A New Phase? Please help...

[baazi1]

We've had our Ball Python (Alli) for about 5 months. She's been really good and an awesome pet so far. She generally stays in her hide which is directly above the heating pad, nice and cozy. We try and get her out once a week, at least, sometimes more.

She's shed 3 different times, we feed her one a week, live mice, small white variety. She's grown in size quite a bit.

About a month ago, I noticed her outside of her hide. She seemed comfortable and was moving around quite a bit, searching the top of the cage for a way out, it seemed. After a couple of days of that, she returned to her hide.

Last evening was feeding time, when I went to move the hide, I sensed something was wrong. She seemed agitated and then lunged at me a couple times. Fine, she's gotten bigger and is just really hungry... I dropped the mouse in which she promptly made work of.

When I went to put the hide back in, she still had that agitated sense about her, like, don't you come near me! I added some water to her bowl, put her hide back and let her go digest.

Today, I go to check on her. Remove her hide and bam... Another lunge followed by a careful glare and following my every movement. I could tell she was going to lunge again if I put my hand back in the cage.

What's going on here? Why the change in attitude? Is she maybe just more hungry because she's gotten bigger?

Thanks for any advice!