Triumphant Noise Here

Melissa and Zoya at 38 weeks. Miraculously Melissa avoided stretch marks.

Yay!!! For all who played. This week everyone did swimmingly! No one thinks that we are going to feed the placenta to the kitties, so we guess that means that Melissa is not that crazy cat lady yet.

Here are the questions and answers to the final quiz:

1. What is your name and email?
Simple question, easy ten points for all who played.

2. How many generations on record of only boy descendants in the Snagovsky family?
After hours and hours of grueling research, we determined that there are 5 generations of only boy Snagovsky's. You can imagine Pavel's surprise when the ultrasound showed we're having a little girl.

3. Where will baby Zoya be born (if everything goes according to plan)?
Baby Zoya will be born in a Group Health hospital with midwives. They have the lowest record of C section in Washington and support mothers who want a natural birth. We considered doing a home birth and if our home was bigger Melissa might have considered it more.

4. Is Pavel willing to cut the cord?
Pavel says no, but we did put in our birthplan for them to ask us when the time came. Perhaps he will change his mind.

5. What is baby Zoya's middle name?
Pavlovna- accent on the first syllable. It is a Russian custom that the children get a variation of the father's first name as their middle name. If we were having a boy the middle name would be Pavlovich.

6. Some believe it's beneficial for mom to eat the placenta. Is Melissa going to eat the placenta?
No. No way. Melissa is all into natural remedies and stuff, but she does draw a line somewhere.

7. Will the kitties be present at the birth?
No. Kitties will be patiently waiting for our return from the hospital with baby Zoya.

8. What will help speed up labor progression?
All of the above. Semen softens the cervix, orgasm and nipple stimulation releases oxytocin- which stimulates contractions. Foot massage can help induce labor and reduce pain during labor. The oregano and basil in eggplant Parmesan are known to induce labor.

9. Melissa is currently 37 weeks pregnant. What is Melissa's fundal measurement this week?
35 cm. The fundal height typically equals the number of weeks the woman is pregnant. So despite how big Melissa' feels, at 37 weeks she actually measured small. Side note: at 38 weeks on Wednesday, Melissa measured 33 cm, she shrank because baby Zoya dropped further into her pelvis.

So without further ado, here's the ranking of how all you fabulous players did.

Dave V 20 pts
Yeah 20pts
Karen A 50pts
Amanda S 50pts
Shay B 60 pts
Tricia B 80 pts
Heather K 80 pts
Lisa H 80 pts
Alan R 90pts
Mariko C 100 pts
Stacey S 100 pts
Barbara Y 100pts
Joel S 120 pts
MK 120 pts

And the winner is: Tanya F 140 pts!!!! Woo Hoo Tawnie!

For all of Tanya's excellent research and enthusiasm
with playing the games she will receive a
"ZOYA ♥ ME" t-shirt.

Thank you to everyone who had fun with us with the virtual baby shower! You all rock!
Big thanks to everyone for sending us love and gifts for our little baby Zoya!
We will keep you updated as to her arrival. Send some labor vibes Melissa's way!