Necklace Finished!

Remember when I mentioned the bead swap coordinated by on online discussion group? Well, I finally got moving and made the necklace! AND I recently discovered that I will actually have TWO birthing necklaces--we are making one at my baby shower/mother's blessing as well! Maybe I'll make that one into a bracelet since there will be fewer beads...

Without further ado, here is a picture of my first foray into jewelry making:

I don't think you can tell on this picture, but I used some fancy-schmancy techniques for making the links, and I even made my own clasp! I wasn't consistent, though--some links I made really elaborate and some are really simple. And I had to wrap wire around a couple of the beads because it wouldn't fit through the holes. All in all, I LOVE it, and I'm excited about having it with me during labor!

I just wanted to assure everyone that I'm fine and haven't disappeared off the face of the earth :) I haven't taken any pictures lately and probably won't for a while--my face is covered in poison ivy! It's all over my forehead, my eyelid, my cheek, my neck, and both arms. Ick! To make matters worse, I ran out of makeup, so I can't even cover it up.

Things are going really well. I've had some bad heartburn/reflux, but it's getting better. I went to my acupuncturist, and that helped quite a bit. I have also been taking papaya enzymes in the evening, and I SWEAR they work better than Tums!

I don't feel like I have any other big news...maybe that's because I'm so used to being pregnant and the novelty has worn off ;) I bought a new bag from T.J. Maxx to use as the hospital bag, and it's really cute! I have already packed all of Ella's supplies--a going-home outfit, two sleepers, and receiving blankets. I will also add some cloth diapers to take along once my shower is over (I need to acquire some newborn-sized dipes). I made a super-detailed list of things to pack for Chris and me, so I'll get started on packing those things soon.

I feel like Ella's room will never be settled. Every time I think things are in order, I realize that it just won't work and rearrange the furniture. Then my dear friend Rebecca gives me a pile of baby stuff that I don't know where to put, so it sits in a pile in the middle of the nursery (thanks, Rebecca! :-) ) I would LOVE to paint the nursery as well, but Chris won't let me do it myself, and he's been too busy working on the fence and barn to help inside. I know he just wants to get things ready for Sierra as quickly as possible, and that we don't actually NEED to nursery to be ready any time soon. We have the essentials, and Ella won't really care what color the walls are! In addition, it's probably going to be many, many months (years?) before she even uses the nursery. The co-sleeper is set up next to the bed, and that's the only thing that really has to be ready when she comes home. *sigh* I'm still overwhelmed!

I also want to have people over to the house for a sort-of housewarming party. The house is as ready as it is going to be, but our weekends have been sooooo hectic! I don't want people to feel obligated to come to the housewarming AND to the baby shower (although the shower will be in a much more convenient location), but I'm proud of our new home and want people to see it! :)

Am I hitting the third-trimester whiny stage?

Wow! Time flies...

I can't believe I haven't even looked at this blog in a couple of weeks. I've been busy at home trying to get things ready for Ella (and for us!), and I feel like I've been driving nonstop. I know things will slow down soon, but it seems like time is flying by at an astonishing pace! I almost had a heart attack when I looked at the ticker and realized it says I only have 8 weeks and 3 days until my EDD. That's less than two months! Ack!

Anyway, here are a couple of pictures I took today. I guess I'm going to have to do these myself since Chris doesn't seem interested anymore. I used the tripod, so hopefully they're okay! Ignore the drastic difference in skin color between my tummy and my arms/face...my tummy has OBVIOUSLY not seen sun in a long time!

31 weeks & 4 days

Ella is BIG now! I can feel her head moving around in my pelvis, and her movements are slowing down. Now they're bigger movements (and weirder feeling!), but they aren't coming constantly like they were.

I think I need to get on the elliptical more...there's extra weight there that definitely isn't Ella...

I'm huge.

So I know today isn't the normal day for me to post belly pictures, but I was bored and amazed by how BIG I feel today. Please ignore the tight yoga pants--I know they're not attractive, but they're comfy!

And here is what I see when I try to look at my feet (yes, the view does usually include Suki):

I feel enormous, and I know I'm only going to get bigger in the next couple of months!

Furniture

I didn't make any great effort to make these even decent pictures, but I wanted to show you Ella's furniture!

Here's the crib we got from a warehouse clearance sale for a GREAT deal:

It even converts to a toddler bed, a daybed, and a full-size bed!

Here's the bookshelf from Target:

And here is what I am most proud of, the "changing table" (really a short dresser) that I got for $20 from a junk store. I primed it, painted it, and put new handles on it today. I wish I had taken before and after pictures! Here it is:

Ella's room is still a disaster, but we're getting closer to arranging it!

Eek!

That number on the ticker is scary! Only 11 more weeks until my due date!!! And anything after 37 weeks is considered "term", so it could be as short as 8 weeks! I am actually very ready to see her and be with her; I just can't believe it's coming up so quickly. We got the crib assembled this weekend, we ordered the mattress (which reminds me--I need to take it off the registry), I bought a short chest-of-drawers to use as a changing table (I'm taking a break from painting it right now), and Chris assembled her bookshelf. I don't think we'll get to actually painting her room before she arrives, but I figure she won't come out demanding a perfectly decorated nursery--especially since she won't be sleeping in it for several, several months!

We got a truckload full of free T-posts and electric tape to use for the horse fencing, so Chris has been out working on that all day. The tape was all bundled up in knotted masses, so he's been trying to get it spooled and organized. He may even start setting posts today! I just get to supervise this time, and that's just fine with me :-) When we set up the fence in Powhatan, I worked like crazy all day and thought I was going to pass out. I can't wait to get Sierra out here and settled, too!

One more post for today

I made a couple of recycled pre-fold diapers last night. Nothing fancy, but I think they're kind of cute. If they don't work out as diapers (I doubt they'll be absorbent enough), they'll at least make great burp cloths! I used two of my old t-shirts for the back part that would be visible if worn, and the inside is made of Chris' old undershirts (you can see the inside in the middle pic). I altered the one with the dog and the cat a little bit--I left a slot open so I could add an insert to make it more absorbent.

I can't wait to make more REAL cloth diapers! I want to order some fabric from online and get sewing. I got a pattern that makes all sorts of diapers and covers, and I'm really anxious to start. I'm going to wait, though, until after my showers so I can see what other people bless me with.