Finally downloaded the pictures to Mom's computer. Here's Baby Girl's Room.

This weekend I decided it was time to get Ashley's baby room in order for REAL. I'm taking part of the blame for it not being done since she was taking over my old room that still housed pretty much all my stuff. I had no idea how much I didn't bring to Germany with me! Over the week I packed up little bits here and there as the boxes came. I have 3 copier paper boxes full of Cherished Teddies! Wow! It was fun packing them up and remembering about the time I bought each one. Yes, I remember each and every one as well as about half of their names on the bottom of each figurine. They haven't moved from those shelves for quite a while and I don't plan on unpacking them until I have a curio cabinet. I'm surprised there wan't more dust!

There were a couple large items in the room that were holding us pregnant women back from fully assembling the room: my big old dresser and huge bookshelf the dad built me. It was a pretty finish on the wood, but seriously, who can use something THAT wide in a room that isn't very big to begin with. After clearing it off, I managed to push it into the bathroom. It fit nicely in the corner and I started envisioning a baby changing table! Theresa had to come over and help move the dresser. I couldn't make it budge and I know a few people that would be upset if they knew I was pushing heavy things around. (I got my lecture when I helped push Ashley's car out of the snow!)

On Saturday I came home and told Ashley we were going to get paint and start the baby room. She needs the motivation as she says so I had no problem enforcing it! My carpet is a tealish green color and I had white walls when it first got painted. Looking at it that day, however, that walls were dingy from taped up posters, art pictures, and photos. There were several little nails holes that were not properly put in place and tore chunks of drywall out. I had glow-in-the-dark stars and moons on my walls from Freshman year or earlier of high school that when taken off the wall took the paint right with it. Ick. The wall painting was a must in my opinion. Baby girl deserves the best we can provide :) So off to Storms for paint. Ashley and I guessed at the carpet color and tried matching a nice neutral color with it. Her bedding has frogs and friends on it so we could go lots of directions with paint. With the carpet green, we we with honey-pear yellow. We bought a small tub of white in case we needed to dab down the brightness. I haven't seen the bedding or trim in person, but looking at it online, I think we made an excellent choice!

It took us a good hour to get organized enough to even start painting. We found a banquet table roll in the basement (where was this for Ashley's shower!?) and laid it on the carpet for "protection." Ha! We still found way to get it on the carpet. We went up and down those stairs so many times to get this and that! I was near pooped before we started. We plugged in the little space heater to warm our freezing fingers and toes and started away. Before long, the walls were finished with the first coat. We had to take a sandwich break though. Can't go long without food before we get cranky! I was eager to finish up the room. Once I envision something I want to see the finished product right then. I definetely overworked myself and pushed through the second coat. We decided to stop since Ashley had plans, but once she left I HAD to finish it! Before I went to bed that night we had the socket covers back on, the curtains back up, and the shelves back in place. It was soooo pretty! I wanted to put the baby bed up and move all the other baby items back into the room right then, but knew I had to stop. My back and legs were killing me.

Yesterday we finished it all up. Ashley and I painted a couple special touches to the room. I did a frog on al lily pad with a fish underwater and Ashley painted a Monet scene of water lilies on a small oval carpet. They both turned out nice. I have just a couple other ideas to paint, but they shouldn't take long. I want to add a butterfly and ladybug on some grass. We had Theresa, Kala, Ashley, Me, and Mom all moving baby stuff out of Ashley's room and the bathroom back into Baby Girl's room. Once everything was put away, it didn't look like nearly as much stuff. Boy did it take up a lot of room before it was placed away though! Adam came by later that night and assembled the crib. The room is so soft looking. I love it! I can't wait to do my baby's room!

The giant shelves did end up being the baby changing table. The mountain of diapers and wipes fit nicely into the deep shelves and the changing pad fit perfect on top, with a little room to spare. Now all that really needs to be done before she can come is have her mama's hospital bag packed and ready! Ashley has been complaining of cramping and pain the last couple days so it may happen soon, or the baby could be stubborn and make her wait the full 3 weeks left.

This weekend was so much fun! On Saturday I woke up at 4:30am to ride with mom to Fairview Heights to get Krispy Kreme doughnuts for the Junior High fundraiser. It's always interesting with us two. We didn't get lost, but we ran short on time and ended up driving the beasty school van quite quickly down the blacktop.

After setting up for sales, I went home and changed for the maternity photo shoot for Ashley. Yeah, it was for Ashley, but while we had the place we might as well take some of me too, right? Terry let us borrow his house since he has the extra space to actually back up and take a picture without hitting something. Mom was my assisstant and held the gobo until my flash batteries died. :( With a black backdrop you can't even see the shadow though so I was happy about that. We took a few together and then I managed to get Justin to take a few with me too. I'm only 4 months, but I've had so many belly picture requests! I swear people just want to see me fat :) That's cool though. I will get back to my prematernity weight or at least fit into half of my old clothes!

After the shoot was Emma's birthday party that we ended up being late for since we spent too much time taking photos. Surprise surprise! I can't believe she's 1 already. We caught her attempting walking on film and it was so cute. Her little wobbly legs still don't always agree with what her body is saying to do. I'm so glad to be home now so I can be there to see the rest of her life as well as my other nieces and nephew. It's time for family!

After the party, Kasi and I headed to Wal-Mart for last minute Baby Shower items. Kasi made the most adorable diaper cake! I haven't been to a baby shower in a very long time, but I guess this is something people do now?

The shower took up all our time on Sunday. As soon as we got up and together we started putting together punch and fruit kabobs. It would have been sooner except for the time change that kinda slowed us all down. By 1:00 we had a bunch of stuff still waiting to be packed up and taken to the shower. We got the hall at about 1:20 and had to rush to decorate and finish the kabobs. The fruit and dip turned out to be a great hit. Laurie made the cutest little chocolate baby items that topped the cupcakes she made. Kasi and I made fortune cookies with fun facts about Ashley in them. Kasi ended up doing most of the work after dipping a side of the cookies in pink choloate. It all turned out great! Ashley got soooo many presents. Her baby is going to be set from 0-3 months in baby clothes. When we brought everything home, it filled the entire baby room plus some. We ended up going through all the stuff to see if there were any duplicates (just socks!) and what age group the clothes were. Everything was still being strung out on the living room floor at 11:00 last night. I finally asked her to go to bed so I could sleep! (I had the couch since it was so late already.)

Justin is in Bloomington starting his first day of work. Good luck! I'm enjoying the 72 degree weather!