I'm officially on maternity leave! And it's weird.

I thought it would be like this:

Maternity leave, take me away!

But maybe the Calgon effect hasn't kicked in yet.

This week was only four days long (thanks, Mexican revolution!), but each one of those days was incredibly long. No offense to those who routinely work 12 and 14 hours at a stretch, but that's not how I usually operate, especially while gestating a human being. Between the fact that I was getting ready to go on leave and the fact that school is closed all next week for Thanksgiving break, there was a lot to wrap up. During this time, I did lend a few minutes to fantasizing about my maternity leave. What would I do the first day? Sleep in, go to the movies, go to the Coffee Bean?

As we've established, I am required to take six weeks off before the due date, so maybe it's this long period of breathing room that has had me in total denial about the real purpose of maternity leave. Thursday evening I was so happy thinking about the restful time ahead of me that Francisco said, "It's great to see you so happy! You're going to be a great mom!" And I told him to stop ruining my leave by talking about the baby. Not that I'm not excited for the baby to come — I am — but I've been sooo looking forward to this time of rest, and I know that's going to be over as soon as The Babe arrives. Also, if you haven't noticed, I'm kind of in denial.

So, the second I left work yesterday afternoon, did I feel filled with bliss? No — it just hit me. I'm about to have a baby. SO "about" to have a baby that I am basically required by law to stop working. Not that I don't have a lot planned for this time off! Besides rest, the highlights of my list include:

• Find a nanny
• Find a pediatrician
• Select music and program iPod for labor day
• Practice my relaxation and breathing exercises every day
• Walk/yoga
• Wash baby clothes
• Clean out stuff and get ready to move (!)
• Get nursery ready
• Finish reading Birthing from Within
• Prepare and freeze meals to eat after the baby arrives
• Figure out how to get U.S. citizenship for The Babe
• Finish my birth plan

Oh yeah, also, have a baby.