The End?

Gotcha! Kinda of a creepy title for a blog post, I know, but it's time to celebrate the end of the painting extravaganza that has consumed 75% of my summer. Let's have a look around, shall we?

The view from the doorway. Obviously, we need to get some curtains in here, but it's not looking to shabby. The rocking chair will go right by the closet, next to the bushes, mushroom, and Goomba. The goomba could be a little bigger, but he looks so freaking cute and evil. Let's take a closer look...

Doesn't he look sinister? It looks like he's angry at whatever we choose to put next time him, which will eventually be the rocking chair.

Now this little Red Koopa was hard to see in the wide shot, but he's marching along at the beginning of wall #2. It looks like he'll be frequently "blinded by the light!"

Wouldn't you know it? I spent all that time working on "the forest" only to cover it up with Kiddo's crib! Please excuse the mess in the crib. It's full of either items to figure out how to use (Boppy and breast pump what?) and things I don't know where to put yet (Mario blanket and placemat). I don't know why, but I feel compelled to name that blue teddy bear Bruce. It just seems to fit. I'm rambling, aren't I? Shut up Valerie, just shut up! Ahh! This is taken from the corner where the rocker will sit. You can see our spitting Piranha plant (no spit, don't know if I'll add it for sure), our winged Koopa, and Mario himself! Also pictured, Aunt Julie's box of awesome! It is currently loaded with all the best reading material.

See? Awesome reading material! Daddy picked out the Hawkeye 101 book this weekend while we spent part of a baby shower gift card to Barnes & Noble from Auntie Jodi-Bird. It is much needed since Mom and Dad don't have very many "boy" books. Notice that Mo Willems is very important to us in this house. We now have 90% of his collection, most of which is in the Mario box. I think I'll eventually move it next to the rocker when it comes in.

This is on the left side of the crib, just below our joyous red Koopa. I filled two Yaffa Blocks with books for Kiddo. Some are almost as old as I am since Grandma Shelly tracked down my old picture books. I also decorated with a few of the toys that were on the tables at my first baby shower. The rest of our Mo Willems collection is here.



Here's our 'lil Spitting Piranha Plant! I may eventually add some spit, but not yet. I think I've reached a pretty high "burned-out on painting" level. He looks pretty spiffy though... Might need some fangs...



This shot is looking from the Red Koopa corner by the windows out. Mario is there, as is the Winged Goomba above the door, and Chomping Piranha Plant!



I felt it necessary to show off what's currently on the dresser. We have a hawkeye sippy cup (it'll be a while before it's in use, but it's cute nonetheless). Pat Pint gave me some reading material for when we bring Kiddo home. Stephanie and Kevin gave us the Anne Geddes book when we found out we were "in the family way." Next are Auntie Steph's "you're knocked up" gifts, the little journal laying down and the Safe Baby Pregnancy Tips book which cracks me up every single time I look at it. (I found out there's another one like it, only for after the baby comes home that I may have to purchase.) Dawn and Aunt Mary Jean bought the "On the Night You Were Born" baby journal for us; I need to start writing in it. There is another journal of sorts laying down on the corner from Aunt Sara that has BEAUTIFUL artwork in it; if I ever get around to making a scrapbook, I may cut this one apart for the art inside.



Here's our Winged Green Koopa. He's headed toward Mario, though on a lower block. Determination...

 

"It's-a me, Mario!" We went pretty old-school for Mario himself. Aunt Julie really knocked herself out on him. He's all shaded and stuff, not like the rest of the stuff in the room. It's hard to see, but his foot bears her initials.

Another sinister Goomba, this time with wings. Sara really worked hard on these little guys and I love how evil they look. This one sits above the door, like he's going to pounce on you, so you'd better watch it!

 

Look at my baby! I'm so proud of these pipes that I had a hard time putting anything in them! This guy maybe could have been longer, but I still think he looks great! Just try to get those coins below him; just try! I sounded very Wicked Witch of the West there...



One last photo. These items are not currently in Kiddo's room (they live in the bathroom), but are no less awesome or important. Auntie Kimball gave us the Puj Tub that is all folded up. Logan (devil kitten that he is) has already marked the tub as "MINE!" by chewing on the foam while I was learning how to put it together. It literally snaps together with magnets, which I find highly awesome! Stephanie and Marissa gave us the basket of bathing goodies. We've filled it with more toys than anything, but eventually we'll add some towels and shampoo and washcloths!

 Ok, so there are still a few things that need to be accomplished in order to complete Kiddos' room, but I am so proud, happy, and thrilled to show-off what has been accomplished. I'd like to take a moment to thank everyone who helped contribute to the painting, through listening to me gripe or boast, supporting the near meltdowns, and actually rolling up their sleeves to pitch in through full-on painting or adding the Kiddo's stock of awesome things to place in his room. These people include but are not limited to: Daddy (Aaron), Sara Smith, Julie Dudley, Joan Johnson, Shelly Johnson (Kira and Trey by proxy), Whitney Cavanah, Meagen Wahl, Michelle Griswold, Alison Arnold, Erin Stoen, Stephanie Mock, Lindsay Kimball, Lindsey Ruhland, Anni Bowers, Gab Atwood, Kathryn Armstrong, Emily Robinson, Stephanie and Kevin Jensen, Marissa Emery, the rest of my amazing, awesome, talented, caring, compassionate, and crazy family and friends. Thus endeth Painting Extravaganza 2011. The next kid is SOL! LOL!

In other news, Aaron and I found a day care and are visiting tomorrow to sign the paperwork to make it official. I'm excited that we finally found one after the atrocity that lived at the Tender Years center in Johnston. We also, in case you didn't see it mentioned enough above, ordered the rocking chair. The lady a Babies R Us asked if either of us was an engineer, which makes it sound like construction may be a chore, but we'll make it through. I practiced installing the car seat this weekend; it was shockingly simple, so I think the real test is getting Kiddo in and out of it. Also, we attended birthing class 3 of 5 last night and learned all about pain meds and funky breathing just in case pain meds aren't an option (two breaths in, two breaths out during transition). I can't say that I'm looking forward to those last three centimeters of dilation without drugs since a) the pain is intense and b) the contractions last 90 seconds and you get a 30 second break before the next one hits (joy, rapture), but we'll see. I plan to go for as long as possible without the drugs so I'm not a total wimp but not a complete martyr either. Also, I'd like to point out that I became "that girl" in class last night when I fell off the birthing ball, right after Aaron told me not to fall. He totally jinxed me, so I'll blame him for it if his baby comes out with a hematoma. At least it was good for a laugh, like the time he chewed gum into the top of my head or was told to give me a hand massage that proved how ticklish my palms are.

Well, off to do some laundry and stuff. There's never an end to the work! Love you all!