The Crombies: 36 Weeks, Nursery Progress, and Other Updates

Here I am at 36 weeks pregnant with Elizabeth! (sorry it's a little fuzzy; I moved right before the picture snapped!)

Within the past four weeks, I've started to feel like the baby is really crowding me. I'm very, very uncomfortable, and I can no longer bend over without pain. It feels like Elizabeth is sitting towards my front now, so when I bend over, it forces her back, which forces all my organs and muscles back. And that is painful. Sometimes, I end up light-headed and out of breath. I'm ending up very tired very quickly. I barely made the walk across campus at work a few weeks ago - and I stopped 3 times on the way! Just too much.

Don't get me wrong; I want her to stay an inside baby as long as she needs to! But I wouldn't mind so much if Elizabeth decided she was ready to come a little early. :) We're eager to meet her, and ready to welcome her into our family any time.

I've been experiencing Braxton-Hicks contractions every day. Nothing rhythmic, though. But boy, those BH contractions are very, very uncomfortable. I also spoke to my doctor's office today, and the nurse told me that I've been having REAL contractions occasionally (based on what I described to her). Like when we went to the Mariners game last Thursday and the entire 4th inning was one long contraction, sigh. I am actually trying to drive as little as possible right now, because the best way I can describe it is that it's the worst cramping I've ever experienced in my entire life, from my belly button to my spine. It's not easy to operate a vehicle when I'm dealing with that kind of discomfort. In fact, it's nearly all I can do to breathe comfortably when I'm dealing with those contractions.

Last weekend, my old day bed went to my dad's house. Robert officially finished painting the baby's furniture - YES! The old lamps came down off the wall in the guest room. The walls were repaired, patched and painted where necessary. The guest room was officially empty - with everything that was removed is now in a NEW place. It was taking a little while longer because of that, but I was determined to not just move piles around as much as I could help it. Admittedly, my fabrics and sewing stuff is in desperate need of a new, official place to reside. We're going to have to spend some money on that, which I'm not looking forward to. But it needs to happen. In the mean time, we've got some plastic drawers and tubs that I'll have to utilize for a temporary solution. But the nursery is officially a nursery! YAY!

Robert is getting settled into his new job at the bank. This new career has been such a great decision, and such a blessing for us. He sincerely misses his "family" at the restaurant, and the relationships built there. But we're so glad he's working "banker's" hours (hahaha), and that I have him home every evening and all weekend! The bummer is that he's been commuting 25 miles to and from work every day for all of last week, and he'll have to do it all of this week, too. So he's really out of the house about 10-12 hours a day. He's adjusting to his new schedule, and it's definitely weird for me to be the last one out of the house in the morning, but we're getting the hang of things. I'm sure as soon as we get all adjusted to this new schedule, we'll have to shake it up like crazy with the new baby. :)

Speaking of which, I forgot to mention.... we decided not to take birthing classes. I won't really go into too much detail, but it was a personal decision, and we feel fine with it. (If you're curious, feel free to send us an email).

Last Tuesday, I had a HUGE baby shower at church! My friends, Tiffany and Kristin, put the whole thing together for me. It was amazing to have 52 women come out to show love to our sweet Elizabeth Johannah and me! We are still needing some essentials (a little grooming kit, one more carseat base for one of the carseats we have, the breast pump - which we have to pick up after she's born - some more pacifiers, high chair, monitors, rocking chair or glider, bottles, etc.) There are some things we'd really like to have, but we're not necessarily going to buy them just yet. We're more concerned with immediate needs. :)

At my doctor's appointment 2 weeks ago on Friday, I asked about the registration paperwork for the hospital for when I go into labor. Guess what? It's already done. That's right! The hospital already has everything! They just need a phone call ahead of time that we're on our way, and they'll be all ready for us when we arrive. Super exciting!

On Sunday night, Robert's mom said I looked like I had "dropped." At work, everyone said the same thing. And I can tell, because I didn't have to stop 3 times walking into my office from the car to catch my breath, lol! We're just in the homestretch now!

This week, I'm finishing up the birth plan, and also getting things together for my "hospital bag." So far, my bag is nearly ready to go! I'm just waiting for my new camera cord to come in the mail. (Of course, eye glasses and makeup, hair brush, and other such items cannot be packed until the last minute. Thus, we'll have two lists posted of "last-minute items" to grab - one posted on the garage door, and one on the bathroom door or mirror so we're not running around like crazy when I go into labor. (This is, of course, assuming that we're home when I go into labor!) In the event that I go into labor at work, I'm 5 minutes from the hospital, and one of my co-workers will be driving me. This would probably mean Robert would be at work also, so he'd just have to meet me there. Someone will have to go to our house to get him a change of clothes and my hospital bag.

As soon as I have my hospital bag completely packed, I'll try to document what we decided to take. After the baby is here, I'll definitely document what we actually needed versus what we took (I'm sure there will be a difference!) A lot of what I've decided to pack is stuff I have to double-check, anyway to see if I really want/ need it. The bag isn't very big, and I don't think it needs to be. Less is more.

Since the nursery is done, here are some pictures for you to enjoy! :)


Here's daddy, putting Elizabeth's crib together. :)

I stayed out of the way, since he went through so much work to make the crib perfect for his baby girl. :)

Lining everything up!

Making sure it fits just right. :)

I hung up some of her tiny clothes while I waited for the crib to be set up. :)


Looking into the nursery from the doorway.

Almost ready for the last piece!

Setting it up...


Making sure everything is sturdy before he puts it all together!

Looks good, daddy!

Putting in the base. I actually had to put down the camera and go help with that part. :)

This is what it looks like all set-up!

Another look at the crib :) (That quilt is just ONE of 5 that have been beautifully hand-crafted by some wonderful ladies for our sweet baby girl!)

That crib looks so cozy!

This is the bow clip holder I made for Elizabeth! I just got an old frame from the Goodwill, painted a few coats of acrylic brown paint, and then used the end of my paintbrush for pink dots after the brown paint had 24 hours to dry! (Thanks for the tip on the dots, Keri!)

Some of the bow clips are handmade by me, some were store-bought. Can you tell the difference?

Looking into the room with everything in place (the swing and bouncy seat will not be staying in her room, but they are there for now while we do other cleaning projects around the house).