Surprises and car seats

There is a lot of information out there on adoption. But, there are a lot of different ideas on when one should set up a nursery and buy things for a baby that you aren't sure is coming soon. We have a lot from a dear friend of ours, Regan, who already has her two boys. We have a baby swing, bathtub, some clothing, a bouncy, a Bumbo and a Boppy. First of all- where do they come up with the names for these things???? Bumbo, boucy...??? There was a time when I had all of these things in our empty room (to be nursery) and I was excited. We had these things even when we were going through infertility. After our IVF failed, I went to the room and stuffed everything in the closet out of sight. I couldn't bare to see those baby items there when we didn't and weren't going to have a baby to use them. I was brokenhearted. Those things are still in the closet, but we are now having to decide what to do as far as the nursery and what we need to buy now. We know we will need items such as a carseat, but there is no way to tell how long we will be waiting. We do know it can be as short as a few months or as long as 2 years. The planner in me wants everything done yesterday. The emotional side of me is still carrying the wall around so I can put it up when I need to.

Back to the carseat conundrum- We felt it was okay to at least start looking at carseats after our interviews. So we have been on a trip to Babies R Us. It is a chore trying to lift and fold and carry a carrier and stroller. I am a nanny and I have done it several times, but I am still only 5'0" : ) I have felt apprehensive researching a carseat and stroller. I prayed on the way to the store that the lady who helped us would understand and be sensitive. When I told her we were adopting, she said, "Oh, my kids are adopted." I have been floored by all of the positives during this journey. The lady helping us at the baby store, our social worker who adopted. It has been so great to have random people come into our lives who have helped us make it through this journey. We are still up in the air on the carseat. Many people say buy only new. Some people say buy used from someone you know. My biggest concern is safety. We have waited so long for this and we are still waiting. I guess like anyone anticipating being a new mom - I want only the best. But, I also have the reality of finances.

I am an interior designer so originally I planned a girl nursery and a boy nursery. That was when I thought the miracle of modern medicine was going to get us pregnant. Now that we are adopting, I am really digging bright colors and modern touches that can be for a girl or boy (I do not like the term gender neutral so I won't use that here).

So, the impatient, crafty me has gotten a new design in my head. One that will take time and effort, but will be great in the end. I am a do it yourselfer and my husband loves working with tools! Best of both worlds! I don't want to have an entire nursery together because I know heartbreak can come throughout this process, but there are a few things I have found that we can do now AND it will keep us busy. I am loving Pinterest because I can save pictures of ideas I have.

I bought a used dresser recently that I wanted to refinish for our living room, but it may end up in the nursery to be used as a changing table/storage piece. After all we have been through emotionally, physically and financially, I can't see buying pieces of furniture that will only ever serve one purpose. I want a room that can grow with our child.

I also am recently in love with Board and Batten. It is a process where you add boards to the wall in a design. It was originally used as an exterior form of architecture and then it began to be used in the interior especially in the Arts and Crafts time period (my favorite by far). They used this in older homes and I love bringing older features of homes into modern homes in an updated way.

Board and Batten Origins http://www.ehow.com/facts_6807720_board-batten-siding-history.html
http://www.ehow.com/info_12094712_board-batten-wall-treatments.html

Alphabet letters- I also love the idea of Alphabet letters in the room. I paint them and sell them also so I have done quite a few. I thought having a "shelf" around the perimeter of the room using the board and batten would make a great surface to put them on.

Any ideas on how soon to prepare your nursery? I have time now, but no baby. Soon I hope to have a baby ,but I know then that I will have NO TIME.