Tuesday, October 27, 2009

24 Weeks; 112 days to go!

The baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at just over a pound. Since he's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.

Here is where we will start to 'fudge' the length of a month equalling 4.5 weeks long. Next week, McKenna will once again pose for the camera and show us her belly. She's a little upset about the genetics between she and I as I had what was then called Mother's Down on my belly. She has it also. And She. Is. Not. Happy.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

23 Weeks

Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With his sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that he's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see him squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in his lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing him for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze him when he hears them outside the womb.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

He's there!

Today while Mommy was over for lunch, she laid down on the floor to see if Junior would be moving around. Lo and behold! I felt the little guy wiggling all around...he kicked the palm of my hand several times!! Mommy and Daddy also had one more ultrasound today to check on the baby's size and whatnot. Everthing is AOK! In fact somethings are growing at an alarming rate!

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

22 Weeks

At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.
McKenna has entered the time period when she must now use her belly band. She loves this because it enables her to still wear her non-pregnancy pants and is very comfy around her tummy.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

21 Weeks

Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long — the length of a carrot. You may soon feel like he's practicing martial arts as his initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges. You may also discover a pattern to his activity as you get to know him better. In other developments, your baby's eyebrows and lids are present now, and if you're having a girl, her vagina has begun to form as well.

McKenna and Dave have felt little BBB move now. McKenna's passion for tamales is waning but still loves Mexican food. She participated in the 5k Susan G. Komen walk this past Sunday also. Keep up the good work, honey!

Friday, October 2, 2009

5 Months and growing!


Here she and he are at 5 months. She is feeling him move around daily now. Her energy has resumed and she's walking much more during the weekend. In fact, they went on a 6 mile hike last weekend!