Room Transformation #2

These photos are from the nursery painting back in August, but they are the in-between, so they deserve to be posted before the finished product photos. 

You can get a good idea of the space and the beautiful soft "ballet pink" Adam created especially for his baby girl. We couldn't be happier with the end result.

If you look closely you can see the bedding peeking out from under that sheet... and the amazing chair!

Gorgeous! Barely pink. Soothing, inspiring and just the perfect color for all the art that is now on her walls!

We are putting some last finishing touches on the room before taking the final set of photos... but I promise to have them up as soon as possible. 

Oh, sweet girl, we can't wait to meet you.

A Joy"Full" Week (Part 1)

Week 31 has been full of joy.

It began on Monday with the first week of "Willy Wonka Kids" at the Academy of Fine Arts. I have desired to choreograph a children's production for a long time now, and this has been the perfect opportunity. Although I may be pregnant and awkward, I have thoroughly enjoyed working alongside two dear friends and 30 wonderful children. I am excited to see the end result next Saturday.

Tuesday afternoon Adam and I drove over to Farmville, VA to the stupendous Greenfront Furniture. During my baby shower last Saturday Adam purchased the paint for the nursery, no it's not on the walls quite yet, but it is purchased! We had been waiting to select a chair fabric until our wall color was decided upon, only to discover that we had waited a little too long! After speaking to Greenfront on Monday we were told that a chair would take at least 10 weeks to be delivered. Well, our precious girl is due in 9, and while she could take 10 more weeks, Daddy really wanted to be able to have everything in order just in case she decides to come on time.


So Tuesday we went up full of prayer that the Lord would guide us to a peaceful decision and we would not be overwhelmed by the pressures of this world. We took swatches of the bedding, and a paint stick with her wall color, and a panel of her curtains and a shade from her chandelier. We probably looked like a crazy couple, but at least we were prepared!

We had such a beautiful time on our drive. Our Lord has been so gracious to allow us sweet moments together as husband and wife before we become a family of three. I truly treasure these times in my heart.

We arrived at Greenfront with an hour to make our decision. We went straight to the "Swivel-Glider" 4 Seasons Chairs, and Adam went to work immediately looking at swatches. Then low and behold, to our right we spotted a floor sample with blue and red stripes... could it be?

We laid the swatches out...

Praise the Lord. How gracious and generous He is. How He surprises us with gifts we are so undeserving of. May we learn from His example and show love to our daughter in similar ways. 

We bargained slightly, since we were willing to drive it home that day, settled on a price, loaded it in the car, and were back on the road in 50 minutes. What a joy! 

The chair is settled in the nursery, and every time I pass the door I practically shiver with expectation. Yesterday I sat in it for an hour and read books to Beatrice... 

Adam's hope is to paint tomorrow afternoon... so hopefully their will be a "Room Transformation #2" post on Monday! 

Here is an "unprofessional" sneak-peak...

Later tonight, after a fun filled day of celebration Ethan's 4th Birthday, I hope to write about our marvelous prenatal appointment on Wednesday, and my building excitement. 

Much love and thankfulness to all of you. 

The Fullness of Life & Room Transformation #1

These past weeks have been full. Full of preparation of life to come and life of the moment. I cannot wait to share more of what the Lord has in store.

I have been blessed with beautiful friends that fill my life to overflowing. My precious Julie, Leslie and Emily who are hosting my first baby shower this coming weekend, (they simply have no idea how grateful I am to celebrate God's unfailing mercies with such special women.) My dear Mauresa and Jessica who are also lovingly ministering to my precious little one with a night of sweetness soon. Kristin, whom, together with her sister Jessica, I recently had the honor of throwing a shower for (pictures to come soon). And gentle souls like Kelley, Kelly, Whitney and Peggy who speak words of soothing balm to my broken soul in the perfect moments.

These women are gifts. May I never think otherwise. 

I also have a husband who was gracious enough to extend a DC wedding trip into Sunday so that we can pick up some basics for our Bea's nursery at the Woodbridge IKEA. 

My now 30-week-old daughter is growing and growing; constantly reminding me of her impending presence. I'm sure many of you mommies remember almost forgetting in the midst of preparations that at the end of this journey there will be a new life. What a miracle. 

But the preparations still must be made. 

So it is time to begin the Nursery Transformation. I am so eager to watch as the small details come together. 

Painting and other small construction projects will prayerfully happen this weekend, so it is only appropriate for you to view the room as it looked prior to the 15 paint swatches.

This was our canvas... 

The window seat is a favorite. 

We found this piece months ago... so I'm including it as part of the "before". 

Remember, Painting and Patience? Well, just for laughs, here is a peek at part of the learning experience. (This was even before two additional colors...) Please note that the above images were taken with Adam's camera... the images below, with mine. 

Remember "Custard"? Ha!

We have yet to decide upon a color, but we are sure that we will...

I needed these verses today... 

"But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." 2 Peter 3:8-9

May your day be filled with fulfilled promises. 

Painting and Patience...

Remember the swatches from a few weeks ago? Well, they have turned into a learning experience.


Since so many of you voted for April Mist, Custard and Ballet Slipper Pink we got samples of all three. These were quite simply... a comical disaster. We decided that April Mist looked like Turquoise, Custard like Lemon Meringue, and Ballet Slipper Pink like Calamine Lotion... We laughed it off; thinking that the next day we would find samples of milder versions of the pink and blue. 


Well... to make a long story short we now have 12 different colors on the wall; and while we are no further along in the decision process, I have learned a serious lesson in patience. 


I've found in this season of expectation that it is quite tempting to be full of silly "expectations". Our culture would like me to believe that I "need" this and must accomplish A, B & C by the baby's arrival. But truly, does Beatrice "need" a nursery dressed to the nines? Do I "need" a boppy, a bumbo, a bouncer, and a bottle cleaner? 


In these past weeks I found myself drifting away from the Spirit given joy that Beatrice has brought to our lives and wandering into a world full of anxiety and fear over that which "must" be done. Which is most likely the reason I haven't felt the motivation to write. The condition of my heart has been simply, yucky. 


I so desire to return to a place where I am thoughtfully preparing for the arrival of my precious little one. Not only in the accumulation of things, but in the careful preparation of my heart. Where each addition to her nursery discovered at a yard sale is a cause for rejoicing, not a check mark on a to-do list. Where each day is savored for all that it is. 


So dear friends, Bea may have a kaleidoscope of a nursery and the Barnes household may not have every "needed" baby item, but there WILL be joy, and joy abundantly! 


I have been singing this song to my sweet girl recently, yet it has been more of a reminder to me, her mommy, of the infinite love my Savior holds for me. May it encourage your heart today.

Goodbye May, Hello Planning

May is coming to an end tomorrow evening and I couldn't be more grateful. I am thankful every year for the lessons learned, but oh-so-glad to be through a month filled with painful memories. 

As the month of May has passed, this pregnancy has continued to progress. I'll be 23 weeks on Tuesday, which means it's time to stop dreaming and start acting. 

I am thrilled at the little details that are coming together, (I'll try to upload pictures soon), but I would love some assistance, once again, on some of the bigger items. 

My little Bea's bedding is serving as the "design focal point". I have narrowed down my paint colors to the ones below, and I would love your vote on the poll to the side. Keep in mind that computer colors can be funny. I did choose these colors in the store, so don't worry. (If you click on the image, you'll get a much larger version.)

The pink is thrown in there due to the slight whispers of pink throughout the pattern. If you look closely you'll see the pink in the pig and the stripes in the carousel awning...

Since the Topsy Turvy fabric could become overwhelming, I'd like to keep the glider rather neutral. With your help I believe we've settled on the Yellow Fallon Rug... that is, unless we stumble upon something better in person. Now, I'd appreciate your assistance again in helping me decide upon the upholstery for the glider Baby Beatrice and I will spend many a night in. Again, there's a poll on the right. 

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your votes, thoughts, comments, messages and loving words. Having so many share in the joys and sorrows of this journey has brought me so much happiness.

These are a few of my favorite things...

Cute wooden birdies and soft yellow teddies... these are a few of my favorite things!

Oh dear friends, thank you for rejoicing with me over the life of our sweet girl! I cannot tell you what a wonderful time I have had discovering little delights for our precious Beatrice. Here are a few of the items that make me smile.

(Bea's daddy bought her the little yellow skirt below as a surprise! All of the other joys are still on my wish list.)

While it's fun to dream about her playing with the xylophone, or watching that adorable mobile, I really must continue to develop her nursery. 

Things are coming along... her Javis Davis bedding came in last week! What a joyous day that was, I felt like a little girl on Christmas morning. I will post pictures as soon as I am able. 

Her crib was found second hand and her changing table was discovered downtown. Praise the Lord! We are still trying to locate the glider... at the moment I'm thinking textured, but the same "pistachio" blue as her sheets...

Today I stumbled upon these inspiring prints from Bee Lines Inspirations. Many of you have already taken to calling her "Bea", so I thought this was ever so clever, especially since she is our bringer of joy. 

We'll have to wait for a few more details, but I'm pretty sure that this rug is going to win! 

Thank you for sharing in this joy with me. I am forever grateful. 

The Nursery Has Begun...

Since we are expectantly awaiting the discovery of Baby Barnes gender, I cannot keep myself from beginning the planning process for his/her nursery. We are 99.9% sure of the crib bedding, regardless of gender. I stumbled upon this gorgeous combination from custom bedding and accessories designer, Javis Davis, and I can't find anything else that so perfectly combines mommy and daddy's aesthetic with the whimsical nature of a nursery.

We are blessed with gorgeous hardwood floors throughout the upstairs, so a rug to warm the toes is a must. Here is where I would love your help today - I would like to decide on a rug before we move on to the wall color(s) and additional decor. I am stuck. Simply stuck. Here are some of my loves, my wonderings and thoughts... Would you take a moment to give us your "two cents" by choosing your favorite and making a selection, (or two), in the poll to the right?

Thank you for loving us. Thank you for celebrating with us in this season of expectation.