“Not all things on my to do list are big. Thank goodness there are smaller projects like these in the mix, keeping the cross-off factor high while delivering that luscious feeling of accomplishment.”
-Carmella Rayone
In case you missed the update I posted late on Friday, I wanted to re-share our HUGE adoption news:
IT’S A BOY!!!
Gosh, I love saying that. 🙂
In a nutshell, after months and months of anticipation, THE COURTS FINALIZED AND RELEASED OUR ADOPTION DECREE!!!
ON 2-26!!!!
Unfortunately, I can’t share our kiddo’s photo or name yet because there was a typo on it that will need to be fixed this week before we have a copy of it in our possession, but the VERY good news is that we 100%, without question anymore, know that they have officially approved us to be Sweet P’s family!!! Squeeeeee!!!
On the home front, I crossed off another small home improvement project while we were waiting to hear from Meredith on Friday. Us adoptive mamas like to cross things off lists. 🙂
The project: sliding shutters for the two tiny windows on either side of our fireplace. Brian the Carpenter whipped them up for me out of some thin plywood and 1×2 stalks of pine. The fronts are clad in Sierra Gold Stikwood. Here are a couple of photos of what they looked like in progress:
Super simple construction. We just measured the area I wanted them to cover, and once the Stikwood was stuck on, we added eyebolts to hang them.
I sprayed the eye bolts with oil-rubbed bronze spray paint, and the shutters slide smoothly on our existing (Wal-mart) curtain rods.
Ahhhhh, luscious accomplishment. 🙂
I don’t know how often we’ll actually slide them in front of the windows, but it’s nice to know they’re there if we need them, and I love the warmth the wood tone adds in those cool-toned corners.
I’m not sure how I’ll decorate the top of each built-in yet, but I’m visualizing some (soft) plants in front of the (hard) shutters. We’ll see.
Okay, y’all. It’s time to get this master bedroom cleaned up. Did you know that’s where I blog from? Yep. Don’t ask to see photos of it (it looks worse than it did when we moved in right now- ha!) but I do look forward to sharing photos of our precious sonny here very soon!
Love the shutters! I’ve had problems with my walmart rods bending in the past. I guess you haven’t had that problem?
So excited for you and Kevin and your little boy!
Congratulations!
We Serve an Awesome God!! Love and so appreciate all your creativity. You are going to be an amazing MoM. MoM ~ how does that sound. Praying for you and your little family.
Layla, first I am so thrilled and thankful for the great news about your son! I think I read Friday’s blog 3x, lol! When you had that dream involving your grandmother and 2/26, it seemed like a dream sent from God, and it is fascinating, incredible and reassuring that you really did become “official” parents on 2/26! Just like pieces of a puzzle fitting together… everything is coming together just right. 🙂 Praise the Lord!
Next, those sliding doors for your windows are perfect! That was a brilliant solution. Your design intuition is always spot-on and I never ever doubt you, but it is great to see the images and see how “right” it always is!
Congratulations on officially becoming a family !
Small sit backs want change what God is doing to bring you and your son together .
Sweet pea will one day appreciate how creative his mom is in decorating, the sliding door is excellent.
Carmen
Love the sliding doors!! I also love that Sweet Pea is coming home soon and anxious to hear his name…. Love to you both! Staying busy is the best medicine.
My heart is singing for you today! Such good news. 🙂
Love the shutters. They are gorgeous!
Hugs
Layla,
If you were renovating a whole house right now and picking a metal finish to use throughout all the fixtures, what would you pick? Our old house was antique bronze but I wonder if that trend is fading.
Thoughts?
PS can’t wait for you to bring Sweet P home. What an amazing year lies before you.
Hi Andrea!
I think I’m allergic to trends (LOL!), and I would just tell you to go with your grin! 😀
I am a firm believer in that if YOU love the finish, it’s perfect for YOUR home. XO
Here’s hoping you get the word that the small change in paperwork comes quickly – maybe today? Can’t wait to see his cutie pie face!
Wondering if the rods will be strong enough to hold the shutters, but that can always be changed if that’s the case. They turned out so cool, and I love them! Keeping this idea filed away for my future house.
Thanks, Marianne! We’re hoping to hear something today, too.
And, yep, like I mentioned in the post, the shutter slide across easily, but we are going to add a third bracket in the center of the rod today to give it some extra support. It won’t affect how the shutter works, and we already have the brackets so why not, right? 🙂
Won’t the bracket interfere with it sliding?
Nope! I’ll show you a pic later this week! 🙂
Oh, good idea! That should help.
While I rarely comment, I have been following your journey to Sweet P faithfully. So so very happy for you.
Thank you, Kathi! 😀
Yeah for all three of you. I can’t wait to see him in your home. Hugs
Praise Jesus. Congratulations!!!
Such exciting news about your son! What an incredible journey it’s been. Blessings to you & hooray for the little things that deliver the luscious feelings of accomplishment! 😉
Layla,
First, CONGRATULATIONS! My sister and I are adopted and I have known since I was a little girl how insanely lucky I was to get two of the BEST parents in the world. I’m so happy for you both and your son. ♡
Second, I must say, I really look forward to your decorating posts. I simply can’t pick a favorite. I just wanted to share an idea for your new LR shutters. Since the rod is spray painted and the rings are metal, you might want to consider hot glueing (sp?) teeny tiny pieces of black felt to the underside of the top part of the ring, so it slides smoothly and doesn’t scratch your painted rod. I did this with very heavy, 9-1/2′ tall, custom drapes and it’s worked beautifully for 3 years so far.
Cant wait to hear the rest of the good news. Soon, I am sure. Hang on. Good things come to those that …..
Love the barn look shutters. OK, now I need to ask……can we really exhale now? It’s for real? Sweet Pea is coming home? I’ll have chills all day. This is monumental! He is God’s design and I know when we see him, he will be breathtaking. Everyone, get your hankies ready.
Yup! 😀 You can exhale! Can’t wait to introduce you to him!
http://adopting.org/2016/02/05/we-match-hearts-ombre-art/
Aww. It’s nice to hear happy news. Congrats!
And I LOVE the wood shutter. Now you are making me re-think my window treatment for my son’s room ….
Glory be to God for this blessed day. So happy for all three of you!
Yay! Congratulations, Layla. So excited to see pictures of him. LOVING these reclaimed wood shutters too.
My heart is ginning and giddy for you three.
And I love the sliding shitters too!
Oh, Lordy, that was supposed to say shutters!!!
LAUGHING OUT LOUD SO HARD, Julie!!! 😀
ME TOO! HA! ;-))
i just went back and reread the post about your grandmother and 2-26. there is absolutely no way to describe that other than GOD. I have the chills! SOOOO happy for you!
Lalya I so love it I replied early suggesting it may be to much. Gkad u didnt listen to crazy me .your the best great vision
Layla, I had to go click on the 2/26 link to read that post one more time. Couldn’t help but smile when I saw where you said, “Feels weird to type that out loud, but who knows, right?” GRANDMA KNEW! And JESUS KNEW! And how cool that they shared it with you, for you to hold on with anticipation to that date, not knowing which event it would bring; but short of it being the day you bring him home, I can’t imagine a more special day! The day, you officially, became parents. (Though in your hearts that was a while ago.) So, so happy for you and Kevin! (I came to your photography class at the first Haven conference, and thought you two were something special.) Sweetpea has no idea the blessings in store for him. Praising God from Whom all blessings flow… <3
Such wonderful news about your Sweet P:) So happy for you! And so happy for him!! What a beautiful home and family he gets to come home to!
Congratulations on your son!!!!!! Red letter day! And your shutters are darling. Everything’s coming together beautifully.
Congratulations!
Oh Layla I am so happy for Yall. I can not wait for pictures of yall and Sweet Pea taken In your beautiful home. If I’m this excited I can imagine Yall must be over the moon. What a Blessed Day!! God IS good!!!
God’s timing is better than ours. Just as you and Kevin are finishing many of your projects the timing for Sweet P to come to live in his and his new parents home. After following your journey, I am so excited for you & Kevin. I can’t wait to see Sweet P in your home.
Layla, We were married 5 years when we had our first son. I had very difficult pregnancies. They were life and death type pregnancies. With the many prayers, both of us made it. Then almost 2 years later, I went through the same thing again. God blessed us again. This was our cross to bear and you and Kevin have gone through your. Because of this we appreciate our children deeply! You and Kevin will to and never forget!
Congratulations!!! The adoption on my grandson was finalized in November – what a blessing!! Love the shutters too!
So happy for y’all!!! Much happiness and love forever!!!!!!
Congratulations!
Congratulations! Can’t wait to see your son in photos in that room!
So so thrilled for you guys! I’ve been following and praying for you all for quite some time. God is so faithful!
I wondered what stain you used on the shutters? It’s the perfect medium tone! Love your ideas…always so creative!
Thank you, Wendi! And there’s no stain on the shutters, it’s Stikwood. You can read more about it by clicking on any of the Stikwood links in this post if you’re interested! XO
Oh dear I can not wait! I have been catching up on your posts and they are all so beautifully written. So happy for the two of you and can’t wait to FINALLY meet sweet p.
Here’s to happy days!
Lauren | Lovely Decor
xx
Waiting anxiously for the picture with Everyone’s face!
Happy dance that it won’t be long now. I can’t imagine how you an Kevin are feeling. It seems to have taken a long time but the light at the end of the tunnel is getting closer.
I love the shutters. They do give a worthy the the whole area.
Still praying for the adoption process and safe travels for you all.
I love your sliding shutter on your window. How did you finish off the back side of it? I’m super crazy about making sure everything looks equally beautiful on both sides of a window. Did you stain the back side if the shutter?
Hi Jan! No, the only thing outside that (high-off-the-ground because our house sits on piers) window is the siding on our neighbor’s house. Also, like I mentioned, I don’t see us pulling them closed very often, so I feel good about the back’s not looking finished. 🙂
I cannot wait to see pictures of your little guy and to find out his name! I’ve been following along on your blog for months and even though I don’t know you all, my heart goes out to you. Your wonderfully positive attitude is an inspiration. Thanks for sharing this journey.
So, so, so excited for you! You are a great mom already!
Oh, Good Lord… Patience is a Virtue… isn’t it? Checking in, to hear of your boy’s newest progress with getting to you, and SO happy to hear this. I cannot wait to hear his name from your lips (well, your lips via posting!) and see a photo of you and Kevin and your boy. God bless you. Godspeed for when you go to bring him HOME. –gv xxoo