No more cup holder!

While it's been great having something to rest my cell phone, food and even drinks on I can't say that I'll miss this part of the pregnancy. I'd much rather have a flat stomach than a cup holder any day. Witness here the little one holding some sour patch kids, he's pretty good at this huh?

Sour patch kids have become a recent favorite of ours since Jack's mom gave us 3 big bags as a stocking stuffer this Christmas. You better believe they'll be making the 'hospital bag list' of items to pack...Dangerously DELICIOUS!

37 Weeks...Home streeeccchhhhh

Well, we've come a lonnnngggg way with this kiddo and now we're down to the wire. Weekly Dr's visits, last minute to-do's and 3 weeks to go! Jack and I and the rest of the family are verrrryyy excited to meet this little guy really soon.

I had my Dr's appt today and she said everything is coming along just as planned. I even managed to lose 3 lbs in a week! Don't begin to ask how that happened, total fluke if you ask me. Anyways, she let me know all my stats check out, I've passed all my tests AND this baby will probably end up being on the smaller side so he'll be easy to deliver.

Fingers crossed this good news keeps up and in the mean time I leave you with pictures of the nursery. It's mostly done, we are just awaiting some paintings from his Aunt Hillary and some framed portraits of the rock star himself once he decides to bless us with his presence. If he's anything like his mom he'll be running late ;)

36 WeEkS!!!!!!

Here I am in all of my 36 week glory and my outfit of choice these days...pj's. This kid has grown like crazy and the Dr. has advised me that I am now 1cm dilated...scared? you betcha! I still have a list of things to get done and we haven't even had Christmas yet! I'm thinking that my family secretly wishes I would have the baby over the weekend because they are all in town, but I can assure you this will hopefully not be the case.

In the meantime, I hope everyone has a fantastic Christmas! Much love from the Zinda fam, Jack, Missy and Little J or 'young Jeezy' as we've been calling him lately ;)

Thank You Sweetheart

In all this posting and pregnancy hoopla I must remember the reason for all of these going-ons and that is due to one very special person in my life, my husband and best friend, Jack. How he has managed to not leave me during all of my crazy rants and end-of-world moments is beyond me and I feel like I just don't give him enough credit. Every time (especially now) I get really sick of being pregnant he'll say just the right thing to make me feel good all over again. Here are just a few examples...

Since we are going 'modern safari' in the nursery I thought it would be absolutely genius to put up these fantastic animal heads in the room:



So they were up and for quite some time until Jack's mockery finally got to me when he said, "Well, I just think these look like some sort of sacrificial altar and we are going to be offering our baby to these animal gods". Needless to say the heads are gone. Your welcome mom.

He also assures me that unlike the movie Labyrinth, Jack will not, I repeat WILL NOT allow David Bowie to steal our baby...



And finally, he reads children's books to our son almost every night and as hard as it is for him to read Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! he sticks to the kids' books and refrains from reading 'Jack classics' which include beauties such as The Post-American World by Fareed Zakaria and Hot, Flat, and Crowded by Thomas L. Friedman.

So thank you Jack Zinda, thank you for coming up with this material just as I think there isn't anything that can make me feel better, you continue to make me smile every single day.

Christmas Parties

Not gonna lie, normally I get really excited about all the Christmas parties and holiday events Jack and I get to go to every season but as I get bigger and bigger and more exhausted the thought of even looking at heels makes me want to cry. Why the dressing up and the heels then you may ask? I like 'appearing' as though I can handle it and I'm having a blast, but secretly I'm changing back into my pj's a mere 2 hours after 'hard core partying'. The husband understands, he's just happy I made it all of 2 hours :) see here, example 1 of me before and after one of our events.

A few more parties to go and we'll wrap up this season with a lovely Christmas in Austin surrounded by food, family and lots of love for this little guy who is already enjoying partying way more than he should.

33 Weeks

7 more weeks!!! And hopefully they fly by because this kid has gone from late night party sessions to all day partying. His mom is not so pleased.

Thanksgiving and Cowboys

I'm sure many people spent their Thanksgiving holidays surrounded by friends and family, delicious turkey and warm holiday cheer. Well I spent mine at the Cowboys Stadium surrounded by 90,000+ people and eating some delicious...chilli dogs. I know what you all are thinking and the answer is yes, I totally deserve a 'Best wife in the World' award for being 32 weeks pregnant, eating chilli dogs and watching the Cowboys play on Thanksgiving instead of your normal Thanksgiving festivities. Truth be told though, I thoroughly enjoyed myself and apparently so did our beloved Pablo!

While fighting the freezing temperatures wasn't all that great, once we got inside the stadium and sat in our seats this boy ended up having the time of his life. He was kicking like crazy and doing some major acrobatics every time there was loud music playing or major cheering going on. Apparently this boy will be just like his dad...a hardcore Cowboys fan!

SAY CHEESE!!!

Lately I've been really worried about how the baby is doing because I've been having the CRAZIEST dreams...For example, the other night I dreamt my water broke and the water was coming out of my belly button. I know, WEIRD. So to ease my insanity the husband decided we should get a 3D ultrasound done. I really hadn't thought that much about it because we've had lots of opportunities to see this little guy already but when he brought it up, I got REALLY excited and decided this was a brilliant idea.

I'm sooo happy we decided to do this, as strange as the pictures may look to others it was a very magical experience and if nothing else I got to see this little gordito moving around like a real-life-outside-the-womb baby!

As usual Pablito was in his "U" position...I don't know if I've mentioned this before, but we've had sonograms at 12 wks, 20 wks, and the last one was at 23 wks for a minor check. In every sonogram we've had for this kid he has ALWAYS had his legs over his head and he's been in the "U" position. Sure enough, like clockwork, at this 31 wk sonogram he ONCE AGAIN had his legs above his head and unfortunately his little foot was covering his face for the majority of the picture-taking. I'm thinking he is starting to think this is real funny and I'm hoping he won't try and come out in his infamous "U" position because mommy will NOT appreciate that very much.

That being said, I hope y'all can identify his beautiful little face, foot and all. The best picture BY FAR is the where we caught him rubbing his eyes. Precious...enjoy!

30 Weeks

Today the baby and I had our 30 week appt. with the Dr. and she let us know that everything is coming along according to plan and that she'll see me in 2 weeks for my next appt. I walked over to the hospital afterwards just to make sure I was pre-registered and decided to take a tour of the maternity ward while I was there. Sure enough I got butterflies in my stomach (or maybe the baby was just kicking REALLY hard) because that is where I'll be delivering our son. It's pretty hard to imagine this journey is coming near an end in only 10 short weeks, it seems like just yesterday I found out I was pregnant and now I'm taking classes on breathing exercises and washing baby clothes!

Next up will be my last and final shower in El Paso and this punk's last opportunity to rack up those gifts he so desperately loves. All of this mad work and crazy-busy lifestyle is starting to wind down at a perfect time because I'm starting to feel the exhaustion kicking back in. With the amount of space this gordito is taking up in me and all the last minute items I really hope I make it to the full 40 weeks!

Safari Shower

This past weekend was a whirlwind what with my mom's birthday and the beautiful shower she put on in honor of her grandson. It's amazing I survived with enough energy to even get out of bed this morning!

I really hope my mom enjoyed herself on her birthday because I sure did. This baby is once again so blessed to have sooooo many lovely aunties and grandmas who gave him the most fantastically beautiful gifts. Each and every present was so beautifully put together and so warm and special my heart melted as I opened each one.

The shower was of course to-die-for, as my mom would not have had it any other way and the fact that she did it all on her birthday just made it that much more special to the baby and I. I cannot thank her enough for being the most amazing mom and future grandma a girl could ever ask for. Besos mami :)

Chaucer tested...Mother approved

I've been telling you all about the great gifts we've received lately, well here are some pictures of a few of them in action. Chaucer has been one fantastic test specimen with all of the baby's presents. I have a feeling he thinks all of these things are for him and not for his little brother. Jack has a feeling Chaucer is contemplating suicide based on the reactions he has in all of these pictures. You be the judge ;)

Pablo gets showered

Sorry I haven't posted in quite some time, I've been running around like a chicken with its head cut off attempting to get the baby's nursery in order, receiving/putting away presents and writing thank you notes like mad. I guess things could be worse, I mean the majority of this running around is because this baby has been blessed with the most amazing friends and family anyone could ever ask for.

Jack, Pablo and I are absolutely mystified with the amount of out pour this baby (who now has 12 weeks to go!!!) has received. In the last few weeks alone I've had 2 drop-dead-gorgeous showers and all of you have more than exceeded any expectation I may have some how had with the completion of what seems like 95% of the baby registry. The presents have all been so special, so beautiful and have at this point brought me to tears because I am so elated with each and every one that I receive.

Words cannot express my gratitude and I hope you all enjoy these pictures as much as I enjoyed taking them :)

27 weeks

Yikes folks. Yikes. I haven't posted a belly pic in quite some time and here I am at a full 27 weeks...Updates, I have TONS, but for now I'll leave you with the knowledge that the baby and I are thankfully doing well and as you can tell this fatty is coming along as he is supposed to. He has started hiccuping a lot now and its funny to both feel that and picture him doing it. More posts to come, I promise!!!

First Shower present!!!

Thank you thank you thank you Tia Ory! I LOVVVVVEEEEE the baby's gift! Today I came home and found a big box on my doorstep which to my surprise and Jack's relief was NOT in fact something that I had ordered (which is usually the case). I was so excited to see it was my first official 'shower gift' and present from my dearest Aunt Ory who lives in Baton Rouge, LA. I OF COURSE had to tear it open right away and asked Jack to put it together right there and then.

Doesn't it look fantastic? this thing vibrates, soothes, plays music and even comes with some cute puppies the baby can play with if bored with the other gadgets. I know I seem so shocked considering I put this item on my registry, but to be completely honest, I picked everything online so any extra components or details these items may have will be a surprise to me when I see it in person.

Anyways, I'm so excited to put the 'gordo' (as my fam has been referring to him lately) in here and I can only imagine what he'll look like so we've decided to start using the Burrito who is a whopping 10 lbs as a test subject from here on out on all baby products. I apologize for all you animal lovers out there, but these products WILL be tested on the animal and don't worry Tia Ory, he was only in there for 2 mins.

6 months!!!

Friends and Family, it makes me sooo happy to say that I have made it to the 6 month mark which puts me right at 24 weeks! I wasn't supposed to have another ultrasound until 28 weeks which would also be my last, but my Dr. decided to move it up to today due to some minor complications I was having. No worries though please, everything is beyond ok and I got the clean bill of health from both her and all the corresponding nurses in the office.

I wanted to post some pictures from today because I can't believe how much this baby has grown in just a month but Jack wanted them for his office so just use your imagination ;). This boy was kicking around a whole lot while being measured by the ultrasound specialist and once again he turned out to be just fine. The Dr. even let us know that he is weighing in at 1lb 12 ounces which puts him ahead of schedule meaning this fatty in my belly is going to be a BIG boy. I am sooooo ready to meet him, especially now that he is really starting to kick a whole lot. Now if he would just turn around so I can stop running to the bathroom every 5 mins!

Pablo and the Windy City

This past weekend Pablito and I took a vacay to visit his aunties Megan and Kate in Chicago. His aunt Angie met us there as she flew in from Dallas for a bona-fide girls only/find-Angie-a-wedding-dress fun fantastical weekend. We had an absolute blast and it was so great to get away from the scorching Texas heat. I have to say Pablo especially enjoyed this trip because his mom ate her way through chi-town and now SERIOUSLY needs to watch what she inhales...intakes.

It was so much fun and I wish I had more pictures to share but we forgot to take a single picture while there so I've included a shot of downtown Chi at night while touching down in the airplane. His aunties all got to feel him kick around in my stomach and that made me especially happy because now they definitely know there is a Pablo in there!

Mom...STOP.PLEASE.

Spanish style clothes



Love you Tia Karla!

Besos Tia Sof!!

This baby has clothes. We get it. We love it. He'll use it. Please stop. As I have expressed previously my mom is WAY excited for this baby. I have a deep rooted feeling she is going to try and snatch him in the middle of the night and we'll have another Hush movie on our hands. Did y'all see that? mom poisons Gwyneth Paltrow because she wants her baby? There is no doubt in my mind that my mom wins in the grandma department. She is the best, now and forever, AMEN. There mom, I said it, now please stop shopping.

I have tittled her recent spree 'Spanish style clothes'. It's absolutely gorgeous, soft, cuddly and Pablo will surely be the snobbiest kid on the block. She also bought him a wooden puzzle because her and I really enjoy wooden toys, they are so organic and raw and perfect.

His aunt Karla and Sof also bought him the most adorable clothes ever! He just wants to say thank you to them from the bottom of his tiny little beating heart. How fun will it be to dress him up in his matching blanket/pantsuit and have him parading around dressed as a giraffe! I can't wait!!!

Older brother, Burrito.

How I have failed to mention this baby has an older brother is beyond me. Chaucer Burrito Zinda is such an integral part of our lives, I cannot believe that it has slipped my mind to even talk about him in the slightest. I think I forgot about him because he had been away on a summer vacation at his grandparent's house in El Paso for such a long time. Well, he is back now and more in-our-lives than ever before.

I'd like to say that Chaucer senses the fact that I am pregnant and he has a little brother on the way and is happy about this, but alas...this is NOT the case. Or maybe it is and he is just being his usual snobby-self. Regardless, I really have to do a better job about not letting him climb all over my belly and bark like mad in my ear when he 'thinks' he hears something.

Dearest Pablo, I hope you appreciate your older brother as much as he 'likes' you ;). Here he is sniffing around in the crib, I truly believe once the baby comes the Burrito really will enjoy taking naps with his little brother.

Tailgatin' Pablito

This past weekend we took part in our first tailgate of the season and OF COURSE Pablo joined in the football festivities. We started off by going and visiting Pablo's uncle Bibi at his Texas Wranglers tailgate. He looked sooooo cute dressed up in his boots, hat and pearl snaps I just had to take a picture. We then headed over to Jack's Lawyer's Association tailgate which was truly awesome. Their building is adjacent to the Texas Capitol so we got to hang out on the roof deck and eat some, what else? BBQ!!!! All in all it was a good time and the Horns won, so fun was had by all.

OH! and we also received the crib in this weekend so Jack put it together Saturday night and his uncle Jorge installed the light fixture I had bought for Pablo's room (thanks for that brother!!!) the next day. His room is realllly looking like a nursery now and I can't wait to show y'all when its all said and done, I love just standing in there and looking around, its so serene.

TeXaS Pride

I was so excited to find out this baby was a boy I just wanted to go out and find the 'perfect' baby boy gift for him. I really wanted to go the same day but Jack told me to wait and think about it until I figured out exactly what it was I wanted to get him. I'm so glad he made me hold out because I finally decided to get him the perfect pair of cowboy boots. This baby is after all a true Texan; he'll be born here, live here, kicks when he hears George Strait and craves BBQ meat like its going outta style! I know he won't be able to wear these for a while, but when he can he'll be the coolest kid at the rodeo ;)

5 months...yikes!

Well, in case you didn't think I was pregnant before, here it is. I'm thinking this will have to be the last 'naked' belly pic. from now on I will definitely start covering up (I think its necessary so you all will remain friends and family ;)). I'm really excited that I'm half way done with the pregnancy and the nursery and baby stuff buying is WELL under way! So 20 weeks down and 20 more to go!!!

It's a boy!!!! OR Jack's newest protégé!!!!!!!!

I am so happy to announce that the Zinda house will open its hearts and doors to a beautiful baby boy! Jack and I were truly expecting this baby to be a girl and were completely ready for the tutu's and wedding savings account. As Jack says though, "well this changes everything!!!" so now instead of tutu's and tiaras we'll be buying basketballs, bats and Jack's personal favorite...Dallas Cowboys seasons tickets.

Pictures (L to R):
1-Money Shot
2-Baby in 'U' position (legs above head...highly flexible)
3-Profile pic
4-Close-up of leg (very athletic don't you think?!?!?)

Painting Party

This past weekend Jack, Pablo and I painted the nursery. Don't worry all, I wore a mask, took MAJOR breaks, ordered low VOC and BPA free paint and had some fans going full blast. I won't show the outcome until later (when it's nice and complete) but its getting there and we had too much fun while we worked!

Arnold Palmers...yes please!

A lot of you have been asking if I've had any crazy cravings, well sadly the answer is no. One thing I have noticed though (and this has been going on since about week 11) is that everyday I order an Arnold Palmer everywhere I go. I'm not sure if its an actual craving or the fact that it tastes so yummy and refreshing in this 100+ degree weather.

While we were in NY however I would order them and everyone looked at me like I was crazy so I would explain, "Iced tea and lemonade please" and then they would respond, "Don't have either". I'm thinking Arnold Palmers are a southern thing but either way I gotta have one everyday.

I thought this commercial was perfectly fitting for this post as it explains the nature of my need and reminds me that soon, VERY soon, college football will return and THAT makes Pablo and his mama verrryyyyy happy ;)

Boy or Girl?

I still don't know. Some days I think I'm having a girl and some days its a boy. We'll just have to ultimately wait and find out! Someone who can't wait however is my mom. My parents were in town this past weekend and she begged me to take an Intelligender test. I'll spare y'all the pictures and just let you look it up yourselves at: http://www.intelligender.com/home.html. I did as the instructions said and it is fairly, 65% positive that I am having a boy. So I guess with those odds I can't lose right??? We'll see...

18 weeks!!!

Well friends and fam, here are the 18 weeks (or 4.5 months) preggo pics. As you can tell I am in full maternity clothes at this point and all my other stuff is fitting tighhhhhttttt...Excited for the 5 month shot, a lot can change in 2 weeks!

4 Wonderful Years...

Today is Jack and I's 4 year wedding anniversary and I couldn't be more excited. It's been such a beautiful marriage thus far and I really cannot believe that I love him more today then I did the day I married him. I can't wait to raise this baby with my best friend and soul mate and am thrilled at the thought of spending many more years living in the dream that he has made for me. I love you more than words sweetie!

Did I mention my mom was excited?

'organic stuff'




'cute stuff'

I will title these pictures 'Care Package #1' because I'm fairly certain my mom will be sending a whole lot more. Sometimes I feel like this is her baby I'm carrying and I'm just the surrogate. What can I say? She is excited and I must admit I was excited to see not one, but two 3'x3' boxes waiting by my door when I got back from my trip.

Take note, Box #1 was titled (by my mom) 'cute stuff' and Box #2 was called the 'organic stuff'. It really hit home that I'll soon be changing a tiny little person in and out of all these beautiful things sooner than I know while I was opening all the presents. Enjoy the beauties as much as I do!