Polka dot fun

When Andrew was born into our one-bedroom apartment, I really regretted not having a nursery to decorate. In April we finally moved into a two-bedroom place and I got my chance. After a great deal of consideration, we decided not to paint our rental unit. In searching for alternatives, I came across an intriguing concept: starching fabric to walls. I decided to starch blue and yellow polka dots (to match the mod monkey theme we used for his birthday) all over his room. It was easy and fun, and I think the result is cute and cheerful.

Still missing from the room: a frame for the futon mattress currently lying on the floor, wall art (which will include monkeys over the crib), a clock, and a teal shag rug to replace the ugly and much-abused alphabet mat.

Please share any tips or ideas you might have on how to make his room beautiful!



Other projects:

Fabric covered frames for the bedroom.



Picture frame arrangement for the hallway. I filled in the empty frames with leftover fabric from the above project. It was going to be temporary, until I print some newer frame-worthy photos, but I kind of like it.



Future projects: I need something to put over the couch and something to decorate the long, empty wall in our bedroom. There is furniture on every wall but this one. I'm not sure how to hang things on it without having them looking completely random and unanchored.

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Defying gravity

I got a bouquet of helium-filled balloons for Andrew's birthday party four weeks ago. (Has it really been four weeks? I should really get started on those thank-you cards.) I paid extra for something called Hi-Float, which promised to make the balloons float for a week! Well, they all made it three weeks, which is amazing, and several made it to this weekend, but now the remaining few are running out of hot air, so to speak. When each one started to droop on its ribbon, I cut it loose and let it float free, so it could drift through the apartment, carried along by whatever faint airflow it got caught up in. It would suddenly appear next to my head or wander off down the hall for no apparent reason. Then, slowly, it would start to hover lower to the ground, until, finally, it could float no more, although when tossed it would glide downward in slow motion, still bending the rules of gravity just a little. Right now, only one is still up, floating against the ceiling in the corner, while two are standing on their knots on the ground, not quite ready to lie flat.

I feel like there's a metaphor in here somewhere.

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Baby, you'll be a toddler soon

Big news: Andrew is taking steps! I haven't yet managed to capture said steps on video, but you can bet I'll be trying again as soon as my camera battery is recharged. It's funny how excited Keith and I get watching him. We're such proud parents!

Oh — if you're wondering about cake attempt #2, well, it was also a failure. Apparently cake is scary. I put it on the tray in front of him (no candle this time) and he just stared at it. I gave him icing on my finger, but he still looked wary. I took his hand and stuck it in the cake, and he started sobbing. I don't get it! Oh well, maybe next year?

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