Little Pip-Speaks: Volume 36

My kids are really stinkin' big now. And really stinkin' funny still. Let's go:

 

Pip-speak #1: 

Piper: {coming home after her first dance class} I borrowed ballet shoes. A.k.a.: foot traps.


Pip-speak #2:
Mama: {Reading a Table Topic} What 3 things would you like to accomplish in 3 years?
Piper: Learn what the word accomplish means?

Pip-speak #3:
Piper: {looking at a picture of herself in my Timehop app} Aw, is that me? Am I zero? I’m cute....for zero.

Pip-speak #4:
Piper: Know what I learned in the life of 4th grade? If you’re not into Pop-Its you have no friends.
No Pop-Its, no friends.

Pip-speak #5:
Piper: {to Fin} That’s your voice called "I don’t want to be wrong".

Pip-speak #6:
Mama: {Watching her take forever to drop off treats to the neighbors because she walked allllll the way around the path} You could have cut through the yard!
Piper: I wanted to be respectful! Plus they had a ring doorbell and it was camera-ized!

Pip-speak #7:
Piper: {seeing an outlet mall out the window} Hey mom look! It’s kind of a beachy town over there.

 

Pip-speak #8:
Tia: What time is your bedtime?
Piper: Anywhere from 9 o' clock to a thousand.

Pip-speak #9:
Piper: Mom, my belly button is like a swimming pool for ants!

Pip-speak #10:
Piper: {regarding Martha Stewart's frozen mac & cheese bites} Well it IS made by a professional so if must be good.
Mama: What?
Piper: Look at her- she looks professional!

Pip-speak #11:
Piper: (discussing how to get Dad to let her dog-sit) I could help w the convincing! I think he kinda has a soft spot for me. But I think he has a big one for you. Like a huge one.

Pip-speak #12:
Piper: Dad never lets me do science.
Mama: Science? Or slime? I think he just doesn’t let you do super sticky stuff.
Piper: The only science I’m interested in is sticky science.

 

Pip-speak #14:
Mama: Name three animals you’re scared of at the beach.
Piper: Alligator, snapping turtle and sharks
Mama: OK. Name three animals you’re NOT scared of at the beach.
Piper: Fish, sardines and sushi

Pip-speak #15:
Mama: Name three ways you can make music without an instrument.
Piper: Mouth, hands and knuckles

 

Pip-speak #16: 

Piper: Are you a talker person or a listener person?
Mama: You know this. I’m a talker person. What about you?
Piper: I’m a talker too. Listening is boring.
Mama: But you’re such a great listener.
Piper: Yeah I guess but that doesn’t mean I like it.

Pip-speak #17:
Piper: Why do they call them king cobras? How do they have babies if they’re all king cobras?

Pip-speak #18:
Piper: {eating Fruit Loops} This tastes like a hotel! 

 

Pip-speak #19: 

Piper: I’m going to be 10 and dad said we’re going to have a big party because 0 birthdays are big. They are!

Pip-speak #20:
Mama: You have to wake up pretty early in the morning to beat your mom at Mon-Cheeka-Cheeka.
Piper: Oh, why? So that you’re real tired?
Mama: Just put your fr...stinking jammies on.
Piper: I know what bad word you were gonna say. It's really easy to hear f sounds.

---------------------------------

Finnish #1:
Fin: {discussing our littlest's eating habits} Did she eat her cookie already? Whoa. She is a treat machine. But not a dinner machine.

Finnish #2:
Me: Getting donuts always makes me feel like we’re on vacation because we don’t usually do that in our own town.
Fin: Except for sometimes at church…like if daddy had to go early to be the pastor or something we would get donuts at Tim Hortons.

Finnish #3:
Fin: I want quadruplets. That way you only have to remember one birthday. And they’ll all move out at once and you can have peace.

Finnish #4:
Finley: The horses are going so slow. You might want to hee-yah them.

Finnish #5:
Finley: {at the party store} Can we ask the keepers if they have pinatas?

Finnish #6:
Finley: {at the pool's lazy river} You’re not allowed to sit there.
Mama: I think it'll be fine.
Fin: Ok but they might blow up you. {meaning: use their whistles}

Finnish #7:
Finley: Can you high-er my ponytails?

Finnish #8:
Mama: You can’t put metal in the microwave.
Fin: {bangs on the side of a mug} Is that why you have to check if it’s ting-y?

Finnish #9:
Fin: I have a super good rememberer. I just have to say it over and over and over again and then I remember it. Like 357. I remember that from like...weeks ago.

Finnish #10:
Fin: Does god have birthdays? I guess not because he can’t get older because he never dies. Right? Well, I bet he’s old because he couldn’t be a kid because he’s so wise. He has to be a grown up. Do you think we disappear when we die? Because heaven can’t fit everyone. Like, there have been a lot of people that died...like lots of years ago, so it would get crowded. But the sky IS big. So maybe. Maybe if you really like space you could go to space, or you could go to the sky. Like on a rainbow. And you wouldn’t even have to get wet because you’d be ABOVE the clouds!

Finnish #11:
Miller: Why do they have their shirts off?
Fin: They’re boys. that’s what boys do to look tough. They get tattoos on their nipples! 

Finnish #12:
Miller: What’s the grossest thing you never ate?
Mama: Well, some people eat cow brains...that sounds gross to me.
Finley: Can you taste their thoughts?

Finnish #13:
Fin: Miller, I’ll be happy to hug you just not while I’m getting my jammies on. You always wanna hug me when it’s not convenient. it’s not that I don’t want to hug you. I’ll hug you right now! Just let me get my shirt on because hugging without a shirt on is weird. I don’t know how Dad does it. Like when he goes to swim parties and stuff...

Finnish #14:
Mama: {honestly, I don't even remember what this was regarding} Why don’t you leave them where they are?
Finley: Yeah but I have a vision and it’s going to be awesome.

---------------------------------

Miller Musings #1:  

Miller: You should NOT throw up out the window. Because sometimes when I throw up there are chunks in it and a car could trip over it and crash

 

Miller Musings #2: 

Miller: Mommy I am sure my pants aren’t on backwards because I can feel the tags itching me on the bum right now. 

 

Miller Musings #3: 

Miller: {regarding our Black foster daughter} She is one of a kind! She’s the only one who has those owl jammies in our whole family. 

 

Miller Musings #4: 

Mama: What should we do for Papa’s bday?

Miller: Hmmm. What’s his birthday theme?

 

Miller Musings #5: 

Mama: Those are perfect. 

Miller: THAAAAAT’S a cat joke. ('Cuz purrrfect?!)

 

Miller Musings #6:

Miller: {cleaning out stuff from his bedroom after my work day} Mom, you sure do drink a lot of sodas in my office.  

Miller Musings #7: 

Miller {emphatically reminding himself during a scary movie scene} It’s just a movie. It’s probably animated. 

Miller Musings #8:

Mama: I love you and I like you. Do you know the difference?

Miller: No. 

Mama: Well I love you with my whole heart because you’re my kid. But even if you weren’t my kid I’d want to hang out with you because I like you. 

Miller: Yeah we coulda been friends then. 

Miller Musings #9:

Dad: {after dinner at a restaurant} I gotta tell you guys, you did a great job in there.

Miller: Yeah normally we’re badder than that. 

Miller Musings #10:

Miller: If you were in the Olympics and doing the high jump it would be better if you were lean. Because if you were plump you’d probably knock over the bar. 

Miller Musings #11:

Miller: {listening to wedding vows, "to love her, honor her, cherish her etc. etc."} That’s a lot of things to do with her. 

Miller Musings #12:

Miller: {trying frozen sweet tea} If you ignore the flavor it’s really good.

Miller Musings #13:

Miller: Why are they even called crayfish? They aren’t even fish! But they ARE dangerous. 

Mama: Dangerous?

Miller: What?! They can pinch you!

Miller Musings #14:

Miller: You loved us when we were babies. Even more than you do now. Bc we were cuter then!

Miller Musings #15:

Mama: Which of these animals lay eggs? A fish, a turkey or a pig?

Miller: A fish, and a turkey. A pig would just get his eggs all muddy!

Miller Musings #16:
Miller: {using two spoons in his ice cream} Now I can eat two times as faster!

Miller Musings #17:
Mama: We can walk back to our bikes.
Miller: I wish we brought our bikes so we could bike back to our bikes.

Miller Musings #18:
Mama: {sings a bedtime song with "tacos" in it}
Miller: Aw, I wanted you to sing about leather jackets. But tacos are kinda like leather jackets because they keep your food warm.

Miller Musings #19:

Miller: Mommy you know what’s nice about whales? When they eat you they don’t even bite you because they don’t have any teeth. They just swallow you. 

Miller Musings #20:

Miller: These are the best eggs ever. and by the way, the drippier they are, the gooder they are.  

Miller Musings #21:

Miller: {putting his stuffies Blue Jelly and Peanut on my lap with a book on their bellies} Now you don’t have to hold the book. Bellies are good for a lot of things. Like closing doors when you’re out of hands. 

 

Miller Musings #22:

Miller: The game said it was for preschoolers, but G’mi couldn’t even do it. And G’mi is like a 70 grader.

Miller Musings #23: 

Miller: {regarding polo shirts} I am definitely the hottest because I have this ruffle on my neck.

 

Miller Musings #24: 

Mama: Are you in slow motion?

Miller: No, I’m on island time 

Miller Musings #25:

Miller: When your foot falls asleep, it feels all fizzy. 

 

Miller Musings #26:

Mama: You are the snuggliest kid. Is that your best skill?

Miller: *giggles* Ummm no. Probably beat boxing. But then snuggling. But your first is sourdough. Snuggling is your second. And your third is..... being the best mom in the world. 

 --------------------------------- 

And our littlest is finally getting in on the action (well- more accurately she's been jabbering on for-evvvvvvver at this point, but I'm finally recording some of her gems.

Kiddo-Quip #1: 

Little Miss: Is the air fryer gonna go on? {air mattress}

Kiddo-Quip #2:

Little Miss: Mommy can we have music?

Mama: Not right now.

Little Miss: Well I have music in my mouth! *hums*

 

Kiddo-Quip #3:

Mama: The trampoline is dirty. we need to spray it down. 

Little Miss: NO! Don’t spray it down! 

Mama: Why?

Little Miss: Because I love it.

Kiddo-Quip #4:

Little Miss: It’s hard to see me in my camels. {camo jammies}

 

Kiddo-Quip #5:

Little Miss: Now I don’t stink very well bc G’mi changed my diaper.

 

Kiddo-Quip #6: 

Little Miss: {blinking with alternate eyes} My eyes can hop! 

Kiddo-Quip #7:

Little Miss: I have an eye crusty. *puts it on her finger* Let me just make a wish.

Kiddo-Quip #8:

Little Miss: Do you have syrup on your eyes? {makeup}

Kiddo-Quip #9:

Little Miss: {seeing me dressed up as my mom} Are you Mama or no?

 

Kiddo-Quip #10:

Little Miss: Mama, why you have dis? *points to me*

Mama: My shirt?

Little Miss: No, dis! It’s squishy. *pats my chest*

Mama: Oh. That’s my body. 

Little Miss: I don’t have bodies. Well, I have tiny bodies. You have big bodies! 

Little Miss: Daddy- do you have bodies?

Daddy: {barely watching or listening} What? I have A body. 

Little Miss: Yeah, but Mommy has TWO bodies!

 

P.s. If you just can't get enough, check out the last round...or all 30+ installments.

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Little Pip-Speaks: Volume 35

I have an ongoing note in my phone where I save quips from the kids, and I realized I haven't input them into a blog post since last June. Do you know how many funny things kids can say in that amount of time? I believe the official number is: 1,0000-infinity-mind-boggle. So for posterity's sake...here we go:

Pip-speak #1:
Piper: {Referring to a pom pom dog craft} I made him for G’mi and Papa because he looks old just like they are because he has a mustache.

Pip-speak #2:
Piper: When a woman says later she means never. 

Pip-speak #3:
Mama: {complimenting Dustin on untangling a stuffed dog leash} Daddy’s just really good at that.
Piper: What, mind blowing his wife?

Pip-speak #4:
Mama: {At the end of Piper's birthday} Was there anything you dreamed of that we didn’t do?
Piper: It was all that and more.

Pip-speak #5:
Mama: Do you remember what a one hit wonder is? Someone with only one really good song.
Piper: Oh! Like Vincent Van Gogh!
Mama: Ummmm, no.
Piper: I mean his paintings
Mama: Still no.

Pip-speak #6:
Mama: {Cleaning out the drain} Man, I get all the best jobs.
Piper: I mean, you do. Because you get to listen to every word Miller says. Even the funny ones.

Pip-speak #7:
Mama: Is there EVER a time when all 4 kids are happy at the same time?
Piper: Disney. I smile all day there! I bet I smile in my sleep there.

Pip-speak #8:
Piper: Jess said she wanted a blue tongued skink for her twenty...umm...twenty-two...twenty-two-th birthday.

Pip-speak #9:
Piper: Well there are jandals.
Mama: What are jandals?
Piper: Japanese sandals. Don’t you know?

Pip-speak #10:
Piper: I tried to make you an origami corgi. It turned out as good as you thought it would. (If you thought it would be bad, you were right).

Pip-speak #11:
Piper: Do I have bangs?
Mama; No.
Piper: DID YOU CUT THEM OFF?!

Pip-speak #12:
Piper: We’ve only been celebrating my birthday for 10 minutes and it’s already the best day of my life.

Pip-speak #13:   
Piper: You raised me very well.
Mama: Oh- am I done? Are you fully cooked?
Piper: No. I still forget to wipe my mouth after I eat.

Pip-speak #14:
Piper: I've been meaning to ask you, what do married people do? Like when they don’t have kids what do they do all day?
Mama: anything they want!
Piper: but what do they do all day, isn’t it boring?
Mama: well they still have jobs. But at night they can do what they want.
Piper: that sounds like they’d be bored out of their minds.

Pip-speak #15:
Piper: {regarding Fin and me} She really must have a little bit of you in her. Because she’ll talk to anyone!

Pip-speak #16:
Piper: Today was the best day ever!
Mama: yeah, it’s fun to spoil you guys sometimes.
Piper: That’s what G’mi does all the time.
Mama: I know! She’s got the best job. Meanwhile, I have to have rules and make sure you turn into a good person.
Piper: So she doesn’t do anything but ruin your hard work?

---------------------------------

Finnish #1:
Fin: {discussing modeling the fruit of the Spirit} I know one thing that will happen if you do all that. You’ll get a biiiiiig present from Santa!

Finnish #2:
Fin: Mommy, do you know what I did? I woke up because I had to go potty so I took my clothes into the bathroom and then I put them on and then I put my jammies on over them and got back in bed so when it was time to wake up, all I had to do was unzip them and then I could go watch TV.

Finnish #3:
Fin: Working might be boring but not if you’re the president. If you’re the president you buy expensive chairs, build a castle with your builders, make $100,000...

Finnish #4:
Daddy: Why do we have so many stuffies and why do they have to go in the car with us?
Fin: They don’t have to, they GET to.

Finnish #5:
Fin: {explaining species of marine life at the zoo} They were circle sting rays instead of the flappity ones.

Finnish #6:
Fin: Is it even possible that a person could see two squirrels at the same time? Beacause I totally just did that.

Finnish #7:
Finley: {on a bike ride} Oh I remember this place. Now the whole way home is the back of my hand.

Finnish #8:
Finley: Mama, you are super wonderful and powerful, because God made the baby inside of you, but YOU had to get it out by yourself. And producing the baby alive is the tough part. 

Finnish #9:
Finley: Nails are like little helmets for your fingers.

Finnish #10:
Finley: I saw a sign in that window that was a person with its arms out and I think it was trying to give the whole world a hug.

Finnish #11:
Fin: I’m so hungry I want to eat my own tongue.

Finnish #12:
Fin: Jammie-picnic-movie-dinner. It can’t get any excitinger than that!
 
Finnish #13:
Fin: You guys should just buy me a phone and then I wouldn’t have to ask you which way is left. I would just ask Siri.

Finnish #14:
Fin: {putting on yet another "show" for us in the playroom} You know you’re my fans, right?

Finnish #15:
Fin: {turning recycling into art} There is no such thing as too many boxes, Miller.

Finnish #16:
Mama: I still don’t have my robot to clean all my dishes.
Fin: Just ask papa. He probably has an extra tire.
Mama: Is that what we need?
Fin: How else would he get around?

Finnish #17:
Fin: {while I scratched her back} Yeah- that’s what you do sometimes at night and it makes my belly suck in without me even doing it.

Finnish #18:
Fin: {on her scooter} Last time I tried to be a cool girl. Like doing sharp turns and stuff.

Finnish #19:
Fin: Mama! There are balloons and the big one?? I blew up with my very own mouth!

---------------------------------

Miller Musings #1:
Miller: Why are they called star fish? Because they’re shaped like a star but they’re not fish... And why are they called sand dollars? Because they’re not made out of sand and they’re not dollars.

Miller Musings #2:
Miller: Mom that would be scary if Santa was a dinosaur bc he would say “Ho, ho, roar!”
Mama: But that’d be cool if Santa had dinosaurs instead of reindeer.
Miller: Well, they’d probably be triceratops because they have horns. but they’d probably have to have different kinds of dinosaurs, because, I mean...T-rexes ARE kinda heavy, so they probably couldn't fly.

Miller Musings #3:
Miller: Mom, I was thinking me and Fin could do a world record for most whipped cream liking.
Mama: Oooooh- Who would win between the two of you? Or would it be a tie?
Miller: DEFINITELY Fin.   

Miller Musings #4:
Miller: {during bedtime prayers} God, I pray that mommy and daddy do not have a frustrating life.

Miller Musings #5:
Miller: Why are you laughing?
Mama: Because you’re funny.
Miller: I can be funny when I want to be.
Mama: yes. But sometimes you’re funny when you don’t mean to be.
Miller: Sometimes I just talk and it’s funny. Like right now.

Miller Musings #6:
Daddy: {in the car} Is everyone buckled? Miller?!
Miller: No! I’m always a dingle hopper!

Miller Musings #7:
Miller: I’ve had a hangnail so long I even know what it’s called.

Miller Musings #8:
Miller: Dancer and prancer rhyme! Ooooh. One of them dances, and one of them bounces! Wait- what does prance mean?

Miller Musings #9:
Miller: {playing "Go Fish" with Fin, and she's peeking at his cards} Fin, stop doing that. You’re wrecking my bee’s wax.

Miller Musings #10:
Miller: Are you going on a date? What’s even the point if you can’t kiss because you have to wear a mask?

Miller Musings #11:
Mama: {trying to get Miller to guess a dinosaur} Think of something big and green.
Miller: I can’t think of anything.
Mama: What about an animal...it’s extinct!
Miller: I don’t know what that means
Mama: It means it’s dead. There aren’t any of them anymore.
Miller: OHHHH I KNOW. It’s a PARROT!

Miller Musings #12:
Miller: I don’t remember that. Because small people don’t have big memories.

Miller Musings #13:
Mama: How many crayons are there?
Miller: 8
Mama: Good job! Can you show me eight with your hands?
Miller: {contorts his hands into two circles, one on top of each other}
Mama: I kiiiiinda meant could you hold up 8 fingers. But that works too.

Miller Musings #14:
Mama: Miller! I put my shirt on inside out!
Miller: I thiiiiink you pulled a miller. And I pulled a Miller too. Because I put my FOOT in my SLEEVE!

Miller Musings #15:
Mama: Which one is your left hand?
Miller: This one. But then when I turn around...this one is my right!

Miller Musings #16:
Miller: {arguing over who gets to cuddle who} Finley, Mommy is the same as Daddy only she smells gooder.

Miller Musings #17:
Miller: I wish we were the magic family.
Mama: Yeah? What would we do?
Miller: We could make fireworks...for the day! And rainbows when it doesn’t even rain! And put people in time out!
Mama: That’s what we’d use our magic for?
Miller: Yep. One clap, and they’d be glued to the spot. But when they calmed down: magic.

Miller Musings #18:
Miller: I’m so hot tears just came down from my head.

Miller Musings #19:
Miller: This will be the awesomest day of my life. I got glow sticks, I got to go to Gmi’s house and I get to go to a light show.

Miller Musings #20:
Miller: The worst part about tongues is you can’t put a bandaid on them.

Miller Musings #21:
Miller: Drawing is easy. But I’ve never done reading before so I don’t know how hard that is.

Miller Musings #22:
Miller: Mom, when I’m sleepy I yawn. But I KNOW it's bedtime. They don’t have to remind me.

Miller Musings #23:
Miller: But guys, the worst part about having a dog....is that when you’re making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich they’ll get the peanut butter right out of your hand!

Miller Musings #24:
Me: Should I trust you with this popcorn in the car?
Miller: That’s really a question you should be asking yourself.

Miller Musings #25:
Miller: {singing} Ooh ooh shut up and dance with me. Mom! Why would anyone dance with you if you say shut up to them? That’s not nice.

Miller Musings #26:
Mama: {rubbing Miller's head at bedtime and gets hand caught in his hair}
Miller: Yeah, some of my hairs have loops in them.

Miller Musings #27:
Miller: I don’t know what milky ways taste like.
Mama: Like a snickers without the peanuts.
Miller: OH- NOW I know how you can tell- by the reading on it. That’s how you know- by the symbols on the reading.

--------------------------------- 

Dynamic Duo #1:
Fin: {riding bikes with Miller} I’m like, SO close to you. Just let me pass you.
Miller: I said no, Fin. And no means NO.
Fin: Well then I’m going to be mad at you for the rest of your LIFE.

Dynamic Duo #2:
Mama: Want to try this cheese?
Piper: What’s it called?
Mama: Applewood Smoked Cheddar.
Piper: Oh- it tastes like wood.
Miller: Well, wood is a little more hard

Dynamic Duo #3:
Finley: I have an idea. If you buy a gun to shoot a chipmunk then you can give us the dead chipmunk and the gun and we will put it on the ground in front of our strawberry and the other chipmunks won’t eat it.
Miller: If you make a gun that looks like chipmunk then they would try to make friends with it and then it would shot him.

Dynamic Duo #4:
Fin: I SAID- if you don’t do what I say I’m gonna ignore you for the rest of my life.
Miller: Yeah well did you hear my promise? It’s even worser.
Fin: No way. Mine is worser. Because I’m gonna ignore you until forever. I’m never gonna talk to you again. I’ll only text you...when you get a phone.
Miller: IGNORING! IGNORING! IGNORING!
Fin: That’s not how you ignore. It starts...NOW!

Dynamic Duo #5:
Mama: One of my biggest problems with Trump is how he treats women. He is very disrespectful to women.
Fin: If he’s mean to women, how come he’s married?
Mama: Great question. I really don’t know why she’s with him. Probably because he has a lot of money.
Piper: Well that’s bad. So you want to get rid of him before we’re older so he can’t treat us bad?
Mama: Kind of. I don’t want him to be president anymore because I don’t want anyone thinking that the way he acts is OK.
Piper: Well we could be nice since he isn’t!
Fin: Yes and then we’ll have more boys that want to marry us!!

Dynamic Duo #6:
Piper: If you had to, would you be a foot doctor or a nose doctor or a privates doctor?
Fin: Or one of the people that has to dig to get the baby out?

Dynamic Duo #7:
Mama: When you’re old enough to have a Valentine what are you going to do together?
Pip: Go on roller coasters. And when it’s scary we’ll scream and hug.
Fin: Love each other for infinity. 

P.s. If you just can't get enough, check out the last round...or all 30 installments.

--------------------------------------------
Psssst....Want to get all the Bowdenisms news delivered right to your inbox? 

YES PLEASE! Subscribe via email and never miss an -ism.  xox.

 

Little Pip-Speaks: Volume 34

Being trapped blessed in a house for months with four kids, you overhear a lot of nonsense... Here's our latest round of quips (with a few doses of quarantine humor thrown in...)

Pip-speak #1:

Piper: Every time you say "government" I lose my mind and start thinking about unicorns because that is the most boringest word ever. 

Pip-speak #2:
Piper: If you really temper me I’ll tell you. But you REALLY have to temper me. 
Mama: What does that mean? 
Piper: It means annoy me so much I can’t stand it and I just give up and tell you. 

Pip-speak #3:
Piper: {when Alexa told me Target might close early due to current health concerns} Wait-she knows what’s going on? Like with the Corona virus? Well, she knows the news, so.... That is incredible. She is awesome. 

Pip-speak #4:
Piper: This quarantine is the worst. I hate it. I used to think someone saying “Hey, we’re having enchiladas for dinner” was the worst. But now this is. 
 

Pip-speak #5:

Mama: I know your siblings get on your nerves sometimes, but wouldn't it be worse to be an only child right now?
Piper: Yeah, because then you’d be even bored-er. 

Pip-speak #6:
Piper: I’m getting back in the bouncy house. It’s what the kids are doing these days.

Pip-speak #7:
Piper: {When I showed her an advertisement in a magazine} Why do they have commercials and avatars in mazagines? 

Pip-speak #8:
Piper: I might not be sick, but I’d rather be cautionate. 

Pip-speak #9:
Piper: I know how to say pigs in British: oink-ahs 

Pip-speak #10:
Mama: Aw man! I forgot my reusable bags! 
Piper: It’s ok. Everyone makes mistakes and you can save the planet next time. 

Pip-speak #11:
Piper: I am pampered!! I am pampered because you opened the car door for me! 
 
Pip-speak #12:
Mama: Whatcha doing? 
Piper: Oh we’re just turning my bed into a flying pirate ship. It’s easy. 

Pip-speak #13:
Piper: When I put my hair in a ponytail it looks like a Chihuilly art piece. 
 
---------------------------------

Finnish #1:
Fin: {with some slightly confused commentary on my secondhand shopping obsession} Did you have to rent these Christmas presents? 

Finnish #2:
Fin: Are you serious? Tell it to me in my eyes. 

Finnish #3: 
Mama: Do you know what my job is when Mr. Andrew gets engaged today? 
Fin: Being the ring burier? Reading the text book? The flower girl?

Finnish #4:
Piper: {when we were discussing how some people aren't quiet ready to be parents} But if she wasn’t ready to be a mom, why did she have a baby? 
Fin: Because sometimes you just love each other too much...well you can’t actually love each other TOO much. But when two persons love each other so much, a baby just happens.

Finnish #5: 
Fin: {stalling at bedtime} But my teeth aren’t ready to go to bed yet!

Finnish #6: 
Fin: What do the teachers do now that they don’t have a job? 
Mama: Well, they still do kind of...they have to send us stuff to do.
Fin: Yeah but they just send us what to do and they don’t have to be on their computers all day so they probably just send us stuff and then go play with their kids all day. 
Mama: Well, umm...yeah, they probably do. 
Fin: MUST BE NICE.

Finnish #7: 
Fin: {on the bouncehouse} I jumped so much I have to pee!
Finnish #8: 
Fin: How come everyone’s bootie waggles when they walk?

Finnish #9: 
Fin: {on social distancing at a nearby pond} Those ducks aren’t even trying to stay away from each other. 

Finnish #10: 
Fin: {regarding a cupcake} I drooled a little because it was so yummy. 
Finnish #11: 
Fin: We were pretending to be poor people. But Piper said we can’t be British. 
Mama: Because British people can’t be poor?
Fin: No. British people come from France. And France is very famous because they have the Eiffel Tower.

---------------------------------

 Miller Musings #1:
Miller: {looking around very seriously as he eats his lunch} Mama...we kinda can’t see our own eyes... 

Miller Musings #2:
Mama: Since we’re staying up so late you have to go to bed nicely. 
Miller: But is it ok if we be tired? Because I’m always tired after movies. 

Miller Musings #3:
Miller: There are three animals that steal soft shell turtle eggs: monitor lizards, honey badgers, and bamboos. 
Mama: What’s a bamboo? 
Miller: It’s like a monkey, but different. It’s actually called a...ba-bam! 
Mama: You mean a baboon? 
Miller: Yeah!! 

Miller Musings #4:
Miller: {after Dustin's grandma died} We can’t send Mom-Mom cards anymore because there’s not a mailbox that can send to her. There is only a Santa mailbox 

Miller Musings #5:
Miller: These rolls are so good!
Mama: I know! I could eat about 17 of them!
Miller: I could eat 'til the end of the numbers! 

Miller Musings #6: 
Miller: Mom, what’s a balloons least favorite type of music? You have three choices- pop, rock and roll, or ocean sounds.

Miller Musings #7: 
Miller: {regarding our family bike ride} I wanted to keep up with the girls because I didn’t want to get lost. Because then I wouldn’t have anything to eat and I would shrink. And maybe die. 
Miller Musings #8:
Miller: I’m not going to have a baby when I’m a grown up because I’m gonna be a dad, because boy kids grow up to be dads and girl kids grow up to be moms. But when I’m a grown up, I’m going to have to buy my own money. And not even just from my doggie bank. I’m going to need a lot more than that.

--------------------------------- 

Dynamic Duo #1:

Piper: Do you ever think that this Corona thing will extinct us? Like dinosaurs? 
Finley: Piper has a point there. Because then if we were extincted, we’d be dead. 

Dynamic Duo #2:
Miller: {discussing what happens when people pass away} So she’s floating on a cloud? 
Fin: Maybe God wraps his big long arms in a hug around all the dead people to make them happy. 

Dynamic Duo #3:
Miller: Are these poison ivy or pollen? 
Piper: It’s clover.

Dynamic Duo #4:
Mama: {commenting on a really nice neighbor boy} That kid is just the sweetest. 
Piper: Yeah, he was raised properly. 
Fin: The first words out of his mouth are pure flowers. 

--------------------------------- 

And because sometimes the things that come out of our mouths even catch us by surprise:

Parental Point #1:
Mama: Snack cups are not hats. We have talked about this.

Parental Point #2:
Daddy: Please don’t get your tears all over the wall 

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Little Pip-Speaks: Volume 33

These kids crack me up on the daily, so I've been collecting some of their best quotes for an end of the year edition of: 


Pip-speak #1:
Mama: What’s the sitch?

Piper: Here’s the sitch. Every night I’m gonna fill up my water bottle because I have NO standards. I have NO standards for leftover water. 

Pip-speak #2:

Mama: {Whistles} Bet you didn’t know I was a whistling superstar!

Piper: No! Because last year you were really bad, so I just assumed you were still as bad as last year.

And you said that so I’m not just saying that.

Pip-speak #3:
Piper: {seeing a gay couple on a baking competition} G’mi do you know what that means?
G'mi: Ummmm, no...?
Piper: It means they can make their own wedding cake!” 

Pip-speak #4:

Piper: Since my class is SO talky, we’re never gonna get a dance party.

Pip-speak #5:
Piper: Mama, where are my clean socks? Because I already wore my favorites so all that’s left are my unfavorites. 

Pip-speak #6:

Piper: Mom, you haven’t even had your dinner yet? And we’re on our third helping? This is why they have Mother’s Day. 

Pip-speak #7:
Mama: What do you want for your birthday?

Piper: Well, I don’t want a Bitty Baby anymore. Well, I do. I just don’t want anyone to have to spend $60 for one. I want SANTA to get it for me so no one has to spend money. Unless Santa has to buy it??!

Pip-speak #8:      
Mama: Our house is 17 years old.

Piper: Stay cool, house! Because you’re in high school. Or college. I don’t know!

---------------------------------

Finnish #1:

Fin: Halloween is about love. 
Mama: Really? Why? 
Fin: People take their time off from just going to sleep to give out candy for a little bit.  

Finnish #2:
G'mi: {Seeing Fin crying on the playground} Do you want to go get in line with your friend?  
Fin: No, because then I’ll get in trouble. And then I will have to cry for two things and right now I only want to cry for one.

Finnish #3:

Fin: {eating M&M's} The browns just taste like plain chocolate. The colored ones are magical.

Finnish #4:

Fin: {after church} G’mi, where are the delicious donut holes everybody’s talking about? 
G'mi: Finley, aren’t you supposed to say "Hi, G’mi. How are you?” 
Fin: I can’t. My mind can only think about delicious donut holes right now.

Finnish #5:

Fin: Everybody thinks red and green are the only Christmas colors, but aren’t ornaments all different colors? Why can’t they just share the love?

Finnish #6:

Fin: {sitting in the car, trying to "meditate"}

Piper: I know how to MEDITATE, Fin! Ohmmmmm. Ohhhhmmmmmm.

Fin: Stop it! I’m trying to focus! And I can’t when you make that NOISE!

Finnish #7:

Fin: {handing me the playing cards} Can you skeedaddle them? Like- do a bridge?

Finnish #8:  
Miller: I love to share.
Fin: Well that’s one thing I’m not very fond of.    

Finnish #9:  
Fin: I like Jimmy John's because it has the word G’mi in it and I really like G’mi.

Finnish #10:  

G'mi: {putting helmets on the kids to ride bikes} Miller's head must be bigger than yours because his fits.
Fin: His head cannot be bigger than mine. He does not know as much as I do.

Finnish #11: 

Fin: Mama, how do you say that word: fashion consultant? Will you be my fashion consultant? 

Finnish #12: 
Fin: Miller, I can wear my Minnie shirt and you can wear your Mickey shirt and then we can play "marry".

Finnish #13: 

Mama: My mom used to be a 2nd grade teacher at at that school. But not anymore.

Fin: Because she’s too old for that.

Finnish #14:  

Fin: {to me when I came to tuck her in} I knew you were home. 
Mama: How? 
Fin: When I was in my bed, I heard jingling {the bracelets I always wear} and I knew mommy was home.

---------------------------------

Miller Musings #1:

Piper: Why does Iron Man have that thing on his hand?

Miller: Oh. So he can pew.

Piper: Pew?

Miller: {makes gun noises} Pew! Pew! Pew!

Miller Musings #2:

Miller: {teaching a Halloween saying} First you say trick or treat. Then you say smell my feet.

Mama: Yeah, and then you say: "Give me something good to eat."

Miller: And then you say thank you!

Miller Musings #3:

Miller: {picking out his jammies} Sorry Mom. Sometimes I just havta take forever.

Miller Musings #4:
Miller: {scheming about something} Let's plan up a deal...

Miller Musings #5:

Miller: {explaining the Easter story} And Jesus was in a tube. A tube is something with a bunch of rocks and the BIGGEST rock covers the cave. And his friends comed over and they all ate a fish.

Miller Musings #6:

Piper: {reading a caption in a book} bell pepper.

Miller: That’s a short name for tomato!

Miller Musings #7:

Miller: {while driving by a big forest} That looks like a jungle!

Mama: Yeah! What do you think lives in there? Tigers?

Muller: Yeah, and all scary things...

Mama: Like snakes?

Miller: Yeah. And sharks!

Miller Musings #8:

Piper: Miller, you know, the Easter bunny works just like Santa!

Miller: Yeah. The Easter bunny is all white, just like Santa’s beard!

      

--------------------------------- 

Dynamic Duo:

G'mi: Christmas is about being kind.

Fin: No- it’s about love and sharefulness.
Miller: NO- it's about Jesus' BIRTHDAY! 

--------------------------------------------
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Little Pip-Speaks: Volume 32

I've been doing this series nearly five-and-a half years (pretty much since Piper started chattering!). Sometimes I can't believe how many quips I've jotted down, and sometimes I feel like I could record them all day and still not capture the full hilarity of their nonsense As they've gotten older, their mispronunciations have become fewer, but their goofy innocence remains. And their unique takes on...well, pretty much everything...keep me giggling (and occasionally cringing). Piper is starting to have her own real perspective on the world, Fin has a humor all her own, and Miller....we'll he's just a nutball (a very enthusiastic nutball). Here's a collection of quotes from the last few months- outta the mouths of my babes.



Pip-speak #1:
Mama: Is that food on your face? Or a freckle?
Piper: A freckle.
Mama: Oh- I wasn't sure. Is that new?
Piper: I guess so? I didn’t put it there!

Pip-speak #2:
Mama: We're going to lunch at 101 Beer Kitchen.
Piper: Again with the beer places?!

Pip-speak #3:
Mama {Inquiring on the "daycare" she was running for Fin and Miller while I took a shower}: How was your baby daycare? Did you have a lot of babies?
Piper: Oh, I only had two, but they were two handfuls.

Pip-speak #4:
Piper {seeing a dog that looks like my sister's dog}: That dog is so cute. He looks like Yona. Should they marry?

Pip-speak #5:
Mama {explaining a prom dress charity event}: If they pick a dress they love, but you don’t, you’re not supposed to say anything because all that matters is that they are happy.
Piper: You’re great at that! 
Mama: At lying to people and pretending I like things? 
Piper: Yeah! I’ve see you do it to babies? 
Mama: What?! 
Piper: Yeah, like when a baby gives you something and you say “Oh, that’s great!” Even though it’s not.

Pip-speak #6:
Mama {about Alexa}: She never listens. She does whatever she wants.
Piper: She’s a ROBOT! And I don’t think she’s that good at speaking

Pip-speak #7:
Mama: We need to let your teacher know you’re going to miss school because of Disney.
Piper: Yeah- I’ve been trying to tell her but since we’re learning about penguins there hasn’t been time.

Pip-speak #8:
Piper: I know how to make Rice Krispie treats from the bottom of my heart! You melt the marshmallows until they’re sticky, like for 40 minutes at 40 degrees...

Pip-speak #9:
Piper {about me}: She’s so much more than just a fun beautiful girl. She’s a MOM. That’s what she is.

Pip-speak #10:
Piper: I don’t ever want to wear high heels unless I’m gonna be the mayor; something really important.

Pip-speak #11:
Mama: We got called about another foster about today, and they didn't pick us, again.
Piper: Aw man! Who's hogging all the babies?!

Pip-speak #12:
Miller: We’re almost to Grandpop’s house. Is Grandpop gonna be there?
Piper: Yeah! Because he doesn’t have a job! You know how G'mi doesn’t work anymore? But she still makes money somehow? Like, a little?...Kinda...?

Pip-speak #13:
Piper {carrying the nativity stable on her shoulder}: I’m a teenager! 
Daddy: Why?
Piper: Because I’m carrying a beat drop on my shoulder!

Pip-speak #14:
Piper: I’m going to live in Ohio forever because there is other scary stuff in other countries. Like rattlesnakes.

Pip-speak #15:
Piper: I’m trying to learn to sleep without stuffed animals. Because that would be weird if I was a grown-up with them. And I am almost ten you know.

Pip-speak #16:
Piper: Can I tell you a funny story of what happened when we were in math centers?
Fin: What is a math center?
Piper: A math center is where teachers put you when they need a break!

Pip-speak #17:
Mama: Do you know how many stomachs does a cow have?
Piper: Four! One for water. One for grass. One for...umm....super yummy grass. And one for the milk to go in. 

---------------------------------

Finnish #1:
Mama: We got a call about a foster baby today but they found another home to take care of her.
Fin: Aw. I really wanted to meet someone new!

Finnish #2:
Fin {to Miller, in a parking lot}: If you just ran off and the car didn’t see you, you would turn into a street pancake.

Finnish #2:
Fin {trying to find the loose end of the toilet paper}: Are you really gonna play this game with me?

Finnish #3:
Fin: Mama, let me tell you a secret! But plug your other ear so it doesn’t fall out.

Finnish #4:
Daddy {helping her with a boo-boo}: It’s going to feel better I promise.
Fin: I don’t take promises without a pinky!

Finnish #5:
Fin: We can watch television, Miller. Television is like an old, old, old TV.

Finnish #6:
Fin {way before my birthday}: I just want to tell you about your present!
Mama: Tell bunny {her favorite stuffie}. He can keep a secret.
Fin: Yeah, bunny will keep his ears shut.

Finnish #7:
Fin: Oooh, I know why they have movie theaters! It’s so that people who don’t have enough money for a TV can go there to watch things!
Piper: Fin, I think movie theaters are even more expensive than a TV.
Mama: True. But you’re right, Fin, not everyone has a TV. We’re especially lucky because we have two!
Fin: Yeah! I bet we’re the only people in our whole neighborhood who have TWO TVs!

Finnish #8:
Fin: How come Jesus didn’t get presents on His birthday? 
Mama: He did!
Piper: Oh yeah, from the kings!
Mama: They brought Him gold, frankincense (which is smell good stuff), and myrrh (I’m not actually sure what that is).
Fin: I think it’s gel. For His hair. Like daddy!
Piper: I don’t think so.
Fin: Well He is a king. So He needs to look handsome.

Finnish #9:
Mama: Would you want to own a bakery?
Fin: No. That’s too hard. In my life I don’t want to do anything hard. I don’t want to have a job. I just want to be a mom. 

Finnish #10:
Fin {playing house}: I had a baby. But it’s not a foster care one. It’s just a regular one.

Finnish #11:
Mama: I got the most beautiful fabric to make a quilt for a friend's baby boy.
Fin: But it hasta be a he stuff.

Finnish #12:
Fin: I’m going to live in our house when you’re dead. Because I love it. And I love it so much I’m still gonna be sleeping on my underbed. {the bottom bunk}

Finnish #13:
Fin: When Miller grows up he’s going to get married to a girl. But I’m already grown up!
Mama: So are you ready to get married?
Fin: No, but I am ready for a phone!

Finnish #14:
G’mi: What game would you like to bring to our house to play with Papa?
Fin: Either one that I’m good at or one that I kind of cheat at.

---------------------------------

Miller Musings #1:
Miller: To turn me three I hadta have my supa hero birfday first.

Miller Musings #2:
Mama: Should we get this cookie dough?
Miller: YES! 'Cuz when dey maked, dey gonna be SO GOOD.

Miller Musings #3:
Miller {from the bathroom, nearly every day}: I’m presenting youuuuuu...I'm presenting....a BIG poop!

Miller Musings #4:
Miller {seeing a van with stick figures on the back windshield}: I saw a car that had all the persons from Chef Mickey. But they didn’t have their stuffed hats on.

Miller Musings #5:
Miller: Mom, I’m a very scary animal. I’m a vampire bat. And these are my wings, so I can hug you. That’s my power, Mama. To hug people.

Miller Musings #6:
Piper {seeing the Country Bear Jamboree characters at Disney}: Well, I know those are just people dressed up as bears.
Miller: What if we meet a bear dressed as a guy!?!

Miller Musings #7:
Miller {carrying a lunchable and two stickers}: Mama I’m too heavy of stuff!

Miller Musings #8:
Miller {while eating}: Mom, do you know why I’m rubbing my belly like that? Because it’s so good.

Miller Musings #9:

Miller {trying to practice a somersault on the stairs}: I can't do a tall, small, roll lika ball on the steps.
Mama: No, it's not safe, is it?
Miller: Nope, it's because there are all these lumps, so I can't do it. 

Miller Musings #10:

Miller: Who’s God?
Mama: God’s the one who made us all. He’s the one we pray to and say thank you.
Miller: You mean the mailman?

Miller Musings #11:

 Miller {when he wakes up}: You know who wants to see me?! MOM DOES!!

--------------------------------- 

Dynamic Duo #1:
Fin: When you grow up you’re gonna be an old man. And you’ll have wrinkles and old hands.
Miller: No I won’t! I’m gonna be a big boy!

Dynamic Duo #2:

Fin {Showing me her nails}: That's my biter. And my nose picker.

Piper: Yeah, Pointer’s always the nose picker, because Thumb is too big. See? {unsuccessfully sticks her thumb up her nose}

Dynamic Duo #3:

Miller {looking at the artificial tree in our kitchen, after Christmas}: Why did we get a new tree?

Mama: We didn’t. I just redecorated it.

Piper: Most people don’t get to decorate for New Years. We’re so lucky!

Fin: It’s like a party in our house! 

P.s. If you want to fangirl over our chatterboxes, you can check out the last round...or the whole series of silliness.

--------------------------------------------
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A Little Update for a Big Boy

Well, try as I might...it turns out I couldn't keep my sweet baby from growing up into a (still sweet) little boy. And as much as I didn't love it, it recently became time for me to face the fact that he wasn't going to be a tiny nugget sleeping in a crib forever. Truth be told, he was still happy as a clam in is "fib" (as he calls it), so I wasn't in a hurry to move him, but once he was potty trained it felt like a toddler bed was the right next step. And so off came the bars...and in came the design dilemmas.

You see, nothing is simple with me (I know this...I admit this...I cannot change this...) so updating Miller's bed quickly evolved into a "need" for a complete room overhaul. Home decor tends to have a bit of a domino effect (or maybe a "Give a Mouse a Cookie" effect- a.k.a. how a leaky bathroom in our old house turned into a full kitchen renovation) with me, so one minute I'm changing out his crib wall for a side rail, and then next, Dustin is trying to talk me out of swapping out all the furniture on the second floor.

After a bit of discussion (and some over-dramatic tears over "MY BAYBEEE") we agreed that it didn't actually make much sense to change everything in Miller's nursery to fit his updated needs. The smarter plan would be to move Miller into the other bedroom; it's bigger, has a dresser (vs. a makeshift changing table) and can accommodate a twin bed easier (when the time comes). But I was hesitant over the shift because I was trying to keep the foster room intact...partly because I just love it but also because it had been designed and put together for such a specific purpose. When we transitioned it from the guest room, I did it with intentions and visions of the kiddos who would use it...it felt strange to change that up and plop Miller in there.

I know that might not make sense to most people...a room is a room, and a nursery is a nursery, right? But that's just not how I see it. Rooms for me are so specific to those who will inhabit them. Even when the occupant is still a bit of an unknown. I don't always have the luxury of planning a full custom bedroom for each of my babies (Piper- absolutely! Fin...ummm...sorry sweetie...) but regardless of scale, in some form or fashion I put my heart into the details of their spaces, and those touches make those rooms so meaningful to me. So Miller's nursery may not have been a perfect vision come to life- but it was his. It was hard for me to wrap my heart around the swaps even though my head knew they made sense.

But sooner than later, my practical side (+Dustin) won out over my sentimental side, and I got on board with the "Trading Spaces" plan. But you know I couldn't just toss him in there and call it done. No no no no no. Sure, by design, the foster room was neutral enough to work for a boy or a girl in a pretty wide age range, but now that it would specifically function for this particular boy, I wanted to make some tweaks to make it more personalized to him.

But before I get 2,000 (more) words deep on the specifics, let me unveil the update.

Ta-da!!
It’s a pretty small space and a little awkwardly shaped, so it's tough to really capture the full vibe in photos...but hopefully you're getting it? The room has already had about four different iterations in as many years, and working with mostly existing pieces made it challenging for it not to feel like a hodge-podge of things that were just cobbled together based on necessity or availability. But after some real uncertain moments (and massive amounts of overthinking things, as always) I really love how it turned out. To me it feels like a kid's room that could have existed in the 1960's. Minimal, but rich...simple and just enough "boy" while still having a bit of sophistication. I love that it can grow with him too...nothing is too juvenile, and it has a lot of potential to add and change things over the years based on his interests or needs.

 

I’m an overthinker for sure, but I’m also a girl of quick action, so once we moved Miller’s bed in there, the rest of the transformation happened in the matter of a week or two. I didn’t want to rush into decisions, but I also didn’t want things to linger on and remain half-done forever (I’ve got enough of those spaces in my house already!) I know that it doesn’t have to be 100% perfect, and no room is ever truly “done” but I wanted to make a few quick changes to get it close enough, so it didn’t feel like he was in hand-me-down limbo. Plus, if we are going to welcome any more foster kids (yes, we’re back “on the list” open to placements…more on that later!) I knew I wouldn’t ever have more time than I do now, so it seemed wise to just go after it while I can!

The vast majority of the space was untouched. We didn't change the paint color, and kept most of the furniture/accessories (including the built-in desk + shelves, obviously). My main goal in the revamp was to make it a little more masculine, which mostly meant we needed to swap out the rug and the artwork for something a little less fluffy and a little less...purple-y. But then as I started to tweak things, the room began to feel less "neutral" and more "stark", so I knew I had to find a way to inject a bit more color and texture.

So that’s where I started, but before I could really plunge into purchasing stuff, I had to determine the theme for the room. I didn’t want an obvious- You Must Really Love P.J. Masks kind of theme (no shade if that's your thing!) but for kids' rooms especially I think it's fun to have at least a loose "tie that binds"...a few common elements that repeat and play off of each other. I debated a few different directions based on Miller's current interests, but also didn't want to hinge everything on his fav de jour (and end up with a You Must Have Really Loved P.J. Masks At One Point type of room). We considered superheroes, animals, Star Wars, travel... before eventually landing on sports. Specifically classic sports, with a mid-century aesthetic, and a retro twist incorporating classic books and toys. You get it? Kinda? I didn’t pull together inspiration in advance, but if I had, it would have included lots of navy blue, washed jersey knits, touches of sleek gold, rich wood tones, and bright- but well worn- graphics. In my head, I wanted a classic “snips and snails and puppy dog tails” kind of feel- with alphabet blocks, trucks, illustrations, balls, and any other “thing that makes boys happy” element piling in to create an easy-to-live-in spot for our little guy.

I knew I wanted to keep the collection of square frames (which previously housed my grandmother's antique scarves) so I thought t-shirts would be an easy (and cheap) swap out. And as much as I loved the hanging “pocket watch” of my grandpa’s, that focal wall needed a little bit more color and punch, so I landed on three big frames to house some more graphics. I took a couple trips to Once Upon a Child and bought every t-shirt I thought might have potential (wading through more cocky slogan T’s than I thought could possibly exist. What in the world are we teaching our boys with the “prepare to be humbled” messages we’re emblazing on their neon jerseys? Another topic for another day...). So after a lengthy sorting/sifting/evaluating process, I landed on my top picks.

Again- it was important to me to keep the theme somewhat subtle, so while the art is all sports related, I avoided adding other overtly sporty pieces to the rest of the room. Previously I had beige curtains, which felt nice and soft in a nursery, but weren’t quite right for a little boy’s room, so I brought in some blue options, eventually landing on a printed version.

I tried and tried to get a large rug to work in the space (I fell in love with one from Ikea), but for a variety of (very boring) reasons, it wasn't going to happen. Rooms based around a crib have a lot of floor space, so it feels necessary to fill that up with color and texture, but eventually we'll have a twin bed in here, so that need won’t be as great. I didn’t want to spend a lot of money on a solve that likely won’t be needed later, so I made a compromise on a small ($5!) rug just to ground the space a bit for the time being. When we do upgrade to a twin sized bed, that will cut down on the visible real estate of this way-past-its-prime carpet, and the bedding will have more impact as well. (I've already got plans in the works for a big quilt when we make that transition and I’m so excited about how that will add another layer of pattern and personality to the space.) The twin bed frame we select could make a difference too- I'm thinking something like this daybed...it has a trundle for sleepovers!...but I'm getting a little ahead of myself.

After the art and curtains were in place, I just did a few quick rotations of some décor items, and called it “done”. It’s been a few weeks now, and it’s a little less photogenic, and a little more lived-in, as we’ve added some of his toys (so that he’ll actually like being in the space his mom cares so much about) and necessities like a hamper, etc. (And now, we’ve also decorated his room for Christmas- tour of that coming soon- which is making me fall even more in love with it! Maybe an “evergreen tree” could be a part of the permanent décor?)

Oh- and of course all the switch-ups meant there were a few little tweaks to Miller’s old nursery, to get it ready for a potential new placement. We officially opened our home back up about a month ago, but have only received one call so far. We’re on the list for only one kid at a time now (as much as I have a heart for sibling sets, it’s just not logistically realistic for our family right now) ages 0-2 (to preserve birth order with our other kids). That’s quite a shift from being open to up to 2 kids, ages 0-5, so I’m not shocked that we haven’t been flooded with calls this time...but it is still hard and a little confusing to wait, especially when we know the need is so great. But whenever the time is right, we’ve got a sweet little room prepared..

The changes we made in here are super minor...it's really just swapping some decorations around (removing anything specifically "Miller" oriented, in favor of neutral messages and items). All of the furniture and art stayed as is, but we added the rug.

So there you have the saga and the triumph of my latest decorating adventure. I cared more than I should have (which will likely be my auto-biography subtitle someday) but I'm not sorry in the least (potential sub-subtitle). I now have a boy far less squishy than I'd prefer, but he's got a super duper cute room to keep growing in, and that's a small win in the fight against his ever-increasing lankiness and general grown-up-itude.

Sources: 
Many of these are listed in the original post about the foster room, but here's the updated list:
Curtains: Hobby Lobby
Rug: Five Below (seriously!)

Crib: Amazon (can't rave about these enough...we have three!)

Toddler bed rail: Amazon (Purchased after a near disastrous crib to bed transition with Piper)

Faux wood frames: Michael's
Storage bench: old Ikea

Baseball art: Homegoods

Ok to wake clock: Amazon

Stuffed friends: Sadly, his favs are discontinued (fear not...I purchased a backup "Blue Jelly" on ebay and it's hiding in his closet in case of emergency), but similar here: Pillow Pet, Jellycat dog, (his Jellycat bunny "Peanut" is still available)

White album frames: Urban Outfitters

Handmade: Globe pillow, quilt 

Vintage/second hand: Suitcases, blocks, dresser, chair, chalkboard, t-shirts turned art

Old target stuff: Lamp, drawer pulls, whale, Grey felt bins, white dog bank, yellow pillow

P.s. If you still can't get enough home-related fun, check out all of our house posts/tours here on the blog, or on Instagram: #houseofbowden. 

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