You're supposed to decorate the baby's bedroom?

I have had a few people ask me if I've had any fun ideas for decorating the baby's nursery. Honestly, it didn't even occur to me that I should (and no, I still don't feel like I have to). I was thinking we would just get a crib, some kind of storage compartment for clothes, and maybe a soft chair to fall asleep in at three o-clock in the morning (or afternoon), and then we might make some kind of mobile so he doesn't have to stare at the white ceiling. He's not going to care, and it wouldn't be any different from any other room in the apartment. While reading various things about baby care, I've realized that people really do go all out to decorate the baby's nursery. Some people choose a new theme for each of their children and buy the complete bedding set to make the room look perfect. They have to buy the most adorable crib, dresser, book shelf, toy box, tea party table, and more, and then make sure the paint and all the furniture have coordinating color schemes. Then of course there is the stenciling for the walls and a cute Noah's ark border with matching curtains. In all, it can cost thousands of dollars. Amazing. I had no idea. I have no problem with a little creative decorating--it's not my idea of fun, but go ahead if you like it. But spending thousands of dollars?

I read about this idea online--definitely a winner: Buy a belly casting mold and make a cast of your belly when you're at about 8 1/2 months in your pregnancy. It will be a great memento for you and your baby, and you can do all sorts of fun things to decorate it--paint it to match the color scheme of your nursery, use stencils, or even paste the ultrasound photos on it.

Ummmmm . . . no way.

I liked the way my sister-in-law Kristi decorated her girls' bedroom--with lots of their own artwork, plenty of books, and several small items and decorations that made it a safe, happy room. Looking around that room, I could tell that she had tried to put in simple reminders to her girls that she loves them and that they are children of God. That's the kind of thing I want to focus on in the little decorating I do in all the rooms in our house. I think that other than the basics, the only things I must have to decorate the nursery are a picture of Christ and of the temple.