I just wanted to mention that I’m doing disastrously at work. I can hardly be bothered to go in, and when I’m there I really try to care, but find myself consumed my other, more baby-related, things.

I don’t like knowing that I have very few days left in which to complete the massive amounts of projects and other things I need to do prior to having the baby. I also don’t like the thought of my office being “closed” (or all intents and purposes) for six weeks while I’m gone. I’m hoping I’ll be able to relax and concentrate on the baby while the Dow Jones Industrial Average continues to ebb and flow without me.

Several people have mentioned that I could “rent” a laptop from my firm and “work part-time” during my leave. I always manage to look at them as if they’d grown a second (or third) head. No, really, I’m taking six weeks off, I say. But then deep in my career girl’s heart I think, hmmm…. a laptop wouldn’t be so bad.

Ack! No! S. is taking three weeks off with me, and we’re going to focus on getting used to being a big family. He’s a quiet worrier, my Stephen. He’s worried about existential issues like, will he be a good father? Will he know what rules to enforce? Will his kid like him? I try to joke with him that he needs to just worry about first things first, like do we have enough formula in the fridge for the day and is the diaper clean or dirty? He laughs, but I can’t seem to smooth his brow. So, like I said, these first weeks are going to be very important. More important than my clients and the S&P’s returns.

Perhaps if I keep telling myself that I’ll start to believe it before the first big contraction hits!

Burning out and burning bright,
michelle