’t get through it without weeping!
In case this photo is even more subtle than the announcement I made to my Facebook friends last week, I will spell it out: I’m having another baby!! In January! That’s right. In five short months we will be adding another little Bates to our family of three, and my son will be a big brother at just about two and a half years old.
I used this book to announce our pregnancy to the family. I asked my son to have his grandmothers read him his new favorite book. Of course, both grandmas were very surprised when they saw the cover!
Since discovering the news I feel like I’ve been hanging from the center of a wobbly rope bridge, with sheer joy and excitement calling me from one end and complete anxiety and fear taunting me from the other. Parenting one child is very challenging and quite exhausting to me, so doubling my workload is a bit scary! Also, my first birth experience wasn’t ideal, so delivery is also something I have on my mind quite often.
I also have concerns about my son being jealous because I’m not able to respond to his needs when I’m caring for the new baby. At the same time, I’m thrilled to be adding another child to our family and, especially, for my son to have a sibling, playmate and, hopefully, lifelong friend! I’d appreciate any advice anyone has for preparing an older sibling for a new baby and hearing your positive experiences with adding a new child to the family!
Okay, so now that all the lifey stuff is out of the way, let’s talk about the best distraction from labor and delivery I know – nursery planning!! Here’s the honest-to-goodness-real-life pinboard I put together with magazine clippings and fabric swatches.
After declaring my infatuation with The Land of Nod last week, it probably isn’t too surprising that a few pages from the recent catalog made the board. These are just a few things I’m tossing around for Baby Bates number two’s room.
1. Book Ledges. Yes, I want more! Truthfully, the rainbow installation in my son’s room was really a practice run for the mammoth library idea I have in mind for this new nursery. Think big.
This nursery featured on Made By Girl was one I had my eye on when I was planning my son’s room. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the right wall to do this kind of massive installation. Not the case in this space. I think it’s time for more books. Mwahahaha.
I want to get a bean bag chair or other little chair to put at the bottom of the shelves so my son and his new brother or sister can read together on the floor.
2. Fruity Accents. As with our son, we won’t find out the gender of our baby in advance. In my son’s room, I used animals and rainbow colors to keep it “neutral.” Yeah, I know, describing my son’s rainbow nursery as neutral is probably pretty funny to some of you. For me, color is like pizza. Just keep it coming. I’ll tell you when I’ve had enough 
In the new nursery, I’m using the deliciously gorgeous yellows and greens of one of my favorite fruits for color inspiration: pineapple! This also goes with the overall coastal vibe I try to infuse throughout our home. Even though I don’t live near the sea, I like to surround myself with the casual furnishings and colors one might find in a beach house.
3. Graphic Wall Decals. After shedding tears and congratulating me on baby #2, one of the first things my dear friend, Ashley, asked me was what I would put on the ceiling in the new nursery. After spending weeks stenciling polka dots onto the ceiling in my son’s room, Ashley, a second-child herself, is of the opinion that baby #2 needs just as much attention to be paid to the ceiling in his or her room. Otherwise, he or she will obviously be damaged for life and think I love my son more.
This time I’m thinking about using wall decals, like these adorable rainbow triangles, instead of paint. Other than that, I will keep you guessing as to the final plan. I’m really excited about this one!
4. Bold Rug. I love a bold look on floors and windows. At this point I’ve narrowed it down to two rugs from Rugs Direct that I really like. I asked my friends on the Embrace My Space Facebook page which is their favorite and it’s essentially a tie at this point. I’m leaning toward #2 but my husband likes #1. He’s not crazy about the yellow, which I like because it speaks to my pineapple inspiration. Both are great options, with #2 being a thicker pile and less expensive (both positives in my estimation). I might order both, see which I like better, and send back the other.
Tell me, do you like one better than the other? I reserve the right to completely change my mind on this so don’t be surprised if neither shows up in the new nursery. I’m a fickle, hormonal, overly emotional pregnant lady, remember?
5. Lots of DIY. No space in my home would be complete without a bit of DIY, but with a nursery my DIY inspiration cup runneth over. I have ideas for a custom changing table, pillows, artwork and a mobile for above the crib!
Whew. That’s alotta work. Since the new baby’s room currently is serving as a guest room, I should probably get started. I love the planning process so much I could probably keep planning up until a week before my due date. But, despite the fact that we will probably co-sleep for several months, I’d still like to have the space basically complete before he or she makes her appearance. I’m not sure how much time I’m going to have to paint when I have the sleep schedule of TWO children ruining running my life!
For those of you who are curious, here’s the subtle pregnancy announcement I made on Facebook last week. This photo was accompanied by a note that my son can’t wait for his new playing partner because he needs someone on his level to read the greens when he putts. His daddy is just a bit too tall!
I think this might be the first picture of my sweetie on the blog. Just look at that little hockey grip he’s got on his putter. He’s going to be a great athlete and an even better big brother! I know it!
Happy Monday everyone! I will keep you posted with my progress.
