Project Nursery

Yep, this picture just about sums up how crazy this nursery project has been.

I'm not going to lie, I have been dreading starting on the nursery.  Not because I wasn't ready to get the party started, but I knew that once the party started, it was going to turn into something huge.  And a huge project it was!

First, the room had to be cleaned out.  The room that will be the nursery had become our junk room.  You've got one of those right?  The room had a full size bed, dresser full of of fabric and sewing supplies, sewing machine and desk along with a TON of stuff set aside for a garage sale.  Thankfully, we had some extra space in our garage due to the recent sale of Ronnie's beloved Mustang.  So to the garage most of this stuff went.

Next, we decided to take the carpet of the room.

We had planned on getting new carpet in this room and knew that painting the room would be much easier without the carpet.  See, I had this crazy idea a while back that we should paint all the trim in our house white.  We would just paint it one room at a time.  Have you ever painted trim?  It ain't for sissies I tell ya.  Anyway, Avery was such a big helper getting the carpet out of the room.

I had to throw in the picture with Avery wearing her wellies. It wasn't raining inside or outside during this project. She has her own fashion sense.

After the carpet was out of the room the real hard work began.  Ronnie was a saint and did most of the work although Avery and I got our hands dirty every once in a while.

Trim: 3 coats of primer and 2 coats of paints. Like I said, it ain't easy!

Avery was such a big helper!

See? I actually did some work.  When Ronnie and I paint, I'm always the cut in girl.  That's my job.  I'm pretty good at it.  Plus, it usually means I don't have to use any rollers.  I prefer it that way. And that awesome bandana?  It gives you super powers.  My friend said it does and I believe her. Although it does not help a pregnant girl get up off the floor while painting trim. 

Let's be honest, Ronnie did most of the work. And by most I mean 95%.

He's such a paint stud!

Still working.  Ronnie did most of the taping himself. We decided to go  with one white line around the room.  Why we always insist on stripes in a nursery is beyond me.  It's such a hassle.

At one point, Ronnie spilled just a tiny bit of paint on the floor.  Just a little bit.

He tried to blame it on me.  Thankfully we did pull up the carpet!

Ronnie had a little fun in the room. During one break time he left this little message for Avery and I. He included the New Kid's initial but at this point, it's still a secret!

All that work was worth it!  The room is painted and I big fat puffy heart love it!

The white trim really makes the paint color pop. The paint is an aqua and teal and this picture does not do it justice.

Avery and Ronnie thought it would be fun to put their handprints in the closet.

All in all this project took a week to complete.  A week!  I could have never dreamed we would spend a week painting a room but that's what it came to.  It looks great though and I can't wait to get the carpet installed, crib put up and bedding made!  This kid will be here in about 12 weeks! Yikes! That just doesn't seem like enough time!

I had to throw in this last pictue.  New Kid already has a closet full of "stuff".  I can already tell having two girls is going to be crazy!

Avery is so excited for baby sister to be here.  We tell her that her baby sister will be here at Christmas time.  I've heard her tell her friends that.  The other night she told me "I'm so excited for baby sister to be here. She will be here at Christmas."  Melt my heart! We know she is going to be a great big sister.

More adventures to come!

No More Mondays

Not too long ago, R and I made a pretty big decision.  Well, besides the decision to have a baby. 


We decided that I would quit my job. 

Let me tell you.  Before I had Avery I always thought I would work and have kids.  I mean, I am a woman of the 2000's right?  Both my parents worked and raised my brother and I.  Ronnie's parent's worked and raised he and his brother.  So I just thought that's the way it would be.

Enter this cutie face.

And for about a year I was content.  I was somewhat successful at work, worked for a fantastic company and Avery was having a ball playing with her cousins everyday. 

Peyton- this is the cousin Avery usually wants to say 2 prayers for.  She loves her Peyton!

Kelli Lynn-Avery's playmate and teacher.  Everything Avery knows she says she learned from Kelli.

Mason- The oldest of the great-grandkids.  Avery is the youngest for now.  Love they got to spend so much time together.

And then I realized I wasn't THAT happy.  I wanted to be at home with Avery and any future kids.  R wanted to the same for our family so we worked to make it happen.  We had a goal that by the time kid #2 came along, I would stay at home.

I could dedicate an entite post to what we did to prepare for one income.  Most importantly we took a hard look at our budget, made some cuts that weren't easy (getting rid of OU football season tickets and cable, for example) and started living on 1 income. Some things were easy, some were hard.  But we had to remember what we were doing it for.

Tommorrow I start my new job.  Stay at home mom.  The hardest thing I had to do was tell my supervisor I was leaving.  I worked for a great company and had an even better supervisor.  I made some wonderful friends that I know I will be keeping in touch with (in fact, one will be my neighbor, yay!) and I will miss those friends dearly.

But, for our family, this is the right decision. A decision that took a lot of prayer, thought, and a big leap of faith.  I look forward to spending some time with Avery before New Kid comes along.  I know it won't be easy and there will probably be times that I want to go back to work but for now, I'm going to appreciate the blessing we've been given.

All in all, I did it for this girl.  The love of my life.  The one I can't imagine my life without and can't remember my life before her.  And for New Kid.  Who has already captured our hearts and I know will be loved beyond measure.

Tomorrow starts No More Monday's for me. I'm nervous, excited, anxious, scared and many many more. And I can't wait.

More adventures to come.