Nursery: "Chester Drawers"

Before anyone comes to the conclusion that I'm totally illiterate, let me just say that I know it's "chest of drawers" not "Chester Drawers", which is saying more that quite a few of the folks selling dressers on Craigslist! However, this post is not about grammatical errors on Craigslist or someone named Chester. With our sweet baby girls arrival only 13 weeks away, I have been spending some time getting started on her nursery. A few weeks ago, I noticed a dresser on the side of the road right around the corner. I had been planning finding a cheap dresser that I could fix up and paint to use as a changing table, and it doesn't get much cheaper than free!

The nursery walls are aqua blue, so I am using lots of pink accessories, including the changing table, to make it girly! The dresser was in pretty good shape, so I just removed the handles, sanded, primed and painted it. (The color is Behr's Strawberry Freeze.) I finished it off with a coat of polyurethane. It is a changing table, after all, so I'm sure the wipe-ability will come in handy!

(after 2 coats of primer)

(after a coat of pink)

Then I just added new knobs (with her sweet initials!) and some pretty pink handles (knobs from Hobby Lobby; handles from Target).

The handles proved to be more of a challenge than I would have like because the dresser's holes were pre-drilled for handles with 4 inch centers, and most standard handles come with 3 inch centers. I just drilled new holes, and didn't bother filling in the new ones because they are covered by the handles.

(close-up of the handles)

Finally, I wanted to add one last detail. I lined the drawers with some cute patterned fabric. I just cut the fabric to size and used a thin layer of fabric glue to stick the fabric to the inside of the drawers. (Idea courtesy of John and Sherry over at Young House Love. LOVE THEM!)

So pretty and cheap! I will have more nursery updates coming soon so keep checking in!

Lynnlee Faith

When we first found out that we were going to have a baby, we shared the news with our friends Jackie and Josh. Shortly after, they let us know that they were also expecting- and that Jackie was due just about a week before me! We were so excited to share this special time together, and even joked that we could share a hospital room when the time came! However, Jackie's pregnancy, for whatever reason, was not the easiest and she experienced some complications. I have almost felt guilty for having such a smooth pregnancy while praying daily that Jackie and her precious baby would be healthy and safe.

I don't know if she felt the same way, but I just continued to feel such a strong bond with Jackie as we both progressed in our pregnancies. We have not known each other for very long, but I still felt that bond. When we both found out that we were expecting baby girls, that feeling grew stronger. However, Jackie's news that she and Josh were having a baby girl also came with news that she was having a very difficult time in the womb. Jared and I have had heavy hearts for Jackie and Josh throughout this time, and have had a burden to pray for them probably more so than anything else in our lives together so far.

One afternoon, after Jackie and Josh had been to another doctor's appointment, we saw them in the office at Jared's school (Jared and Jackie work together). For some reason, I just had an overwhelming feeling in that moment that everything would be ok. This is not a normal gut reaction for me, as I am the eternal pessimist, so I just knew Jesus was speaking peace for them into my heart. The next Sunday or so, at church, we were sitting with Jackie and Josh, and the pastor was preaching about how we should pray big and believe that God will do big things. I truly felt that God was speaking through him into this situation. Then I think the next Sunday we were sitting with Jackie and Josh in church during a baby dedication. I prayed that God would allow both Jackie and I to be standing there with our babies during the next baby dedication. I just knew, and still know, that we He would and will answer that prayer.

Lynnlee Faith was born a week and a day ago on January 3, 2011 at 26 weeks. She is a precious miracle and is doing so well in the NICU. Jared and I got to go meet her last Sunday, and she is so beautiful and I know her parents are so proud. I know our baby girl can't wait to meet her, and I hope they will always be friends. I really feel like their stories are somehow entwined together. Even if not, though, I know that this has been a special time for me, and I think all those involved, to really grow in our faith.

Faith has been the major theme in this whole journey. Before we even knew anything was wrong, Jackie and I had both thought of the name Faith for a middle name for both girls. Just for the record, we didn't plan or discuss this together- it just happened! There are so many people, including me and Jared, who are praying in faith for Lynnlee, and I know that God is hearing and answering those prayers. It might sound crazy, but I even believe that our precious baby girl somehow knows about Lynnlee and is rooting for her, too!

While this is obviously not our story, and there is so much more to Jackie, Josh, and Lynnlee's story, I truly am so grateful to be a part of it. I know I have grown so much in my relationship with Jesus and my prayer life has been strengthened through this. I also feel more ready to be a momma to our own baby when she comes. 

If you want to follow Lynnlee's story and pray for her or leave a message for Jackie and Josh, go to http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/smithbaby or just go to caringbridge.org and type in smithbaby in the search box.