We're Still Here

Over the past few days, my creativity has been stifled by our busy schedule. (Isn't that just the story with most moms?) Anyway, my mother-in-law arrived Tuesday and is here for a 2 week stay. It's always fun for us when Gramma comes to visit. For me, it's an extra excuse to ease up on the house work, and take some time to just sit and visit (of course, I'm not going to lie - I so appreciate the extra hand on the laundry and housework that I get when she's here). For the boys it means treats and snacks they don't normally get, and Gramma always comes with little goodies. We also like to use it as an excuse to go out to eat.

This trip, poor Gramma is spending a lot of time by herself, as the boys are in school all day and I'm working a part-time job. I lucked into a spot working for some Ph.D. students who are researching a particular strategy for teaching reading. For the entire month of September, I will go to a different middle school every week and spend the whole day testing 7th and 8th graders. It goes without saying that this easy money. My hourly pay adds up to what I would make subbing, and I also get paid for my mileage. And, while the job is a bit boring, it is good experience to add to my resume, as I've learned to administer 5 new standardized tests, and I'm getting a chance to work with middle-schoolers (who, by the way, I really am enjoying).

I continue to get bigger each day. I love it when other moms try to guess just how pregnant I am. I am inevitably placed somewhere between "7 or 8 months" and "must be getting close...". Don't I wish! With fully 3 1/2 months to go, I have a hunch this could be the biggest baby to come down the Federocko pipeline yet. And, he's quite active. I'm trying to figure out if there's a way to "Babywise" him in-utero so that he'll come out on a normal schedule. Because right now, I'm a wee bit concerned at his late-late-night activity patterns!