Swimercize

To help my aching body, D has come home to find me doing pre-mama-yoga, snuggling a full-body pillow (which he wants to borrow), downing iron and magnesium, and signing up for Moms on the Move aqua-aerobics.

The aerobics were harder than I thought - only because I couldn't keep up with the two women in their third trimester on my right, and the five senior citizens on my left. How in the world are you supposed to jog a lap while wearing a floatee vest in 8-foot water?? While I struggled and splashed around, I realized Zig was doing the same thing with me. Kick kick! Wave wave!

Making it legit

Ziggy made his second international travel when he, D and I flew up to Toronto from Pennsylvania. We arrived just in time, 1 hour before the wedding of one of my best friends from b-school... Chai. His gorgeous bride Sara picked out an equally beautiful moutain-view venue decorated with a fabulous reception. The best part was when they tore apart their gingerbread-house wedding cake and cannibalistically ate the little bride and groom cookies living in it.

OK, the best part was seeing my good friends. OK, it was the gingerbread house.

I finally looked legitimately pregnant for the event, with a belly that I think isn't from all the weekend's great desserts. And Ziggy had such a good time dancing the hora that he's been kicking away ever since.

Meeting the Fam

Ziggy, D and I flew to PA this weekend to introduce Zig to my family. Zig also got his first party, since my Mom threw a baby shower while we were there. We had such a blast spending time with my Nana, aunts, uncle, cousin, and my mom's friends who are just like family.

While in PA, Ziggy got to meet his YOUNGER cousin... that's right! My brother is finishing his PhD this year, proposed to his girlfriend Heather, then found out she was pregnant, so they bought a house, are getting married and are having a baby due 5 weeks after Ziggy's appearance date. I don't know which congratulations card to get them first! Heather and Todd brought Heather's 4-year-old son, Howard, who added great entertainment to the festivities - and she made a diaper cake with a multi-colored, musical version of Chester on top which is just too cute for words. It'll terrify our pup.

The presents were fun, but the best - apart from seeing my family all together - were by far the white baby blanket that my mother hand-knitted, and the heirloom silver rattle from my Nana.

Celebrations

D, Ziggy and I flew up to Long Island this weekend to celebrate our nephew Alex's bar mitzvah. He and his little brother, Cal, performed beautifully in the 3-hour ceremony. 13-year-old Alex gave a speech about the Torah (Old Testament) portion detailing the post-Exodus 40 years of wandering, and the important journeys his family has similarly made. It was touching - especially when he commanded a round of applause for his potential cousin (to which he added, "Good luck with that!").

The next family religious ceremony will be Ziggy's bris, when he's 8 days old.

I also had a chance to celebrate some longtime friendships, when Mrinalini and Isabelle came to visit me from Manhattan. It was so wonderful to see them again and have them be a part of this new little adventure. People stared through the restaurant windows when I tried to show off my 19-week belly, but they weren't impressed with the size. Still need to work on it.

Mrinalini just moved into a new strategy position at Lehman's, and Isabelle is preparing for her September move to London. It's so great to see them happy and full of new plans.

Vegas!

Schnabling took his first trip to Sin City for D's convention. Being pregnant, I felt like I should at least have a ceremony at the drive-thru wedding chapel while there, but we stuck to old friends and nice restaurants instead. (Too bad top-quality steak makes me queasy.)

We met Hulk Hogan while there - he offered to put D in a headlock but I didn't have a camera, unfortunately. Nice guy... And we talked in depth to Dr. Kenneth Cooper, the creator of aerobics. "Coop" convinced us all that we need to start being more healthy. He also said DHA is great for you. My 4-month crisis over the safety of prenatal vitamins is finally answered.

Separation

I had my first big learning about daycare. I boarded our puppy Chester for the first time, at an average-rated, under-construction kennel affiliated with my vet's office. When I saw him in the hot glass room struggling his way through a sea of dogs in hopes of being rescued by me, I started sobbing and took him immediately over to Wuf Dog Spa.

Wuf gave him a better environment, constant human contact and a peanut butter Kong treat every night - plus I could watch him on webcam. So spoiled he didn't want to come home.

We're going to be in trouble when Ziggy needs daycare, too.

Little Achiever

D saw his first sonogram today and was all smiles when little Ziggy waved at him on screen. We are confirmed to have a boy. I'm liking my posse of boys more and more, and D loves it. The blue pinstripe sheets stay on the registry!

Mini-man is already an achiever, too. Dr. Magee said he was ahead of the curve when he could see his boy-parts at 13 weeks. Now, we should be at 15 weeks 4 days, but the sonogram said he might already be at 16 weeks 1 day - exactly the 4 days' jump we need to hit our 2008 tax break. So he's not only advanced, but he's also financially savvy.

He's doing little calesthenics, which makes D proud, and is already in the best fetal position upside down. That's my boy.