Parenting is sorta like riding the Coney Island Cyclone.  Ok, I don't know if that's totally true - because I've never ridden it and I'm terrified of rollercoasters! But you know what I'm trying to say.

Get ready to shake, rattle, rumble and roll over 2,640 feet of track featuring 12 drops and 27 elevation changes that still has the stuff to take your breath away. Slowly rise to panoramic heights and grip the bar tight as you go over the ledge on an exhilarating 85-foot, 60-degree plunge at speeds of 60 mph. It’s an all-time classic amusement park ride that’s kept coaster lovers coming back... 

Yep, that pretty much sums it up. Sorry for the Nathan's cheese-doggy analogy here. But it's so true. You are terrified with anticipation, but simultaneously exhilarated. Your foundation is rickety. You have no clue whatsoever if it's stable, if it's going to be strong enough to hold your precious cargo, whose life is in your hands. The drops hit you at lightning speed. Time seems to warp - you're not sure if it's flying or dragging or both. You're held in by sheer inertia and try to suppress your involuntary screams. Sometimes there's a huge hurricane and you need to spend time re-building the tracks, putting it all back together. Regardless, it still takes your breath away every time. You keep coming back for more. 

Maybe it's human nature to crave an adrenaline rush. It always gives me a little thrill to look towards the next phase. I am always anticipating the future with a combination of anxiety and excitement. Watching Avery grow, I am guilty of this constant forward-thinking while simultaneously lacking the time to anticipate what's going to happen in the next few minutes. It's an odd juxtaposition. I'm in it, just trying to make it through the day with limited injuries and/or meltdowns (this goes for baby and mommy!). 

I often anger myself because this removes me from the present moment. I mean seriously... Avery will only be this cute and teeny once in her life. Ok maybe she'll always be this cute, but she won't always be 16 months young. To answer to my frustration with myself I have been trying to worry less about the next diapers.com autoship order (do I need any add-on items?) and be in the moment, enjoying each little giggle and gurgle. To relish in Avery's animated babbling of "Melmo! Melmo!" (Translation: Elmo Obsession. Yes, my child watches TV.) while swim-splashing in the tub, most definitely ingesting the bath water and bubbles (don't worry peeps, it's an Honest product!). This is tough for me - something I'm working on everyday and consumes me so much that I have written about previously here. 

Anyways, my probably unhealthy way of dealing with the fact that Avery is growing up and I can neither freeze nor speed up time is having fun design-dreaming. I imagine what Avery's future "big girl room" will look like. In about a year or so, she'll probably be ready for one. Maybe not. But a year is an eternity in baby time - with inevitable adventures, crazy growth and tangible change in store. So, just to be prepared, I do what I do best. I troll the internet. I pin and collect inspiration everywhere I go. I design and dream, then on to the next project - design and dream again. Whether I like it or not, it's an inherent part of me, so I might as well answer to it in a way that brings me (and hopefully my clients!) joy.

In the spirit of looking ahead and my last blog about The Next Phase, Katie and I have collaborated on a style board for Sly's future "big boy room" with shop-able links. (If you missed my Momtrepreneur Spotlight on Katie Schorr and the tour of her son Sly's Whimsical Brooklyn Nursery, read it here.) Most of the pieces on this Schorr Board are directly from Katie's Pinterest Boards. I just helped her pull it all together into a cohesive scheme, and added a paint color and a few more pieces to make it feel complete. 

Ceiling Fixture / Area Rug / Toddler Bed / Fox Stuffed Animals / Paint Color / Zebra Pillow / Guitar Art / Table Lamp / Campaign Chest / Elephant Hamper / Sheet Set / Play Table

So, what do you think? Would love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below. And also how you channel your emotional rollercoasters into creations. May even design-dreams...

~L.S.

PS- A few of you have been asking where to find the adorably whimsical artwork featured in Sly's nursery. Lucky for you, Katie has revealed her sources! I've gone back and added the information under each image. For the updated blog including sources, you can click here.