Activity Gym

It's been a long journey finding an activity gym that isn't a eye sore for me. Finally based on a recommendation from a like-minded friend - I discovered Skip Hop. And there I found what I've been looking for - the Treetop Activity Gym! It's covered with plush owls (which if you know me...you're already aware I am obsessed with) and a leafy tree graphic that looks very similar to that on our bedding. It couldn't get much closer to perfect than this...at least not for me. Love it.

Personalized Baby Growth Chart

When I saw this growth chart from InkTreePress, it was so perfect for our nursery that I couldn't get over it.

What I love so much about this growth chart is that it matches the animal theme that we have planned for our nursery. And, the customization of adding the baby's name is such a cute touch. It even comes 8 colorway options - one of which is a yellow, orange, green and blue color scheme that will match our nursery decor perfectly (see below for that version).

26 Weeks

The Best High Chair on the Planet

Anyone who starts looking around for modern baby stuff will quickly come across one brand that stands out...Stokke. The high chairs and cribs designed by this Norwegian company are amazing and look like nothing else you'll find. I fell in love the the Tripp Trapp the second I laid eyes on it. The perfect high-chair? It's possible.

Let me first say that I have friends who own this high chair and get annoyed quickly by the mess they end up with on their dining tables. This high chair has no built in try - baby eats at the table like a normal human being. I love the idea of having your baby closer while you eat...so I think I might be into the idea. The seat height is also adjustable and the weight of a full grown adult can be supported by this chair...so kids can sit in this chair well beyond babyhood.

The Walnut finish looks like it fits the bill and will closely match my dining table (I hope)!

This chair also has some cool accessories, including a table tray and patterned cushion.

Mobile Options

It's amazing the range in prices for nursery mobiles, especially when you're being picky like me. Here are 3 I love at different price points.

Migi Little Tree Mobile (which matches our bedding & valances) $45.00

Birdynumnumdesign Free as a Bird Mobile $180.00

Jungle Play Mobile (Organic Cotton) $60.00

Changing Pad Cover

This organic changing pad is a rare find. Most changing pads I've seen are terry cloth (tacky), but not this one. It's 100% organic jersey knit and comes in all three colors we're using in the nursery (fern green, cornhusk yellow and mineral blue). Now if only I could decide which color?

Owl Lamp Vision

Sadly, this owl lamp from Target is out of stock. It comes with a black shade which I don't love...maybe I would go with just a solid yellow shade. I'll keep checking to see if it comes back into stock.

Nursery Rug Selection

At first I thought zebra print was the way to go...but I changed my mind quickly since things will quickly get out of control with the leaf motif and animal print. So, here are the two top runners.

Yellow shaggy rug or this celery version

Yellow Fallon Rug

Nursery - Quick Mock up

Nursery Painting - Behr Grass Cloth

So, yesterday I got my sample jar of Mythic Autumn Bloom paint and as it turns out...it just isn't as lime green as I thought it would be. And as I have been staring at the valance I bought to color match (the one that matches the Little Tree bedding)...I realized that our downstairs bathroom color (Behr Grass Cloth) might be perfect for the nursery.

Today I decided to try hanging the valance in the bathroom as a test and here's how it looked. I'm thinking we found a winning paint color...except I'll be having Mythic color match for me since we need a completely non-toxic paint and I don't believe Behr makes one.

Land, Sea & Air

Kate Durkin's handmade stuffed toys come in a variety of nursery ready colors to fit any decor. I am especially in love with this set - called Land, Sea & Air. When I order mine, I'll probably get a Celery Giraffe, Pale Yellow Owl, and Brown Whale.

Nursery Art

How adorable, wow I love this trio of prints from petitcollage. They colors would be perfect with what we're planning for our nursery and I love the menagerie theme. We don't plan on going theme heavy, but there will be jungle influence here and there in the room. These prints look great framed and matted, but I can't afford $65.00 for each - so I might purchase this Natural Bamboo Frame or this Ikea Ribba Frame to finish the look. If I use the Ikea frame - we're talking $25.00 for the matted print....that's a $40.00 savings!

Nursery Furniture Trials and Tribulations

Just when my thoughts were coming together about the nursery....the husband threw in a monkey wrench! This happens more often than expected. In this case, finding out our baby is a boy has my husband convinced that a white crib is too girlish. I disagree of course but heard him out. He'd like an espresso crib, which really doesn't go with anything we have picked out so far. So, I offered a compromise, Natural Birch - that light colored wood often associated with eco-friendly design.

So, here are some candidates:


Ikea Malm Dresser $179.00

Sorelle City Lights Commuter Crib $369.99

Better Basics Harper Crib $500.00

Ikea's Gulliver Crib $139.00 (crazy price I know...but this crib seems to have good reviews!)

Oeuf Sparrow Crib $690.00

Oeuf Robin Crib $565.00

Pali Milano Crib $539.00

Ikea Mandal Dresser $199.00

Elephant Hamper Goodness

When I first saw this Rattan Elephant Hamper on House of Turquoise...it was love at first sight. I knew it had to make its way into my nursery. The only question now is - what color?

The white and natural are both gorgeous..but I am leaning towards the natural. It will bring out the brown accents in the bedding and prevent the room from being overly white. We are planning to have a white crib and white dresser, so the natural rattan will balance the room nicely.

P.S. For another gorgeous nursery that House of Turquoise introduced me too - check this out.

Nursery Planning

We're going for a gender neutral look in the nursery...although we do know that we're having a boy. When decorating, I often find it is easiest to pick one item for inspiration...and run with it.

In this case, the room is going to take it's color cues and theme from Migi's Little Tree Crib Set.

The colors in this crib set include robin's nest blue, yellow, green and brown.

So, here's what I'm thinking!

- White crib furniture set (Pali's Emila is gorgeous and converts to a fullsize bed)

- Avocado Green Walls (maybe Mythic Autumn Bloom)

- Yellow Lullaby glider, ottoman and rug

- Blue valances that match the bedding

Formal Attire for Mid-Pregnancy

Mid-Pregnancy I come to find out is the time you really actually have a bump that doesn't just look like 1 too many donuts anymore. I feel like I look pregnant instead of looking like I'm just letting myself go...which is so liberating. Instead of trying to hide my belly I can finally show it off!

But, for a recent wedding I attended I still felt that a paper bag waist dress was the way to go...so I opted for this Eliza J. dress! It came in a gorgeous coral shade and fit in all the right places. It looked great and Baby Walsh had plenty of breathing room...which was really most important.

I am not ready to wear flats with a formal dress, so found that 1 inch heels are just fine at this stage in the pregnancy game. No sacrificing sexy just yet!