Zofia Nicola

I think almost everyone has seen the pictures of my little precious, but I like to show her off everywhere. It's my God-given right.

This birth was SO different from Athena's. I actually got to go into labor on my own! I woke up at 6am on June 14th with a HORRID stomach ache. I chilled on the couch for a while figuring it was indigestion from the MASSIVE amount of food I ate around midnight... then I noticed that the pain was coming in weird waves. I called my husband to tell him labor may be a possibility, and then called my sister in law to see what labor felt like. Jill and I concluded that I wasn't really in labor since I was still playing with Athena and doing housework, so I went about my business. My mom, on the other hand, did not agree with us and thought I should head to the hospital since the waves were coming every 5 minutes at that point. I did NOT want to go to the hospital only to get sent home, so we compromised and she took me to get checked by my OB. That's where I found out I was having contractions every 4 minutes and I was dilated to 5cm. Oops. I guess I was in labor. He told me to go immediately to the hospital and not to stop for a burger first. (He knows me!) I actually went home first so I could see Athena off to Yia Yia's myself since I wasn't going to see her for a couple days. Then it was off to the hospital.

Have you noticed who I haven't updated?

Louis. He was FREAKING OUT. He had himself convinced I was passed out from labor pain on the kitchen floor and Athena was kicking me trying to wake me up.

Oops. He needs to be invited to the hospital too.

So Louis, my mom, and I all head to the hospital where I'm moving right along and feeling fine. They were going to let me deliver her vaginally up until she started compressing her cord and OH MY GOD WHY IS HER HEART RATE ONLY 65??? GET HER OUT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had to have another c-section. Ya know what? Oh well because here she is and that's all that matters!!

Mommies, give me your opinions.

The time has come to start shopping for Zofia's arrival. Man, I'm so so so grateful that I don't have to buy any of the big stuff for her.

For some reason I'm having trouble making decisions on some of the smaller items.

Tell me, what are your favorites?

Bottles:

I can't use Avent because that's Athena's brand. Weening her from her nighttime bottle while Zofia is gleefully drinking away out of the same kind seems like more trouble than it's worth.

These are the ones I'm looking at:

Soothie: And then use the Soothie pacifier, again, a different brand from Athena's.

Dr. Brown's: I know people say all the parts can be a pain, but my dishwasher has baskets and a sanitizing function. Couldn't I just use that?

Adiri: I mean, come on. They LOOK like a boob. That should help get Zofia to go along with this, right? Plus, they look NOTHING like Athena's beloveds.

Any pacifiers you highly recommend?

Also, did anyone forgo the infant car seat for the convertible ones? Would I regret not being able to move her in the seat and ALWAYS having to take her out?

Oh my gosh, thank you God.

I'm sitting here watching cartoons with Athena exhausted. She's been getting me up multiple times a night to tell me either she's thirsty, she needs to hug, or that she's a dinosaur.

I'm tired.

I've been HORRIFIED of having an anti-sleep toddler who sleeps with me and a newborn. Seriously, like panic attack, crying every day to my mom horrified.

All of a sudden I just pictured sitting here with Athena AND Zofia and I was hit with the overwhelming sense of calm. I've been waiting for this. Praying for this.

Now maybe I'll accept the fact that I CAN do this.

Pregnancy makes me so stupid you WISH I could keep my facts straight

AAAAAAAARRRRGGGGHHHHH. I'm DRIVING MYSELF NUTS! THIS IS WHY I'VE STOPPED TRYING TO BE SMART!!!!

You know, as in Miss Tenn South Carolina at Miss Teen USA 2009? The one with the firm grasp on the English language, current evens, and topography? "Cuz some people don't have maps."


Yep, her.

I'm reading everyone's blogs every day, but it's taking me at least 2 days to come up with a comment. Most times the blogger has moved onto a new topic, leaving my thoughts irrelevant.

I mix up words when I talk so I sound like Yoda. I can barely type lately so I'm almost afraid to blog about anything of substance.

I almost plowed into another car DIRECTLY in my line of sight at McDonald's because I seriously didn't see it. Louis HAD TO GRAB THE WHEEL FROM ME!!!

::sigh:: I can't even keep the dogs' and members of my family's names straight.

3 more months.

Zofia

Here she is trying to stand up in my uterus. Yeah, I can totally feel that.

Pregnancy Related Question

I wanna get my hur did.

I haven't had my hair cut, styled, and/or colored since BEFORE I got pregnant with Athena. We're talking over 3 years ago. I haven't been able to put my finger on what has been bothering me about my looks latetly, and I think this is it.

My.Hair.Is.GROSS.

I want a complete overhaul. I can't do anything medically about my now thin hair until after Zofia comes out, so I thought a good cut and color may help for the time being.

So what's the view on coloring your hair when pregnant?

Let's talk some baby names, people.

Zofia ? Brocus

We had Athena Elizabeth's name picked out 4 years before she was even conceived, so there was never really any discussion. Athena was very, very planned.

Miss Zofia? Not so much.

Louis and his mom both REALLY wanted the name Sofia as it is a family name for them. I REALLY wanted Zoe. While researching the name Sofia, I found the Eastern European spelling of Zofia. Perfect. Louis gets his way plus I can call her Zoe and Zofi.

Awesome. Hard part over, right? Not quite. Do you know how hard it is to come up with a middle name that goes with Zofia, especially when you refuse to use any of the old generic middle name stand ins?

Here are the ones that have been discussed so far:
Zofia Nicola Brocus (Nicola is my grandfather.)
Zofia Eris Brocus
Zofia Alexandra Brocus

It's tough. The family is on it.

LOUIS BUCKLED!! We found out the sex today!!!

We're having another girl!! We had a super long, thorough ultrasound today and Louis decided he wanted to know NOW. She weighs over a pound already! I grow 'em rolly polly olly.

So in about 18 weeks we shall meet our little Zofia.

Things I want more than air and can't have

Just back 'er in the driveway. I'll take things from there.

Now that I've done this twice, I know 100% that pregnancy doesn't agree with me. I spent the first 3 1/2 months not able to eat anythng but Rice Krispies. I still can't even talk about eggs, and there are so many food no-no's it makes them even more appetizing. But let me tell you the worst...



1. Chocolate. More specifically, Cadbury Eggs. They are my favorite thing since breathing, and wouldn't you know it, they came out early this year. Well, even a drop of chocolate gives me migraines this time around.



2. Lemonade. You see, margaritas are my favorite drink. I use lemonade mixed with different fruit purees to tide me over. Now? ANYTHING citrus gives me migraines. Yep, no more lemons, oranges, or grapefruit. AAAACK!



3. Sushi. It looks so sexy and forbidden, I just wanna love it.



4. Lunchmeat. I WANT IT SO BAD AND I DON'T KNOW WHY!!!!!! Seriously, what's going to happen if I eat a damn piece of salami?

You should all totally feel bad for me.

Chinese Lunar Calendar - Boy or Girl?

To find the gender prediction, find the mother's age at conception (across the top of the table) and then the month in which conception occurred. Follow the column and row to the intersecting point. The color of the box tells you what the prediction is. Blue = Boy and Pink = Girl

This was right for me with Athena, but wrong every time for my SIL Jill. What about some of you other mommies out there?

This not finding out the sex thing is going to kill me.

I look like I need a good pair of Spanx

This stage kinda bites. I don't look pregnant. I just look like I've got a beer gut. And even after 3 months I'm still in such shock I keep looking at myself in the mirror and saying "WHY AM I GETTING A GUT????" Oh yeah...

*90% of the quality of this picture can be blamed on the volume of fingerprints on the mirror.

I was about to get all real with this pregnancy thing

I had the post started and everything, but I don't know that I want to publicly out myself as an ungrateful jerk. Plus, the constant vomiting makes it tough to concentrate... as does a pissed off toddler.

So I'll just give a quick update instead: The baby's way bigger than I had in my head and I feel like shit. The end.

Not really.

Baby's now the size of a lime!

Your fetus currently enjoys a 1:1 ratio between body and head, and has skin so transparent that blood vessels show right through it. But fingers and toes are no longer webbed, and hair follicles, tooth buds, and nail beds are forming -- setting up a significantly more attractive future.

PLUS, as an added bonus, I'm pretty sure I have the same thing that I had with Athena.

Hyperemesis gravidarum

Hyperemesis gravidarum is extreme, persistent nausea and vomiting during pregnancy that may lead to dehydration.

Symptoms

Treatment

Causes

Tests & diagnosis

Prognosis

Complications

When to contact a doctor

I guess it's not a typical pregnancy for me unless I wind up in the hospital for dehydration.

More Crib Stuff

So I have a thing for blue and brown. My mother in law searched the globe for me to have the perfect blue and brown bed set for myself.

Do you think there'd be any way you could accept a blue and brown room as femenine if need be? If there were, say, blue and brown dresses and things of that nature on the walls?

I really heart the brown stuff, and I don't think we're going to be finding out the sex of this one.

P.S. This set is usually $250 and I found it for $75.

Your Opinions on Crib Bedding

I want to paint the walls brown and white. We have a white crib and dresser, so I think it will look groovy.

These are all on etsy:

A.

B.

C.

D. None because brown is ugly.

Nothing is going to be that over the top. I'm just going to use white sheets and then I'll decorate the walls based on whatever blanket I choose.

I still feel like this...

... so I have nothing to say that doesn't include things like "misery", "gag," and "vomit."

I'll spare everyone that randomly checks in here the details of my sorry plight.

Freaky Baby Widget

Has anyone else noticed that it has gone from hot dog bun to manatee to whatever this may be:

6 Weeks Pregnant

A newt perhaps?

Well, whatever it is that baby looks like right now, it's making me sick as all bloody hell. Dry heaves are horrid. Laying in the chair praying the barf goes back down is only made worse by the toddler rolling all over me, elbowing me in the stomach, and rocking my chair.

Unless Louis can carry the next one, we're never doing this again.

Here's what the baby's up to:

This week starts a period of rapid cellular development for your baby-to-be, who looks like a mini tadpole, with a tiny head and tail. His or her eyes, ears and mouth have begun to form (though they're a little more Discovery Channel "creatures of the sea" documentary than Gerber Baby at this point).

Other exciting milestones include:

Your baby's heart is now beating to a regular beat, although it's still too faint to hear.

His or her arm buds are just beginning to, well, bud. They look like teensy swollen bumps at this point. In a few days, they'll resemble itsy-bitsy flippers.

I like this picture better - The Poppyseed

Subtitle: The goings-on in my uterus - Week 4

In week 3, sperm meets egg, and voila: conception! Your little zygote sets off on a six-day trek through your fallopian tubes, dividing and redividing into identical cells as it travels to your uterus. (How exhausting!)
In week 4, now safe in your womb, the ball of cells (blastocyst) splits in two, becoming the embryo and the placenta. The amniotic sac and fluid are forming around baby, and will act as a cushion for the next eight months.

I have non-stop headaches, unreal exhaustion, and waves of nausea. Suh-weet.

According to this picture I'm growing a mushroom

Your baby's body now has three distinct layers from which all of his organs will develop.

It seems like EVERYONE is pregnant. It took me 5 years to get Athena. How in the world did this happen so quickly.

I'm terrified.
I have SO many things swirling through my head.
I adore my compadre that is ALWAYS there the SECOND I need to freak regardless of the actual distance between us.
I have so many doubts about myself.
I'm glad that I have absolutely NO doubts about my husbands competency. (One of us needs to be a star.)

I think I'm going to be blogging full force again, as I will need some major support.

Shall I get a creepy baby widget too??