Ready.....set......

Craig and I have been working tirelessly on readying a nursery for baby Sera. After all, on March 16, we were informed that we would be matched in 4-6 weeks. That call could come with four months notice or four hours notice. We want to make sure we are prepared when that fateful day occurs.

With the exception of a crib mattress and one picture for an empty wall above the changing table, I think our nursery is done. We still need lots of baby stuff, but the major nursery stuff is complete. If you want to see the before picture, travel back to a post a month ago.

So, here's a tour:

A wide view of the nursery

This is the mural I purchased a year ago. Every branch, creature, and leaf was hand-cut and individually placed. I didn't time the entire process, but during this task, I played some streaming video in the background. I was able to watch one episode of Glee, three episodes of Community, three episodes of Don't Trust the B***** in Apt. 23, and three episodes of Game of Thrones. 

We purchased some absolutely adorable prints off Etsy from a store in Long Island. Of course, there had to be a squirrel.

I found adorable letter tiles at Hobby Lobby. Craig has joked about how we would use these letters if we are surprised with a boy. Eras? Ares? Sear? 

The SE corner of the nursery, complete with a bookshelf from a VA yard sale, an owl clock from my older brother, a cute frog from friend, Kathy, and a hand-knit squirrel/hedgehog from best friend, Serenity.

Sera has even accumulated some really cute clothes. 

We're excited for the day when we finally get to use this room. I don't feel sad stepping into our nursery. I feel hopeful. We are buying things here and there. I am trying to find lots of ways to save. I bought $1 shirts on clearance at Toys R Us. I purchased our stroller/travel system for $100 off by taking advantage of a sale and stacked coupons. I signed up for "Mom's clubs" with the major formula companies (earning $35 worth of free cans of formula + $20 in coupons). I check for sale and clearance items regularly at Target. Little by little, we're getting there.

On an unrelated note....As you can deduce from my caption under the mural picture, I'm a bit of a television junkie. In a previous post, I briefly complained about the inaccurate portrayal of adoption in television. Several shows have featured an adoption subplot, but the couples usually have a match and baby in a few short months and the adoptions typically occur without a hitch. This season, the show, Smash, followed a couple on an international adoption and [spoiler alert], they ended the season, hinting that the prospective mom may be pregnant.

A coworker told me I needed to watch this week's Modern Family because she thought of me while watching it. I have watched a few Modern Family episodes and have enjoyed the show. I'm not sure why I don't watch more of it. I took a moment to watch this week's episode and found myself crying towards the end. I recommend that you watch it. Or at least skip to the Cam and Mitchell scenes (which you can predictably find with Hulu). If anything, view 18:30. We've been there before. I think all adoptive parents have been there before. Bravo to Modern Family for finally getting it right (and thank you Trina for telling me about this episode). I just may have to add Modern Family to my DVR list in the fall.