Big Movements!

I think the baby is turning into position (upside down) or at least turning around somehow. I've been feeling a lot of big movements lately- not kicks or punches exactly- more like awkward whole body movements. Sometimes it can almost hurt! Mr. Mustard felt it last night and he was shocked at the amount of movement and how he could feel body parts pushing up next to my skin. It definitely makes her arrival seem more imminent and real!

Mr. Mustard is liking his new job, which he started yesterday. He says it's very different from reality editing. I think in some ways it's probably easier than reality editing, but in some ways it's harder. Harder because he's been editing reality now for almost 5 years, and he just started on this, so of course there's going to be a big learning curve. He also has to do an episode a day on this show, and on The Race he had an episode every 4 weeks or so, I think. So, it's a much faster turnaround.

I succeeded in getting up earlier this morning- although I did go to bed around 3:30am and didn't fall asleep until after 4. Hopefully I can stay up all day and then fall asleep when Mr. Mustard falls asleep tonight- which will put me back on a more "normal" schedule!

I've decided that buying a house in California right now is not a good idea- there have been doomsayers about the Los Angeles housing market crashing for a long time, but based on the minimal looking I've done, it seems like Los Angeles may be in for a major correction in the near future. I don't think it's going to hurt us to not buy right away- houses are staying on the market much longer now (months instead of days), and people are already lowering prices like crazy. A lot of people have Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARMs) or Interest Only Mortgages and are starting to feel the pressure of those interest rates rising. So, as they try to bail out of their houses, the market is going to become flooded with product and prices will decline. This should probably happen in the next couple of years (it's already starting to happen). So, it doesn't make sense for us to buy now when prices are so inflated. We can rent comparable places for so much less per month and then save what we would have spent on interest for a down payment. It's just a matter of being patient, which has never been my strongest suit!

The apartment is becoming more tolerable to me. Maybe it's because I now realize that the Bar is 6 weeks from today (!) and I have a very long way to go in getting prepared for it. There are thirteen subjects on the Bar, and I've reviewed five so far. So, that's eight left to learn. Plus, I have to practice writing the essays and doing the Performance Test, which is a simulated real-world exercise having little to do with law you already know. There's also the multiple-choice, which I definitley need to practice more. I tend to overthink that part, and my scores have been less than great thus far. I can always get it down to two answers and then I end up choosing the wrong one without fail! So, yes, lots of work to do. This has been distracting me from worrying too much about moving anytime soon.

What else? Oh- I've lost feeling in the smaller toes on my left foot. It's weird, but I think it has something to do with the pregnancy and I should talk to my doctor about it when I see him next Friday. It feels like they are so swollen that they are cutting off eachother's circulation. I try to wiggle them a lot to get the blood moving, but they just hurt. I think my sleeping position may have something to do with it. I could try switching sleeping positions, but I've been instructed to sleep on my left side because it helps blood flow. It's also the only sleeping position remotely comfortable anymore, so I'm not changing it. I can't sleep on my back because that cuts off blood flow to the baby from the weight of the uterus pressing down on a major artery. So- I'm stuck with these toes for now, I guess!

I really do like being pregnant, but I think I'm getting to the uncomfortable stage where I just want to meet our daughter and have the comfort of my body back. It's amazing to know that she's growing inside me, and I wouldn't give that up for anything. I am also really excited to meet her, and having my body back (without the swollen ankles, etc.) will be a really nice perk! I guess I shouldn't rush things because no matter what, she's going to be here in about 10 weeks- or maybe even less. Plus, the more quickly time passes, the less time I have to study for the Bar and get ready for her arrival!

Today I'm studing Contracts in the morning- so I guess I should get back to that. It's a heavy topic- a lot of it centering on Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC). Not exactly fare to keep me alert this morning, but I have to learn it!