"The clock tour"

... another Bethism, my Mommy Mentor.

So the last 3 nights I have been taking the clock tour. I see the clock at 11, 12, 1, 2, .... and so forth. This has been highly inefficient at charging my batteries, but I have been getting a lot of reading done! So far in the new year, I have read 2 1/2 books... and not just Good Night Moon even though that is one of Owen and Pito's favorites.

I am finding, as predicted, that my 3rd trimester is leaving me hugely wanting on the sleep thing. The weekends are great as I get to take a nap during the day, but work is getting increasingly difficult. I (still!!!) haven't figured out my final maternity leave, And it's not for lack of trying -- its just that the whole daisy chaining of various leave types (FMLA, CAPDL, CAPFLB...), all of which have various rules and regs, is incredibly complicated.

I keep asking HR and I guess the party line is "this is the base case, but everyone is different". My question keeps being - different how? How best to maximize this opportunity with me and Monday?!?!

Apparently the state of CA offers some paid leave before the due date. Every working mother I know in CA recommends I take the full 4 weeks... I am getting tempted.