created especially for us: Extreme nesting.

It's August. This ~~had better be~~ is potentially the month our son could be born. It's a little surreal to think about. I just got off the phone with my mom and was doodling his name as I talked with her. Brian asked me the other day if it feels real yet and I honestly answered: no. It's just so hard for me to wrap my mind around the fact that we're about to become parents. So. Crazy.

I have been in crazy nesting mode for the last 1-2 weeks now. I normally consider myself a pretty organized person, but wow do I feel a little OCD right now. I have been cleaning/organizing/reorganizing/prepping like a crazy person. I'm actually having to force myself to do things on different days so I don't try to get a million things done all at once. Though I have to admit that the EXTREME pain in my upper rib cage area is a big help in preventing that from happening. After talking with my Ob and doing a lot of research, I have figured out that what I'm experiencing is not uncommon and there really isn't one exact answer for it. All I know is that I probably have a pretty good idea what being shanked feels like and I will get relief when he is born, but hopefully when he starts to drop. Please, Lord, let that be soon.

34 weeks. I look kind of huge here.

35 weeks!

This last weekend we were able to get a ton of stuff done and I feel a million times more prepared than last week. Our to-do list has had "caulk the kitchen sink" on it for close to a year and Saturday night we finally did it. It was a massive PITA but it looks great so I think it was worth it. We also made our big trip to Buy Buy Baby to get the remaining items that we needed, we picked out and hung curtains in the nursery, and Brian awesomed-up our pantry. The shelves in our pantry are just the cheap, coated wire shelves that sag really bad when there is anything heavy placed on them. Originally I wanted to replace them with wood shelves, but found a much cheaper alternative. Brian built very simple, but very wonderful supports for a few of them and then we covered the shelves in vinyl self-stick tiles. We also put tiles on a few of the linen closet shelves. It's so wonderful to set a bottle on a shelf without having to precariously balance it so it doesn't tip over (which it inevitably will the next time you go in there for something). I am in love.

Before

After

On Sunday my parents, my brother, and his dog came down for a few hours to drop off the crib and have dinner with us. It was short and sweet but still great to see everyone. Brian and I set up the crib that night and LOVE it! I thought that having a crib in the nursery would make this whole situation feel more realistic but for me it really doesn't. Man, am I going to be hit hard when that little guy is laid on my chest. Seriously, have the Puffs ready.


Brian: "Aww assembly required? Let's take it back."

We have a crib!


That changing pad could not fit any more perfectly on that dresser, it's ridiculous. Two garbage cans, one for cloth dipes, one for actual trash.

And speaking of diapers, I finally prepped all our cloth diapers! I admit, I was a little nervous about this step, but now I'm just excited to use them.

The shells drying. Ignore my makeshift clothesline.

A few other things going down around here lately:
- Brian's cousin, Gretchen, is in labor as I type this!! The sex of the baby will be a surprise (Baby S and I are strongly rooting for a boy) and it's also her mom's 50th birthday today. What an incredible birthday present!
- It's still crazy effing hot. Sorry, but it is and I'm sick of it AND our lack of storms. Baby S will probably come during a storm just for saying that.
- We also deep cleaned both cars on Sunday and are making the switch. My car is only two doors and Brian's is four so it just makes sense. I am still sad to "give up" my car but what can you do.
- Car seat here and ready to be installed within the next few days!
- Our tomatoes are out of control.

Just what was picked this morning!

And lastly, here are some of the maternity pictures my mom took at the property. We took some on Sunday, too. I can't wait to see how the rest turned out!