Evyn Mae's nursery

Well now, I just might have my 9 month old Evyn's nursery about 90% completed. 

And I finally took some (poorly lit) pictures to prove it!

 Evyn would like to say... 

I wanted a simple, vintage feel to Evyn's nursery, without too much pink (but still a bit for good measure). I so enjoyed searching for the perfect little trinkets and treasures to make the room special, along with fabrics and baskets (which I'm still on the hunt for ones I love). All of the little shoes and dresses in the room were mine as a baby.  I DIYed a few things, repainted things (including the light fixture that we originally put up in Brynlee's nursery in our first house), and continue to swoon over a few things (read: that RUG). I'd be happy to supply any vendor info/DIY details if anyone is interested!

*** 

 Lots of happy and fun news to come regarding my shop. Soon!

playroom pretty

The entryway from our attached garage leads directly into what we've dubbed the playroom. It's a cheery room with the same light grey/taupe walls as the rest of (most of) the downstairs. Toy storage is an issue, and if it were my grumpy mom way, I would have all the toys always put away and there would be no trace of little gremlins in my decor. What a mean mother. But, the toy explosion is inevitable. Oh the toys. We have probably 2/3 of the kids' toys in the basement play area and the rest are in the playroom (minus a handful residing in Brynlee's room).

So I would like to have our "playroom" still be friendly and a little whimsical, but still mesh with the rest of the downstairs (since it's pretty out in the open) while concealing the overabundance of TOYS. My dear parents agreed to construct some MORE built-ins, this time for the playroom, much like the living room ones that they created to house all my favorite prettiness (these pictures were taken in August so things have changed a bit here and there since then):

The mercury glass knobs make me about keel over with delight.

My mom has already whipped up some window treatments in this fabric:

I'll add some new storage bins like these: 

And the grand finale... I just ordered THIS for a fun accent wall:

 

I can't wait.

We also desperately need a new light fixture. I'm thinking one that's pretty flush to the ceiling, and I love this drum shade. I love the pattern, but it may be too much... maybe one in a solid grey would be better. We will see.

I do have a rug in the room already (it's the "gold" version).  I can't wait to see it all come together in the end.

I promise to share before & afters. I'm silly over these upcoming changes!

randomness in photos

Here's the past few weeks in pictures!

I finally sewed up an infinity scarf with one of the knits that Ashley and I bought when she visited a few weeks ago.  It took me literally 5 minutes.  Easiest ever.  I used Keight's braided scarf tutorial as a rough guide to get me started.  I have the fabric to make a colorblocked one too- it will be cute for spring. 

My sweet baby girl rolled over for the first time the other day.  Back to belly!  So weird since she hates being on her belly.  She is just the happiest thing.  I could burst just thinking about her.

Valentine's day was low key around these parts.  A few little gifts, homemade Valentines, and a quiet (delicious) dinner in for Ryan and me.  I was the "special helper" for Brynlee's class at preschool, too- I was just in awe of her the whole time I was in there.  How has my little baby turned into a big, gorgeous KID?!  One that participates in a classroom setting and sings and follows rules?  Wow.

Story of my life right now.  Don't ever say I don't keep it real.

I pulled out the highchair so Evyn can sit at the table with us while we eat and she is loving it.  I probably won't start her on solids for awhile yet, but she seems content to just be part of the action at mealtimes for now.

These girls and I had a sweet night in last weekend, and it was so needed after a week of being cooped up in our sick house.  Ryan caught the awful flu and was down and out for over a week.  The kids and I managed to avoid it but it was still tough to get through.

Pretty sure the wallpaper sample on the left is going to happen in the playroom and I am so stinkin excited.  

Leah, Evyn, and I were able to meet up with Liz (and her baby girl in the belly) this past weekend for a lovely coffee date.  Funny story, Liz goes to Leah's church and we discovered about a year ago that Liz had read my blog before but hadn't made the connection that Leah was my SIL until we attended their church on a weekend we were visiting for a family party (they live a good 2 hours away).  That sentence didn't really make sense, but trust me, it was crazy-in-a-good-way.  Liz won my giveaway so it was a good excuse to get together... and it better happen much more often girlfriend.

Best cousins.  Dylan Elise, the baby girl who made me an aunt, turned FIVE the other day.  Mind=blown.  Love these girls so much.

currently

I'm following Emily's lead today & sharing some current life randomness.

loving: 

the few new pillow slipcovers I whipped up using this tutorial. After making the first one, I was embarrassed that I hadn't done these sooner. So easy!

reading: 

the February issue of Martha Stewart Living. And blogs. My favorites lately: The Small Things Blog, Hello From the Natos, From My Grey Desk. Also, Reality Steve [hanging head in shame].

waiting for: 

the storm we are apparently going to get hit with tonight/tomorrow. We're staying in!

excited about: 

a girls' night planned for Saturday night. SO needed.

trying to: 

avoid the flu. Ryan spent two days straight in bed this past week. In the 10 years we've been together, I've never experienced him doing this. It takes a lot to knock that man down. I'm downing vitamins and zicam!

working on: 

finishing the kids' rooms. They will be so pretty once my plans leave my brain and come into fruition.  I can't wait to share - especially Evyn's room!

enjoying: 

spearmint & orange gummies, gluten free pretzels, and Enjoy Life dark chocolate. Compliments of a sick husband on a grocery run. 

using: 

my TURQUOISE stick blender, a Christmas gift from my mom and dad. Smoothies have never been easier to make, cleanup is a snap (especially compared to using a regular blender), and it's pretty. Duh. 

wearing:  

these earrings. Picked them up last night and haven't taken them out since.

planning: 

on having a low-key weekend.

singing: 

to All Sons and Daughters. I like to think I'm the third part of the trio they don't realize that they are in. Haha.

needing: 

to snuggle this little bundle right now. And she's 4 months old as of Tuesday. [Brain explodes.] 

learning: 

about Biblical suffering and the hope & freedom that comes with it. Our pastor is doing an amazing series on 1 Peter right now.

listening to: 

the hum of the monitor, the furnace kicking on, and Ryan hacking up a lung.

wishing: 

there was a little more time each day to work on projects and snuggle babies and play with big kids. Priorities.

doing: 

pretty well at dropping the baby poundage. And I ran a 5k on Tuesday. My minutes/mile ratio is highly embarrassing, but I did it. In 27 degree weather. And then wheezed for a few hours afterward.

dreaming of: 

a sandy tropical beach. Someday!

***

Congrats to pretty Liz on winning my Winter Essentials giveaway!

at home for the holidays

I love Christmastime, I love decorating, and I love sharing my home in this space. 

Welcome to Christmas at the Kirnan home. 

see me in the blue ball ornament? :)

"first Christmas as a married couple" ornament: gift from the Kellers in 2004

all of my babies' "first Christmas" ornaments

stockings made by me

swag made by my amazing momma

sweet babies by the glow of the Christmas tree

my "first Christmas" ornament circa 1983

Christmas decor inspiration magazines

amaryllis and paperwhites

you haven't had peppermint hot chocolate until you've had the Trader Joe's version

my Willow Tree nativity, a gift from my dear inlaws

Christmas cards

Christmas craftiness (thank you, Joann's) with my 2 and 3 year olds

our Advent celebration schedule

I'm linking up with Take the Connoli for her At Home for the Holidays link-up!

 

updates

Okay, okay. Perhaps this "blog on the back burner" thing is getting a teeny bit out of hand. I've had so much I've been wanting to write and record, but I'm honestly so physically and mentally exhausted that I can't really even seem to stay up much later than the kids do at night, let alone write beautiful blog posts.

How about a list of updates: 

-Pregnancy. I'm just about 35 weeks! How did that happen?! I feel like I am so close yet so far. And undoubtedly humungous. Bigger than with Brynlee or Mac and I'm so ready to just snuggle this baby girl and have my body (somewhat) back. Physically this pregnancy has been pretty normal- I am ridiculously exhausted (have I said that enough?) and in lots of pain from normal pregnancy stuff. Contractions galore, and chasing/lifting/having my bed invaded by/being jumped on by my kiddos surely contributes. I just want to be able to attend to my babies! So it's been tricky. Plus, I have had these racing heart episodes a few times this pregnancy (like resting HR getting above 220) so I had to see a cardiologist, get an echo, keep a heart monitor on me for a few weeks, etc. I haven't had any episodes for a few weeks so I'm hoping it's just a pregnancy thing that I won't need to worry about anymore in a few more weeks.

-Kids. Crazy as ever. Mac is blowing me away with his latest skills: singing entire songs, holding impressively long and understandable phone conversations, remembering things that even I don't remember. Brynlee is still constantly in dress up clothes on a daily basis and starts preschool in a few weeks! I'm so excited for her. She's going to LOVE IT!

-Ryan. Yep, he's still here. In case you were wondering. :) Love him a lot and wish he could be home with us all day every day.

-Vehicle situation. Just yesterday, we turned to the dark side and are now a minivan family. I kinda really love it. The kids are over the moon! Even Ryan is smitten.

-House. Nursery decorating is in full swing! I can't wait to share the finished room. The livingroom built ins are also finally done- I will share as soon as I dust off my camera and get some photographic proof. I haven't even taken pictures with my real camera since our Nashville trip. Shame!


-Fun thing to gasp at. Look what I did to my (almost) two year old phone. Luckily we were eligible for an upgrade and now I'm a friend of Siri. Good thing the iphone 5 comes out in a few weeks - at least I get to be current until then.

So that's my brain dump for now. I'd better get dressed for the day, now that it's almost 3pm and I think Mac is finally down for the count nap-wise. Or maybe I'll just snuggle with my big girl on the couch just a bit more. Can't wait to feel my love multiply again when baby girl comes... it's just unbelievable to me that I'll have three kids so soon. I'm living my dream, and so, so grateful.

friday night thoughts

I've started this post a few times, paused, and deleted. I'm not sure why I'm in such a writing rut lately. Perhaps I feel like I have nothing to share, or perhaps it's because there's so much I have been wanting to share and just let the time slip by and it feels like it's "too late" to share. I haven't pulled my regular camera out in weeks, and haven't touched a sewing project in longer (my good old machine's STILL in the shop. Yes, that's months now.) and feel guilty. Yet, I also don't. 

How about just a little list of what I have been loving lately: 

- Ashley's post on having (or not having) and identity as a blogger. 

- The new #SheReadsTruth community and the growth I've already felt since it was created. 

- How Brynlee calls hand sanitizer "hanitizer" and olives "olivers". 

- The hot, steamy weather of this past weekend, and the sleepy rainy weather of today and (coming up) this weekend. 

- A sweet flower delivery surprise from my love today. Just because. 

- How Mac will try to sing "Jesus loves me" when I sing it to him and how he is learning to count. 

- The super strong kicks I've been feeling (from the outside!) from new baby sister. 

- The inspiration (and fading overwhelmed-ness) I'm FINALLY feeling to design and decorate the kids' rooms and nursery. 

- Potting flowers and yardwork and sitting on the deck after the kids are in bed. 

- New rugs and the feeling of our house becoming a home. 

- A few new cute (maternity) items of clothing. 

- Oh, and a big one: the She {hearts} It Baby Boom Virtual Shower... I have the great opportunity to review a bunch of great pregnancy/mommy/baby products and companies and there will be lots of giveaways starting too. 

 

 Have a great weekend!

52 in 1: WEEK 49 - wallpaper & a little stepstool - part 2

I can't believe I only have THREE more weeks in my 52/1 challenge. It's been a fun ride, although I must say I am not putting such pressure on myself for awhile! Haha.

So I knocked out two projects this week... okay, I'm lying. My mom did one, I finished the other! I had been wanting to put up wallpaper in the back of the built ins that my dad is working on for our living room and found exactly what I was looking for after a long search. My mom was over the other day and put the wallpaper up in in about two seconds while I laid motionless on the couch (this pregnancy is knocking me out in pretty much every way possible). It is EXACTLY what I envisioned! The color, pattern, subtleness (apparently spellcheck doesn't think that's a word, but I do!), everything.  Can't wait to finish up the cabinets and get all my pretty little doo dads up on the shelves.

{doors will be put on the bottom part}

And ta-da, a finished stool! In hindsight, I should have just spray painted it since I needed about 4 coats (and probably should have done like 5) of paint. Oh well. I am in love with the fabric and Brynlee gave her approval, so I'm happy. :) 

52 in 1: WEEK 48 - a little stepstool - part one

Last summer, I picked up this little stepstool to re-do and put in Brynlee's room and I've finally started to tackle it. I painted the bottom part a mustard-y yellow (actually, it needs another coat) to coordinate with the fabric I ordered for the top part. And, the fabric didn't come in yet (I totally thought it would be here today), hence the "part one" of this project. I'll finish it next week, and hopefully even tackle another project AND finish it.

The stool before: so charming, so un-ME.

I unscrewed the hinges, sanded the wood, etc.

 

The backing stuff and staples were a bear to take off!

 

pretty yellow

The pad thing that was underneath the nasty old fabric was in surprisingly good shape and wasn't smelly or anything at all.  I had fully intended on replacing it, but don't really see a need to now.  Score!

 

So, this is the after, for now.  Can't wait to finish this up... Brynlee's gonna love it!