where the magic happens.

i'm talking about sleep, people.

& choosing a crib...

there are at least 2.4 million cribs out there, of all different shapes, sizes, prices, colors, etc., etc., etc...

- i knew i wanted something more modern, but not so modern it looked like it was straight out of the jetsons' nursery. i just knew the high back/low front look wasn't for us. 

- i also was set on white. period dot. (i feel like an espresso stained furniture truck exploded in our house.) 

- & i really wanted one that converted into a toddler bed. (converting into an adult bed/headboard after that wasn't a big priority, because i'm sure i'll be sick of it by then...)

i loved the ouef sparrow:

but let's get real...nearly $800 for a crib?! you must be trippin'.

then the angel chorus sang harmoniously as i found this gem...for half the price:

presenting...the babyletto hudson:

so, the heaven's parted & we got it! i mean, c'mon, can you really tell an almost $400 difference here?

9 sweet navy geometric area rugs

despite the fact that her nursery in the new house will be carpeted, i knew for sure i wanted an area rug for baby's room.

geometric rugs are so hot right now. 

(if you picked up on the zoolander reference, 10 points.)

the criteria i used for choosing baby's first area rug (lol.) were:

- i decided i wanted a darker, almost navy color.

- definitely geometric. 

- i knew i wanted low pile, because our next house has carpeted bedrooms. 

i came up with three contenders (+ 6 more sweet, navy geo rugs.):

1. this 5'x8' from overstock for $194 (slightly over the price i wanted to pay.)

2. this 5'x8' from target for $149.99

3. or this 5'x7' from target for $149.99

4. this one that is kind of beehivey.

5. this one with adorbs monochromatic hearts.

6. i actually really love this one from wayfair, so it might wind up in our house somewhere.

7. this one that is a little less geometric, a little more aztec.

8. this striped one with a really cool texture.

9. okay, okay...this one is not totally blue, but it's so rad.

i. want. all of them! but, after much back-and-forth, we chose...#3! which one is your favorite?

nursery themes. say what?!

the first time i encountered the "what's the theme of your nursery going to be?" question from another prego, i was all... what does this lady mean...theme?

so, to spare myself from looking like a total dummy i said, "i don't know yet, what's your theme?"

then she said..."it's like a winnie the pooh meets fairies theme."

uhh...what.

i. was. terrified. am i expected to have a theme like that? i don't want to have a theme like that. waaaa!

i was barely into my second trimester & the thought of nursery details had barely crossed my mind. i didn't even know she was a she yet.

after we found out we were having a little baby girl, i went anti-theme & started scouring the interweb. that's when i was introduced to www.ontobaby.com by my fabulous friend monica from awinkandanod! 

it was obvious that themes were not a must-do. so, i decided on a color scheme instead. coral, blues, & greens. 

then my sister & i found this fabric for inspiration (which has since become a pillow,  achanging pad cover and a few triangles of baby girl's bunting!):

since i came up with a decor inspiration, it has been (kind of) smooth sailing...many more nursery decor posts to come...

i'm baaaack!

okay, it's time. i think an almost 6 month sabbatical is e-nough. don't you?

three big life updates:
1. in january, we found out we are moving to the midwest at the end of the year.
2. april 27th, stephen & i celebrated 6 months of wedded bliss. (it really is blissful being married to your best friend.)
3. may 23rd, we entered our THIRD TRIMESTER of the baby growing business!

...that's right! we are pregs!!

she's a she, & she's kicking with excitement as we speak, because mommy is back on the blog train.

we are thrilled! we love her to pieces, & at a whopping 3 lbs, she already has daddy wrapped around her little finger.

i have been doin' it old school style, writing in a belly book instead of documenting pregnancy on this bad boy, BUT i can say...i love being pregnant.

i'm not overly concerned with weight gain. i can proudly say that i have already put on a healthy 35 el bees in 29 weeks. the back pain is...tolerable. the having to tinkle every 20 minutes is...annoying, but expected since i'm practically drowning in h2o. on the plus, people are SO nice to pregnant ladies. i get to park in super special VIP preggo parking spots. everyone offers to help and tells me how cute i look. (which is the nicest thing to hear when i feel like a blimp carrying a whale on an ocean liner.)

anyhoo...i won't overdo it this first time back, but i have a TON of things to share, so stay tuned.

(photos compliments of the amazing ashley livingston photography)