Maternity Leave

This is the second week of my maternity leave. Yesterday, we (me and my hubby) both felt as if two weeks have passed! Don't worry, it's not that I'm bored or something like this, but I realised that there is exactly a good reason (many good reasons!) to offer time off to pregnant women towards the end of their pregnancy.
Although I spent last week quite effectively (getting more organised with the baby stuff), as everything is in slow motion, you do not get things completed as quickly as you want. You need to bin all of your pre-maternity time notion before you make a plan. Say you will do your weekly grocery shopping. You should account for the time to dress up (especially when it's very cold and feel the urge to wear thermals), to tie your boots, to get into the car, the loo breaks, to bend and get the items you dropped (either simply from your hand or by causing them to fall with a slight touch of your bump!). I really hate it when I have to bend and get something from the floor.
Last year when I saw Canan's husband tieing her boots (it was about a week before their baby's arrival), I thought that it was cool and perceived his behaviour as a nice gesture. Now, I realise that it's actually a necessity. My hubby has been doing it for more than a month even without me asking him.
Anyway, me getting heavier and grumpier each day, it was more than high time to stop working. But I think I'll miss being at work, particularly my colleagues. (not the daily three hour driving though!) It will be my longest break since I started to work some 13 years ago and I'll try to enjoy it as much as I can.

Here are some pictures with my maternity leave celebration flowers. Unfortunately, I do not have one in the office. Thank you for all your contribution to our bundle of joy!