Loft/ playroom renovation

So when we bought this 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath house, we weren't concerned about the 3 bedrooms.  As the listing agent clearly pointed out, it would be very easy to convert the loft into a 4th bedroom.  In fact, the sellers were offering to do so with an acceptable contract.  This was great news because we had already fallen in love with the house even though we were ONLY interested in 4+ bedrooms (we had recently converted our 1st house from 3 BR to 4 BR).  1) To be competitive (we were one of six offers!) and 2) thinking we'd enjoy the loft space for now until we needed the 4th bedroom, we opted to keep the house as-is.

So of course our favorite room in the house became the loft.  Especially once (surprise!) baby boy #2 was on his way and we needed a common place for the rocking chair and book shelf.  The loft was cozy and small (too small for a decent 4th bedroom when you consider adding a closet, it turns out), and we started and ended each day in it.  On the good, lazy days the boy(s) and I could stay up there for an hour or two at a time happy as little birds in our nest.

So with baby boy #3 scheduled to make his appearance soon, did we finally add a 4th bedroom?  No- of course not.  We renovated the loft into an even bigger, more fun (and more toddler/ baby-proof) loft/ playroom.  There was actually a lot of thought put into this- short-term and long.  Once Colby is big enough to need his own room (or ready to sleep in a crib instead of swaddled in his rock-n-play), he will get Brady's room and Anderson and Brady will share Anderson's slightly bigger room.  We figure that two of the boys sharing a room will last us at least 10 more years.  Ryan tells me they won't want to share when they're teenagers.  (This comes from the younger brother who didn't outgrow sharing a room, but he noticed that his older brother definitely did. ;-) )  Then as long as we can make it happen, we are planning on turning the attic into a 4th bedroom for pre-teen Anderson to have his own space one day.  That won't be a small project at all, but we're hoping it will be feasible and practical enough when the time comes.  Also, we love the loft now, as I have said, but we love the idea of a common area in which the boys can hang out, eventually have a TV, sleepovers, etc. separate from the main family room.  We're hoping that it will get a lot of use for years and years to come, and that it will be full of (stinky?) boys and their (stinky?) friends.

So with all of that said... here are some before and after shots.

Before (Like the day before; we had already taken all of the furniture out... not looking too pretty...)

This right here was a big reason we wanted to floor the loft all the way across.  Either wrestling little boys knocking into those wooden balusters or one of the older boys "helping" the baby go downstairs scared me to death.

And this yucky light, light carpet was another big reason we were ready for change.  

And in an effort to remember it in a better light, here it is a year ago being used and loved...

Messy (accurately so) but you get the idea.

Here are the after shots...

Almost nothing was purchased new for the space- the rug was the only major thing, and then the ruler and navy canvas (below) were fun Hobby Lobby finds.  Otherwise we just reused a lot of what we already had.

Coming upstairs (we have a little more painting to do on the stairs, so they're not quite "after" ready.)

So far a pretty effective way to store our bricks

This used to be in Anderson's closet- and rarely used.  We're all happy to have it someplace that we'll use it.
(Side note: Boys are so fun!  Labels include "cars and trucks" "animals and people" and "pirates". 

Funny guys

First thing this morning

Brady is talking and talking so much.  There is still plenty of babbling that we don't understand, but there is A LOT that we do.  Sometimes he will say "I wuv you" on his own, even if you don't say it first.  And if he's feeling realllly sweet, he'll say, "You're da best (insert some mumbling) ever!!"  And then I swoon.

He likes to ask what all kinds of animals say (this really isn't new, but still a go-to.)  He'll ask you what anything says, really.

Common example: "What's dat?"-B "That's a circle."-you  "What's a circle say?!"-B "Umm....."-you.

He also likes to tell you about scary animals.  He'll say, "The shark is coming!  IT'S IN DA CAVE!!" and you're supposed to be very scared.  Or he'll say "it's a tiger." And you'll say, "Is it a nice tiger or scary tiger?" and he says, "Scawy!"

One of my favorites recently, Anderson and I were happily building a house with some cardboard bricks.  I could hear Brady saying something, and I finally tuned in that he was saying, "He coming!  Here he comes!" and I said, "Who's coming, Brady?" And he said, "Da Big Bad Woof!" and knocked our house over.  It was so funny!  :)  Luckily Anderson totally went with the flow, and even thanked Brady for playing the  Big Bad Wolf with us later (sometimes they're sweet to each other...).


                                                                     

First thing this morning

Anderson is really into making up stories or asking you to make them up.  Ryan said that he was telling Anderson a story about dragons in the bath tub, and Anderson got so into it and it just kept going and going.  A couple of nights later (also in the bath) he wanted to tell me a story about Marco (from a Curious George video my parents have) and Anderson playing baseball.  It started, "Once upon a time" and everything.  I am hoping to copy down one of his dictated stories soon, because there are way too many details for me to remember. :)

Also, sometimes we think Anderson is living in a musical.  He loves to sing along to his favorite CD's, especially Frozen.  Leaving preschool last week, I was talking to Anderson about "listening the first time his teachers tell him to do something," and he proceeded to belt out, "For the FIRST TIME in forever...." from Frozen, right in the parking lot.  Not sure that counted as listening....

Sunday after playing at the park, Ryan and the boys were hanging out in the backyard while I went in to fix us all lunch.  Anderson had asked me for milk (he already had his water bottle right there), and I told him I'd fix him some milk for lunch- it would be just a few minutes.  I went inside and didn't think much of it until Anderson was knocking at the back door a few minutes later.  Ryan later tells me that in the meantime Anderson was sitting in his lounge chair asking me over and over for milk.  Ryan said something to the effect of, "I don't think she can hear you, buddy.  She's inside."  So Anderson started asking/ pleading louder.  Since that wasn't working, Anderson said, "I'm going to go knock on the door... (at the door)...Maybe if I sing her a song, she'll give me some milk... Mama, Do you wanna give me milk... (tune: Do you wanna build a snowman?)" Ryan said there was more but he can't remember it all.  Luckily, I went to see what he wanted, and after he asked very nicely I did give him that desired cup of milk.


I love seeing their funny little personalities more and more.  Wish I could capture and playback more of our day word-for-word, because one day they'll be all big.  But hopefully this will help me remember how funny my little guys can be these days.