Progress

We picked up the new bed this weekend, but since we're still switching the studio over from this room to the former bedroom, we haven't finished painting the floor...which means no rug in the new bedroom yet. Still, it's progress.

I had a chance to work on the knot painting again, while the little one tested out the new bed (nap time!) but made it too mauvey/muddy for my taste, so let's just consider it still in-progress. 

Simply Simple

For about a week I was reading The Architecture of Happiness, but after a slow day at work, clicking through a long list links I read about the book me to Simplicity Parenting. The closer we get to 32" due date, the more we've been trying to create a comfortable transition for M. That book sounded like just the approach we could use: one of emotional support, without trying to control the natural emotions M is feeling. I bought the book and have been reading little blurbs to Charlie ever since.

A few points that stuck out: 

• Don't let your fears for your child outweigh your hopes.
• When it's hardest to want to show your child love is when they need it most. (And when it seems nearly impossible, call their favorite aunt, grandma or grandpa and get them to list all of the things that make your child so especially lovably special until your ears fall off from sweetness. Then go love on that kid.)
• Sometimes we all need to be grounded. . . as in "getting our feet firmly back on the ground" and away from excess stress, stuff, and whatever else overwhelms.

PS: I think Bluebird Baby covers simplicity parenting at its best, lovely pictures and all.  

Green flowers, walls, and floors

Lenten roses are in full bloom right now, and I think the colors are perfect inspiration for our soon-to-be bedroom.  The floor is about 1/3 painted with a first coat. You can see in the picture below the odd stain color that is meant to match the red oak throughout the rest of the house. The dark spots are discoloration from the 30+ year old carpet padding. The floors are pine and in not great shape.

We've tried to refinish the floors that are worth it throughout the house and decided the work involved in getting this area up to snuff would just plain be too much. Why am I rationalizing this decision to you? Because the guy at the hardware store made me rationalize it to him, so I feel like it's some sort of sin to want to paint wood flooring.

The brighter green (above) is the first coat and still wet. It darkens into a nice deep pea green when dry (below). The color is Sherwin Williams SW6180 Oakmoss, though I didn't see a latex floor option at SW, so I bought a latex floor/porch paint from Lowes. Next I'll nix the green walls, but since we have enough navy to get the job done I'll use that up, noting that I'd rather a soft neutral pink in its place.

Our pretend nest

After about a month and a half of horrible pregnancy sleep (bad dreams, sore hips, tossing and turning, waking up every 2 hours to pee) C and I finally caved and realized it was time for a new mattress. We've had a few beds since getting married, switching from a queen to a king somewhere along the way. The actual king bed frame was too big for the room, so we sold it on Craigslist, put the mattress on the floor with a headboard/shelf built by the Mr. and we've been sleeping that way ever since.

King beds are big, and C and I decided we wanted to sleep closer together, so now it's back to the queen size. First we found the frame, then we found the mattress. Naturally the excitement of a new bed brought on a full-fledged case of nesting, so I've been pinning and dreaming up what I'd like to seen in my own restful bedroom. Keep in mind we have the charcoal carpet, the bedside table, the long arm sconces, and the painting.
 

As an aside, and to make it clear I'm not actually on a spending spree, just daydreaming. I also feel I need to share some background: these little projects lately were updates necessary prior  to getting an appraiser back in the house as part of the mortgage loan process. We've had one appraiser who gave us value far, far less than the actual property value, and a list of repairs to be made before the bank funding goes through. While we've completed the necessary repairs, we realize a bit of paint here and there will benefit us greatly. Basically we're staging our own house so we can buy it. Cracks need repairing, paint needs touch ups, ceilings need replacing. Other than that, there are a variety of finishes on the hardwoods upstairs, so to unify the space we're going to paint the floor. 

Knot exactly

2 x 3' acrylic on canvas. True Lover's Knot

Yesterday Mabel and I settled into the studio, both armed with paint and brushes, and got to work. She was creating decorations for a party she was planning (I'm still fuzzy on the particulars) while I worked on the knot painting. After a 2 hour stint, I thought I'd reached a reasonable conclusion. Mabel disagreed, "Too much green. Sometimes I like green, sometimes I don't." She made it clear that in the case of this painting, it was a time of dislike.

Since the painting is a gift to Charlie I asked his thoughts. He suggested I dull the green down, and since he asked nicely, I guess I'll do that.

It's a good excuse to hang out with the kid sans-TV, and she likes to ask me about different paints, why they're different textures (thick and sticky, runny, etc.), the different colors and variations in the same colors, and why I paint the way I do. Seems pretty insightful for a 3 year old, but I'm biased. I wonder how many more afternoons I'll have the ability to keep her interested in paint? I'll take what I can get, and cherish the moment the other day when she sat on my lap and told me how much she likes watching me paint.