Seven days

When you're pregnant, hearing that phrase and knowing you still have a week to go before your due date is just as horrifying as that movie from The Ring.

Pulling the newest issue of Marie Clare from your mailbox, seeing an airbrushed, knocked-up Christina Aguilera on the cover, and comparing her obviously Photoshopped belly to your own runs a close second.

I had another doctor's appointment this morning, and while Freka is doing just dandy, my cervix is dropping the ball. Apparently, it's quite fond of being one and a half centimeters dilated; so fond, in fact, that it prefers to stay that way, at least for now. No additional progress on the effacement front, either. So it appears that my hopes and prayers for an early delivery were not meant to be answered. But that's OK. I still have plenty of baby-related things on my plate vying for my attention, and seeing as my last day of work is tomorrow, I should have plenty of time to obsess over them.

That's right. After all that bitching and moaning on my Parents blog regarding what to do about maternity leave, I talked with my boss this morning about using the last of my vacation time for 2007 to squeeze in some much-needed R&R, and he was totally on board. I'll work from home tomorrow to wrap up some last-minute e-mails, but I've already said my good-byes to everyone at the office, so the end, it is near. Vacation starts on Wednesday and carries through until next Tuesday; I'll officially start maternity leave on Wednesday, December 12, and return to work on Wednesday, March 5.This plan allows me to put my feet up a little and start my leave a tad later than expected, which means if the baby is a little off schedule I won't miss out on more than two or three days at home with her. Plus, I love the idea of returning to work in the middle of the week. Hopefully, it'll make the transition back into corporate life more managable.

I know a lot of you were real troopers who kept your professional noses to the grindstone 'til the very end, but this pregnancy has been busy enough, what with freelancing and teaching on top of my regular job, and I'm not ashamed to say that I want a break, thank you very much. Plus, since I'll continue to accrue time off while on leave (yes, I know how rare this is, and yes, I have it in writing from HR), there's no reason for me to martyr myself or hoard my vacation days for when I go back to work.

I'm going to call it a night for now, but tune in tomorrow, when I plan to show off my fabulously re-upholstered rocking chair and possibly answer some more Q&A questions. Oh, the suspense of it all!

P.S. Check out my husband's awesome new blog design. He drew the pirate ship himself!

P.P.S. In case you haven't already noticed, I'm giving myself a short reprieve from answering comments individually because holy hell, is my attention span shot. However, I will address any burning questions within the comments section itself. Thanks for understanding.

Comments

[andrea]

The last few weeks is hard. The time seemed to drag on, but soon after the baby was born I was longing to have that last week back to just be the little family we'd known for so long and prepare all those last minute things for the baby.

Thinking of you and wishing for a dialating cervix soon (is that weird to say to someone you don't know, or better yet, even someone you do).

[Emma]

You look great! I am always surprised at the skinny pregnant belly...you look so much more pregnant than my fat arse ever did!

And I'm very impressed that you worked up until a week before, I left work 3 months before I had my last one. Which I regretted when it was time to go back of course.

[Erica]

I had always planned to leave a bit earlier than the baby came, but H came 4 weeks early and I was on bedrest at 27 weeks w/ B, so it was a no go. Enjoy your time, sleep in, do those things you won't have as much time to do after lil Freka. Now my burning question is what type of work do you do? It sounds like you work w/ a great corporation.
Also, you look really good!

[Becca]

Good luck! Good for you for taking it easy at the end. I had a meeting with my advisor the day before I was induced and I remember thinking "Why am I doing this, this is ridiculous!"

[Molly]

Good to hear that you're taking some time off - you need it and deserve it. I can't believe you're 39 weeks. Come out baby!!

[Liz]

Okay, I just tried to post this comment but I got an error message. If it shows up 8 times, sorry. Blame technology!
*****
Well, you know how I feel about it. You absolutely need some time to change gear from Career Girl to Mom. That's some heavy duty adjusting, if you ask me. So good for you for taking some time for yourself.
I know it seems like you have a gagillion things to do to "get ready," but you'll never get everything done and really, no matter how much preparing you do, you'll just not be ready. So I say take advantage of this time and go horizontal on the couch with AMC, girl. And go have a nice dinner out with Luke (with the awesome pirate ship. Aaargh!).

[Operation Pink Herring]

Brilliant decision, coming back to work mid-week. Absolutely zero sarcasm intended! A three day week will be so much easier to manage than a full out Monday morning with five days ahead.

Thinking happy thoughts of an easy delivery ANY DAY NOW!

[Isabel]

Hooray for no more work. Yes, you've deserved it.

And hello...you look awesome. Just a little longer and you'll have that baby out of your belly! :-)

I can't wait to see the chair!

[daddy d]

That is a very good plan. Some good rest before the birth day is the way to go. Great plan.

[CPA Mom and Soccer Mom Angela]

Don't worry about answering comments...just wanted to let you know I'm here, not as often as I'd like, but I'm here, rooting for you and Freka!

I was on STD for about 1 week before each birth...definitely worth the time.