tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53070954584127575902012-02-16T08:12:35.425-05:00Wendy and Scott are embarking on the greatest adventure of their lives - and love - together so far. A baby has been created out of love. This is our story of preparation and Pampers, cramps, cribs and kids.Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.comBlogger1321100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-36139618925462720052010-11-16T20:14:00.003-05:002010-11-16T20:29:39.725-05:00

The new camera and an old friend have inspired me to do a blog right -- helping others, reaching out, sharing stories and just putting myself out there. Think of it as BabyZ2B version 2.0. Bigger, better, more photos and many more posts!Please continue sharing our fun with Baby Z here.

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-76878257681898600882010-11-15T15:46:00.002-05:002010-11-15T15:51:48.925-05:00

Since I'm working a later shift today to cover a school board meeting for work, the Dude and I have pretty much just been hanging out most of the day.We just spent a while on the floor, practicing our rolling and belly time and then we made funny faces at the camera. My mouth is numb from all the raspberries, too. :-)

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-6035579497344058702010-11-14T19:21:00.003-05:002010-11-14T19:32:31.670-05:00

Another great day at the Z household today. We went to church, where Zack was, as always, a hit with our congregation members. He fell asleep in my arms about halfway through, possibly with the help of the Children's Story song "Jesus Loves Me," also the song from one of his favorite teddy bears that seems to comfort him when everything else fails. After a feeding, the Zooks piled into the

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-77241218060650308352010-11-13T22:21:00.004-05:002010-11-13T22:47:16.835-05:00

We had a great day today. Zack woke up around 7 a.m. today and since Mommy worked late last night, Daddy took care of the morning feeding and let Mommy go back to sleep for a bit. How great! I didn't really get a lot of sleep, but it was so nice just to relax under the covers for a while. We decided to take advantage of another beautiful day and a happy baby. Daddy started some more

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-89532820897404949562010-11-12T16:37:00.004-05:002010-11-12T16:52:25.580-05:00

Zack and I took advantage of my late shift working today, the beautiful weather and his awesome, happy temperament by taking a walk around our booming village.The Little Man did great as Mommy experimented with her new camera's settings. While Mommy fiddled around, Baby Z blew raspberries (his new favorite thing to do) and played with his right foot. We enjoyed the mooing cows, the quacking

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-23716272050693163232010-11-11T20:19:00.002-05:002010-11-11T20:25:23.493-05:00

Momma got a new camera!Daddy Claus and I got the camera Momma has been drooling over for probably about a year now. It just got pulled out of the box and I can't WAIT to experiment with it in greater details in the days to come and to really be able to capture all of life's great moments and memories. You better believe there will be many, many more photos of the Zooks. And be on the lookout for

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-46833082981495721622010-11-08T10:36:00.004-05:002010-11-08T10:50:09.072-05:00

Zachary is three months old. Stop. Pause. THREE MONTHS?! Yes, my little baby boy was born three months ago on a hot summer day in the middle of the afternoon. Now it's cold and breezy, Fall flying by without a second glance. Zack has just made the jump into size 6 Months for his clothes. That's our second closet re-organization already!The Little Man weighs at least 14 pounds, up five pounds

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-63933357064819730212010-11-02T16:40:00.004-04:002010-11-02T17:09:50.263-04:00

I haven't posted in a while, and I really apologize for that. We're still on a rollercoaster -- of emotions, of responsibilities and of the crazy life ride in general. And then, there's this little guy who brightens my world every day. I'm slowly beginning to be more comfortable with peeling myself away from that joy a little more each day and promise to share Zack's milestones, charms and of

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-28293394852190034512010-10-14T11:30:00.001-04:002010-10-14T11:32:09.787-04:00

I found this story online and it made me so happy! There are some other similar Down Syndrome videos, too, showcasing how easy it is to "beat" this diagnosis and all the potential Zack has for his future. (I also blogged about it on www.mirrormoms.com)

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-13063154002891269802010-10-07T18:42:00.002-04:002010-10-07T18:59:35.209-04:00

Two months ago I felt my last contraction.Two months ago today the date on the wall calendar really mattered. Two months ago came the end of one countdown. Two months ago I felt the biggest butterflies I ever felt. Two months ago today I had my first major surgery.Two months ago I met my son. Two months ago, my life finally truly mattered. Today is Zachary's two month "birthday."He's grown to at

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-70868907496315315772010-10-05T20:03:00.002-04:002010-10-05T20:16:03.003-04:00

I do a lot of my thinking early in the morning, during our first feeding, rocking me and the baby in our corner of the nursery in our little corner of the world. In just the first two months with Zack, I've shed the majority of my tears in that room and have had some of the brightest moments of my entire life so far within those four walls, just learning everything I can about him. There are

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-77951296881886059352010-10-01T09:59:00.003-04:002010-10-01T10:00:35.604-04:00

Happy Friday! Happy October! Happy Down Syndrome Awareness Month!Guess what I blogged about today? I've finally begun to get the swing of juggling work, baby, Grandma DayCare, time with Scott and house stuff and promise to update this blog more often again. Thanks for being so patient!Have a great October!

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-80562754028035185832010-09-27T13:26:00.002-04:002010-09-27T13:28:18.304-04:00

When you become the parent of any child, your life changes, as does the way you look at life. Life as the parent of a special needs child teaches you even more lessons. Words like "retarded" have always been over-used by the general public, but they never hurt me as badly as they do now. Here's a blog I just wrote about the "R" word.

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-9601415918208536602010-09-23T10:26:00.002-04:002010-09-23T10:28:21.338-04:00

Another blog is up, this time talking about the beginning of our experience with a local Early Intervention program... Here it is!

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-35043822857308882362010-09-19T14:04:00.001-04:002010-09-19T14:05:36.147-04:00

Here's the latest newspaper blog, talking about the sadness I'm feeling about leaving Zack to go back to work. I can't wait til we hit the lottery and I can stay at home at least part-time. :-)

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-32981780745928994132010-09-16T17:54:00.003-04:002010-09-16T19:30:49.446-04:00

The long-awaited check-ups in the Zook family finally came today! First, I had my six-week follow-up appointment at the OB-GYN. After nearly six weeks of not being allowed to drive, do much stairs, carry things, push a stroller, etc, I was itching for the OK to get back out into civilization and feel like a human being again.To show how desperate I am, I've already volunteered to scoop litter

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-27390967130305624022010-09-14T16:58:00.001-04:002010-09-14T16:59:56.734-04:00

When not knowing is better than knowingMy husband and I get asked a lot whether or not we knew about Zachary’s Down Syndrome before he was born. We had no idea at all. The only thing that would have given us advanced notice would have been optional genetic testing that we turned down about halfway through our pregnancy. In a journal I kept for Zack while pregnant, I found an entry the other day

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-15031649549520193362010-09-11T16:25:00.002-04:002010-09-11T16:36:56.685-04:00

Told you I'd be doing a few of these in a row in the beginning! Here's the latest blog post...The hardest thing for me in coming to terms with Zack's Down Syndrome diagnosis is telling others and their reactions. People mean well, this I know, but sometimes their responses are shocking and even a little hurtful.Some of our family and community members never sent us a card congratulating us on our

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-55845173748379295152010-09-10T15:04:00.002-04:002010-09-10T15:06:12.401-04:00

The first blog on our newspaper's website is up already!In the future, you can visit www.mirrormoms.com to see if I've posted recently. In the meantime, here's the first blog entry:Extra chromosome, extra specialWhen our son Zachary was born Aug. 7, my husband Scott and I thought we could finally breathe a sigh of relief. The nine months of funny cravings, embarrassing hormones and holding our

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-87130216452880746812010-09-09T13:23:00.003-04:002010-09-09T13:32:33.954-04:00

I've decided to share my experience as Zack's Mommy with other parents in my newspaper's coverage area. I went back and forth about whether or not to do it for a couple of weeks before finally bringing the idea to my news editor, who then mentioned it to our managing editor. They loved the idea and, once I get my first post done, it will officially be a part of our parenting/family insert

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-43499624066474527072010-09-07T18:16:00.004-04:002010-09-07T21:59:28.334-04:00

I can't believe it, but our Zachary is one month old.The big guy is changing every day and constantly amazes me with his new talents -- longer time lifting his head, grabbing onto things, making little smiles and new noises, kicking his legs with incredible strength and much, much more. Z-Man eats between 8 and 10 times a day, for longer periods and in greater quantities. He sleeps soundly

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-76964977751786548132010-09-04T16:19:00.002-04:002010-09-04T16:49:10.572-04:00

Videos, videos, videos... we have so many videos already!Let me preface this one by saying that the losing of the umbilical cord stump was the happiest moment for Mommy. Until Mommy realized she had to touch it to get rid of it. The first part of it came off on the inside of one of Zack's shirts and was discovered prior to a 4 a.m. diaper change. First, being the good Momma that I am, I tried to

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-53883272041150600132010-09-03T20:20:00.006-04:002010-09-04T10:47:45.414-04:00

VIDEOS!!!Thanks to Scott, I finally have videos from our camcorder onto my computer and am testing my ability to use them with the blog... with this post!Here are some of our first moments with the little man. The first is taken the day after he was born, when we were trying to get him all excited (probably to wake him up for feeding). The second is Scott versus the swaddle on Day Two of Zack's

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-92055019033095996402010-09-02T13:51:00.004-04:002010-09-02T14:04:48.447-04:00

Zack has several friends already -- not bad for being less than a month old!Our friends Reva and Bret had their son, Owen, two days after Zack was born. Mutual friends Kendra and Jason have a 3-year-old boy and a three-month-old boy, too, and live nearby. The three families got together last week for a little Baby Party. Then, a fellow reporter (for the local TV station) and her husband (also

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-63613427970447830472010-09-02T13:25:00.002-04:002010-09-02T13:51:15.447-04:00

It was four weeks ago today that I felt my first contractions and was on my way to officially being a Mommy. I can't believe how quickly the time has gone by. I have a lot of quiet, reflective time, with our little man's favorite place to fall asleep during the day being on his Momma's chest or stomach. He could stay that way for hours and I usually endure having body parts fall asleep and the

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-65784832528162463362010-08-25T11:39:00.003-04:002010-08-25T12:00:43.785-04:00

After 18 days snuggling with our little (big) man, I'm getting used to Zack's schedule, funny faces, likes and dislikes and am definitely starting to notice changes already. We've gone from nursing about every three hours to no more than two hours most of the day the last couple of days. At night, we are able to extend to about four hours, and we have to set an alarm to wake me up so that I can

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-18583752319457126942010-08-22T14:34:00.002-04:002010-08-22T14:43:32.607-04:00

I have fallen in love with my husband all over again. I've often heard how a newborn baby, in the best of circumstances, can add stress to a marriage or cause trouble between a couple. It's been the opposite for us. (See how lucky we are?!)As the contractions started to wear on my body and mind in the days and hours before Zack was born, Scott's patience and the gentle rubbing of my back and

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-42620281660163661562010-08-22T13:52:00.003-04:002010-08-22T14:16:35.910-04:00

I've been delaying the writing of this blog post for a while now. I had to come to grips with it myself and had to be absolutely ready so that I would do it justice. I'm ready now. We're ready. You all know the beginning of the story... a beautiful baby boy born on Saturday, August 7, 2010, with long hair almost in a mohawk, big curious blue eyes and lots of love. For two days, we were living the

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-8381529387883946362010-08-17T10:54:00.002-04:002010-08-17T11:08:00.043-04:00

I can't say it enough -- we are so lucky and so blessed. Thank you for all of the sweet e-mails, phone calls and messages, texts, cards, gifts and kind gestures. Zachary has most definitely been feeling the love. Our baby's big day was officially August 7, but the "fun" began a couple of days beforehand. Daddy woke up for work Thursday (the 5th) and found Mommy sitting on the edge of the bed

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-44952096041389220692010-08-12T21:01:00.001-04:002010-08-12T21:05:15.483-04:00

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-6101618147542266032010-08-12T20:54:00.002-04:002010-08-12T20:59:48.115-04:00

More info to come, I promise, but yes, our little man is here!And he's not so little. Weighing 9 pounds, 1 ounce and measuring 22 inches long, Zachary Chad Zook came into the world via C-section at 4:35 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 7 after 2.5 days of contractions and two false alarm trips to the hospital. Our family was at the hospital until Wednesday night and we had a terrific first day at home today.

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-9702317236501518582010-08-07T14:28:00.002-04:002010-08-07T14:43:17.330-04:00

On Thursday Wenday asked us (her bridesmaids) to update her blogs in case she was unable to before the main event began. As you can probably tell...it has begun! On Thursday morning Wnedy was awakened by contractions but the doctors, up to their elbows in placenta already, were confident that Baby Z still had a few more days of hanging out to do so the happy parents to be went home. We are

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-12834975849573924022010-08-05T06:55:00.002-04:002010-08-05T06:59:10.923-04:00

Hello loved ones --As I write this, I anxiously await for our doctor's office to open after lying awake with pretty regular contractions since about 4 a.m. I'm not getting myself too excited just yet, because I'm a newbie at all of these funny feelings and because we are not at due date yet. I will of course keep you all posted, but at the very least, some sort of progress must be being made...

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-3358797376691536962010-08-03T08:48:00.002-04:002010-08-03T08:54:37.648-04:00

Dear Baby Z -It was four years ago today, Aug. 3, that I met your Daddy for the first time. You don't get details yet -- maybe I'll tell you all about the lovey-dovey, happy feelings when you're in your teens and about to break some girl's heart. Suffice it to say, it was a blind date at a baseball game in State College, Pa. A mutual friend set us up and pretended to watch the game as we sat next

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-10567872399349477992010-08-01T16:09:00.002-04:002010-08-01T16:12:24.094-04:00

Happy August. Did you know that sometime this month ("WHEN" is the big mystery...) Baby Z will be born?! It might be this week or it might be as late as the 20th-ish, but our little bundle of joy will most definitely come out of his cozy room in Momma Belly Inn and out into the world within these next few weeks. I can't help but smile every single time I walk past a calendar. What an amazing

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-62286865002217832102010-08-01T09:08:00.002-04:002010-08-01T09:17:53.994-04:00

I have spent nine months missing out on or being denied the super-exciting Stork Parking Spot at ANY of the places I've parked throughout this pregnancy. It became a joke with Scott, with us kidding about a teenage boy stealing the spot or someone who just wanted closer parking thinking the likelihood of a pregger lady showing up being too small to park a spot further away. As time has gone on,

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-73314969666281393912010-07-30T19:04:00.002-04:002010-07-30T19:06:56.552-04:00

Imagine a watermelon tucked up into your shirt. A watermelon that wiggles every now and then and makes you pee a lot. Then imagine that within two to three weeks, that watermelon emerges (painlessly and beautifully) and becomes your first-born child. That is what I'm thinking about in these photos. :-)

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-12214372856778556972010-07-29T08:53:00.002-04:002010-07-29T08:56:56.129-04:00

We're two weeks from due date! (And about three weeks past Mommy's Done...!) :-) Here's what the smushed Z is up to...(From BabyCenter.com):Your baby has really plumped up. She weighs about 6.8 pounds and she's over 19 1/2 inches long (like a leek). She has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold her hand for the first time! Her organs have matured and are ready for life

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-69734619082588544482010-07-29T08:41:00.004-04:002010-07-29T08:52:43.129-04:00

Well, yesterday was our big ultrasound followed up by our weekly doctor appointment and both went well. I was barely on the bed in the ultrasound room when the sonographer quickly reassured me that Baby Z was in fact head-down. "No doubt about it," she said, pointing to the screen. Sure enough, I could sort of make out a bit of Baby's profile, with his cute-as-a-button nose. Because the baby is

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-21604982823153549122010-07-25T17:59:00.003-04:002010-07-25T18:09:08.745-04:00

We had our weekly doctor's appointment on Friday. Let me start here -- everything is FINE. Baby Z is doing great and everything seems very healthy. Now let me move on to the part where I semi-embarrassingly admit that I had a total and utter breakdown after this appointment. It started out like any other appointment... Mommy got weighed (no real gain since last week, which is fine) and had her

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-77124752132591662842010-07-23T08:57:00.004-04:002010-07-23T09:11:28.256-04:00

As part of last night's birthing class, Scott and I took a tour of the maternity wing and a labor/delivery room at the hospital. It was probably the part of the class we had most looked forward to just to get a visualization of where all this "fun" would take place. Barring any surprise deliveries at home or in a taxicab (OK, our town doesn't even have a taxi), you'll be born at this hospital in

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-74114313775246951082010-07-22T14:57:00.002-04:002010-07-22T15:00:46.476-04:00

I remember when my friend Ashley first suggested her now-fiance's nickname of "the passenger" for Baby Z. It seemed right... there was this tiny little "thing" inside me that I couldn't feel or quite understand. But now suddenly, it's my son. And my son that's about to be born! We are officially full-term this week and it's been a long, fun journey that I've just loved overall. Here's what Little

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-78564358775963890752010-07-19T09:17:00.010-04:002010-07-19T09:36:37.178-04:00

Mommy and Daddy have both been nesting. We're wrapping up the last-minute to-do items before baby arrives while at the same time making sure we (and our home) are organized and ready to go for a few changes and a few sleepless nights. Thanks to Debbie and Calvin (affectionately known as Grandma and Grandpa in this house now), we got a stackable washer and dryer, set to arrive on Wednesday, to

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-743132611365008562010-07-16T09:07:00.002-04:002010-07-16T09:11:25.973-04:00

Our friend Staci started a poll on Facebook to try and guess when Baby Z will arrive and how big he will be. Do you have a guess? Let me know! (Or join our Baby Birthday Poll group on Facebook)Guesses for dates so far are:Aug. 1, 7, 9, 11, 15, 17 and 19. Smallest weight so far is 7 pounds, 4 ounces; the largest is 8 pounds. Hints: Scott was a month early. I was about a week early. Scott weighed

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-79229146521317536672010-07-16T08:39:00.002-04:002010-07-16T09:07:25.908-04:00

We had our second baby/birthing class last night. I always dread going to them at the last minute and wind up getting so much out of them that I feel almost relieved when we leave. I'm not sure what the dread is... if it's just the overwhelming intensity of it all or cold feet or if I'm just a silly Mommy-to-be. Last night's class was a mish-mash of several things. We started with a respiratory

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-41385696505948386392010-07-15T12:23:00.003-04:002010-07-15T12:29:47.726-04:00

Guess who's four weeks from their due date and just one short week away from being considered full-term??? BABY Z!!! Here's what our Little Man is up to:(From babycenter.com):Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-81062538773251840632010-07-15T12:17:00.002-04:002010-07-15T12:23:28.534-04:00

We had another of our weekly appointments at the doctor's office yesterday and it was about as boring and uninteresting as possible. The fantastic news is that Baby Z is doing great! He's still head-down (yay!) and his heartbeat was about 142 (up from last appointment!). Mommy's blood pressure was 102/68. Weight and belly measurements are right on par, Dr. L. said. The Group B Strep test came

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-21022025174846729572010-07-10T05:27:00.001-04:002010-07-10T05:29:52.152-04:00

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-52704268416058287162010-07-10T05:07:00.003-04:002010-07-10T05:18:01.140-04:00

We had our first of hopefully not many weekly visits with the doctor Friday and it went great. We had Dr. L, who I've been calling Doc Cheerleader for her REALLY peppy personality and high-pitched squeals. Dr. L was a little more tame today and was really thorough and calming for parents who are just about to boil over with excitement. Without going in to too much detail, we had our first

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-85943848788595264492010-07-08T11:08:00.002-04:002010-07-08T11:20:49.668-04:00

We are in the middle of a record-setting heat wave here in PA. It's a nightmare for most people, but I'm told the elderly and preggers have it pretty bad right now. Oh, wait, that second part?... I can vouch for that. My body temperature on its own is automatically 10 degrees warmer than my former "normal" temp would be in the past. The girl who once got chilly in anything lower than 70 degrees

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-23663170339008411092010-07-08T11:03:00.002-04:002010-07-08T11:08:14.547-04:00

Just five weeks til due date! It feels as though Baby Z is taking up every last millimeter of space inside my stomach and I'm starting to have lots of "weird"-feeling moments (odd cramps, different aches, different movements from him, etc), which everyone tells me is just your body getting ready for the very awesome birthing process. Here's what the Little Man is up to...(From babycenter.com):

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-69470150558392515282010-07-01T22:15:00.002-04:002010-07-01T22:19:27.838-04:00

Seriously, I can't believe how quickly this is flying by. Due date is in 6 weeks. Delivery at our hospital can happen safely in 2-3 weeks. Within two months, Zachary Chad will be here. For now, he's smashed all up in the womb, practicing his soccer kicks, running stretches, baseball pitches and possibly some basketball free-throws. Oh, and these things:(From babycenter.com):Your baby now weighs

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-68728074445316729832010-07-01T22:05:00.002-04:002010-07-01T22:15:04.599-04:00

We had our first childbirth preparation class tonight at the hospital where Zack will be born. I was a bit nervous going into it, to be honest, probably because I wasn't sure how many of my questions would be answered, how many of the blanks would be filled in and in how graphic a manner. Plus, Scott and I each worked long days and he had to be up at 3:30 a.m. today, so I was a little worried one

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-10788669884261907332010-06-24T18:39:00.003-04:002010-06-24T18:54:11.187-04:00

I realized it's been a while since I last shared some belly photos on here (official ones anyway). Here are some from today with our more crowded nursery and newly-organized closet (Thanks, Nicole!).

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-41117106318823739382010-06-24T10:34:00.002-04:002010-06-24T10:37:49.099-04:00

Nicole is out visiting this week. She's been a great guest, although I've had to shoo her away from the dishes and stove pretty frequently. The one area she has free realm over is our nursery, which has been inundated with piles of clothes, toys, diapers and other baby gifts. She's been organizing them, sorting, putting away and today she's busy washing baby clothes for us so that we can be as

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-41859589081476997732010-06-24T09:40:00.002-04:002010-06-24T09:51:44.343-04:00

After a beautiful baby shower and time with loved ones in NJ this past weekend (I will post pics eventually, I promise!) time is really starting to fly by now, especially with our friend Nicole in town this weekend to help us organize all those lovely piles in the nursery. We're at 33 weeks and definitely inching closer to our Aug. 13 due date. We have a doctor's appointment tomorrow, so we'll

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-5417656716574277552010-06-18T14:45:00.002-04:002010-06-18T14:59:56.773-04:00

In the week leading up to Father's Day (and after writing a sappy note to my handsome hubby and the dad-to-be) I've found myself thinking about all the many little things I love about that man. And it led me to a wish for Baby Z (I've really been slacking with the wishes posts!). I wish the little man recalls and enjoys and cherishes all of those little things about the people who love him dearly

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-52827589561996623822010-06-17T08:17:00.002-04:002010-06-17T08:24:30.647-04:00

I've said it 20-some times before, and I'll say it again... time is FLYING! We're getting ready for a trip to NJ this weekend for my shower and some time with loved ones and then our dear friend Nicole comes back to PA with us for a weeklong stay, soooo... without further ado, here is what Baby Z is doing these days...(From babycenter.com):By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-37983664059442263582010-06-13T16:32:00.003-04:002010-06-13T16:34:48.299-04:00

Our lazy Sunday mornings might be coming to an end, but I have a funny feeling the level of cuteness may increase in our house very, very soon...

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-6987200238221684392010-06-13T16:25:00.003-04:002010-06-13T16:31:58.995-04:00

This weekend was filled with showers -- and love!!!Our friends Reva and Bret celebrated their upcoming arrival (due Aug. 8!!!) with a shower Friday night. It was amazing to see their love for one another and see all the people that came out to support them and Baby Smith (who needs a name...!) Then, on Saturday, my group of PA loved ones helped me celebrate with the first of two showers I'll be

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-91652689583578668722010-06-10T09:27:00.002-04:002010-06-10T09:35:02.299-04:00

My little guy Zachary is filling me with all sorts of mushy mommy love nowadays. I can hardly believe we're entering our 31st week. Remember, 40 is the magic number... and we are really and truly inching toward that! Here's what Baby Z. is up to right about now... (From babycenter.com):This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges)

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-79000969404272950602010-06-04T11:16:00.001-04:002010-06-04T11:18:26.078-04:00

P.S. - We were officially told the WONDERFUL news that Momma has passed her glucose test to look for indicators of gestational diabetes!The goal is a number below 140. After drinking the syrupy concoction and waiting an hour, my blood work from a couple of weeks ago showed a level of 111 -- very safe!I've gotten the green light to continue to eat and drink as I have been... and Doc C. even

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-26343862239683417102010-06-04T11:04:00.003-04:002010-06-04T11:13:18.199-04:00

We had another doctor's appointment last night and all went very, very well. Weight gain by Momma: Very good, though we will no longer be sharing numbers. :-) Belly measurements: A "perfect" rating from Doc C. Blood pressure: A perfect 100 over 60. Baby's heartbeat: Around 145, typical for our little man so far. Only concern: A lower back pain and simultaneous cramp-like feeling... we were told

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-76002705714616553052010-06-03T15:01:00.002-04:002010-06-03T15:09:08.334-04:00

I covered my second of three high school graduations this week last night. This one was special. For a lot of reasons. From a reporter's point-of-view, it was a smaller class, which meant a shorter ceremony and a more intimate setting for possible stories. It was also held outdoors -- my first one in 4 years of coverage! -- which is great for better photos and a bit of a breeze. It was also

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-60184020999593170832010-06-03T11:44:00.002-04:002010-06-03T11:55:25.953-04:00

Hello from Momma and Zachary Chad! (We can officially use the name now!!!)We are 30 weeks along! Isn't this amazing?! Time is flying by! Our due date is 10 weeks away and we are so anxious and excited, just counting every single day that stands between us and holding our little man. Anyway, here is what Mr. ZZ is up to in the cozy comforts of Momma's belly:(From babycenter.com):How your baby's

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-82840229257462582982010-06-02T16:24:00.004-04:002010-06-02T17:20:05.838-04:00

First off, I'd like to thank everyone for NOT bombarding me with e-mails about the name (like my wife suggested.) Then again, those who know me well know that I rarely read e-mails. Checking my inbox daily usually consists of select-all followed by delete.Now about this name....The first name is Zachary. A lot of you probably already knew that. And we didn't pick it because of the "double Z"

Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13992575307304934742noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-84331067299990302902010-05-28T17:55:00.004-04:002010-06-02T17:20:01.751-04:00

Imagine my surprise when I discovered a sweet little baby boy in the crib today... ... nope, not Baby Z!Our cat Rocky thought this was the coolest bed we've ever given him. He's in for a rude awakening in a few months... And then, Daddy agreed to give us a 29-week belly pic. :-) I love my boys! I love my Baby Z2B!

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-91032093904124492182010-05-27T17:19:00.002-04:002010-05-27T17:25:05.758-04:00

Hello all! Another week has absolutely flown by! Every time I worry that this process is starting to really drag on, Thursday lands at my feet, reminding me of another weekly milestone. It's unbelievable how quickly 40 weeks is going by... so far!Hello, 29 weeks! Baby Z and I welcome you...(From Babycenter.com):Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-56349545799770095632010-05-26T09:55:00.004-04:002010-05-26T10:08:34.769-04:00

I've told a lot of people during this whole crazy process that everything is suddenly seen in a different light when you're on the verge of mommyhood. Everyday activities become something you one day get to share with your baby. Memories are something you share, too, for better or for worse. 16 years ago today my mother passed away in a New Jersey hospital after hanging on, battling, fighting for

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-42933736310630987882010-05-21T22:25:00.003-04:002010-05-21T22:28:20.583-04:00

Hello my patient friends! You all must be getting as excited as we are, because the requests for belly photos have become overwhelming. Now that the Buddha belly is taking over, I might start posting photos every two weeks, but we'll see...For now, here's me and my Little Man at 28 weeks along.

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-77622242818546181902010-05-20T11:14:00.003-04:002010-05-20T11:23:48.628-04:00

I think it's safe to say our little passenger is enjoying his trip aboard the Mommy's Belly just fine, thank you very much. He constantly lets me know he's there, you know, just in case I've forgotten or have gotten distracted or something. He was pretty quiet yesterday afternoon and then when his daddy came home from work and was animatedly telling a funny story, he started wiggling around so

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-23372651580664747672010-05-18T15:29:00.003-04:002010-05-18T15:33:50.747-04:00

Commercials make me cry. They always have, really. But especially now. And especially anything having to do with babies, mommies, daddies, sunshine, tulips, puppies, rainbows and most food. OK, so it's not quite that bad, but I saw this one today during some quiet time alone and had to skip backwards to re-watch it three times. "...And right now you're taking her breath away."Sigh.

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-22673534397773351262010-05-14T09:46:00.003-04:002010-05-14T09:54:14.247-04:00

Holy canoli! 27 weeks already! Welcome to my world of disbelief, where a 40-(ish)-week pregnancy has absolutely flown by so far. Things are going very well -- I still feel great. Speaking of "feeling", the little man is moving ALL the time. Scott's felt him move twice now, including last night before bed and I can't tell you how big his eyes get or how happy he looks when that happens. Certain

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-29901395099066292562010-05-10T16:10:00.002-04:002010-05-10T16:22:31.141-04:00

Yesterday was Mother's Day, as you all know. It's usually a difficult day for me, as I mourn the profound absence of my mom and ponder what I could or would do for her to make her day special. This year, the day was much more special, however. You see, in a few months, I'll be a Mommy/Momma/Mom/plain old mother. I already feel like one, though, and really, I have since that positive pregnancy

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-77079122807133188962010-05-06T11:37:00.003-04:002010-05-06T11:57:50.699-04:00

Happy 26 weeks!From whattoexpect.com:Major excitement: Your baby opens her eyes! On the flip side, you might wish yours would stay closed so you could get some sleep.Your Baby in Week 26 of PregnancyWhat's up with your baby? She now weighs a full two pounds and measures nine-plus inches. And this week, her eyes, which until now were developing under fused eyelids, start to open. Of course,

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-2938909788521885392010-05-05T18:01:00.003-04:002010-05-05T18:06:04.620-04:00

Baby Z's nursery is just about complete. Today, the dad-to-be and I put up some letters and decals, the last little thing we can do for now.Here are some photos of the baby's room, complete with a first-name surprise. Want to know how we chose the first name? Want to know what the middle name is? Scott promised to answer those questions for you soon... (only if there was enough interest, hint

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-40364858303451466522010-04-30T09:35:00.002-04:002010-04-30T09:44:24.983-04:00

I'm not good at math by any means. But I really wanted to come up with some different way to show how far along we were. I knew I needed a fraction of 25 over 40, the expected number of weeks in a pregnancy, but I messed that up on my first try with my calculator and got embarrassed. So, we're pretty far along... :-)From WhattoExpect.com:Your Baby in Week 25 of PregnancyYour baby is growing by

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-63730088054909225792010-04-26T11:11:00.003-04:002010-04-26T11:23:17.719-04:00

You would think that if there was any day on the calendar Scott and I make note of each month, it might be the 13th, counting down to our Aug. 13 due date. But we realize that's not a given by any means (I think something like 5 percent of babies are born on their due date?) so we take that with a grain of salt. We do make a note of how many weeks along we are each Thursday, but other than that,

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-75454659646295396642010-04-23T16:59:00.002-04:002010-04-23T17:04:11.117-04:00

It's time for belly shots! Here is Little Man and Momma at 24 weeks along... Be sure to check out how far we've come since 12 weeks, 16 weeks and 20 weeks... I remember thinking that little Week 12 "bump" was a big deal... psh, that's nothing! I love, love LOVE my pregnant body. I've never been happier or felt prettier. :-)

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-54839597964787905822010-04-23T11:46:00.002-04:002010-04-23T11:55:02.267-04:00

Today is officially our V-Day. Not Valentine's Day. Not a movement to end violence against women (although that is important.) No, loved ones. Today is Viability Day. Thanks to the amazing accomplishments in the medical field, a preterm baby delivered at 24 weeks or later has a strong ability to survive and lead a normal life. While we hope (and pray... and INSIST) that Baby Z stays inside his

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-9595503054502825032010-04-22T11:19:00.002-04:002010-04-22T11:28:20.952-04:00

24 weeks! We are just zooming through this crazy thing, Little Baby Z and me. Here's what my precious little ear of corn is up to:(From What to Expect:)Week 24 of PregnancyYour baby's facial features are really filling out…and your belly button may be really popping out!Your Baby in Week 24 of PregnancyYour baby is about eight and a half inches long and weighs one and a half pounds, gaining

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-79908737248409120322010-04-21T11:09:00.005-04:002010-04-21T11:20:48.519-04:00

We've finished the painting. We've cleaned from top to bottom and all four sides. We put furniture together, joking all the while. We put things where they might stay for a while. Then we let Izzie test it all. She approved. We thought about our baby... How much we love him... how soon he'll be here, enjoying this room as much as his parents... Then we thought about all the other projects we

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-55024146642406757092010-04-20T11:43:00.006-04:002010-04-20T12:48:05.208-04:00

This past weekend, the parents - to - be were very, very busy. On Saturday, Scott and I spent hours hopping from store to store to store in Altoona, looking at cribs, changing tables and gliders. At first, we were disappointed, overwhelmed and thoroughly confused. Near the end (and after bumping into Mike and Julie at Toys "R" Us) we finally started to make some progress. We managed to (under

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-55883164727326999842010-04-15T15:05:00.003-04:002010-04-15T15:11:53.301-04:00

Happy 23 weeks to Mommy and BabyZ! I can't believe how quickly time is flying by now... and how much the baby is changing! From BabyCenter.com:How your baby's growing:Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With her sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that she's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-80279605176097016992010-04-14T19:10:00.003-04:002010-04-14T19:25:20.609-04:00

My friend Julie let me borrow her book Belly Laughs back in December when she and her husband Mike first learned about Baby Z2B. Belly Laughs is a must, Julie said about Jenny McCarthy's hysterical look into the truth about pregnancy. I have read it in bits and pieces as I get a few lounging minutes on the couch these past few months. Last night, I read the last half of it in one sitting as Scott

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-3876671225173492402010-04-13T22:17:00.002-04:002010-04-13T22:22:33.243-04:00

We got a wonderful package in the mail today!Courtesy of a gift card from Aunt Mary and Joseph (thank you!) we picked out and ordered our nursery bedding and decorations from Amazon.com last week and it arrived today. I waited patiently (errr, sort of) all day for Scott to come home so we could look through the goodies together. It was well worth the wait and I am a jumble of emotions, especially

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-42090161703793362042010-04-13T14:09:00.002-04:002010-04-13T14:13:33.666-04:00

Our due date is in exactly four months from today. I can't quite process that. It seems like just yesterday we were wondering if it was a boy or a girl; hoping we could make it through the first trimester; working on keeping the BIGGEST secret; seeing the magic word "pregnant" on our test in December... and now, here we are, the middle of April, entering the last part of the second trimester and

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-41835262082009958882010-04-10T15:19:00.002-04:002010-04-10T15:29:27.844-04:00

Who would have thought registering for a baby would be so overwhelming, intimidating, intense and confusing?! It was less than a year ago that Scott and I registered for our wedding and that was such a piece of cake. Granted, we had both already lived by ourselves for extended periods of time and had been moved into our new house for several months, so we didn't have a lot of things we needed.

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-70825060886494322532010-04-08T10:02:00.002-04:002010-04-08T10:09:07.043-04:00

Happy 22 weeks!Baby Z is being a busy, busy boy:(From babycenter.com)At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment.

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-27163168040482925642010-04-05T21:03:00.002-04:002010-04-05T21:14:46.849-04:00

Baby and I had our monthly doctor's appointment this afternoon. Daddy stayed home and missed his first appointment during the pregnancy so far because he's been under the weather, making close friends with the toilet today. We decided his presence was not good today. At our doctor's office, you're asked to meet with every one of the doctors in the group. We've seen the midwife, my doctor for the

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-29308004885613453462010-04-02T14:07:00.002-04:002010-04-02T14:10:35.770-04:00

My dear friend Kacey wrote a sweet post for the blog and I just couldn't wait to share it with you all. Kacey and I have known each other since the first day of cross country preseason in 2003 and it's been a long adventure of laughs and adventures ever since. I appreciate Kacey's thoughts here and I'm really grateful for all the love! :-) ***Hi Wendy! With all this love and attention going to

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-61747548012196310732010-04-01T13:02:00.003-04:002010-04-01T13:14:21.195-04:00

From whattoexpect.com:Your baby is grazing on whatever you are right now, but those stretch marks are yours alone, Mom.How big is your baby? About the size of a large banana — and speaking of bananas, if you eat one this week, there's a good chance your baby will get a taste, too. That's because he swallows a bit of amniotic fluid each day (for nutrition, hydration, and to practice digesting), so

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-86259647266029428472010-03-31T09:08:00.003-04:002010-03-31T09:12:09.065-04:00

My dear friends Kacey and Jeannine came out for a visit this weekend. Despite knowing them from two very different (and yet not so different...?) periods in my life, they were like the best of friends when they arrived, laughing at jokes from their four-hour drive and in great spirits. They brought lots of love and many belly pats and I am grateful that Little Baby Z will have great aunts like

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-57483546161965183812010-03-27T11:33:00.004-04:002010-03-27T11:47:36.569-04:00

The first of many of life's mysteries has been answered. This little tyke crumpled up in my abdomen for the past five months is indeed a beautiful boy. As amazing as our first ultrasound was, yesterday's appointment was simply breath-taking. Our little guy was not shy by any means and our ultrasound technician was 100 percent certain of his gender. So now we know that we are having a son... and

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-40119894004606414962010-03-25T17:04:00.001-04:002010-03-25T17:07:21.250-04:00

Here is what a pregnant Wendy looks like halfway (more or less) through the mommy-to-be journey:

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-12745061763376892322010-03-25T14:48:00.003-04:002010-03-25T16:33:05.378-04:00

In lieu of the imminent "BIG" ultrasound Friday afternoon, I had to share a little love and what you might call wishes or daydreams to our baby boy or our baby girl. We will most definitely welcome whatever we are given and spend our pre-bedtime minutes praying for a healthy baby above all else. Forgive the mushiness, the cheesiness and my hormones. Here's a letter to our baby girl and then our

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-38778298085686929412010-03-25T09:30:00.003-04:002010-03-25T09:32:48.182-04:00

As my old "friend" Bon Jovi sings... That's right, loved ones, we are officially halfway "there"... "there" meaning delivery and baby in arms!!! I'm 20 weeks today and I have to keep pinching myself with how well things have been going so far, how lucky we are and how happy I am to be a mommy-to-be. Now, fingers crossed for a great ultrasound tomorrow! MUCH love.

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-60701434708183928242010-03-25T09:27:00.001-04:002010-03-25T09:39:25.970-04:00

I thought I would dedicate a post to my cravings with pretty much all food and my desire to keep Scott running to the grocery store several times a week for "emergencies" -- like a shortage of vanilla pudding.First of all, yes, I realize I am like a scene out of Baby Mama and that yes, whatever I eat, the baby eats. Can I say that these choices are not necessarily my decision? It's like some

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-28557476366642083292010-03-18T12:18:00.002-04:002010-03-18T12:28:35.310-04:00

I might have blinded our child yesterday. But it was for a good cause, I assure you. You see, I was reading some posts on my August Mommies forum board at thebump.com where other mommies-to-be said they took a flashlight over their bellies and felt the baby's movement. I'm so ridiculously excited to officially feel the baby that I might have tried this little experiment last night. There have

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5307095458412757590.post-71127033162979968782010-03-18T12:11:00.002-04:002010-03-18T12:18:10.604-04:00

It's been a great week for Mommy and Baby Z. The sun's been shining, the weather's been warmer and a lot of things are just falling into place for Mommy, which lets her enjoy a lot more moments in the pregnancy. Next Friday, we have our "BIG" ultrasound. I'm honestly equally as excited to find out what gender Little Baby Z is as I am to see that he/she is growing and developing as he/she should

Mrs. Z.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12787170963166656156noreply@blogger.com0