A week of weeks

The last week has felt like several weeks.  So many things to juggle, from final exams to last-minute letters of recommendations to the hurried job candidate to had to interview this week because she's 32 weeks pregnant and lives in Norway.  And add in the personal life things, my sister and parents in town, my sister leaving, my parents still here.  While I love them, they need babysitting and that's a little stressful.  Plus, keeping my mom in a good mood is a bit like walking on eggshells.  You never quite know what she wants but if she doesn't get it then she seriously pouts for hours.  And if you suggest the wrong thing...  oh la la.

On top of all of this I am starting to believe that I'm going to have a baby.  Really, deep down believing.  And I am so incredibly happy that it brings tears to my eyes when I have time to think about it.  I would love nothing more than to spend hours sitting on the couch feeling her move around.

I feel wonderful these days.  I have a feeling this won't last as I get bigger, but it is fun at this point to have trouble getting up when I sit on the floor, to be careful about not using much soap in most places as my skin is quite dry, to chuckle a little when my big belly runs into things.  I have to remember to put my feet up on occasion, and to stop and rest.  My belly reminds me when I've done too much.  I get this weird light pain right at the top.  It's external and light and I think it's just muscles and ligaments, and it goes away if I sit quietly for a few minutes.  I think it is a little alarm going off.  It's little M telling me to sit down and pay attention to her, as she always moves around a bit once I do.

I think I've only gained 2 pounds over the last few weeks, and I feel like I'm doing well on the taking-care-of-myself front.  I am not all that hungry these days, but that will likely pass soon too.

And I am so ridiculously eager to reach the end of the semester.  I have zero patience for the complaining students who think they should get a better grade on this paper or that exam because they really like the class.  This seems like a particularly annoying year student-wise.  Not sure if it is them or me.  Every time I turn around someone needs something from me.  A quick tour around the lab, sign a card for this person retiring, a donation for this holiday party, write-up someone else's review, arrange for someone else to get a key to this room, etc. etc. etc.  And I just want to be left alone.    

While I yearn for some quiet alone time, I also know that it is better for me psychologically to have so much going on.  I only have enough time to cherish little M and not obsess about all of the things that can go wrong.  That's a good thing.

3 days away from the 3rd trimester.