not my favorite

Today Jimmy and I moved out 20 or so boxes. And by moved I mean, I packed most of them and Jimmy did the heavy lifting into the car. We have a good friend who is keeping her apartment during the summer but not living there, so she letting us store our things. It is awfully nice of her.

Let me tell you a little about my thoughts on packing. I dislike like it very much. I usually feel like it will never end, and every time we pack a box, I feel like more things suddenly appear and need to be packed as well. Thankfully after two car loads of boxes, I see some progression, i.e. more space, in our apartment, meaning things are in fact getting packed and put away and not just magically multiplying. Let's just say packing is just not my favorite....

In other news, my classes for DSLCC are over, but I still have over a week left because of reading days and finals. Honestly, this semester has been quite pleasant in terms of students, just a little more uncomfortable physically. This coming week I am driving back and forth mostly
for office hours. I am only giving one final this week and the another the following Monday. Then we are outta' here. Well, after a few more days of packing and such...but really we are excited to get up to New England. Family, friends, and the place where we want Mini Coop to be born all await us.

Jimmy started his research on Thursday and will start the dreaded write-on on Monday. Needless to say, he will still be busy. Kind of cruel that Law School "ends," but not really.

But aside from the craziness of moving and finishing school related things, I am thoroughly enjoying the fact that it is beautiful outside. Spring has arrived in all its glory, green, pink and purple blossoms, and higher temperatures abound. I even enjoy the rain because I know it is bringing more life to this time of year.

Ahh...springtime is a good time of year.

36ish weeks

I talked to my mom today. She said it was funny that Andrea and I talk about our pregnancies in terms of weeks passed rather than weeks until our due date. I guess that is the terminology these days.

I have always thought that the system they created for determining the number of weeks you are pregnant was kind of silly. If I go by the normal standard these days, which is forty weeks pregnant that makes a me pregnant for 10ish months (there has to be a better way to describe the time!). Who thought that would be a good idea? I mean seriously, I think women are pretty ready to be done at 9 months. But oh well.

I am actually hoping for right around 39 weeks... If Mini Coop comes much earlier we will have a very interesting ride up to MA. By interesting I don't mean bad, I just mean interesting and possibly very adventurous. I ramble...

Today I did A LOT of packing, and it probably wasn't a good idea. My feet swelled up like large sausages and I felt kind of sore all over. But in general I still feel great, in case you are wondering (I feel like I am always complaining these days...). I hate just sitting around and doing nothing, so I continued filling boxes and moving them around to keep our apartment somewhat livable.

We also had a painter cleaning up our bathroom (yes, our bathroom is being fixed 2 weeks before we leave), and I felt weird just sitting around doing nothing, so I decided to be really productive-looking. Along with the packing, I did three loads of laundry, marinated some lamb, wrote a bunch of thank-you cards, and made lunch for Jimmy who returned early afternoon from another final. He now only has one left!

Thankfully I had a little time to ice my feet and nap in the afternoon before I headed out the door for my night class. That is where I am now....my students are taking their final chapter test. Yes, it is the last week of classes. I have no choice but to give them a test on the last day of class. It is the consequence of limited night class periods.

But that is a rant I have already explored, so I will end.

Appreciation

I appreciate many things, but I would like to point out a few particular people and things.

I appreciate my friends. On Friday I made a voyage to the Baltimore area to visit my best friend Andrea. She is amazing! She and her husband treated me like royalty, treating me to some great food, and friendship.

We had a fabulous meal on Friday, with a very tasty potato salad, and fish. We continued the festivities by making kale chips with a cheesy sauce (with no actual cheese in it!). We put them in the dehydrator to eat the next day. And we finished the night watch a family movie, nothing too special but it did make me feel warm and fuzzy.

Elephants and bestest friends - two of my favorite things (yes, my face is starting to look a little swollen)

The next day we went to the zoo (and saw elephants--my favorite) and ate at an amazing Indian buffet. I have never seen chick peas prepared in so many ways. It was fantastic! By the time we got back it was time for me to leave again, so they sent me on my way with some kale chips and homemade granola bars. I really appreciate them both!

I also appreciate Andrea's family. Her mother Betty made me a beautiful Moses basket. They are amazing people and I will forever love them as family.

I appreciate my husband. When I got home he gave me hugs and kisses like we had been apart for weeks. He even bought me flowers. It is good to feel loved. This morning he had me do a little Easter egg hunt. He is going to be a marvelous father. I appreciate how really great he is.

I appreciate opportunities to serve in church. I serve by teaching 5-6 year olds. They are very smart and spiritual little beings. It impresses how much they know and share. They probably don't realize how much they teach me. I did notice that most of them were on sugar-highs today, but that is what sugar in the morning will do to you.

And lastly I appreciate the opportunity to worship, especially on this special holiday of Easter. I appreciate the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and his great and lasting Atonement that makes eternal life available to all. I can't describe how grateful I am for this knowledge.

It feels good to be reminded of all the good things I have in my life.

Another week gone by

Sometimes I can't believe how fast time is going. As a physicist I realize that time really isn't going any faster or slower, I am not moving at the speed of light or anything. But honestly how did I get to the point where I can say to people that in a week I will be full term?

I am 36 weeks pregnant on Monday. Huh?! How did that happen? Well, Kirstin, it is the end of April and you have been pregnant since August, so logically yes you are about 36 weeks pregnant. Stop wondering how, and embrace the fact that you will have a child in just a few short weeks.

This week was a good week. Last week I ordered a pack-and-play for Mini Coop in the event that she comes while we are still here in Lexington. It came yesterday. We have it set up and ready to go. I like having it in our room, though we hardly have any room to walk now. It reminds me that we are preparing for a new addition to our family. I also set up a hospital tour. We are doing that next week. This whole planning for delivery in two places makes Mini Coop's birth kind of interesting. I figure seeing at least one hospital is better than not seeing any.

Jimmy had his first final yesterday. He said it went relatively well. Tomorrow he has his second final. I think he is very ready to be done. I second the motion, but from the perspective of the teacher. I still have one week of classes left. I really want to be done (I know I already indirectly said that). Being pregnant, and knowing we are moving makes me want to finish even more.

We are anticipating the move by packing up all our books, and putting things in piles. I dislike the look of our apartment, but it is better than having to do all the packing at the last minute.

And that is all.

the good with the bad...

I really don't want to complain this entire time, so I will start with complaints and end with how nice this week actually was.

First of all there are certain things a pregnant lady does not want to hear. And I quote "you look like you are about to give birth....is this your second because you look really big!" What?! Are you seriously telling me I look huge?! I am gaining the right amount of weight, and when I am measured I seem to be right on track. So no lady (who I don't know at all), I am not about to give birth, and no I am not abnormally large for this stage of pregnancy. That is just not something I want to hear especially when I still have a month to go. Just saying...

Second, the rain we have been getting these last few days have been bizarre. Today we had a hail storm that I thought might actually puncture holes in our car windshield. Thankfully it didn't what is up with this weird weather?

Third, leaks, leaks, leaks. We have a leak coming from our fan and all along the back wall in our bathroom. Until just a minute ago it was pretty steady. It has made my trips to the bathroom at night a little more adventurous. But we have a great landlord, and they told us they will have everything fixed pronto. They are going to replace pretty much everything by the mid next week. I could complain more, but honestly I think the situation is being handled better than it could have been, so I will be grateful.

And now onto the rest of the week, because in reality it hasn't been all bad. Jimmy finished classes yesterday. You would think that would be a great relief, but that just means he has finals next week, and that has made him a little more anxious than relieved. Seeing as how finals are what determine his grades I can see why. However, he is enjoying the fact that he HAS time to study because he doesn't have the classes.

I went to a conference this week sponsored by the Virginia Community College System. I thoroughly enjoyed all the sessions and the abundance of food they offered. Plus, it was all free. My school paid for all expenses minus the parking. I learned about test anxiety, the necessity of adjunct faculty, how the developmental math classes are going to change and much more. I also realized going to sessions lead by teachers is more enjoyable than sessions led by researchers. At least they know how to talk to people and make their topics interesting. My conference experiences at American Astronomical Society meetings was quite a bit different mostly because even if the title of the session seemed interesting most of the time the people were not. Don't get me wrong, I still love those conferences, but there is definitely a difference.

And our little Mini Coop is growing and moving just fine. Yes, I feel huge (though that is not necessarily what I want to hear from strangers) and I figure that is good thing. I only have about 5ish weeks left, I should feel big. My ankles are not their normal size anymore, but I can still wear my wedding ring, and my doctor said that my face still looks normal. He did say that in a week or two my face might start to swell, enough that I might look like a different person. But until that day, I will accept the state that I am in. Though, I would rather be holding Mini Coop in my arms, than have her living in rib cage kicking ferociously.

I'm glad she is an active little thing.

Baby Shower

On Friday a lady from my Church threw a baby shower for me and Mini Coop. It was a delightful time. We ate, we talked and we open lots of fun gifts that will make Mini Coop a very well dressed baby. I was very appreciative and excited for this event. People from Church, Law School and work came. It was great!

In other news. Jimmy and I went to DC yesterday. We were able to drive with another group of people from church so we wouldn't have to drive ourselves. Can we say AMAZING?! Not having to drive in the traffic was wonderful. Plus the driver was a old truck driver, and I felt very safe. Jimmy and I went to the Temple feeling happy without any post-traffic grumpies. The only downside to the entire trip was the ankle swelling. My feet looked like balloons. And they still kind of look like balloons. But I can deal with it. It doesn't really hurt, unless I try to fit my feet in my normal shoes. Time to buy some flip-flops and clogs.

Can you read this?

I was told that the text on my blog was not very easy to read. So I am trying this new font. I think it is better, and still not boring...

In other news, today I called a gazillon doctors (a little bit dramatic, I know!). Jimmy and I are planning to move from VA to MA on the 12th-13th of May. We figured that since I will be 37ish weeks at that point that we shouldn't rush the driving, and make it a day long trip in the car. My full term pregnant body may not be able to handle all the sitting.

Anyways...because of the time period of this move I have been making plans and back-up plans. We have a doctor/hospital down here (in case she comes early), and a doctor/hospital up there. I am now working on getting our little Mini Coop her own doctor for here and up in MA. Just in case...

It makes me tired just thinking about it! But it will all work out in the end, I am sure of it. Jimmy tells me that Mini Coop has whispered to him the date that she will arrive. It is awfully unfair of him and her not to give me the heads up!

Prayers answered

Jimmy got a job, actually two jobs for the summer. I will be honest, I was starting to get a little anxious. In my goal-oriented mindset I decided that it would be nice to know where Jimmy was working by the end of March. I prayed A LOT!

And we found out March 30th. God really does answer prayers. Though I wouldn't have been angry or anything if Jimmy had found out in April. I guess God really knows how anxious I was!

So Jimmy is going to work for the Assistant District Attorney in Worcester MA, and do research for a Washington and Lee professor long distance. We feel incredibly blessed.

Now we just have to figure out where we are going to store some of our stuff this summer. Minor details....