BZ2! 12 weeks and counting...

And so it begins....They say there are never as many pictures of the second baby as there are of the first (& I suspect that perhaps if child # 3 or 4 comes along, the only pictures of them are those drawn in stick figure fashion by their older & more frequently photographed siblings) and alas, this is already true of BZ2. By this time in my first pregnancy we had snapped a good several photos of my burgeoning belly & I had religiously sent a weekly Baby Z update. To date not one belly photo has been captured and this is the mere second installment in the chronicles of BZ2. But, I am in a different place and space - literally, figuratively, mentally, emotionally, the list goes on. 

I am absolutely as “into” this pregnancy as I was the first time around, just in very different ways. I have committed to walking 90 minutes Monday through Friday. It’s a good, challenging walk with several hills and it gets me out in the sunshine (hooray for Vitamin D!) and fresh air. It’s as close to "meditating" as I get, really. I'm seeing an amazing holistic healing therapist. I'm stalking a yoga teacher I met that is incredible with the hopes that I can somehow do classes with her. I met with a new midwife today (who happens to be exactly what I wanted and needed and was looking for the first time around! - they are not all created equal you know) and saw an amazing chiropractor so that we can address the things that were likely large contributing factors in birth numero uno (can you say asynclitic?!). I'm in, baby - all in! But enough about me, let's see what BZ2 is up to...

We are TWELVE weeks in, people! The first trimester is almost over - finished, finito, fertig! Amazing. It's hard to believe we are 1/3 of the way through already. I'm in no hurry, as I have much to do and to accomplish (see above!), not the least of which is picking names. The name Luke was chosen before he was ever even conceived - what a luxury! On our walk today I told Jared that it really was rather foolish of us to use the only two boy names that we liked on one child (talk about blowing your wad)! Ah, hindsight... I proposed that we may have to just change Luke's middle name so that we can give it to the possible second boy-child as a first name. Jared says it's Luke's and we can't take it away from him. I say, Hey man, momma giveth and momma taketh away. Jared countered offered with Roman Luke. As much as I like it, that's just silly. 

So little baby no-name (if a boy) is almost completely finished with his or her systems and is now moving into the growth and maturation stage. Vocal cords begin to form and the liver begins to function (ooh - does this mean momma can have a beer now?! Nah... heheh). 

  

The pancreas begins to produce insulin and reflexes have formed. If I were to push on my abdomen, BZ2 would likely squirm, although I wouldn’t be able to feel the movement. Fingers will soon begin to open and close, toes will curl and the mouth will make sucking movements. And apparently, BZ2’s intestines have grown so fast that they are likely protruding into the umbilical cord and will start moving into the abdominal cavity some time around now. O_O Love all this alienesque stuff. Fun fun. Eyes have moved from the sides of the head to the front and ears are now in place too. Good work, BZ2!

And with that, I deem you all sufficiently updated. See all y'all with the next installment....! ☯ ♥ ✌

BZ2! 10 weeks and counting...

As many of you will recall, whilst I was pregnant with the “OG” Baby Z (who we all now know and love as The Lukester-Dukester-How’d-You-Get-So-Cutester) I would read and research and peruse the Internet to find out what the little creature was doing inside me - how he was developing, what he looked like - and then I would share my findings via email. This time around, with Baby Zimp #2 (hereinafter referred to as "BZ2"), we (and by “we” I really mean me) will be blogging instead. So, here we go: hold on to your hats and glasses and keep your hands and feet inside the vehicle until the ride has come to a full and complete stop.

So, let's see... I guess I may as well address some of the FAQ's, eh?

• BZ2 will likely be here March(ish) 2012. Don't get yourself attached to a date - I won't be. ッ
• Yes, I suppose that technically we were "trying" but...I don't know...I guess I just didn't think it would happen this quickly, so yes, I was surprised! I even kept the secret all to myself the whole night so I could take Luke to Jared's work to surprise him with the news the next day! That was fun. And I kind of almost sort of got it on video, but I was shaking so much (from excitement) I abandoned Mission: Record Daddy's Reaction, well, just as he was reacting! Not a complete fail, nor was it a complete success. Ah well. “A+” for effort I say, especially with the surprise visit.
• No, we don't think that we are going to find out what we are having this time around! I didn't think I'd ever be that person...then again, who knew I was such a hippie at heart? Thanks for bringing out my inner Earth Mama, Luke. ❤
• And yes, I know there is another “biggie...” The birth. Let me just say this for now: pregnancy is an incredible blessing and a journey, and part of this one will be a path to healing for me. Right now I am not ready to address “that” question with anyone other than myself and Papa Bear.

With Luke, we found out a little earlier on - 6 weeks in I believe. We found out about this lil nugget 2 weeks ago and I am now about 10 weeks in.

 

   

So that’s what the littlest Zimp probably kind of looks like right about now. Cute little alienesque dude (or dude-ette).

Here’s another perspective:

And, of course, the ever-popular (well, I really like it anyway) comparison to size with food:

Week 10: Prune

Average size: 1.2 in, .14 oz
Arm joints are working, and soon legs will too...

A prune is kind of a crappy thing to be compared to though (HA - that actually really was unintentional!). Last week was an olive, which is much more cute and fun:

Week 9: Green Olive

Average size: .9 in, .07 oz
A Doppler device might pick up a heartbeat...

(Since ultrasound and Doppler are not proven to be safe, we will refrain from such shenanigans this time around - sorry, Luke. When we know better, we do better).

In the interest of keeping it short and sweet, we’ll sign off here. I’m not really sure what I want this blog to be just yet...For now I modeled it after what I did in my pregnancy with Luke...but we shall see. It is intended for family and friends that would like to follow this wild ride, but I am happy to share with anyone that would like to come along. Hopefully it’s a fun trip for everyone. Round one certainly was. ;)

☯ ♥ ✌