Christmas Summary

For the first time in too many years to count, my entire family was together for Christmas. Michael has been appearing when he says he will and that makes for a holly jolly Christmas all in itself. Above is our family portrait. We took a 'normal' one but Mom hasn't posted it yet.

Christmas dinner was at Mom's house this year. There was 17 of us in total which made for a cramped dinner. I wish I could say it was glowing and fuzzy but it wasn't. My family just isn't like that. Plus, my Aunt and Uncle were being weird. But whatever.

I spend the day lounging at Mom's house. Being 9 months pregnant and having to be as busy as we were, I was slightly stressed and almost too tired to properly enjoy it all. Almost. Anthony had to work but since he has been blessed with day shift, he got to enjoy the family stuff as he got off at 7.






Maternity pictures were Saturday. We put it off to the last possible minute. Between juggling Anthony's weekends off and things that were already planned, I'm just glad that we got it done. More to come for sure.

As of yesterday, I am full term. 3 weeks until the official due date. I'm hoping to come early but I hope that Oliver will give me a few more days to get everything ready that we've put off. 1) install the car seat.

I haven't even started nesting yet but I hope it kicks in. I am fixated on cleaning my bedroom. It is beyond gross but I can't get the motivation to do it. Probably because I hate how small it is. I'm too embarrassed to let my Mom see it and figuring she will end up in there with me as I take care of the baby, it needs to be cleaned/vacuumed/dusted/organized. Clumps of dog hair won't do.

It's surreal that at any moment I could go into labor. Knowing my luck I won't give birth til January 28 and I'll look back at this post and laugh at how naive I was.

I've been at work for 50 minutes and I am already bored out of my mind. I need to be challenged. I need to be scared. I need to lay in bed at night and worry about that test I need to be studying for or that project that needs to be done.
It's the things that scare you that really change you. I haven't been scared in a while. Over a year ago, I knew it my deepest of heart that counseling wasn't for me. Then one night, lying in bed, it dawned on me: Sociology professor. I love sociology. It is challenging, perception shattering, wonderfulness! I don't know why it never occurred to me. Maybe because I was meant to have Oliver first...otherwise I would've have dived right in without looking back.
Sure, it will be incredibly challenging to have a baby and a life and go to grad school, but I do better when I have multiple balls in the air. I am the most successful when I'm on the brink of crashing. I rise to the occasion.
Recently, I've had nothing to rise to. This job is mundane. The challenge is gone. The love has dissipated. I am stir crazy.
Graduate school starts in the fall. I'm hoping Oliver keeps me so busy the months fly by and I fail to notice how unstimulated I am.
Now, to get into grad school. That is the next challenge. The idea of teaching in front of people not much younger than me makes me want to throw up my waffles. But the idea of opening new minds is exhilarating.