crib/dad's GF vent (long)

So when I first told my dad I was pregnant, he told me he still had my little brother's crib (my little brother passed when he was 3 1/2 from the disease my mother is currently dying from) This was very sentimental to me and I told him I definitely wanted it.
well. His girlfriend, who never even knew my brother, keeps INSISTING on wanting to paint it herself... SPRAY paint it. I tried to just be polite and tell her that I would paint it myself because I would have to match it to the dresser... multiple times. She pretty much ignored this and assumed I would just go over to their house and "help" paint it.
We had been planning on transferring to a larger apartment after DD arrives, but have now decided to just use the dining room as her nursery and stay in our one bedroom so we can save for a house when our lease is up. We have no room for the crib. I told her today that we just don't have room for it at the moment. So she asked if she could go ahead and paint it and set it up at their house... as if DD is going to be staying there all the time.  
let me state that they have a farm. literally. chickens, Turkeys, a cow, 7 dogs, their bedroom typically has around 20 foster ferrets roaming freely in it, now they have quail in their living room, random cats... half the farm is IN THEIR HOUSE. All of the animals have fleas. They also smoke inside. There are roaches everywhere. It's dirty. If she leaves that crib out in that house, it will be ruined. I'm very upset about this because it was my little brother's, and I really did want it once we had the room for it.
Is there a way I can tell her politely to just leave it be, in their storage shed? (not that that's going to keep it in any type of good condition, either, but at least it won't absorb cigarette smoke)

I'd be straight up and just tell her that it is very special and to please leave it in storage. Explain to her why it is SO special. Let your father know as well!

Since you've told her multiple times already and she doesn't listen. I'd just tell her to back the smurf off and that I'll paint the crib when the time is ready.

If not, I'd just buy a lock for the shed till painting time arrives.

if i were you i'd just take it, leave it in pieces and put it in the back of a closet somewhere, wherever you have room. At least you would know it was safe. So sorry about your brother and your mom =(

If it was me, Id find any way I could to keep it at my place. I understand being limited on space but there has to be some extra space to put it, even if its putting it in your living room for now. Better than it getting destroyed imo

Painting a crib is possible but you definitely need to be careful about the kind of paint you are using and how you are doing it. It needs to be done the right way and done well so it's not chipping. Using a crib that old can also be potentially dangerous. Safety standards have changed a lot in recent years. A crib that has been in storage for that long can have unseen damage, weakened wood, missing or damaged hardware... I understand that it is sentimental but honestly it might be for the best that you can't use it since it could be such a safety concern.

Quoting October2011:" if i were you i'd just take it, leave it in pieces and put it in the back of a closet somewhere, wherever ... [snip!] ... of a closet somewhere, wherever you have room. At least you would know it was safe. So sorry about your brother and your mom =("

This! I'd find a spare closet or something

I would just take it and keep it in pieces and find anywhere in my place to keep it, even if its a little in the way. And i would tell the truth. If their house is really dirty, she should understand. If she takes it offensively, tell her to stop smoking in the house and clean it. If it wasnt nasty from how they keep it, it wouldnt have been an issue.

Quoting October2011:" if i were you i'd just take it, leave it in pieces and put it in the back of a closet somewhere, wherever ... [snip!] ... of a closet somewhere, wherever you have room. At least you would know it was safe. So sorry about your brother and your mom =("

I've considered this, but even our storage closet is stacked with things.  
I may just look really hard for somewhere for it. Or ask my grandmother if I can keep it in her attic... I hadn't really thought of that. lol

Thank you for your sympathy.

If you break it down you should be able to store it under your bed. it should all go flat. Good luck that really sucks. There are times when you have to be extra blunt to someome and this seems like one of those times. Maybe talk to you dad about it first since he'll understand the connection more than her??

Quoting October2011:" if i were you i'd just take it, leave it in pieces and put it in the back of a closet somewhere, wherever ... [snip!] ... of a closet somewhere, wherever you have room. At least you would know it was safe. So sorry about your brother and your mom =("

this

Quoting Masturkate TTC:" Painting a crib is possible but you definitely need to be careful about the kind of paint you are using ... [snip!] ... that it is sentimental but honestly it might be for the best that you can't use it since it could be such a safety concern."

It's more of a sentimental value type of thing. DD would be in a toddler bed by the time we had the space for it, but it does transform into a toddler bed. I was considering possibly making a bench or something out of it like you see on pinterest.
I've also had a friend offer her crib that she got for her son around a year ago and never used, in all honesty I would use that one before my brother's, just because it's newer, but it's just a matter of wanting it, wanting to do something with it, and actually use it in my home without it reeking of smoke and animals.

I'm sorry for your loss and I would definetly ask someone else to store it for me. I think that its nice of your dad to offer it to you

Quoting SherryandMatt:" If you break it down you should be able to store it under your bed. it should all go flat. Good luck ... [snip!] ... this seems like one of those times. Maybe talk to you dad about it first since he'll understand the connection more than her??"

at the moment our bed is a mattress on the floor because we still need to get a bed frame for my headboard/footboard, and idk if we'll be changing it any time soon since I'll more than likely be co sleeping more than using the pack n play...
I'm sure my grandmother has room in her attic for it, though, the idea never crossed my mind until now.
I try really hard not to hurt their feelings about their home because they love the country lifestyle, and it doesn't really bother them, and they do a lot for me. I'm sure I'll have to be blunt about the dirtyness of their house when she's begging me to leave DD there at some point... and I'm dreading it.

Maybe tell her you are going to take it now and put it together later. Tell her you want to wait on painting it because you might want it how it is. for sentimental reasons?

Then change your mind later! Hehe..

I know how you feel...my Mom didnt ask and just did everything she wanted....We didnt even get a chance to LOOK at cribs she just bought me one and EVERYTHING else w/o asking...my house is full of sm.urf we didnt use