ELEANOR SAGE’S NURSERY

My husband and I moved into our new home in December 2021 as I was 3 months pregnant. After we got everything unpacked, and the house in somewhat of an order, it was time to start working on our second daughter’s nursery.

My hope in each room I design in our home is that it would be beautiful, functional, and life giving. We hope to have a peaceful home when people enter, and I believe how you design your home matters to achieve this.

My vision was to bring in antique pieces for some added character in this newer home, incorporate round corners and edges to tie shapes together, and bring dainty, feminine, earthy colors (mauve, sage, and cream/white with warm woods) that would make this space a place I loved spending time in with our Ellie girl.

For the antique frames, I had two pieces that I wanted to showcase:

1. Calligraphy Keepsake: I calligraphed the song ‘Give Me Jesus’ by All Sons and Daughters for above her crib. Joshua and I worshipped to this song at our wedding ceremony, so it holds very special meaning. (P.s. You can purchase your own calligraphy keepsake HERE!)

2. Watercolor Portrait: My dear friend, Dianuh Aerin, gifted a watercolor keepsake to me at my baby sprinkle. It was inspired by a photo from our maternity session with Kelsey Wilson, and it was such a special gift. I never want to forget the days of Eleanor’s life when I carried her in my womb.

This was the first room I designed from blank walls to full reveal in our new home, and I have to say, it just might be my favorite room in the house! I hope you feel inspired and find some practical things to help bring your home to life.

Kelsey captured our first few days as a family in her sweet nursery, and I will cherish these moments forever. Babies don’t keep.

SHOP ALL ITEMS BELOW

NURSERY ITEMS

• Crib

• Swivel Rocking Chair and Ottoman

• Dresser

• Nightstand

• Lamp (Dimmer on switch!)

• Rug

• Mirror

• Velvet Black Out Curtains

• Large Wicker Basket (Under Nightstand)

• Small Wicker Basket (Dresser)

• Sheets (Muslin material)

• Changing Pad (Keekaroo)

• Sound Machines

• Diaper Pail

• Crib Skirt

• Bunny Stuffed Animal

CLOTHING

• Sage Green Dress

• Eleanor’s Floral Romper

• Everly’s Striped Dress

• Everly’s Bows

• Eleanor’s Mauve Ruffle Bum Footie

Sweet blessings,

EVERLY OLIVE'S NURSERY

I have never loved a home design project as much as I loved designing Everly’s nursery. When I envisioned her room, I wanted it to be a place that was classic, simple, invited in nature, and let my girl shine, not the stuff in her room. I started planning her nursery a few months before COVID, and I had everything all picked out. But by the time we were ready to purchase everything, the supply chain was completely shot. I scoured the internet for a dressers, nightstands rockers, and cribs that were actually in stock and would ship faster than 4 months, but the options were very limited. In the end, my vision for this room stayed the same, I just had to go about it with a few different pieces than expected. Isn’t that the theme of 2020? Pivot? Change? Unexpected? Different but still good? In the end, her nursery turned out better than I could have hoped for.

VISION: For her nursery items, I wanted the pieces we purchased to be able to be used in other rooms in the future, and not be nursery specific. I wanted to mix highly functional , classic, and timeless pieces into her nursery, while still being girly and pretty.

STORAGE: In her nursery, I wanted to have a lot of hidden storage to keep her room clutter free. There is storage in her dresser, her nightstand, the rocking chair ottoman, under her crib, in her closet, and hanging on the wall. This has given us plenty of space to keep all of her little baby things and make her nursery highly practical and functional.

END OF THIS POST: At the end of this post, there are some sneak peeks of our newborn photo session, (I love you Leah Hardcastle!) and Everly is truly the thing that shines in this room. You will also find links to all the items that you will see in our nursery.

I hope Ever girl’s nursery inspires you, and that you see our daughter shine in her own little space, not the material things. We have LOVED loving her in her little room designed especially for her.

Due date (August 23rd 2020) and ready to finally bring our best gal home to her room.

Our beautiful maternity photos by Leah Lou Photography

This wash basin is so special to us, because it is the basin we washed each others feet in at our wedding. We pray that Everly sees a rich, full, sacrificial, and grace filled marriage lived out in front of her. One where we die to self, and serve each other well.

Crib: Buy Buy Baby

Dresser: Wayfair

Nightstand: Wayfair

Rocker and Ottoman: Buy Buy Baby

Velvet Black Out Curtains: West Elm

Accordion Hanging Rack: Terrain

Diaper Pail: Target

Sheets: Target

Crib Skirt: Target

Lamp: Pottery Barn

Rug: Target

Dress: Altar’d State from a few years ago

Swaddle: Mushie

Bow: Noell Jane

Josh’s White Shirt: Banana Republic

Abstract Painted Canvas: Handmade by me (Materials all from Jo-Ann Fabrics)

Baby Book: Write to Me

Prayer Journal: Val Marie

Velveteen Rabbit Book: Folio Society

Strawberry Stacking Toy: Odin Parker

Wooden Stacking Rings: Odin Parker

Cream and White Striped Romper: Lincoln and Grace

Cream Diaper Bag: Luli Bebe

Keekaroo Changing Pad: Amazon/Babylist

Bear Lovey: Odin Parker

Florals: Hobby Lobby

Vase: Jo-Ann Fabrics from a few years ago

Frames: Hobby Lobby

Dresser Knobs: Hobby Lobby

Stacked Antique Books: CR-71 (Local shop in the Factory in Franklin, TN)

Photography: Leah Lou Photography

Sweet blessings-

MUST-HAVE BABY REGISTRY ITEMS!

Don’t mind the upside down ultrasound. Pregnancy brain is strong in me.

A few weeks ago, I decided to start building our registry. I immediately knew that we should get clothes, diapers, wipes, a car seat, a stroller, and…well…that was about the extent of my knowledge of what I knew to put on our registry. I was pretty frustrated and overwhelmed because I started to feel like I did not know how to provide for my baby. But one of my weaknesses is not asking for help. I like to be in control, strong, and do things on my own (Enneagram 8 problems). What I know about motherhood, though, from watching so many amazing friends become momma’s, is that it takes a tribe, and asking for help is not weakness, but WISDOM.

So, I did the best thing I could think of, and I reached out to my tribe on Instagram and Facebook to ask them this question: “Tell me your favorite, life-saving products that you wish you knew about sooner as a new mom, or that you found can CANNOT live without.”

There were comments after comments of real moms showing up to share their wisdom with me, and it was so inspiring.

WHAT THIS LIST IS

These are recommendations from REAL moms who I know. I broke down all of the recommendations by category to make it a bit more digestible. Inside each category, you might find the SAME item, but a variance of brands/companies that sell this item. I personally love having multiple options so Josh and I can research them on our own, and make the BEST informed decision for ourselves, our aesthetic, and our budget, from these recommendations for our little family. This list is simply a starting point for the overwhelmed new momma like me who just needs a place to start for some of the must-haves that we would have NEVER ever thought about…because we simply haven’t been there yet, and we just want to know! No one has time to waste money on products that aren’t even important or won’t be used.

WHAT THIS LIST IS NOT

I have never been a mom, so I have never personally used or tried any of these items. This is simply a compilation of all of the suggestions I received. I want to remind you that this list will look different for every mom. Some mommas are more minimal and will only want a few things off this list. Others are world-is-going-to-end preparers (no pun intended right now during COVID-19) and they will want every single suggestion. Let’s celebrate each mom for how they decide to raise their little, and the various resources they choose to use.

“Every mom needs an escape - not from motherhood, but the world’s definition of it.”

— ValMarie Paper Products

HEALTH

• Nosefrieda

• Lotions and Soaps the mom likes the smell of.

• Electric Baby Nail Filer (Not clippers)

• Anything made by Frieda Baby

• Tubby Todd All Over Ointment

• Gripe Water

• Gas Drops

• Burtsbees diaper cream

• Baby probiotics

• Saline

• Itzy Ritzy Teething Toys

• Calmoseptine (Diaper cream)

• Puracy Laundry Detergent for baby clothes

  • Don’t wash the clothes until you use them.

  • Every baby grows different, so if you get too many of a size of clothes, and your baby never wears them, you can return them, or re-gift them. If you wash them all beforehand, you can’t do this!

• Updated First Aid kit

• Punkin Butt Teething Oil

• Freezer Teethers

• Windi by Freida

• A freezer teething ring

• Baby brush

• Thermometer

BABY CARRIERS

• Wrap and Carriers were something used everyday for the first 6 months

• Figure out if you like a wrap or a carrier

• Konny Baby

• Solly Baby

• Wild Bird Sling

• Nesting Days Carrier

• Ring Sling

• Moby Wrap

• Ergo Baby 360 (Husband recommendation)

• Baby K'tan carrier (Husbands can wear it too)

• Baby Bjorn carrier

• Structured baby carrier

• Lille Baby Carrier, Solly Baby Carrier, and Ring Sling

  • This mom used all three for different reasons and times.

  • You might consider multiple carriers.

BREAST FEEDING/EATING/FEEDING

• Hakka Breast Pump

• Boppy Nursing Pillow

• Nursing Cover

• Baby Banana Teether

• Spectra Baby USA S1 Plus Breast Pump

• Baby Breeza (If formula feeding)

• Burp cloths (You can never have too many)

• A Good Pump:

  • Medela from insurance

  • Unimom pup

  • This momma had both

• Bibs

• Dr Browns bottles with premie nipple

• Vitamin D drops (Essential if you are breast feeding)

• Get a sleek pump if you are pumping at work with an insulated carrier

• Lightweight nursing cover (Boppy brand)

• Lightweight nursing cover (Little Miss Dessa brand)

• Breastfeeding pillow in general

• Hands free pumping bra

• Willow Pump

• My Breast Friend nursing pillow

  • Boppy pillow was a COMPLETE waste.

  • This one has lumbar support…your back will thank you for this.

• Milk savers

• Reusable breast pads

• Silicone teething toys

• Silicon bibs

• Silicon suction plates

• A high chair with NO fabric

  • This makes it way easier to clean.

  • It also looks newer longer because it is easier to clean.

• Wooden high chair

• Bottles with premie/slow flow nipple

• Bottle brush

• Lansinoh Breastfeeding products

DIAPERING

• Wipes Warmer

• Cloth Diapers

  • Mommaq Koala

  • Ava Baby

• Ubbi Steel diaper Pail

• Backpack Diaper Bags

• Book bag diaper bag

• Diaper Cady

• Get.Dyer

  • Diapers

  • Wipes

• Try doing a diaper raffle at your shower

• Wipeable Changing Noads

• Diaper Genie

• Bum Genius reusable diapers

• Baby Bumco

NURSERY

• Hatch Baby Sound Machine

• Baby Shusher

• Black out curtains for the nursery

• Hatch White noise sound machine

• Homedics Sound machine

• Mist humidifier

• Newton Mattress

  • If you have a fear about SIDS, this is a breathable mattress.

  • It also cleans so easily for accidents.

• Keekaroo Changing Pad

  • So easy to clean after diaper changes (No one has time to launder changing pad covers every day)

• Gathre changing pad for on the go

• Comfy Rocking Chair/Recliner/Glider/Swivel

• Dohm Sound Machine

• Mirror above the changing table (So baby can look at themselves while they get changed)

TRAVEL

• Two sound machines

  • One for home, One for travel.

  • This just makes packing and unpacking simpler.

• Pack-N-Play

MOMMA

• Exercise Ball

  • This Is great for the momma to sit on and bounce the baby easier

• Stock up on easy, healthy snacks for YOU as the momma

  • Don’t forget to care for YOU well.

• Ice or hot pads for breasts

  • Earth Mama Booby Tubes (Gel-Free breast packs for breastfeeding)

  • Philips Avent 2-pack Thermal Gel-Pads

• Baby Memory Book or Journal

  • Promptly journals

  • ValMarie Paper Products

• Nipple cream

SLEEP

• Snuggle Me Organic (Newborn and Lounger)

• Dock-a-tot

• Jersey Knit Swaddlers

• Owlet Care Smart Sock

  • This is expensive, but it can help give the parents peace of mind and sleep better at night.

• Halo Bassinet Swivel Sleeper

• White Noise Sound Machine (That doesn’t turn off)

• Swaddle Me Velcro Swaddles

• Lots of swaddles

• A good bassinet that pulls up to your bed

• Hushh Sound Machine

• Love to Dream Sleep Sack

• Halo sleep swaddles

• Little Miss Dessa Swaddle Blankets

• SNOO Bassinet from Happiest Baby

• Lou Lou Swaddles

• Ollie World Swaddle

• Swaddles:

  • Velcro ones

  • Wearable sack

  • Copper pearl swaddle

• Little Unicorn Official - has the cutest muslin sheets and swaddles

• Sleepsack for when they outgrow or don’t like to be swaddled anymore

• Muslin Swaddle blankets

• SwaddleMe Swaddles

• Merlins Magic Sleep suit

• Wombie sleep sack

• Happiest Baby Swaddles

• Moses blanket

• Zip pods for newborns

• Swaddle Me after they grow out of Zip Pods

TOYS/ENTERTAINMENT

• Play Gym

• Bouncer Chair

• Baby Swing

• Sit-Me-Up Chair

• Kick N Play Piano Studio

• Regular Swing

• Leachco Podster (Newborn Lounger)

• Love Very Playgym

• Gathre Play Mat

• Angel Dear Lovey

• Baby books

• Rock and Play

• MamaRoo swing

• Bouncer Seat

  • One that you can move easily from room to room.

  • You will want to move this from the kitchen while you cook, to the bathroom while you get ready, and everywhere in between.

• Swings that swing side to side

  • A lot of kids don’t like front to back ones

• Jolly jumper

• Infant lounger

• Baby Einstein toys

• Activity center for when they are 5+ months or so

RESOURCES

• Sleep Wise Consulting

• Follow Mommy.LaborNurse on Instagram

• Taking Cara Babies 0-12 week class

• Little Z Sleep

• Make/ Find a baby playlist made with lullabies and hymns

• Wonder Weeks App

  • Track growth and learn about your baby as they grow.

  • This will help you know what to expect each step of the way as you heal and your baby grows.

PACIFIERS

• Purchase JUST a few different styles/types of pacifiers before the baby is born (

  • There will be a learning curve for you in regards to what type of pacifier your baby takes well t o.

  • If you buy a bunch of one kind, and your baby doesn’t take to it, it will be a waste.

• All things Ryan and Rose

• Glow in the dark pacifiers

• Frieda Pacifier that you can give medication through

• Maam pacifiers

• Bibs USA Pacifiers

• Bib pacifier clips

• Pacifier clips

CLOTHES

• GoumiKids stay on baby bootie sleepers

  • They velcro

• Long sleeve onesies with built in gloves that pull over hands

  • If you can’t keep up with clipping their nails, they will scratch themselves bad.

• Velcro socks/booties

• GoumiKids mittens

  • They velcro

• Katie Quinn bamboo onesies

• Night gowns

  • Makes changing diapers at night super easy.

  • Do not buy sleeper clothes with buttons. They are so hard to button in the middle of the night.

  • Try to find clothes that zip up from the bottom to make changing easier, especially in the middle of the night.

• Newborn socks

STROLLERS/CAR SEATS

• Chicco Bravo Travel System

• Bob stroller with infant seat adapter

• Evenflo lightweight

• Bugaboo Chameleon 3 Stroller

• Doonausa

  • This one is just a little on the heavier side.

• City Select by Baby Jogger

  • Fits any brand pumpkin seat

  • Can have a boogie board attachment

  • Can have 2 seats

  • If you plan on having more kids soon, this is a great option.

• Maxi Cosi stroller

• Jogging Stroller

• Nuna USA Infant car seat

• Bob stroller

  • They make infant car seat adapters to make the stroller compatible.

  • If you are a runner, this Is a must!

• City Mini Stroller

• Car Seat

  • Peg Perego

• Milk Snob carseat

• Convertible carseat because infant grows out of the first super fast

BATHTIME

• Blooming Bath Lotus

• Baby Bath tub with sling for a newborn

• Baby Flower Bath Collapsible baby bath (To save space)

• Tubby Todd Bath products

If you are a new momma like me, I want to encourage you after looking at this list. The Lord knows us. And he knows that huge life changes, like having a baby for the first time or second or third time, take time to adjust to. In His goodness, he GAVE US a season of waiting and preparing for our baby; 9 months of them growing in our bellies! During that time, we have been given the space to mentally prepare, emotionally prepare, physically prepare, practically prepare, spiritually prepare, financially prepare, and all the in between prepare. He built in pregnancy to be a season for us to prepare for this new life to come into the world that you will care for.

So stop right now.

Take a deep breath as you read this list. I want to encourage you to sit with your spouse, and do research together. I highly recommend also taking the time to figure out what your budget is for what you can afford to purchase. Take time to soak in all the last moments with your husband of time with JUST the two of you. Take time to think about what you will name this child and the meaning behind that name. Take TIME in this season, because that is what this season is for. Don’t rush this season of pregnancy past, but take this season to prepare your heart, and everything in between, for this next adventure.

I have a feeling it is going to be the wildest adventure of my life, and of yours too!

I pray this must-have baby registry items list is helpful as you begin your baby registry as well!

Sincerely-

…Josh, and Baby Craft!