Scrub a dub dub!!

Claire got her first bath last week since her cord finally fell off....here is the play-by-play!!

"Mom, what are you doing to me??!!"

"This is ridiculous, guys...daddy, save me!!"

"Puh, puh puhlease don't do this to me!"

"Oooooh it's warm...I could get used to this, I guess!"

"Ok, put my clothes back on please"

Clean baby and fluffy hair!

Jealous??!!??? Enough said....

WeEk oNe

Claire had her one week doctor's appointment today and she checked out wonderfully! She actually gained weight (now a whopping 7lbs 8oz) and Dr. Freeman was very happy with her color and feeding, peeing, and pooping habits! Here are some pics from our first week at home...

A million thank-you's to both of Claire's Grammies for all of the help this first week....it was so nice to have help wth the cooking, cleaning, and snuggling as we were adjusting to our new addition. Claire is very lucky to have such amazing grandparents who adore her!

Home we go!

A few pics from our last day at the hospital and getting ready to Claire home!

With momma on our last day at the hospital

So itty bitty in this carseat

Family photo

Stylin in my headband and boxing gloves!

It's a GIRL!!!

I know, I know...Claire came into the world almost a week ago (hard to believe!) and I still havn't blogged about her grand entrance!! So last Tuesday, I had my 40 week appointment in the morning, and much to my disappointment, still to progress- I was only dilated to 1cm, so Dr. Garrett and I scheduled an induction for Saturday, the 28th...well apparentally, Claire was not a fan of the induction idea! I started having contractions that afternoon and by about 10pm, I knew this was the real deal! We headed to the hospital around midnight and I was 2cm when I got there...so I decided to try and hold off on the epidural until I was more fully dilated, which turned into 8 hours of contractions that were 2 minutes apart. Finally around 8am, I got my epidural and within a couple hours, dilated to 6cm. Then around 2pm, much to all of our surprise (and immediately after an epidrual "booster" because my right side wasn't staying numb), I started feeling pressure and was fully dilated and ready to push...AHHHH!! Since I had just received so much medicine and apparentally I have a protruding tailbone that she was having a hard time getting past, the pushing didn't go so well for about an hour....3 1/2 hours worth of pushing later, we hesitantly decided to try to use the vacuum to try and get her out, and it worked!! Within two contractions and now 6:00pm, Claire Elizabeth Kruse was here! We were SHOCKED...for some reason, Spencer and I had both just pictured a boy so we were elated to find out tthat we had a little girl to wrap around our fingers! It was about a half an hour before I could hold her in my arms as she had meconium in her amniotic fluid, so NICU had to check her out before I was able to snuggle her. Holding that perfect little body in my arms for the first time was unlike anything I've ever experienced. It's hard to imagine until you've experienced it, loving this little person so much that your heart wants to explode....she's a doll, she's truly beautiful, she's hilarious and she's ours! I can't wait to watch her grow up and share it all with the people we love and who love her! Now for the hospital pics....I will post more from the last few days in a new post.

Last belly shot- 40 weeks exactly!

It felt like forever before I could hold her!!

First bath!

She's gonna hate us one day for this one....but look at that cute butt!!

Snuggling with Daddy...it's been a long day!

In other news....

I just wanted to update everyone on some other family news...unfortunately, this past weekend, my sister-in-law Ana's father Richard passed away. He had a major stroke on Saturday morning and was not able to recover from the brain injuries. He was rather young to have such an unexpected health problem, and it has taught all of us quite a lesson in life. Please, please, please talk with your parents, spouses, and grandparents about their final wishes. Make sure they keep up with regular check-ups and doctors appointments. Make sure they have a will. Make sure you know what type of funeral and arrangements your loved-ones would want, and please make the most out of every day you have with the people who mean the most to you. These are not easy conversations to have, but essential for us all. Life is so short, and with our anticipation of the arrival of Baby Kruse, we are humbled by Adam and Ana's strength through all of this. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers. We are grateful that Richard was able to enjoy their wedding in June and know he will be sadly missed. Ana is also still looking for a home for her father's beloved dogs....a female golden retriever and a male german shepherd- if anyone knows of someone who could give them a good home, please let one of us know!!

t..hi....r...t...y.......n..i..ne......w....e..e...k...s

I'M ABOUT TO EXPLODE (physically and emotionally!) I've been fully effaced for two weeks now, having contractions every day (and most nights) but still no dilation or baby!! I'm starting to have back pain and sharp nerve pains radiating from my groin down my legs- the joys of being nine months pregnant!! No idea where this peanut gets it's stubbornness ; )  I'm walking, cooking, eating spicy food, cleaning incessantly, and really starting to contemplate the whole castor oil idea! Needless to say, I'm getting really exhausted so we pretty much have decided that working isn't the best idea for me until munchkin arrives.....with my job, I have to be clear-minded and alert, neither of which I am at this point in time. Tomorrow I have my 39 week appointment, so I'm hoping that maybe we can schedule an induction for next week if there is still no progress. I will keep everyone updated....Here are a few belly pics:

Fully-baked!!

In pregnancy progress, I had my 37 (and a half!!) week appt on Thursday and I am 70% effaced and just starting to dilate...doctor said it could be anytime but I"m trying not to get my hopes up too high. I'm officially "full-term" so BabyK, you can make your entrance anytime peanut!! I'm feeling good...having contractions here and there, trying to walk a lot, and the nesting phenomenon has officially set-in. Yesterday, I vacuumed the entire house, dusted baseboards and  mopped the hardwoods, cleaned out the refrigerator, organized the loft closet and nursery dresser/closet, washed every sheet and towel in the house, put together the baby swing, and made tuna salad, cookies, and a bunch of taco meat!! Haha...ridiculous : )

Now for the photos....I am so lucky to have such a talented brother who was willing to take some maternity shots of us this past weekend at the house- I will treasure them forever and have a hard time looking at some of them without tearing up. This baby is going to be so amazingly loved!! Thanks uncle Adam for capturing such sweet memories for us...

PS: If you click on the collage, you should be able to see the photos in more detail!!

Proud DIY'ers

Wanted to share a few pics of the mobile that I made (I found the idea on Etsy) for the nursery, and Spencer's latest project...

Yes, folks, my husband tore a whole in our kitchen one month before our baby is due. He promised that it would be finished before baby arrives, and he's actually pretty well on his way to keeping that promise!

T-minus one month...

So I officially am nine months pregnant!!! I can't believe that in 30 days we will have a newborn baby! I also am having a hard time believing that this baby is going to grow 1/2 a pound a week for the next month...I guess I'm in denial that my skin can really stretch anymore than it already has- OUCH!! I'm feeling tired but good...my feet kill me by the end of my 12 hour shifts and I'm tossing and turning most nights BUT my blood pressure is good, baby is head-down and really no swelling to date- not so bad for such a blazing hot Indiana summer! Here are some 36 week belly shots....WARNING: big bare belly ahead!!

Correction....

A few posts ago, I accidentally mentioned that 11 of my co-workers were currently pregnant and much to my surprise, started some chaos at work. THERE ARE ONLY 9 OF US WHO ARE CURRENTLY PREGNANT....there were 11, two delivered, now it's 9. Sorry for the mistake, and sorry for everyone at PMCH who was given the third degree about possibly being the 10th or 11th...there is nothing I know that you all don't, I promise!! This is what I get for working with all 20-30 year old women!!
Sincerest apologies,
Abby

Will it bee, a he or she??

Baby shower #3 was here in Indy...my uber-creative and amazing friend Christine (with help from her sister Katie) threw me the most adorable bumble bee-themed shower! It was so great to catch up with old friends, new friends, and family...

Baby Burt's Bees diaper cake

Newly Cairns, previously Cairns, currently Cairns

Reliving sorority days?? Prettiest girls in the pledge class!!

The last few photos are from a game that we played where everyone had to guess what a number of wrapped-up baby "products" were by just feeling them....wanted to share a few of the responses that showed up on some lists- I can always count on these girls for a good laugh!

#10 responses: ear plugs, otoscope cover, ear cleaners, cone shaped things

*actual product: nasal aspirator covers

#12 responses:  bottle stopper, baby coins, rattle, bottle tops

*actual product: diaper pail deodorizers

#5 responses: portion of crib, something for a baby's mouth, silverware

*actual product: medicine spoon