I'm sitting here on my bed getting anxious. I woke up entirely too early, I suppose. I guess that's better than waking up too late and being in a hurry. Guess what... I'm not sick this morning! And I wasn't sick yesterday either. Perhaps I'm FINALLY over it. I'd better not get too excited just yet. I might jinx myself. I am actually beginning feel the baby move. It has happened several times in the past week, and it was a tiny, fluttering feeling. I tried to let James feel when it happened last night, but he couldn't feel a thing.

Today is a big day. For the first time, I won't just be student teaching. I'm actually the one in charge of the class. I really hope the students will like me. I know summer school has got to be awful for the students in the remedial physical science class that I'll be teaching in the morning. I would absolutely loathe having to repeat something that I failed on my first attempt. I highly doubt any of them will be interested in being there, and I can't say that I blame them. My afternoon chemistry class will be a switch. There are just eight students in the class, and they're all coming just so that they can get ahead. These students will be more like the ones I'm used to dealing with at New Haven Magnet. As for the rest -- just think the exact opposite, and you've got it.

I've got to make a good first impression today because first impressions are lasting ones. I feel confident in my abilities as a teacher. I just have to let everyone else know that. Now I even have a certificate on the wall to prove myself. Three cheers for that!

In other news, I actually look pregnant today. I never thought I'd be saying this, but I'm glad. Seriously. I no longer need to tell people. This would be week 20. The mid-point. Wow.

After putting away my diary and pen, I stood up and surveyed myself in the full-length mirror. I had to laugh. It was the blouse that made the statement. Aunt Peaches had given me her entire maternity wardrobe last month. She informed me that I would be much more comfortable in those things. However, I didn't start wearing them right away. I waited just a few more weeks until someone outside of my own family noticed a difference in me. Then I tried on the clothes; Peaches was right.

Right now, I was wearing khaki crop pants (Capri? I don't know what to call them.) with a really comfortable, super-stretchy elastic waistband. My blouse was a pale green shirt that flared out at the waist and had strings that tied in the back. That way it was adjustable. A shirt like that just screams: "Pregnant lady coming through!"

I finished putting on my makeup, which simply consists of blush, lipstick, and lipgloss. I don't care for eyeliner, eyeshadow, or mascara. Also, I don't bother with foundation since my complexion has always been clear. However, I've heard that pregnancy often causes (ugh) acne. I really hope that doesn't happen to me. Then I guess I would have to start wearing it.

The funny thing is that my little sister was the one to teach me about makeup.

I put on silver hoop earrings, my watch, and my wedding ring. Then I slipped on my comfy, brown leather sandals and headed into the kitchen. I could smell something delicious. James was making breakfast this morning. To my delight, he had prepared French toast topped with strawberries.

"To celebrate your first day on the job," James told me, bringing my plate to the table when I sat down. Of course, that deserved a kiss, and he received one immediately. "You look..."

"Pregnant?" I supplied.

"Well... yes."

"It's the shirt," I informed him.

He laughed. "You also look nice. Ready for teaching summer school?"

"I hope so," I said, sipping my orange juice. "This is my life for the next three months. At least I know how to help student that's struggling. Thanks to all those years of helping Claudia."

"And look where she is now," James reminded me. I smiled fondly. Claudia recently received her last report card of her junior year in the mail. She received all A's and B's! And nothing even remotely close to a C. It's her best report card ever, and she told me that she's looking forward to doing even better next year. She amazes me, and inspires me more than anything.

"The difference is that I'll only have these kids for six weeks," I said. "And then the next six weeks, I get to start over again with a fresh batch of students. There's not much time."

"What about that chemistry class?" James wanted to know.

"That's just for the first session," I told him. "The class has eight students. Eight students who actually want to be there. That's more than I can say for the others..." My voice trailed off.

"You sure you're up to this?"

I sat up straight. "Of course! I mean, I'd better be. Right?"

"Sure. Gosh, but you're going to be busy. Because then you've got your evening classes to take," James sighed. "Will I ever get to see you, dear?"

"You're just as busy as I am," I gently reminded him.

It was true. Even before graduation, James was offered a job. Naturally, he took it and started as soon as he possibly could. Dr. Lancaster, one of his former professors, was looking to hire a graduate from Yale Law to be his summer associate. James applied months in advance and didn't hear any news until right before graduation.

The news literally saved James from himself. James has a tendency to make himself sick with worry. Once when he was in high school, he gave himself an ulcer over final exams. That landed him in the hospital. With all the stress he had been under, I was afraid that he would buckle under the pressure again, and history would repeat itself. The good news came just in time.

"What are you doing today?"

"Dr. Lancaster asked me to do some research on campus," James said, grinning. "I'm his lackey."

"His well-paid lackey," I reminded him.

He gulped down the last of his milk, leaving a milk-mustache across the top of his lip. "Yep."

I wiped it away for him. "By the way, I didn't get a chance to tell you something the other day..."

"Oh!" He looked as though he suddenly remembered. "I should have asked. Did you set up an appointment with the doctor?"

Leave it to James to pick up on my thoughts. A smile spread across my face.

"I did. It's tomorrow morning, and we're doing the ultrasound. That's still good for you, right?"

"It's fine." His eyes shone when he spoke.

"We'll soon know what we're having." I touched the small swell in my abdomen.

"Unless our little boy decides to be shy," James said.

"Little boy?" I exclaimed. "You think it's a boy? Why?"

He smiled. "My mother only had boys."

"Your reasoning is flawed," I argued. "Your hypothesis is based on assumptions that cannot be proven because they are rooted in imprecise evidence and dubious speculation."

"I love it when you talk dictionary to me," was his witty reply. "So I guess you think it's a girl?"

"I suppose we'll know tomorrow," I said, dodging the question. "If all goes as planned."

"Tomorrow then." James was just as slick. "Okay, I have something that I didn't get a chance to tell you. (I glanced at my watch) We've got time, Janine." He sounded slightly annoyed.

I blushed. "Sorry, I didn't mean anything by it. Go on."

"Well, I was looking at your day planner, and I noticed that the second session of summer school lets out near the end of August. And your summer classes end around that time, too."

"Yes," I said, smiling at him suspiciously. "But you already knew that."

"Our first anniversary falls on the Sunday after you complete summer finals," he needlessly reminded me. "What if I took off for that whole week, and you and I did something special to celebrate?"

I beamed at him. "What did you have in mind?"

He paused. "Um, a surprise. A surprise vacation." (Okay, so he hadn't thought it all out just yet. Still, the idea of a surprise vacation for our anniversary sounded enchanting. I'd be well into my seventh month by then, but I was sure that it wouldn't stop me.)

Still beaming, I told him, "That sounds like an ideal way to celebrate the occasion."

An ultrasound. A vacation. And... no morning sickness. I wanted to jump for joy. Our conversation over breakfast put me in the greatest of moods and gave me the fuel I needed to get through my first day of teaching summer school.