17 weeks

Baby has doubled it's weight over the last 2 weeks and now weighs in at a whopping 3.5 ounces. It has grown hair on it's head and it's eyebrows and eyelashes are filling in. The baby should measure about 5 inches in length but since we saw ours yesterday (more to come) we know that it has a short body and some long skinny legs!



Open mouth, insert foot -

We took a trip to the emergency room yesterday after 3 days of no fetal movements. I was convinced that something was fatally wrong. After waiting for 4 hours we finally got to hear a healthy heartbeat and then they did the ultrasound to take measurements and make sure baby had 10 fingers and 10 toes. It was a very expensive way of getting some peace of mind but well worth it for everyone. (since I had managed to upset everyone in the house by this point). I felt like a real hypersensitive first time mother but the staff were very friendly (except the ultrasound tech) and treated me with respect. Baby was still 3 days small according to it's measurements (+ or - 8 days).

In other news - Ayva's having a great time splashing G'ma. Don't worry, G'ma had a great time splashing Ayva!

16 weeks

Here it is - the beginning of my baby belly...

to be honest though, I had to have a huge lunch to make it look this good :)

I am definitely feeling the baby move now, at first it was hard to tell if it was gas or baby but now it's more clear and baby seems to be consistently wiggly after dinner each night (possibly struggling to make some more room in there).

Rhinebeck, NY 12572

4th of July fireworks celebration -


Ayva having her first tractor lesson (she's had several since...) -


This is the project that's been keeping Bruce so busy -


Ayva's rain dance :)

15 weeks

Finally the nausea is disappearing and I am beginning to feel like a slightly more normal version of myself. Unfortunately, I can't seem to knock the overwhelming exhaustion, but maybe that's just the way it is with number 2. There's a bump there now but it looks more like one too many cheeseburgers rather than an expectant baby bump.

Baby's fingernails and toenails are starting to grow as well as eyebrows and the hair on his/her head. It also looks more like a baby as the legs are now longer than the arms and the body is finally bigger than the head.

14 weeks

There seem to be three ends to the first trimester, at 12 weeks when the pregnant woman wants it to be over, at 13 weeks when most publications state the end of the first trimester and then at week 14, when a handful more concede the end of the first third. I definitely think that in my case it is best to aim for the later date to focus on as a close end to the misery. Reading through the maternity notes with Ayva, I was still nauseus at 16 weeks and I am definitely still pukey and tired this time around as well.

If we're having a boy, then the prostate gland develops this week. For a wee girl this week, the ovaries move from the abdomen to the pelvis. Baby's bones are getting harder and stronger by the day and the thyroid gland has matured and now baby begins producing hormones which will be used throughout his or her life.

Baby Boogie (13 weeks 5 days)

They say you feel the baby move earlier on in your second pregnancy and I am 90% sure that's what I felt give me a little tickle today.  

I didn't know if I'd be able to recognize it earlier this time or if I'd have to wait until the typical 16 week + mark. I was worried I would confuse it with gas but it's quite a unique feeling.  Very light and gentle, just a flicker, like a "butterfly kiss" but on the inside.  

13 weeks

This week we officially begin the second trimester, the "honeymoon stage of pregnancy".

After the ultrasound, I decided to put our due date back from the midwifes date to mine on the 9th of January so this week had an extra 2 days!

Our baby is now about 3 inches from the top of the head to the end of the buttock and is certainly beginning to make some changes to my waistline.  I seem to be coming out the front this pregnancy rather than the sides which is how I carried Ayva, still it might be a touch too early to tell just yet.   

I threw up again this morning, so clearly I'm going to have to wait a little bit longer before the honeymoon begins.  I found some morning sickness vitamins that worked a treat for about a week but the effect seems to be wearing off now.

I am excited, however, to be in New York and feel very positive just being able to soak up the summer sun, heat, and fresh food.

Sweet Home Rhinebeck, New York

What started out as a fairly promising trip out of Nelson, New Zealand for the Paterson family quickly turned to custard when the flight out of Auckland was delayed by 8 hours, making our new departure time 2 am the next day.  We had cleverly skipped Ayva's afternoon nap so that she would sleep on the overnight Auckland/LA flight, but when it was delayed she gave us a 1 hour kip in the Auckland airport and then got up to spend the rest of the time playing and making friends with the other rather disgruntled passengers.  

When they finally boarded us onto the flight, Bruce and I were more than ready to crash.  Not long after taking off, Ayva was asleep, and Bruce and I settled in for the long haul.  Not more than an hour later, the entire plane was awoken by the screaming of a wild banshee, as I wiped the sleep from my eyes, I quickly realized that the screaming was coming from our littlest bundle of joy.  Her eyes were completely glazed over and she had this wild look about her, not completely awake yet.  As Bruce and I tried to console her the screaming got worse and a flight attendant came by and kindly informed us that there was a large space at the back of the plane if we would like to try walking her around for a bit.  Calming Ayva consumed the next hour and when we finally restored order to the airplane, Ayva was wide awake and rearing to go.  

For the rest of the 12 hour flight Ayva slept for a total of 1 1/2 hours.  Bruce and I took turns trying to get some shut eye.  At one point we looked at each and said "Which one of us is going to tell Mom that we're never going home?!"  

We had another 5 hours in the airport which Ayva spent wide awake and playing with two little Jewish kids she roped into chasing a ball after she threw it for them.  When they called us for the flight to NY, Bruce and I were beside ourselves with exhaustion, and headed for the plane, stumbling down the gangway, accompanied by Miss Ayva dancing and skipping her way onto yet another exciting plane ride.  As we took our seats, Bruce and I glanced at one another with that desperate "is it your turn or mine to sleep??".  Luckily by the time we decided which of us would be getting the next rest shift we looked between us and there was our little angel passed out and snoring in her little seat.

Ayva stayed in that exact position until the plane landed in New York.  We had to wake her to get off the plane.  As Bruce carried her off you could hear her little voice say "bye-bye plane".  Ayva had had a great trip and besides the one hour of uncontrollable banshee screaming she had been in good spirits the entire time, but Bruce and I walked off that plane very different people.  

I will be returning home with Bruce, rather than ever extending my tickets, and I will never again plan to travel back to the US on my own with a toddler.  There is no way that trip would have been possible if one of us had been without the other.  I question, once there are two children, whether Bruce will ever consent to another trip before the youngest is over the age of 4 (maybe 5!).

Once in NY, Ayva took a 3 hour nap and then slept for another 15 hours overnight...

Bruce and I are still recovering.