Baby Z update...

We met with the dr at the Frauenklinik today, and it looks like it will be an efficient, but slightly different birth experience compared to our experience at Swedish in Seattle.



2 big issues for me:



1- The doctor said since I have already been "stretched" that I would most likely not require an epidural. (Can you hear me screaming with the thought of the pain already!)



2- Group rooms. There are some private rooms at the hospital, but for the most part I will always have at least 1 room mate. I know that as an American, I have a slightly puritanical (prudish) view of privacy in comparison to the rest of the world. However, I don't really think that my reaction to this news is outside of the ordinary if the thought of being kept awake by my own newborn at 3 in the morning doesn't fill me with a slight panic - given that I'm not sleeping really well right now anyway - the thought of being kept awake by someone elses child sends me a little bonkers... So we will see. If there is a room available, it is an extra 50 euro per night. Sleep will be worth every penny.



So, onto other news, the baby is growing well. Estimated to be almost 5 lbs at this point, with just under 5 weeks to go. She is amazingly active, and quite strong, so that when she moves and gets the hiccups it is such a surprise, and literally takes my breath away.

She has very bony feet, and loves pushing off of my ribs, which causes her to shoot down onto my bladder.

Her favorite thing to do when I lay down to go to bed is push & kick against the mattress. If I flip to the other side, so does she... She also has the hiccups almost every night.



Sophia is getting very excited to be a big sister. We have been reading lots of books trying to get the mindset ready, but she is just really looking forward to "playing" with her sister. She walked around all afternoon with a pacifier in her mouth (you know the british call them dummies?!), and crawling like a baby. It lasted until she started rolling around & slammed the back of her head on the hardwood floors as she rolled over. After that she decided riding her bike in the hall was much more fun!

Sophia's Birthday Party

A Birthday Balloon tail. Sophia loves having a tail, and has been "little puppy" most of the week.
Birthday cake & candles ~ Sophia actually blew out her own candles this year (with a little help from her buddy Jackson.) Previous birthdays she has gotten so nervous & shy when the birthday song starts that she becomes frozen in place.

Chaos & kids at the birthday table (cupcake decorating catastrophe's & explosions)
Sophia's new bike! (sorry the flash setting was a bit off). The Hallway has gotten lots of use this week.

More Salzburg

Sophia wearing Nana's reading glasses.
Moya & Lynn standing in front of the Gazebo at Schloss Hellbrun.
Sophia in the church at Mondsee, used for the wedding of Maria & the Captain in the movie.
The newly cleaned ceiling of the church of St Michael.
Sophia & her (very well used) camera!For all the Salzburgers, this was our bus on the tour today! I was having a total flashback...

Sophia on the Musical Tiles

Sophia on the Musical Tiles
Video sent by moyamz

Jumping out music next to the gardens at Schloss Mirabell

Sophia & Nana in Salzburg

Day one of our Salzburg adventures!

UP Salzburg Center

Balconies of some of the dorm rooms (the kids were on spring tour in Italy & Greece)

I thought all of the Salzburgers would like to see what the new center looks like. AMAZING... Huge kitchen, eating area, a built in bar (VERY important for all of those Stiegl parties), living space, foosball table (dangerous), a library with computers, and huge classroom with desks & chairs for everyone.

Sophia is 4!

Sophia being helped by Sita (one of her favorite teachers) to pass out her birthday cupcakes at school. She did a great job, and then passed around the leftover gummy bears "one for you, one for me" to the kids at her preschool.

Flower Girl

We spent the day in the new-found warm sun. That is until it set and we froze again. Sophia had no problem hamming it up a bit.

Back on the Ice

Sophia and Troy went back to the Ice Rink today. Sophia continues to get more and more comfortable on the ice, especially with the help of a few friends. She walked about 10-12 feet today with the help of a partner. It was another amazing day in Munich - cold, but lots of sun and a wonderful sunset over the rink.

Sophia at the Airport

Troy and Sophia spent Saturday morning at the airport. It was a beautiful day, so they went out to watch the airplanes take off from an elevated viewing point. However, despite the sun, it was so cold (right around freezing with a lot of wind) that they only spent about a minute up top, and then retreated to the base to play on the toy airplanes.