67 days?

This whole delivery date is really going to creep up on us, I think.....we did finally register for most of the things we want/need (at Target and BabiesRUs, if you are interested), bought a glider which is on its way, and found a great crib and dresser at IKEA which we still need to order and get shipped out. As a sidenote: if only Colorado had an IKEA and a Trader Joe's, it would be the perfect state. So that feels like some progress, anyway, although the nominal "baby's room" is still in a state of disaster and we don't actually own any furniture. Certainly we haven't painted anything -- but then, we've owned this house for four years and haven't painted yet, so we probably will never get around to it.

I am really enjoying my weekly prenatal yoga classes, and looking forward to the birthday massage I scheduled for myself tomorrow. Even more, though, I am counting the days until I leave for Mexico.....two weeks in the sun with my parents will be SO lovely. When I get back in January, I will only have six weeks left of school (and one of those weeks is only three days long). Crazy. I have interviews lined up with five potential long-term subs this week, one of whom I am pretty excited about. She subbed for me when I took the fifth graders up to the mountains for three days right after Thanksgiving, and although anyone can look brilliant when they only have a class of twelve (the fourth graders I left behind), I heard great reports. She's subbed for two other teachers since then, and still only good news. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. It will be so much easier to leave if I know my kiddos are in good hands.

In some ways, though, it will be easy to leave no matter what. School climate is spiraling downhill -- lots of people are upset, frustrated, you name it. I am trying to remain un-stressed, but it's hard to avoid, especially in such a small building. We are all so close that every action and decision touches all of us -- when one teacher gets picked on or reprimanded, we all know about it and feel it. Seems like a good year to go on extended maternity leave! It gives me a chance to get away, and maybe to make a change if I need to. Several teachers are talking about leaving next year, and the school just won't be the same without them. We'll see.