Inside Alexa’s Nursery

This post has been a long time coming . . . it was about a year ago when we began disassembling our guest bedroom to make way for a little girl. It’s undergone quite a transformation and I think we’re finally finished with the nursery until Alexa graduates to a toddler bed. We wanted to share the before & after pics with those who had inquired about her nursery or perhaps for those who might not make it to our home before things change again . . .

THE TRANSFORMATION
I can’t believe I didn’t take more pics of the guest bedroom but here’s a glimpse of what it looked like before. We’ve had many special friends and family stay with us in that little guest room. Hopefully someday we’ll be able to offer our guests this bedroom suite again (in a different home). Until then, we have a lovely queen air mattress that fits snugly in the office for your sleeping pleasures.


From a time that seems so long ago – welcoming our guests.


Removing the bedding and bringing in the beginnings of Alexa’s newly painted crib.

The mattress is covered, wall hangings down, and more Alexa furniture in.


Dad & Chris assembling the crib.


Mom, Dad & Chris hanging the valance Mom made.


The beginnings of Alexa’s nursery with baby shower gifts sprinkling the room. Chris painted all of Alexa’s furniture. If you’d like to see what an adventure that was – you can check out his “painting” post on January 28, 2010.


The Kennedy family’s antique cradle from Germany along with more gifts. As you can see, Alexa was VERY loved even before she made her appearance.

Alexa’s room today. A view when you walk into her room (west & north walls). Notice the heater (to the far right) we keep in her room to keep it nice and toasty.

A close-up of a poem I found before I was pregnant with Alexa. It so deeply moved me, I knew I would hang it in our child’s room someday. Alexa Hope is our trust from the Father. 

The changing table with hand sewn valance and changing pad cover courtesy of my Mom. I think she used 2 or 3 fitted sheets from Alexa’s bedding so it matched perfectly. She is a sewing genius – wish I would’ve inherited that gene! We used the leftover fabric scraps to create Alexa’s name over her crib. We covered white canvases with the fabric and attached black wire ribbons. Of course, Chris painted the letters black.

This was our old dresser from the master bedroom (painted black). The mirror was my grandmother’s.

A close up of the dresser (east wall). Closet is to the left.

The south wall with Alexa’s door to the hallway to the left. We love our Poang chair from IKEA – great for rocking Alexa. The green nightstand was a steal at HomeGoods. There are a few close-ups below.

The wall collection features images from Alexa’s 8 week newborn session by Shannon Ho (http://shannonho.com). She loves to say goodnight to the pictures of baby Alexa and Mommy & Daddy.


The frame was a special shower gift to me from Karen, Chris’ mom. Each box contains a tidbit of parenting wisdom (see close-ups below). I like having it there so I can read it when I’m rocking Alexa, playing with her on the floor, or helping her say goodnight to her nightlight. They are wonderful scriptural reminders to read when you are in the midst of being a Mommy & Daddy.
--Notice the baby doll nightlight Alexa still loves. We all think the nightlight looks like Alexa which is why she is fascinated by it. She especially loves to look under the nightlight to see the little light bulb. My sister and I used this nightlight growing up.
If you can’t read it, it says . . .
- Make your relationship with the Lord your top priority! (Deut. 6:5 & 7)
- Invest in Alexa’s life with the gift of your time.
- Pray for a turning point in Alexa’s life. (Num. 13 & 14)
- Be consistent! (Jas 5:12)
- Pray! Pray! Pray! (Col. 4:2)

- Teach Alexa the value of a job well done. (Col. 3:23 & 24)
- Respect Alexa as a person to be valued. (Phil. 2:3 & 4)
- Guard Alexa’s heart & mind. (Neh 4, Phil. 4:8)
- Ask God to guard your lips. (Jas 1:19-20, Eph. 4:29)
- Keep a journal handy for recording the cute things Alexa says and does as well as the important milestones in her life.

A view inside Alexa’s crib – four pacifiers ready to go, her pink bear & angel bear (given to her by her cousin, Rylen), and her puppy dog from Auntie Janet & Uncle Tom. She inevitably ends up sleeping by her dog and waking up with puppy dog fur on her paci and on her hands. When you ask her what a puppy dog says, she will pant.