Our Little Closet Nursery:

So! As many of you know, Tom and I live in an iddy biddy basement suite that we love to iddy biddy pieces. Which means when we found out we were expecting we started getting super creative with how we were going to maximize the space we had. To see where this project started, I'd recommend checking out my first home blog, here: 

Small Spaces // All You Need Is Love

This has been such a fun project for me! It has been so fun to watch the nursery evolve, because honestly at the beginning I had no concept in my mind of what I wanted it to look like. The only theme guiding me was "white with bright pops of color." 

Stage 1:

 We had received this bassinet from Tom's brother and sister in law- we were on a mission, keep things little to fit in our space, so this was perfect! I had been shopping kijiji like a mad woman and found this dresser (which was also the perfect dimensions for our closet space!) Tom and I had a heck of a time moving that dresser out of the woman's house... she was in a basement suite and failed to mention that before we went to pick it up. Haha. Thomas and I did not go prepared. But. We were successful. With much effort we moved that thing up many stairs, across a backyard, through the driveway to to his car! Go us.

 Tom's brother and sister in law also gave us this baby swing to use! We had put it in the nursery to start with, but have since moved it to our living room. Everyone tells me a baby swing is a life saver! We are so excited to use it. Oh, and if you didn't know or check out my first home blog post... our closet nursery is in our bathroom, hence the towels.  ;) 

Stage 2:

We were told that the bassinet wouldn't last us too long, and so I started doing research for a crib to get prolonged use! After much research we went with the Alma Bloom Mini (lasts anywhere from kids 12-24 months depending on how big your babe gets, has two mattress heights!) Again, this crib fit perfectly into our space. It's almost like this closet was made for that crib and that dresser specifically.  ;) 

Stage 3: 

A new area rug! The one we had previously just couldn't stay haha. I found this adorable chevron rug 50% off on Wayfair.ca. It was also the perfect size because I love how it "sections off" the nursery space from he rest of the bathroom. 

   I was also looking for a rocking chair that was small enough to fit in our space, and so- back to Kijiji I went! There was this darling lady from Calgary who had redone this chair, and I fell in love with the color- and it is just dainty enough to fit great! A huge thanks to my in-laws who were constantly helping me pick up all my Kijiji finds. I seriously owe them a delivery fee. ;)  

We only have a shower in our suite so we also got a baby bathtub. I found this cute one on Kijiji for $5. Because who doesn't love a baby bathtub? 

Stage 4:

Nursery Decor! So in about the middle of this project, I met a new friend by the name of Ashley! Ashley and her family had moved up here because her husband was starting school here in September. Ashley owns her own business (A Bundle O' Bows) and is super crafty. Like anything she touches instantly becomes a beautiful work of art. She introduced me to the wonderful world of small local shops. One of those shops was Clever Arrow, they sell the cutest felt garland! Ashley took us to a local market here in YEG and as soon as Tom and I saw the colors of the felt garland we went, yep! This one! Also, my mom had that blue mason jar left over from my wedding and gave it to me to put in the nursery. Without realizing it, pastel blue/mint became the main color of the nursery. I was totally okay with that! It's bright and fresh, and I feel it's pretty gender neutral so we can reuse everything in the future! 

Ashley and I had a craft date (I was helping her get ready for a market) and we made teething necklaces. Go figure I picked pink! 

Stage 5:

Storage bins to go in the top part of the closet. Don't get me started on these bins. Hehe. Let's just say Thomas and I had a heck of a time agreeing on some storage bins to put up there. We may or may not have gone through two rounds of different storage bins (some from Marshalls, and the other set from Amazon) that I ended up returning. However, I am super glad we did return them because that brought us to THESE bins, and I love them. I think they are perfect and add that punch of color I so desperately wanted. We found these aqua colored bins at Bed Bath and Beyond. It was SO funny because the whole reason I got Thomas to even go in the store is because I said "hun! They emailed me a 20% off coupon, so we need to go use it and get these bins NOW!!" So, he obliged. However, when we get to the till with these 5 storage bins (and a bunch of other stuff) the cashier goes... "It's 20% off one item, not your whole purchase. You have saved a total of $4". I burst out laughing. Sorry Thomas! 

Stage 6 - Putting it all together!
Nursery Reveal:

Putting it all together. <3 I have awesome friends, and Ashley got me the "enjoy the little things" wall decor as part of Baby P's baby shower gift, and my other friend Mary made the "be brave little one" wall decor for Baby P and also included it in her baby shower gift. It's crazy because the two didn't know what the other was getting, yet their wall decor went together perfectly. My other incredibly talented friend, Alanna, also did an elephant watercolour painting for me and included it as part of her gift for Baby P (Check out more of her talented work over on Instagram- Lannilu Arts!) We found the frame for the elephant painting 40% off at Micheals and liked how it had a wood frame to match the wall hangings. So after the baby shower I  was eager to set up all these goodies in the nursery!  We also found a spot for the felt garland to hang and went to another local Market and picked up the "hello adventure" wall decor from Word Girl ReinCHARMations. 

Nursery Details:

One of the first things I did once I was done working was finish the nursery. Of course once it was done I pulled out my Nikon and started snapping photos. 

💕 "Love grows strong in little houses, with fewer walls to separate. Where you eat and sleep so close together, you can't help but communicate. If we had more room between us, think of all we might miss. Love grows best in houses just like this." 💕

Bumpdate - Weeks 26-36!

Well! Here we are in the third trimester. 

I can't believe how fast time has gone. It feels like it's dragged on but flown by at the same time, ya know?!?! It's almost to the point where it feels surreal- like, you just stay pregnant forever, right? This baby doesn't actually come out of my belly, right? It has been so fun to watch my body change over the past 8 months- here's a little glimpse into the past 10 weeks! (P.S- I totally thought I would be better at taking WEEKLY photos. Didn't happen. This was the best that I could do, haha!)

Week 26! (Being 37 weeks pregnant right now, looking back 

at my 26 week belly makes me giggle... it was so... little!

Week 27!

Week 28! Okay- don't judge this super awkward

selfie pic. Thomas and I were trying to pick out an

outfit to wear for our maternity photos. So we were

trying on a bunch of outfits and sending them to our

photographer. And Tom was sporting this really nasty

moustache that I despised. It finally came off. In

October. For my birthday. What a gentleman.

Week 30! This was the ultimate winner for our maternity photos.

I tried going with the whole "fall theme" of yellows, tans, burgundies,

etc. But I just couldn't pull myself away from the bright colors and

bling. They will forever be my weakness.

Week 30! This is my favorite photo from our maternity photoshoot. A

special shout out goes to Emma E. Photography for taking our photos! 

We did this photoshoot on my birthday- and I spoiled myself by going to

Sen Studios to have my hair/make up professionally done. It was a good

way to spend a birthday. But. It ended up being a stressful day, because

of course, this was the first day that we got SNOW (happy freaking bday

to me)- and we had wanted to have our photos done in Kananaskis cause

the scenery is just SO beautiful. I had even taken the time off work. All

that jazz. Well! We were up for the road trip. But, when we got to Red

Deer there were mad flurries and accidents galore. So much snow. So

many cars in the ditch. I think we saw at least 10 cars in the ditch on 

our way there. And then Highway 2 was CLOSED so Tom and I took

a back high way to get there. This ended up delaying us like 1.5 hours 

and the whole time we were driving it was DARK and FOGGY. As a

photographer myself, I kept saying to Thomas, "YOU NEED LIGHT

TO TAKE PHOTOS!" But then a miracle happened. Literally as soon 

as we got to our location (Elbow Falls), the sun came out (it was 

still freezing, but we legit had sunshine and no fog), and there was

NO SNOW!!! It was such a blessing. P.S. my maternity dress

is from Pink Blush! I've gotten so many maternity clothes from

their website and I've loved everything I've gotten so far!

Week 34! My work family hosted a baby shower for me
and they totally spoiled me. Not only did we get to end our
work day an hour early to party, but they supplied me with
cash to put towards my DREAM diaper bag. I had done
so much research about the diaper bag I wanted and my
heart was set on a fawn design bag. So grateful to
those who also got Baby P cute outfits, books, sleepers,
and home made blankets! Baby P is one spoiled
little guy!!! 

The Fawn Design Bag - how could you not want one?!

Made of leather, so it's easy to clean up messes. It has a side 

strap or back pack straps so you can be hands free. And it's

beautiful. I can't wait to use it! Thank you work family! <3

We were also super spoiled this weekend because the lovely Serena also

hosted Baby P a baby shower with family and friends! Serena did such an

awesome job- the shower theme was... na na na na na na BATMAN!!!

Check out this sweet set up:

Okay seriously- how fun is that?!?!? Baby P was so so so so so spoiled. We had about 30 friends/

family come out and the support was overwhelming. I was reminded of the phrase "it takes a

village to raise a child." I truly felt my community wrap their arms around my family. Tom and

I feel so blessed. Serena had the idea to do a "diaper raffle" so anyone who brought diapers got

their name put into a draw for a prize. It was such a cute idea and we seriously got stocked up

with diapers which will be so nice for when baby gets here!!! But it was super embarrassing. 

Most people know this but. We started with opening gifts- and the whole time I was super

hot. Like sweating my face off. But I was like "it's cause i'm pregnant. Pregnant ladies get

sweaty and hot." But then as we were about halfway through I was starting to not feel

very good at all. I started feeling dizzy, but I was sitting down so I just brushed it aside.

Well! Once we were done opening gifts it was time to play games, so I stood up out of

my chair and I thought "I'm gonna pass out." I've never had the "fainting" sensation

before- like, ever, so I thought I was gonna die (okay, not really- but it freaked me 

out). So I excused myself to the bathroom, and shouted for Tom so I wouldn't be 

alone. As soon as Tom got to the bathroom with me I started vomiting everywhere.

it was awful. And then the world above me was spinning. And then I moved to 

Serena's room to lay down, and my guests played games without me. Haha.

Oh my gosh! How humiliating. THE JOYS OF PREGNANCY. Then people

slowly started coming to say goodbye to me. And then I threw up some more.

And then I was out of commission for the rest of the weekend. 

*Face palm, face palm, face palm*

Week 36! We went to our prenatal class this week! We opted for the full, 8 hour

day instead of multiple sessions just as it worked better for our schedule. But 

it was pretty funny seeing Thomas get ancy- he was like, "what if the baby

comes early! If we don't make it to this prenatal class we won't have any 

idea what to do, where to go...!" But, you stayed put and we had a lovely

prenatal class (well, also terrifying), but it was so nice to actually go to 

the hospital and kind of, somewhat, orientate ourselves to the 

building/parking. It's nice to be able to visualize where we will 

be welcoming you into the world.