W's Playroom

Walter's playroom is easily my favorite room in our home and it was the most fun to outfit and decorate! I began creating this space when he was 6 months old. We are so blessed to be a part of a large family that gives us tons of hand-me-down toys, but we needed a place to put them all! As he got older, the toys got bigger, and a small basket in the living room was no longer able to do the job. 

^^ It was essential to create a space to hold our everyday clutter. Even though Walter is just a small toddler, he accumulates a lot of baggage! We needed a space to hold his library book tote, diaper bags, coats, hats & gloves, bike helmets, shoes... you name it. 

I found industrial wire storage baskets and hooks at Restoration Hardware Baby & Child that I fell in love with, however, they were too expensive. I decided to stroll through HomeGoods to find an alternative, and I found this identical wall storage unit for $30! Click here to see the resemblance! 

W could have all the toys in the world, and he'd rather read a book. I'd say 80% of our day is spent flipping through books, pointing at pictures, learning new words, and then re-reading them. We are constantly making trips to the library to pick out new ones! Because this is one of his favorite things to do, I wanted to make a cozy nook for him to enjoy his books! 

^^ The toy basket is from HomeGoods, the sheepskin rug and pillow are Ikea. Links here & here.

 ^^ Again, I wanted to find some wall storage for certain larger books. We keep the thick board books at his level, so he can grab them anytime he wants to read them, but the more delicate (at risk for being ripped) books we keep up high so we can help him pick them out, read them with him, and show him how to gently turn the pages. 

  ^^ I also found these wall baskets at HomeGoods. I highly recommend browsing their organization aisles if you're looking for toy/book storage for your little one's playroom or nursery. They always have a huge variety to choose from and they're super affordable. 

^^ I chose to decorate the room with black, white, and pops of color. The polka-dot rug is from Ikea - Link here!

^^ This table and chair set from Ikea was the perfect color pop to add to the room. 

Link here & here. 

^^ I also wanted to dedicate one wall of this room to his artwork and things he will be learning. His current "art" consists of scribbles, but I love them all and hang them proudly!  I found these educational posters in the $1 bins at Target and had them laminated! 

This art wall is made from a simple curtain rod wire from Ikea. Link here. 

^^ I debated creating a chalkboard wall for his room; painting one of the walls in chalkboard paint, so that he can draw on the wall directly. I was nervous that he would begin drawing on all of the walls, so I decided to keep it simple with an easel. This easel is AWESOME. One side is a chalkboard, and the other is a white dry-erase board. It also has a spool for drawing paper. This is from Ikea, link here.

^^ In deciding what toy storage to purchase for this space, it was important for it to be accessible and functional. This shelving unit is the perfect height for any baby or toddler. I chose to use storage cube bins on the bottom row of shelves so that he could easily pull them out and grab the toys inside at a young age. I left the second row of shelves open for books and larger toys. This unit and bins come in many colors and are from Ikea. Links here & here.

  ^^ Other than reading books and playing outside, Walter loves cooking. The moment he hears me clink pots together, turn on the oven, or open a cabinet in the kitchen, he comes RUNNING. He must help me stir the oatmeal, cut the bananas, scoop grinds into the coffee pot, and he seriously can't wait to help me unload the silverware from the dishwasher one by one (although I know this will soon change). It takes me three times as long to make dinner sometimes, but he finds so much joy in helping me. 

^^ Despite "gender roles" and general gifts to give your son for Christmas, we got him a kitchen! He is absolutely obsessed with it. He spends so much time turning the oven knobs, loading the oven with waffles, and washing his hands in the sink while he makes a "wshh, shhh, wshh" water sound. We spent some time searching for the right kitchen and asked some friends for their reccommendations. We landed on this wood KidKraft Vintage Kitchen. It comes in many fun colors. Link here! 

The play food is Melissa and Doug. Link here. The pots and pans and dishes on the play table are Green Toys. Link here. 

^^  Our friends got W a growth chart for his first birthday, so we secured it to the wall in his playroom. I love the idea of recording his growth so we can watch him grow! 

 Walters playroom has become so special to my family. It's been so fun watching W grow and learn to play in this space and I know we'll be able to use it for years to come! 

Value

News Year Day has always been one of my favorite days. Friends and family are all on vacation from work, and it allows us time to take a deep breath after the holidays as we prepare to step into a New Year. The hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping and events have come and gone. We are given a moment of rest, a moment to refocus, a moment to confess our shortcomings and achievements of the past year, and a moment to create new goals we hope to conquer in the New Year. 

Since having Walter, New Years Eve has lost it's spark. Cocktails and a late night out are generally a recipe for a groggy morning, and with a busy toddler, neither of us want that. So we had a low-key evening at home with some close-friends, some who decided to spend the night for our morning celebration. Since most of our friends also have young kiddos, we chose to do our "real" New Years party on the morning of the First. We had so much fun hosting our friends, neighbors, and family for brunch where we enjoyed mimosas, french toast, muffins, fruit, quiche, bacon, cheese grits, and ham. After our celebratory feast, we loaded the kids up in strollers and wagons and walked down to the neighborhood park to play until nap time. This was by far my favorite New Year's celebration ever, and we can't wait to host it again next year. 

Along with the celebration of the New Year comes goal setting, resolution making, and prioritizing. Before diving into a fully loaded Spring semester in Art and Design School, I had a laundry list of errands to run... one of those included taking my rings to get inspected at the jeweler. Because our jeweler is located 30 minutes from our house, I have not made it a priority to have it done. I'm embarrassed to say it has been over a year (just before Walter was born) since I took them in. I took the Saturday before school began to drive out to meet my mother and sister-in-law for lunch and have my rings inspected. Let's be honest, I wasn't so concerned for my rings well-being, I just wanted them clean! The diamonds were visibly fogged with residue from everyday wear. Throughout the past year, my poor rings have encountered acrylic paint, poopy diapers, apple sauce and yogurt spills, nightly dishwashing, sweat and exercise, charcoal and pastel dust, and salty bay water to name a few. 

After handing over my rings and waiting a few minutes for the jeweler to inspect them, she came back to report that 8 diamonds were lose and the platinum needed serious cleaning. She continued to explain that it was a miracle I hadn't lost any stones yet. Even though they're insured, my heart was so heavy but equally thankful that nothing had happened to my original diamonds. She continued on, begging me to bring them in for inspection every four months so that they can remain clean and safe. 

I was without my rings for three days while they tightened, cleaned, and polished them. I was disappointed in myself for not taking care of something so important to me, that I once protected like my life depended on it. 

When I received my rings three days later, I opened the box and had an immediate flashback to the first time I saw my engagement ring, when Matt proposed. I was that same giddy smiling girl again, continuously glancing down at them, making sure nothing "dirtied" them, and unconsciously showing them off to the cashier at the grocery store as I swiped my card. The feeling of something pure and new, a symbol of unconditional love that I was so proud to wear. 

Although it has only been (almost) three years, these rings and my marriage have become such a part of me that I don't think twice about them sometimes. They are both engrained in me through my biggest joys and my lowest lows. They've both been cherished, admired, and held with such pride and high esteem. They've both been challenged, taken for granted, and at times neglected. 

Just like my ring, the uniqueness of Matt's constant servant heart can be taken for granted. His pure love and happiness in Walter fascinates me. I get lost watching Walter admire his Daddy while they play, but at times I am too busy to slow down and notice. The sincerity of his determination and pride in taking care of his family above all else can be viewed as just one of his responsibilities. Just like my ring, the million reasons why I love Matt can become foggy if I don't let them shine bright. 

My best friend recently and suddenly lost her husband and new Father of their baby girl. We have lived our lives together: running sprint sets together at field hockey practice, attending school dances in the same limo, we graduated, I watched her fall in love, be a devoted wife, become an amazing selfless mother, and walk through life's unimaginable with the most steadfast faith I've ever encountered. The week of Christmas she asked me to please never take Matt for granted. Those words reached every corner of my heart... and I promised her I never would. 

Do I make it my top priority to make sure that Matt knows I value and love him every day?

I look back at 2014 as an amazing year for my family. Parenting Walter has brought obvious challenges to our marriage, but those challenges have transformed the love and respect we have for one another: I have felt our foundation of love grow deeper and stronger than I knew possible. 

I'm walking into this New Year with few "new ideas" and goals (graduation!!!). Instead of a new resolution, I have new realization of the meaning of value. Value, by definition, is one's judgement of what is important in life. My realization and top priority for 2015 is to intentionally honor the valuable relationships, people, and experiences that God has placed so gracefully in my life.  

Motherhood Friendships

Last year, Matt and I were thrilled to move into our new (to us) home. We are now walking distance from the bay, a neighborhood playground, and a bike trail that leads us into the State Park. These kid friendly amenities have created a community of young families. Walter was just 4 months old when we moved, so most of my outings consisted of grocery runs and strolls to the park. Breastfeeding around the clock and broken sleep during the night leaves any mother on the brink of insanity. Needless to say, most of my alone time was spent eating, sleeping, or showering. Being the pioneer of most of my friends, I was the lone wolf with a baby. Although it is always a complete breath of fresh air when I get to spend time with my girlfriends who don’t have children, I’ve come to realize the necessity of friendship between mothers. 

 Last Spring, I was on one of our daily walks to the park when I met my neighbor, Anne. I propped Walter up in a baby swing, and casually greeted the mom and baby boy next to us. Anne quickly introduced herself, asked Walters age, and for my cell phone number! We soon realized that we live just 5 houses away from each other. It was as if we could have burst into tears and hugged, right there at the playground! I laugh thinking back at this meeting because of how excited we were to find each other. 

Our boys are just 5 months apart, and have become best buddies (and so have we). It is so fun and equally beneficial for our now toddlers (whatttt?!) to have play time together. I’ve so enjoyed watching them learn to eat, crawl, walk, and explore together, but more than anything, I’ve gained an understanding of the importance of motherhood friendship. 

^^Hugs... melts my heart!

As I enter each new phase of my life: school, sports, college, marriage, and now motherhood, I’ve recognized that the friendships I chose in each phase really sculpted my experience. When I became a mom, I quickly realized that “my experience” no longer just includes myself; it also includes my son. 

Since Walter has arrived, I’ve made it a personal goal to become intentional in my relationships and who I allow sculpt my view of motherhood. The phrase, “it takes a village” to raise a child is the plain truth. I am constantly seeking sound advice, while observing what needs may be unique to Walter. In these mother-to-mother relationships, I have made most gains in receiving perspective. It can be a little too easy to complain as a mother, how emotionally draining and physically tasking this role is. Sometimes it takes venting to a fellow mother who has walked through the same steps to make you realize this “rough patch” is just a season, or something is not quite as big a deal as I thought. Other times, it takes just a brief encounter with my friend and neighbor, Erin, who has FIVE children who she mothers and home schools with patience and grace. My support gives me strength through perspective, what a delicate GIFT it is to raise a child. 

As iron sharpens iron, so one person does another.  Proverbs 27:17

The thing I find most important within motherhood support is mutual respect- no judgment or condescending entitlement because motherhood is hard enough. No other mom will feed, speak to, discipline, potty-train, or teach their child the way you do. Thank God they don’t because each child is individually unique. Between mothers, there is only room for sharing, encouraging, prayer, problem-solving, and play-dates. Motherhood is not a competition, it is a community.

These friendships have become priceless to me. When Walter was born, I was given countless flowers, cards, and baby clothes, but the newly seasoned mom sent me a bouquet of Starbucks gift cards and oatmeal raisin cookies on a stick. When Walter was sleep-training and it hurt every ounce of my body to let him cry, the mom of three encouraged me with tears of her own. When breastfeeding became a burden, that reassuring phone call reminded me of it’s blessing. When Walter cut his molars and I didn’t sleep sound for days, the morning texts asking if last nights sleep was better were more rejuvenating than a cup of coffee. When Walter had a fever of 105, she was over within minutes with a stocked bag of snacks, pacifiers, blankets, and an air mattress for the hospital. When we were away on girls weekend shopping the day away, and they took breaks with me so I never had to pump alone. These are moments that I will never forget because a firm foundation in motherhood friendship fosters strong mothers. 

Since becoming Walters mom, I've found the value and wisdom I gain from other mother's hearts. 

So when you see that sleep deprived mom in your baby’s story time class or un-manicured mom playing by you at the park, step out and connect, because you might just be the support she needs.