Gearheads…is what we are.
Babies take some gear. It’s nearly mind-boggling to me how much STUFF there is associated with people who are so little and dependent. But there is, and that’s what we’ve been doing, rather furiously in fact, for the last week or so: getting the last of the gear together in anticipation of bringing the kiddo home…sometime this spring?
When I first met R., I realized pretty quickly that he took an interest in certain activities just for the excuse to buy the cool gear…telemark skiing, for example, and rock climbing. The gear is so specialized that it’s impossible to adapt gear from other activities to these…rock climbing shoes are rock climbing shoes. No substitutions. No using your tennies. No using that rope you keep stashed in the car trunk for tying your Christmas tree onto the roof every year. Ah, no.
Babies are similar. There is no use, apparently, in using your purse as a diaper bag. You can’t stick baby on top of a stack of telephone books on one of your regular chairs and call it ‘high.’ Ah, no.
So, we have been busy spending money on specialized gear. To whit:
We don’t have a nursery yet. The contractor dude who was hired to build us one out of our master bedroom space (putting up walls and windows and doors to divide the space into three rooms) got behind in his jobs, so we are still waiting. Hence, we now have a crib in our bedroom and a changing table in our living room:
I always thought that dirty diapers went well with stacked rock walls, no? In lieu of a nursery, our breakfast nook has been converted into a playroom for The Bee:
Note the mushy padded floors. More gear. When I was little, we had shag carpeting to cushion our falls.
Perhaps the worst offense in the gear department, however, has been the boondoggle that R. has managed to pull in the past week in our TV room. We have a bowling-alley TV room (long and skinny), and R. has always hated the little couch that I found for it…it’s vintage and undersized, which was perfect for the size of the room, but it did have rather thin cushions…
He worked on me about that couch for the better part of a year. I liked the couch. I liked the vintage rattan stuff it was made out of; I liked the graphic ulpholstery fabric that reminded me of writing; I liked that it was small and ‘fit’ the space. He hated it. Watching American Idol became a battle of wills. He finally broke me when he hooked into the idea of a new, larger, cushy couch as necessary kid gear.
To whit:
Um, yeah. I’m officially a gearhead.
Love it all: the books piled near the couch, the colorful ready and waiting playroom, the FANTASTIC stroller (please tell me what that beauty is and where she comes from…), the rocking changing table and sunny car-seat. I’m also taken with the incredible painting over the couch. It’s a stunning work. Thanks for all the pictures. Makes me think that we better get moving on our To-Get list. Countdown to The Bee!
Comment by: walternatives - 03.20.2007 - 3.30 pm
Ah, what a pretty cover for your roundabout! And the nice thing is, it’s EZ to clean! We got the denim one. The changing table is kewl, too, as is the sunroom/playroom. And I still covet your artwork, desperately.
Comment by: OmegaMom - 03.20.2007 - 4.14 pm
I’m lovin’ that rockin’ playroom. Cool.
Comment by: Jacquie - 03.20.2007 - 4.39 pm
I think the house looks good. You will move things around and adapt.
I used to bring in odd couches and benches. We had one Tim called the pew. It really sucked. I guess we make do with what space we have. Emme is going to love it.
Comment by: Nicole - 03.20.2007 - 5.22 pm
I love a. the changing table; b. the new couch; c; the incredible artwork over the couch. Not necessarily in that order.
Everything looks great! You are ready!
Comment by: new girl - 03.20.2007 - 6.48 pm
Looks like you’re ready!!
I’m not sure how to email you, but if you could contact me I’d love to chat. We may be in the position to adopt a cleft-affected baby, and I have some questions for ya.
Comment by: Brooklyn Mama - 03.20.2007 - 8.32 pm
Oooo!! Nice cushy couchie! And, I LOVE the deco changing station. Very, very coo!
SBird is making such a very nice, cozy wee nest!
Comment by: wzgirl - 03.20.2007 - 10.36 pm
I love it all…and am especially loving the Bugaboo!! We went cheap (Maclaren), and now I have no reason to convince (read:scam) my poor husband to buy a Bugaboo..sigh.
It is all wonderful, and you are so close to the Bee! Living vicariously though you..
Take care.
Comment by: Amanda - 03.21.2007 - 7.58 am
Oh my gawsh! I just LURVE the shopping for the baby getting read to go to China experience! Enjoy!
Comment by: christie - 03.21.2007 - 12.01 pm
It all looks fabulous.
That R. is a sly one, isn’t he? The new couch does look particularly comfy though.
Comment by: Jessi - 03.21.2007 - 12.05 pm
love all the new purchases. I shudder to think what my IT techie husband will HAVE to get cause we neeeeeeeed it for Magpie. Best wishes.
Comment by: lisa - 03.21.2007 - 2.40 pm
I liked the first couch. But the new sofa does look more “cozy”-inducing and kid-friendly, yes?
LOVE the Emme nook, love the art, love the changing table… yes, so much STUFF. OMG, how are we ever going to fit a BABY in this house???
Comment by: atomic mama - 03.21.2007 - 7.05 pm
Do you walk by the Emme nook and have to pinch yourself??? It is real, the Bee is going to be occupying that space really, really soon. I am so excited for you and your upcoming journey. Love the gear.
Comment by: operation tigerlily - 03.22.2007 - 10.51 pm
What amazes me is how the smaller the child is the bigger the gear must be! I love your bee-gear, though. Looks great!
Comment by: Maggie - 03.23.2007 - 8.12 pm
Take 2: What amazes me is how the smaller the child is the bigger the gear must be! I love your Bee-gear, though. Looks great!
That last comment was from me, but I neglected to change my info. Ooops!
Comment by: Cavatica - 03.23.2007 - 8.15 pm
That is the same car seat I have!! Love that cover! What is the brand of that stroller? It looks like a bugaboo, but don’t think it is, but love how it looks, and it looks like it will be comfy for Emme. I have bought a Maclaran for Davids car, but still looking for what I want for the primary stroller..so am curious of the brand. Unless it really is a bugaboo, and then I will just be green with envy!!
The nest is looking good, and it won’t be long and she will be home sitting and playing in her new nest.
It won’t be long now!
Comment by: jules - 03.24.2007 - 11.32 am
IMHO…gear is good!
Awesome items!
Keep smilin!
Comment by: Doris Clark - 03.26.2007 - 10.48 am
Great changing table - did you convert a piece or was it marketed that way? I agree with you on the sofa - the vintage piece was fantastic. I hope you kept it . . . somewhere.
Comment by: joelle - 03.26.2007 - 10.55 pm