The Life of a Pregnant College Senior

"Every New Beginning Comes from Some Other Beginning's End"

- Semisonic

     It feels like I am wrapping up so many thing in a four month period! I'm already feeling anxious, disorganized, and unprepared. Most of it, I think, is because there are so many things that are supposed to happen within the next few months, but nothing seems to be written in stone. I'm not one that has to have everything planned all the time but jeez, I need some sort of idea about what's going on when, if at all!

Final Semester

     Clark U, I'm baaack! It's my last semester! And this is what must be the only part of my life I feel organized about right now. Despite the organization, there is a lot that has to be accomplished this semester! Some of them are fairly substantial, so I am already trying to read ahead. No doubt that this may prove to be the biggest resume-building semester of my undergrad career.

1. I'm taking a class on influencing public policy on the state level, which I am really stoked about. I'll be helping in putting together the Family Impact Seminar taking place this Spring in Boston.
2. I'll be presenting group research with other students in my Cultural Psychology class during Academic Spree Day (date not yet announced, usually late April) 
3. I'll have the opportunity to publish a research paper. Hey! That's on my list!

     Looking at it now, it doesn't seem so bad. I think it's just knowing that all of this is happening in such a short amount of time, and during a time where my personal life is completely disorganized. All finals are due May 9th and then graduation from college is May 20th! I'll be able to cross that off the list!

**Note: Also currently working on my applications to Graduate schools-
another goal on my list that needs completing

23 Weeks

Carrying the Peanut

     I've seen quite a few pictures and, for 23 weeks, I'm pretty small. I'm considering myself pretty lucky- I've had no real aches, back pains, leg cramps, etc that a lot of other women experience. The only slight annoyances I've had thus far is swelling of the hands (not feet, though) and a soreness of my upper left leg. I'm probably jinxing myself right now.

     I think the thing that is giving me the most anxiety is not knowing where we're going to be living when baby comes. It's our hope to move back up closer to family, but when? It isn't even something that we can necessarily push- it has to fall in to place at the right time. I'm probably not very anxious about it at all, but the change in hormones have really had an effect on my mood within the past few weeks. The whole first half I was proud of my lack of mood swings and then BAM! I'm mostly trying to recognize when my emotions feel disproportionate to the extent of the issue and then gauge my reaction appropriately. I can't always control the emotion, but I can control my reaction.

     There's a lot going on! I just have to focus on managing my moods and not panicking about upcoming deadlines, and everything will be okay. It's always been, and most likely always will be, mind over matter.

Let's get this party started.