I'm Back

I'm back from crazy grant preparation in November and December that left me so busy that I didn't even have time to sleep (seriously, I even pulled an all-nighter, something I do not recommend in pregnancy). Back from being busy having various relatives visit us. Back from going to Florida for almost two weeks in December. Back from going to Chicago for a conference this past weekend.

I had grand plans when I got back for all the things I was going to get done now that I have time to do it, but it turns out that I am tired! Last night I dragged myself through the grocery store with J, while he mumbled under his breath about how it was taking so long and he was missing the championship game. At home that night, I tried to do research on Babies R Us on all the different options for strollers and car seats and play pens (or play yards, as they seem to be called now), but there was too much information for my fatigued brain and I couldn't come to any decisions. Eventually I just had to go to bed.

Then tonight after a day of work, I got home "early" (it might have been 6 or 6:30, I think), and all my walking today between home and the office and the doctor's office and back again added up to 3.3 miles (according to Google Earth). So of course I was tired by the time I got home. I actually "stole" J's armchair (I have a less comfy one that I usually sit in) and put a pillow behind my back and cuddled under a blanket. J fed me dinner and we watched tv, and now I'm finally feeling revived.

So here's what's up in my world besides being tired.

I'm running out of funding at my current job and the only way for me to stay is to get new funding. So my bosses and I are applying for three grants, and hoping that at least one of them comes through. Two of them are due in a week and one of them isn't due until April but because of our impending baby I'm going to do it by February anyway. So this week and weekend promises to be pretty busy, but hopefully some good will come of this. Otherwise I will find myself on an unplanned extended maternity leave! (Actually, it's not really that bad, I hope. Even if none of these three grants gets funded, we can revise and reapply for two of them again in just a few months.)

However, assuming the funding comes through, then everything at work is great. I love what I'm doing and my bosses are fantastic and every day I look around and think, how in the world did I get lucky enough to end up here?

In baby news, things are going well. I haven't had any of the really terrible symptoms people complain about. I mean, I think I get more tired than some people. But I skipped morning sickness. And I haven't had any real aches and pains or swelling or heartburn or anything yet. I do get kicked internally on a regular basis, and sometimes it's hard to go to sleep, but once I'm asleep I usually do pretty well. In fact, one morning J told me that he had gotten up to go to the bathroom and when he came back to bed I was still completely asleep and he felt my belly and said there seemed to be a dance party in there. And somehow I slept through it.

I definitely look pregnant now. I needed to buy new clothes while I was in Florida because what I brought were non-maternity summer clothes that just didn't stretch enough for my now-third-trimester belly. Even the maternity clothes I brought were not going to be enough to get me through the third trimester once I got home. For example, I had a pair of pants that I'd been told would get me through the fifth month. I scoffed at the idea, but there I was at 28 weeks and those pants were starting to get really uncomfortable. Now at 30 weeks, I don't even want to contemplate trying to wear them. Fortunately, J's family loves to shop and so I got to browse through tons of outlets and Goodwill stores and I didn't totally break the bank finding things to wear for the next couple of months.

I'm finding that I've reached the point where total strangers comment on my state. For example, today I stopped for sushi for lunch (just cooked though - a California roll and a Boston roll) and on the way out of the restaurant a woman who worked there called out good bye and thank you and then said, "Be careful!" And then elaborated that with the baby, I should be careful! I think it's true that everyone loves a pregnant woman.

I have another ultrasound coming up. I'm actually kind of annoyed about it because I think it's unnecessary. I've reached the point where the doctor measures my belly every visit - from my pubic bone to the top of the uterus. At 27 weeks, I was supposed to be 27 cm, but I was only 25 cm. And apparently that means I might be a little small. But really, 2 cm? And with such a crude way of measuring? I mean, shouldn't she factor in that I'm short? Also, she commented that I am carrying a little wide, so I'm thinking that's where her two centimeters is! Actually, I think she was just looking for an excuse to give me another ultrasound, especially since at a previous visit I asked if she could just say I was running small so I could have another ultrasound. But of course, when she says I'm running small, I get all defensive and think that extra testing is totally unnecesary. I suppose I should just be glad we get to see the baby again! Anyway, she measured me again today and I'm only 1 cm "small", and she didn't seem concerned at all. In fact, I had to remind her about the growth scan she told me to schedule.

We're also starting childbirth classes - tomorrow night! I have absolutely no idea what the class actually involves, but it's free through our work so I signed up. I have to bring J and a pillow - should be interesting!

So things with the baby are going well. Now we just need to get everything in the apartment in order. We have a lot to do!

In fact, with all this energy I have back now, I think I'm going to go finally unpack. I'm really, really tired of living out of a suitcase!