The inspiration for our upstairs bathroom over on Pinterest.
We’re nearing the end of the contractor portion of our second bathroom remodel and while I have hours of painting still to do (window and door trim, vanity, the back of the door…), I’m so excited to be at the point when the room is already showing how pretty it is going to be.
When we moved in, it had vinyl woodgrain flooring, old faded wallpaper and a completely gross shower. I tried not to think too much about the shower because it was what it was (until it was ripped out!), but no elbow grease could get rid of the mildew and discoloration because trust me, I did try. ANYWAY. It was gross.
Our new shower tile!
Which is to say that despite the fact that my goal for both bathrooms is to make them as nice as possible for the minimum amount of money—we didn’t move anything structurally and are keeping the original vanities, countertops and mirrors; I am doing all of the painting—I am so darn excited that we sprung for tile in the shower. The tile itself, a classic 3×6 inch subway tile, wasn’t much more than the cost of a one-piece insert, but the labor is costing us way more. (The shower tile took a day and a half to install; a one-piece insert would have taken a few hours, if that.) But I am realizing that there are times when making these choices is about both money and about happiness. To have a space that I walk by make me stop and stare at it is a wondrous thing. And there isn’t even a finished floor yet!
I am sure that I knew all of that already, but I really needed that realization this week since little Linden has been absolutely slammed by sickness. It might be the flu, it might be the flu and an ear infection—she screamed the entire time we were at the doctors so getting an accurate diagnosis was a little bit of a challenge—but I am grateful for something positive to focus on as we’re on day 4 of fevers and utter yuckiness. I feel so badly for her because she is clearly miserable and I know that our continual need to give her medicine, to wipe her nose, and asking her repeatedly if she’s hungry or wants juice is getting a little old.
I’m not sure that anyone can really be prepared for this part of parenthood, for the heartbreak that comes with having a sick kid, for the sheer exhaustion that comes with worry. Because whether it’s a bout of simple illness like this (that will eventually pass), or something more serious and life-altering, being in charge of the health of little people is serious work. So, I am grateful for the simple pleasure of pretty tile and that watching Curious George and Pooh is at least making life tolerable for Miss Linden:)