The Mercado Milestones: Levi's room and Emma's preschool

As promised, here are pictures of Levi's room.
Steph called me one day when I was pregnant and said "you can say no, but I was wondering if you would like me to make Levi's bedding". Seriously? Why the heck would I even consider saying no to one-of-a-kind, designed by me (and a lot designed by Steph), handmade bedding??? I was so flattered that she wanted to do this for us, especially with a 6yr old, 4 yr old, & 4mo. old at home!
So, while visiting FL we went to the fabric store, picked fabrics to design the quilt, and from there Steph made the quilt, bumper, skirt, two valences, and even a snuggle blanket out of the extra material. And hand delivered it to us when Levi was born! LOVE IT!

Here is the valence and the quilt is hanging over the back of the crib. I should also mention that having the couch in his room (by default, since there was nowhere else to put it!) has turned out to be the best thing ever considering Levi was a terrible sleeper. We spent (sometimes...still spend) countless hours snuggled on here when he refused to go in his crib.

The closet. I've hated this closet since the day I saw it and could never figure out how to organize it. The opening is so small, and the closet is about 6ft wide, and it is the stupidest design ever!! I couldn't see or reach half the stuff hanging in there on either side.
One of my more difficult organization challenges, and for those lucky enough to have called me on the phone during this re-organizing phase you already know how proud I am to have FINALLY figured out how to maximize the storage in here (after dad patched all the walls and re-plastered it for us)! So here it is!!

Large shelf going across the top from end to end, soft hanging shelves down the middle.....

Then, I created easy access to clothing, and plenty of storage behind the clothing rods. I put two rods on the left, with plenty of room behind for shelving, and one bar on the right with plenty of room behind for shelving and room below for tall items & more storage. Now if only I can find the time to actually organize the STUFF in there that is currently crammed into laundry baskets on the floor!

We've had a pretty rough two weeks around here. The kids have been sick, we haven't been able to play with friends, I haven't been able to go to the gym, tantrums are at an all time high and my patience is at an all time low! But today, we had a turning point :) Although the tantrums were still in full force, I was able to get to the gym this morning and somehow, after rocking out on the elliptical to a little mama mia (I know I know, total dork, but I love it!), everything seemed manageable again. The kids are feeling better and are just itching to get out and play. Just don't break Emma's cookie in half or give her the wrong cup. Then all hell breaks loose. Yes. I just cursed.

I've been researching preschools for Emma (although, after this week I'm considering full-time daycare! kidding...kidding....) and we FINALLY found one that we feel is perfect for her. I think she will go 2 days/week next year. The preschools out here are only open 2.5hr/day and I was really hoping for a 4 hour day, but other than that, we are thrilled to have found a great place. Talk about a relief! I was feeling a little stressed trying to find something that met all of our expectations.

All this talk about Emma's school and activity schedule, and Levi starting to crawl and babble a few words....it just blows my mind how quickly they are growing. Levi waves hello/goodbye- he is actually communicating with us! When did he get so big??
And Emma. Quite a little personality on her! She says some of the funniest things to us, and has such a big heart. The other day she was playing with a toy and moving it from one hand to the other and she said to me "my fingers are doing good sharing". We've been talking A LOT about sharing. And when I pretended to cry this afternoon to distract her from having, yet another, tantrum - she told me to suck my finger so I would feel better. Not just any finger, it had to be my pinky. I never realized she did this, but apparently, she does.
While we were out she asked for crackers, and when I told her I didn't have any, she told me they were in my ear. Thanks Dad :) Emma believes if anything is lost, it is in your ear.

So there it is. The kids are growing. Emma is about to start "school" and I am already sad! I feel like this roller-coaster of life is about to shoot out from under me, full speed ahead. Off to school she goes, followed by her brother and (hopefully) future sibling(s), and then I will be shuffling them off between after-school activities, helping with homework, cheering at sporting events and dance recitals, etc. etc. etc. It is so far away, but I know it will be here before I know it.

But for now, I can still hold Emma in my arms on the rocking chair to sing songs and read books, and smother her in kisses. And so, when I think about a few days ago, and how I was absolutely at rock bottom and feeling miserable about how difficult it has been these past couple weeks, I'm glad all it takes is a good night's sleep, a good workout, and a loving husband for me to realize that I am the luckiest girl in the world to get to enjoy every moment I possibly can with them when they are this age. Because it just goes too fast, and then it's gone!

I've decided I'm sick & tired of renovating the house. There are so many other things right now that are more important that I want to do. We still have our list of items that need to get done, but we are going to slow down and extend the timeline. Like, extend it for many many years. Maybe enough years that we might even sell the place before it is done. And that is just fine with me.
But for now, I am putting together a photo book of how far we have come. Here is just a sneak peek of some before, during, & after shots of Levi's room.

Original room with the blue door, old windows, built in desk, carpet that was coming up so much you couldn't even open the closet, and old beat up plaster walls with layers upon layers of wallpaper.