A Place to Call her Own

Since I can remember, I always dreamed of bringing home my baby to a beautifully decorated nursery, where every little detail would have been created with so much thought and love.  Unfortunately, Eliza didn’t have a beautifully decorated nursery in her first home in London, nor does she in her second home in Newport.  However, the wheels have been endlessly turning for months now as I have been preparing to create Eliza’s first room.  Her own little spot in the world.

While it was somewhat heartbreaking bringing Eliza home to a room with simply four white walls and a Pack n’ Play (first world problems, people), I certainly have had the benefit of being able to collect things throughout her short almost-10-months of life that have special meaning to the three of us.  Her nursery won’t be a page from a Pottery Barn catalogue or a display at Babies R’ Us.  It’ll be a page from Eliza Lane’s story and nearly every last detail will display some sort of special meaning to the three of us. 

Some of my favorite things that I’ve been working on…

Beatles Triptych

The moment Eliza came into the world, our midwife, Doreen, began singing ‘All You Need is Love’ to her.  I will never forget that moment and consider it Eliza’s song.
‘In My Life’ was playing on the radio in the nursery for all the babies when Scott and I picked up our brand new little one following short night’s rest. The song played on repeat in my head for days after – it never fails to make me smile and think back to that most happy moment every time I hear it. 

And, since Eliza’s first house was off Abbey Road (and we crossed the famed zebra crossing daily), I thought the famous Beatles' Abbey Road album cover was the perfect fit.

Eliza’s Silhouette

I had a silhouette made and then altered it to include her monogram and pearls.  

Eliza goes to Paris

Whenever we see a picture of the Eiffel Tower, I tell Eliza she has been to Paris three times.  And she was; in utero.  One of my favorite baby bump pictures is the one of me us in front of the Eiffel Tower.

In the Navy

A shout out to Dad.

Proper Sleeping Arrangements

For the first six months of Eliza’s life, she slept in a Pack n’ Play.  Bless her.  But with living in London for the first three months of her life and in a hotel for the next three, a crib wasn’t an option.  Finally, we bought the girl a crib.  

Colors

Originally, I wanted very pale gray walls with light pink and white accents throughout the room.  Then I saw Crushed Peony from Behr and never looked back.  It matched Eliza’s bumper of ruffles and bows perfectly.  With the white trim, it’ll be elegant and girly without being over the top. 

Other Little Bits that I Love

Words to live by: Keep Calm and Carry On and Live Life on Purpose. 

Another reminder of London.

A fun, colorful pennant that she's already wild about.

 Once we add the other pieces that we have collected over time and complete painting, hanging and arranging, I think her room will be exactly what I envisioned years ago...

We are currently in Virginia, visiting to do some house projects, and I am more than ready to start work on my sweet girl’s room.  It’s the room I am most excited about, the one I have dreamt longest about, and the one of which I am most proud.  And in December, my baby girl will be able to come home to her beautiful, thoughtfully created nursery, at last.  

In the meantime, there’s a sweet little girl, a pile of frames and countless other pieces of Eliza’s world we’ve collected…all waiting to come together to create the place she will call her own.