Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Preparing

I am not sure I am going to know what to do with myself when I go back to work on January 4th! Between the 20 inches of snow dumped on us a week and a half ago, and now Christmas break, having a 2 week vacation has been wonderful. I could really get used to this!! It has allowed us to slow down, spend time with each other and with family, and get some things accomplished here at home.

We've spent a lot of time preparing for Eliana's arrival during our time off. It has been an absolute joy to anticipate meeting her in March and bringing her home. Yet as I have shared before, all of the preparations are incredibly bittersweet. It is a strange thing to be doing for your second child what you were never able to do for your first. In some ways, it has deepened my sense of loss as I am walking through all that was missed as we prepared for Isaac's arrival. Instead of decorating his nursery, we were choosing a cemetery plot. Instead of a closet full of cute clothes, we were looking for that perfect outfit in which he would be laid to rest.

And while these preparations have been bittersweet, they truly have been sweet. God has been gracious in really allowing us to experience that as I made wall letters for Eliana's room... as we hung shelves... as I washed her little clothes and hung them back up in her closet. We even found a way to include a little bit of Isaac in her room (look closely at the pictures below).

So without further adieu, here are a few pictures of the preparations we've been making in Eliana's room. Enjoy!

A view of her (tiny) room from the doorway. The fabric hanging from the blinds are swatches we're considering for the valence we're having made.



Eliana's crib with her bedding, and the wall letters I made.



The shelves we hung over her dresser (that will have a changing pad on it). Shelves are a little high to allow my wonderfully tall husband room to change her :)



Crib and wall letters again

34 comments:

Jus and Kat said...

You made those wall letters? They're incredibly adorable. Eliana's room is beautiful, but I can only imagine the bittersweet feelings that you're experiencing.

Even though we never got to bring Dylan into his nursery, we did go through all the motions of decorating it. We decorated in unisex colors because we weren't going to find out, and we decided not to change anything at all.

It's extremely bittersweet when we brought our daughter home to her nursery, knowing Dylan never even got to see it. I feel like, from here on out, it's all going to be a balancing act between missing Dylan and being the best mother that I can be to Addy.

Hugs Stacy!
Kat @ In Dylan's Memory

Poppy said...

You've done a wonderful job preparing a room for your daughter. I love the little bit of Isaac you've included. He belongs there.

Best wishes to you and Spencer as your await the arrival of your baby girl...

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful room for your little girl! I love the wall letters! And you said you painted them? I wish I could do something like that!

Stacy D said...

Thank you :) The letters aren't painted... they are covered with scrapbooking paper! That's about as crafty as I get :)

Tammy On the Go said...

she'll be pretty in pink!

Stephanie said...

Her room is just beautiful!!
I love her letters! You did a great job!
Praying for all of you!!

Cate said...

Beautiful! Our first baby has their own special shelf in our daughters room. Every emotion you have described in this entry is exactly the way I felt putting her room together this time around.

Very well done!

Audra M said...

I stopped reading your blog for a while because we moved and I had to go back and find your pregnancy announcement! Congratulations!!!

I don't know if I've ever commented before but I have read your blog since right after Issac was born. I felt compelled to respond this time as you and I now have daughters with the same name. And if your little Eliana is anything like mine, you are blessed indeed!Total sweetie. I've always thought her name had something to do with it. Either she's sweet because of the name or (more than likely) a loving Heavenly Father gave us the name for her. Mine is almost six years older than yours.

Again, congrats. I have uttered many prayers in your behalf the last year+. More are coming your way now!

Kamaile said...

Love it! So happy for you and your husband!

Jordan said...

It's adorable! I think a green valence would be pretty against the pink wall color. Especially since there's other little touches of green in the room! :)

Delayna said...

Eliana's room is beautiful :) We are thinking of you guys.

Erin said...

I would for sure go with the green for the valence. I love all the pink and think the green would go great. I think if you went with the pink it would be too much. My daughters room is Pink and green right now and I just love it! I love the wall letters they are super cute.

Thinking about you!

Terri said...

Gorgeous! Looks like it's out of a catalog!

Sonya said...

beautiful. I am so excited for you both! I love the wall letters. You did an amazing job and what an awesome way to incorporate Isaac. The little blue bunny and his picture.

Jaclyn said...

Cute nursery! Love the scrapbook letters...too cute! I can't wait to see pictures of Eliana IN her room!

Kristina said...

The letters are gorgeous as is the entire room!

I am guessing that you incorporated Isaac into the room with the picture above the changing table. It looks great and I love that you brought that remembrance of him into her room!

Lily Dawn said...

beautiful room!! =)

Desiree said...

Her room looks beautiful! You did a great job.

SUSI said...

Eliana's room is really beautiful and it is really coming together. I love the picture of Isaac on the shelve above her changing. He will be watching right at her when she sleeps in her beautiful crib.

I think I have mentioned to you that we are slowly starting to make a few little changes to Lucas' room to prepare for the arrival of his little brother. It is bittersweet as well....I really don't want to change anything but I also want to make it special in its own way for our little peanut.

Can't wait to see the room in person.

Hugs,
Susi

Cheryl said...

Her room is beautiful! I love the picture of Isaac and think that the other girls are right about the green for the valance. Congrats and prayers are coming your way.

Cheryl

Laura McCann said...

I like the green valance fabric. The green offsets the pink so beautifully.
I truly hope that 2010 brings you all the joy your heart can hold in the tiny form of a perfectly beautiful baby girl to fill your arms, and much comfort to fill the empty spot in your sweet heart. Isaac has got to be so proud to be the son of parents such as you and Spencer. Eliana will be too. Best of everything to you and yours in 2010.

Kacey said...

I just revisited your blog, and its been a while. Congrats on your baby girl!!!!! I got chills once I saw this! God is so good!!

We start our 1st ivf cycle in Jan.
Hopefully we'll have a blessed year as well!

hisplannotmine.blogspot.com

Sarah E @ theteacherswife.com said...

The room looks great, Stacy. I love how you included Isaac too. So precious!

jessduq_99 said...

the nursery is adorable... love the pic of her Angel and Big Brother Isaac... he will always be watching over her!
Wishing you a wonderful new year full of health, happiness, and most of all love...

jessduq_99 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Crissie T. said...

Love how you have Isaac watching over Eliana in her gorgeous nursery! Can't wait for you to have some pictures of her to add to the beauty of the room. You and Spencer have done an amazing job decorating...what a peaceful and cozy room!

erin w. said...

I love it! You've brought it together so well and I definitely think that Isaac should be in Eliana's room, and how perfectly he is!

Holly said...

Eliana's room is beautiful! I love the pinkness of it!! And I see Isaac's photo on the shelf!

Stacie said...

her room is lovely. i love the letters on the wall. great job on your handiwork. (and i love the green fabric!)

Laura said...

How was your first day back? Mine was good. In some ways it's nice to be back in the "routine" yet I really could get used to being at home with my kids. Praying for you that the Lord will just encase you with JOY for Eliana's arrival.

Laura - Ex. Dir. said...

The room looks gorgeous! Keeping you in my thoughts as you journey towards Eliana's arrival.

Once A Mother said...

beautiful room. i love the letters and know eliana will too. keeping you in my thoughts and prayers as you navigate the time until your little girl arrives. Peace xx

Carol said...

Everything is ready and God is right there with you, and Isaac is there too. I can not imagine the rollercoaster of emotions you must be feeling. In your sorrow, find joy in your beautiful new little one. Blessings!

Jacks grandmom said...

what a precious room! I can't believe you made those letters yourself! What a great job- and i did spot little Isaac on that second shelf with the little blue elephant! Great job!
Love,Aunt Robin