January 21, 2009

At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound, our baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. Her lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and she's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath her gums. Her eyes have formed, but her irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. There is fine hair (lanugo) that covers her body and the deep wrinkles on her skin, which she'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside her belly, her pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.


Our baby's senses are developing daily. She now has a full complement of neurons in the brain and is learning about her body and surroundings through touch. Touch is one of the first senses to mature and our baby may stroke its face or feel her arms and legs.

This week she--Loopy--has started to kick fairly hard. Sometimes if I put my hand on my stomach when she kicks I can see my hand move! That is so cool. I always knew being pregnant would be an experience of a lifetime, but this is cooler than I could have ever expected. Whenever she kicks I find myself smiling. I love feeling this life moving inside of me. It is the greatest thing I'll ever get to experience in my entire life.

January 14,2009

It's a GIRL!!

And she's healthy. Everything looks good.

I am 21 weeks...due May 27th.

The 1st picture is her little foot and is Nick's favorite. The 2nd picture is a 3-D ultrasound of her precious little face, her hand is underneath her chin. (can you see it Aunt Darbi????)

January 6, 2009

1/2 way there!!!

Our baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure, measurements are taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, he's measured from head to toe.)He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery).

January 1, 2009

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

IT'S 2009

Happy New Year everyone! I have never looked forward to a new year as much as I am this one. For one thing, we are getting a new President that will hopefully turn this country around...or start to...during his term.

But the most exciting thing is that I get to become a mommy! I still can't believe it's happening. I don't know when it will become more real to me. I thought feeling baby Hergie move would do it, but not quite.

Anyways...I hope everyone's 2009 is as happy and exciting as mine will be.