When we first found out we were having a little boy, I knew immediately I wanted to have a Noah's Ark nursery. When my brother was little, my parents decorated his room in Noah's Ark and I loved everything about it, especially the way all the animals were paired as they entered the ark. After looking and looking and looking even MORE online, though, I found that most Noah's Ark nurseries are very dark. They use dark colors and that is not at all what I imagined when I thought about my little baby's room. I wanted light, airy colors. It was very difficult to match light, airy colors to Noah's Ark decor but I finally found a collection at Babies R Us called the "S.S. Noah" by Lambs & Ivy. Here is the link if you're curious:
http://www.lambsivy.com/product.shtml?610
So all I had to do was register for it and wait on my shower, right? Wrong. I didn't like the quilted wall hanging, any of the wall decor, the bumper pads, the diaper stacker, or the curtains. It was too dark and it would've been such a waste of money to ask for the whole collection when all I really wanted was the lamp, mobile, and crib sheet. I bought a crib sheet myself and thought I registered for the lamp and mobile (turns out I didn't but my wonderful aunt and cousins got them for me anyway because they knew I wanted them). I conversed several times with my sewing-whiz mother-in-love and tried to convey exactly what I wanted to her. There was some confusion, but eventually we got it straight and set out to buy fabric. She captured exactly what I wanted with everything she made and I am so thankful to have someone so talented and devoted to make all of this for my boy. I am also thankful for all of my mother's help. She spent hours with me organizing, reorganizing, and hanging things, which is not an easy task. I am so blessed to have these two women in my life!
Without further adieu, here is the (almost) final tour of his nursery:
When you walk in, to your immediate left is the light switch and right above that is the wonderfully cute artwork his Aunt Holly drew and painted. Yes, she is very talented.
Next you pass the guest bathroom door and see a shelf with some fun animals, including "Hoodini" the owl made by his Aunt Lacy. Notice the beautiful porcelain dish in the middle at the bottom. This was given to me by a new friend, Debbie Hard and it is so fitting. It says "S.S. Noah" on the side. Perfect!
Below the shelf is his dresser, chock full of baby clothes that are washed and ready for wear. The lamp is one of my favorite things about the room, along with the monkey bank. The picture is one of his 19-week sonogram pictures, just to remind us how little he was at one point.
On the wall directly across from you as you walk in, there is the changing table, lamp, and wall hanging made by Lollee. She also made the diaper bag and changing pad cover.
In the far corner is his Boppy pillow, stroller/car seat set, and bassinet. Our awesome Uncle Ric gave us the stroller/car seat set and we will have the safest little baby in the US! This will obviously be in the car and the bassinet will be moved into our room for awhile, so in this corner we will put the rocker that Lollee is going to so graciously recover for us. That is the last piece of this nursery puzzle to be fit in!
It was very bright outside, so I'm guessing that is why this picture is so dark. The curtains are Lollee-made and she also donated the nightstand that Brad gave a fresh coat of white spray paint to (thank you honey!)
I guess I should've turned my flash on...
Here is the giraffe (nameless at the moment) one of my old co-workers gave Jeremiah. It makes noise when you drop it. It may only be allowed out once a week or so...hanging with the giraffe are Cheech and Blue, the monkey and elephant made lovingly by Aunt Lacy for our little boy. He will love them. In the window are solar-powered flowers that my mother gave him. They shake back and forth and give a certain cheerfulness to the room.
The view from the far side of the room
These wall hangings were replicated exactly from the crib sheet I picked out, drawn and painted by Aunt Holly.
The first piece I received for the nursery, a Lollee-made alphabet quilt. She had no idea at the time but all the colors coordinate very well with the nursery.
My favorite piece in the nursery has to be this mobile. I'm not sure why I'm quite so smitten with it but I just love the "two by two" animals...there are two monkies, two elephants, two zebras, and a lion and lioness. I can't wait to crank it up. Also there is a custom bumper pad made by Lollee and a baby blanket crocheted by Grandmama. In the corner is Mr. Hightops, another giraffe. My mom got that for Jeremiah and it will be his crib buddy :)
The final piece to the crib is the quilt from Oma/Lollee. It is light and colorful. I can't wait to wrap my baby up in it!
In the floor beside the crib stands Jeremiah's swing. It has elephants on it (did I mention I love animals?) and hopefully he will take a liking to it, as I see that is the only way I'm going to get anything done around the house.
It works out that the guest bathroom connects to his nursery. For any unexpected "messes", we will be quickly hoisting our boy into the shower for clean-up. The shower, by the way, is ready for him and all of his towels and washcloths are clean and ready for use. There's even a ducky friend in the corner!
His diaper bag is another Lollee creation using fabrics from his nursery and monogrammed by a friend. It is packed and ready!
His closet is full of clothing, wipes and diapers, thanks to our wonderful church family and his cousin Kyle.
Another Boppy pillow that actually doubles as a pregnancy pillow that was given to me by my former boss. Lollee made the cover out of some nursery fabric and this will stay here for home use. We will keep the other one in the car to tote around everywhere.
Well, folks, there it is. Like I said, the only piece missing is the rocker and I just have to settle a time with my truck-driving father to get it over here and have Lollee recover it with some soft fabric. I am way more than pleased with the way it turned out...it couldn't have been more of what I wanted for my boy. I just hope he likes it as much as I do!
"Pairs of all creatures that have the breath of life in them came to Noah and entered the ark. The animals going in were male and female of every living thing, as God had commanded Noah." Genesis 7:15-16
Lord, please let our son be obedient to you just as Noah was.
Mommy and Daddy love you so very much, little boy, and we can't wait to meet you in 10 days or so.
With love,
Hannah Elise
