Little Converse from their sweet and amazing Auntie Amy in Florida.
Geez…I have wanted to get this done for SO LONG. And I have just been SO BUSY!! It seems this continued to take a back seat because quite honestly, more important things keep coming up that need to get done. But I have to be honest, if I don’t take these photos of the nursery before they arrive and of all the work we’ve accomplished, I won’t get a chance to do it!
I enjoy having photos of everything before they arrive. It’s the “nesting” that experts talk about and it’s so true. As I plan and prepare, go through all of the necessary steps to get ready, go to all of my doctor appointments, read book after book, stress out over their movement or lack of movement in the womb, it’s always helpful to take a moment out of the day and look at their cute, little tiny newborn clothes hanging in their closet waiting their warm, cuddly bodies. It’s fun to daydream about their arrival. This is time to be alone with your thoughts of them before all of the chaos begins. It’s really important time to take in my opinion, too. My daughter loves to run around in their nursery and she is familiar now when we say, “Let’s go to your brothers’ room!” She runs excitedly. (Will this excitement last? Probably not! Will she be excited at all? Probably not here in another week! But that’s a whole different post topic!)
I love looking at their little clothes hanging in their closet awaiting their cuddly, tiny, warm bodies!
Their first Christmas and they will be 21 days old!
As I promised, here are the photos of the nursery now that it’s finally complete. Well, we still have things to do, but the majority of it is there. We still have another piece coming, the hutch that sits on top of the long dresser, which will be their main bookcase.
Twin Nursery Inspiration Board
This is the nursery when we moved in July 1st, 2014.
The nursery after all of the repairs and new carpet, new paint, new closet doors, new window treatments.
The Twins’ Nursery Reveal
This was a lot of fun to imagine and a very different process than that of my daughter’s. This time, I took inspiration from objects that I relate to “boys” in general but also resonate with our family and specifically, with my husband as a child, my dad, their grandfather and my brother, their uncle. I also took inspiration from the great city we live in, Chicago, another amazing city, New York City and our country, the USA. It’s very important to me that my children grow up knowing the 50 states and their capitals (how to spell and pronounce them) and the 44 US presidencies. History is important and children that grow up learning and understanding history will have a natural appreciation for the importance of it. And of course, books to read. “The child who reads is the child who leads.” I think it will be fun for them to dream of visiting different states, different countries and a dream of mine is to take them to the Statue of Liberty in New York.
Another angle of the nursery.
Looking back towards the entryway door.
The United States of America Map will eventually hang above the nursing chair next to one of the closets.
Newborn Socks for tiny, skinny baby legs.
The artwork I referred to back a few blogs ago in The Twins Nursery Inspiration Board post came to life when I identified the objects/subjects I wanted to feature in their nursery and I photographed them. Then I had a Photoshop effect added after removing the background and had them printed on canvas. Instead of purchasing a gallery of photos of generic footballs, soccer balls and baseballs, or dump trucks, pick-up trucks and construction vehicles or baby giraffes, baby elephants and baby crocodiles, I wanted something that they would stare at from their cribs that meant something to them. That their daddy or I or their big sister Mattelyn could tell them stories about. It’s also fun to tell them that mommy took all of the photographs and we also own the artwork now. The fact that red became a theme within each photo was very much accidental and had nothing to do with my decision per subject I chose, but it did set the tone for the nursery!
Gallery of photos I shot, created artwork and had made into Canvases.
My dad’s 1971 Plymouth Barracuda Convertible.
The photo in the middle is a photo of my dad’s 1971 Plymouth Barracuda Convertible. This is a show car that we vacationed in as children and has been an iconic part of my life growing up. When Matt and I got married, this car was the “coach” that drove us away from the church as the happily “Just Married” couple. We had photos taken by it and we bought Christmas ornaments of two just married “brown bears” driving off in a red convertible. A few years ago, my dad told Matt and I that he was planning to leave this amazing car to us to raise our family with. We couldn’t be happier, more excited and with twin boys, well, you can only IMAGINE the fun that they will have showing their little friends “daddy’s car in the garage,” just like I did when I was little. Not to mention the family memories we will make in this car vacationing and taking it to summer car shows.
My husband’s Tonka Fire Truck toy circa Christmas 1984.
The fire truck photo is of Matt’s fire truck toy circa 1984 when he was a child. It is now a part of their room and in surprisingly good condition! It’s a Tonka toy and his parents gave it back to him when they moved a year ago after many years of storage while he was off at college, finding a wife, getting a career and now having babies. I thought it was so cool that it’s still around and something that means so much. It made him so happy the Christmas he got it and I know the boys will appreciate having their daddy’s fire truck toy. Not to mention, Mattelyn loves playing with it, too! Nostalgic toys are fun and reminiscing is fun.
The Chicago Bears have been an important part of My husband’s family dating back to the 1940s and earlier.
The Bears helmet is also a part of their room now. The Chicago Bears have been a long important part of Matt’s mom’s side of the family and has meant a TON to Matt growing up. The Bears won their Super Bowl Championship in 1985 on Matt’s birthday, January 26th. His grandfather purchased Bears season tickets back in the 1940s on the 20 yard line, 8th and 9th row and the 6 tickets have remained in his family. We attend a game every year and we never, ever miss a game. These boys will surely grow to enjoy watching the games with their daddy and mommy and sister. And their first game they get to attend will surely make a huge, lasting impression!
Ferris Wheel at Navy Pier, Chicago, IL, Labor Day weekend 2014.
The photo of the ferris wheel I took at Navy Pier this past summer the first time we took Mattelyn. She loved being there and the sheer size of the ferris wheel is overwhelming. It has made an impact in Chicago and become a huge part of the very iconic skyline itself. I love the idea that they can look at it and know it’s right downtown and now a part of their childhood. We will take them there and they will likely go there with their friends. Ferris wheels also have that “vacation” feeling that I love. I thought the perspective was cool the way I shot it.
Vintage Metal Toy Pedal Car Replica.
The final photo of the metal vintage pedal car was a Christmas gift from my brother, Mattelyn’s Uncle Derek, last year. This was such a cute present from my brother and I just love the way it looks because it’s a vintage replica. It also just screamed boy nursery to me! I now have the little car in the twins’ nursery and Mattelyn rides on it daily. They will grow up playing on it and who knows, someday it will end up one of theirs for their kids.
This was a lot of fun to do and a lot of work! It’s finally almost complete and it’s fun to share with all of my blog followers! I will also post where I purchased the rest of the pieces in another blog that way if you’re interested in anything, you will be able to easily order online.
Thank you again for following and sharing with me! I am hanging in there at 36 weeks today. My c-section is scheduled for next Thursday, December 4th, 2014. It is really hard to believe the time has arrived officially. I am SO BLESSED these babies stayed in as long as they have. 37 weeks for twins is considered full term and if I make, it will officially be the BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENT of my life so far!
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you. Lots of Love always! ~ XO Stephanie
The cutest, sweetest more energetic 20 month old big sis Mattelyn. The love of my life! Poor little thing, her whole world as she knows it is about to be turned upside down.
My Brown Baer Cub 