When Ben and I started planning Lincoln’s nursery we found ourselves with, well, no plans at all! Not huge fans of traditional nursery designs and color schemes, we both could agree that we wanted a neutral-toned, calming room with light-colored accents that would send Lincoln straight to dreamland while we rocked him to sleep each night…plus neither of us wanted to re-paint the already taupe-colored walls. I know.
(PS is there anything more fresh than a baby in a white onesie?!)
At any rate, full of things we picked out from here and there, I think we’ve ended up with a very soothing and relaxing room that Lincoln can put his own touch on when he’s a bit older. Welcome to the nursery!
In one corner we’ve got the glider. If you remember, Ben and I went back and forth on this baby for MONTHS. I wanted something that glided, he wanted something that rocked, neither of us could decide if we wanted a chair that reclined… In the end we chose a glider/ottoman combo from Buy Buy Baby (so sorry I forget the name of it!) It glides like a dream and after a week or so the cushy padded seat started to settle and get more comfortable. I kind of wish it reclined a little, but it’s not a deal breaker. I’m happy with our purchase, and we were able to use their 20% off store coupon on it.
You may recognize the curtains from the kitchen in our old house. Drilled ’em in myself! Our new kitchen didn’t need curtains and the light blue, navy, and brown waves in the fabric design went perfectly with the rest of the room. I got them at IKEA a few years ago and I think they still stock them.
Above the rocker we hung a sweet print our friends Kristy and Jeff got us (locals it’s from Suite Dreams.) Again – the taupey-brown shade fit right in and I can imagine Lincoln and I reading it together each morning when he wakes up. : )
Across the way is a bookshelf I picked up from Target. The espresso finish matches the rest of the furniture and right now it holds Lincoln’s books, stuffed animals, and other odds and ends.
Oh hi!
Although he won’t be wearing shoes for many, many months, the little man already has quite the collection, from the shoes we used to surprise my family at the gender reveal (which I remember thinking there was no possible way a baby’s foot could fit inside because they were so little, and now that I realize how tiny his feet are they seem like oversized clown shoes!) his first pair of Air Jordans from our friend John, and even woven flip flops from our friend Lindsey. Squeal – too cute!
I loved, loved, loved reading as a child (seriously, loved) and I hope Lincoln does too. We’re slowly but surely building up his book collection. What are your favorite books to read to your babies? An assortment of loveys are all ready to go, too!
I know, I know – time for bed. I’m almost done!
Caddy corner to the bookshelf is the dresser/changing table. This is a dresser from Babi Italia’s Ashville line that I was gifted along with the crib I’m getting to next. This is a sturdy and beautifully-built piece that Lincoln will keep in his bedroom forever. Still trying to decide what to put above it. I’m thinking a giant map/mural of the world to pass my love of travel and exploring onto the little guy would look good.
We also have a Diaper Champ Deluxe which I like because it uses regular 13 gallon kitchen bags vs bags that you have to buy specifically to fit the diaper pail. Sometimes I wish it was a bit bigger, but then again, that’s probably by design!
On top of the dresser you’ve got the usual suspects – wipes, diapers, Vaseline, etc.
I went to Bed Bath & Beyond and raided the bin section for these guys, which have turned out to be so handy for holding everything from diapers and socks, to toys and bath time stuff. Use the 20% off coupons for each one and you’re golden.
Finally, zee main event – the crib! This is the Babi Italia Ashville Crib in espresso and Ben and I both just love it. It’s extremely sturdy and transitions into a toddler bed, day bed, and finally a full bed whenever he’s ready for it. So handy!
We usually keep this on the back of the crib, out of Lincoln’s reach, but I had to show you the farm animal quilt my friends at the Iowa Food and Family Project gave us when Lincoln was born. It is ADORABLE. I know L will love picking out each animal and making their individual sounds when he plays on it in the future.
Up above the crib is a set of prints I got from Etsy. Aren’t they great?? I love how the blue chevron in the third print matches the chevron in my favorite crib sheet. I heart chevron. : )
Lincoln does too!
Thanks for coming along on our tour!
Tracy 09.09.2013
We read all the time to my 2 year old. Right now we have been reading Green Eggs and Ham almost every night before bed.
I’m pregnant now with baby #2 and would Love the crib! Its so pretty.
Debbie Greiner 09.09.2013
Crib giveaway entry. :)
Thanks,
Debbie
Brittany B 09.09.2013
Wow, that is beautiful! I love how it converts to other sizes of beds as your child grows – perfect!
Keeley A. 09.09.2013
I tried entering the giveaway, but Rafflecopter says it’s over but your post says it doesn’t end until tonight?
Meghan Finley 09.08.2013
It turned out wonderfully. What a lucky baby! Thanks for the chance
Leslie 09.08.2013
Favs:
All the Bear books – start with Bear Snores On
Jamberry
When he’s older anything by Oliver Jeffers
Sara S. 09.08.2013
Love your nursery, so cute! And L couldnt be any sweeter, what a precious little boy! I also loved reading as a child, and I still do. I was so excited when I had our first child that I went a little crazy with buying baby/children books. There were so many I wanted. I’d have to say one of our favorites is The Going To Bed Book. Two others that your little man will probably enjoy in a couple years are The Little Blue Truck and Goodnight Goodnight Construction Site. They are both great rhyming books and very cute.
Kimberli Bean 09.08.2013
Beautiful nursery!! Your crib is gorgeous & his farm quilt is adorable! My all time favorite book is Love You Forever, a definite must for a boy mama, I still get teary when I read it to my little guys (5 & 2 yrs old)!! http://robertmunsch.com/book/love-you-forever
Cindy 09.07.2013
I will echo all of the comments about Sandra Boynton’s books – our 3.5yo has loved them from the get-go and still requests them on occasion, even though she’s moved on to longer, non-board books by now. Two of our favs are The Belly Button Book and Pajama Time – big sis loves doing the PJ dance with her baby brother. So cute!
Your little Lincoln is so precious! My baby is 5 months old now and I love the sitting up and rolling over phase but I so miss the sleepy newborn phase! It goes so fast!!! Great job on the nursery & thanks for sharing.
Melissa 09.06.2013
If you’re looking for a world map, we got this one from World Market for our little guy’s nursery. He was born 6 days after Lincoln. This map was on sale when we got it so I bet it will go on sale again. It is seriously one of our favorite things in his nursery :)
http://www.worldmarket.com/product/mobile/six-piece-world-map-set-set-of-6.do?sortby=ourPicks&from=Search
Kristen 09.06.2013
Buzz Buzz Busy Bee is a current favorite in our house. Let Me Hold You Longer by Karen Kingsbury is one of my faves…although it makes me cry every.single.time. Bear Snores On, all of the llama llama books, and the Pete the Cat New Shoes book all are in our regular rotation at 10 months.
Jill 09.06.2013
Love those prints! The yellow/grey version was the first “inspiration” piece I found on Etsy when planning our nursery. So cute. That quilt is adorable too :)
Lindsey L. 09.06.2013
Love the nursery. Calm and soothing and perfect. We love reading and lots of our favorites are already listed in the comments. I few off the top of my head that I don’t think I saw listed that we loved even when my son was less than a year old are the Dr. Seuss board books (The Eye Book and The Ear Book are two of our favorites), Peek a Who? by Nina Laden, Llama Llama Zippity Zoom and Llama Llama Hoppity Hop, Usborne’s “That’s Not My…” series were our very first favorites (they have tons, too –That’s not my tractor, bear, puppy, monkey, train, truck, etc….), I Love You Through and Through and Good Night, I Love You by Bernadette Rosetti-Shustak, Tumble Bumble by Felicia Bond, Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell, Tails by Matthew Van Fleet (we also love his Heads and Alphabet books), Snappy Little Farmyard, Duck & Goose 123 by Tad Hills (my son loves the pumpkin one, too), Hug Hug by Lorie Ann Grover, Trains by Donald Crews, Raffi’s Wheels on the Bus, The Eensy Weensy Spider by Mary Ann Hoberman, and Dinosaurs Galore by Paul & Henrietta Stickland (Dinosaurs Roar is the non-pop-up version and Dinosaur Opposites is the boardbook version, but all are basically the same, so you only need one). I really could go on and on..oh, one last one. The ones we liked a lot for vocabulary building, color learning, etc. were the Bright Baby books by Roger Priddy. They have bright, colorful, clear photographs that my son (and I) loved…particularly the ones where there is only one photograph per page. We really liked Bright Baby’s Colors, First Words, and Mealtime books, but honestly they’re all good.
Candy 09.06.2013
Lincoln is adorable! I want to squeeze him! Congratulations!
Sharla 09.06.2013
My kids and I LOVE books. Sandra Boynton has been one of my kids favorite authors as infant/toddlers. “Moo, Baa, La La La!” is hands down their favorite one. I have had it memorized since my first daughter was born nine years ago and now my six year old is reading it to my youngest. Books are always the best gifts!
Ashley @ Wishes and Dishes 09.06.2013
Love the nursery!! It’s too cute! I like your neutral colors idea…so much easier and still adorable!
Julie 09.06.2013
I see you already have the book I would have recommended – Goodnight Moon. My daughter could point out the “hiding” mouse on each page before she was even a year old. We also loved anything Dr. Suess. I read to her all the time from the moment she was born, & at 13, she is now a voracious reader! :)
LOVE the crib!! & the curtains!
I do believe Lincoln has his daddy’s mouth. :)
Nicole 09.06.2013
One of my children’s favorites “Hand Hand Fingers Thumb” by Al Perkins, from the Dr. Seuss collection.
Wende 09.06.2013
I love that blanket please more info on that. Is it something we could buy!!!!
Jamie 09.06.2013
would be awesome to win a crib! Due in January and going to go finalize crib/dresser plans later in the month! Would love to get lucky this time!
Everyone has great ideas on books I also really like “Bear Snores On”. Just a fun one, and I had that thing memorized in a very short amount of time. :)