Beginning Week 14

This weekend Kevin and I went to a friend's wedding in Appleton. Two of his friends from college are new daddies. Their wives, with babies of 4 months and 5 months, had a lot of fun stories and tips to share with me. We had a wonderful time and are now even more excited to be starting a family.

This week, the thyroid gland has matured and baby begins producing hormones which will be used throughout baby's life. In boys, the prostate gland develops. In girls, the ovaries move from the abdomen to the pelvis. Baby's bones are getting harder and stronger by the day! Baby's skin is very transparent still. Lanugo (very fine hair) covers the baby's body and will continue to grow until 26 weeks gestational age - Generally this will be shed prior to birth. Its purpose is to help protect baby's skin while in all that water!

Your baby is 3.42 inches (8.7cm) long and weighs about 1.52 ounces.

Beginning Week 13, Beginning 2nd Trimester

One down, two to go! Trimesters, that is.

Now fully formed, the baby's organs will start to mature during this trimester. Baby is now working his chest muscles and lungs. The skin is becoming more waterproof and the heartbeat finally starts to slow down a little. By the end of this trimester, the baby will more than double in length! Grow baby, grow!

I saw many friends and family this weekend which was lots of fun. So, as many of you saw, no change in my belly yet. I'm guessing that by the end of September I will have a baby bump. By the next time a lot of you see me, I'm sure I'll be obviously pregnant.

Kevin and I also got new carpet in the living room today. It is very cushy which is good because in the coming months, we will be spending a lot of time crawling around making goo goo gaa gaa sounds at the third wheel in the house.

Second doctor visit

This afternoon I had my second doctor's appointment. Becuase it was so short, Kevin did not come. The weighed me, took my blood pressure, and the doctor listened to the heart beat. (I saw a different doctor for this visit and he was just as kind as the first one.) He couldn't hear the heart beat so he brought in a portable mini ultrasound machine. We saw the baby kicking! He then went back and we could finally hear the heartbeat!

I think the next appointment there is another ultrasound so Kevin may be coming to that appointment. So far, things are still great! I fall asleep pretty early in the night, but I can deal with that. Let's hope everything in the end is easy too!

Beginning Week 12, Ending 1st Trimester

This is the last week of my 1st trimester. Hard to believe its gone by this quickly. Overall, I have been very blessed to have such an easy one. The extent of my hardships were being extremely tired for a few weeks (which has mostly ceased) and a small appetite (which is now back to normal).

Baby can swallow by now and is roughly 3 inches long! The baby is less hunched over and the face is almost fully formed; the eyelids, nose and ears are almost completely developed. Baby even has an upper lip.

The blood has started to pump through the umbilical cord, carrying nutrients and oxygen from my body through the placenta to support baby. It's also getting rid of baby waste, ew! All of the major organ systems have finished forming by the end of this week; now they just have to grow.

Baby's thumbs are useable as well. If you could touch baby's hands there would even be a reflex. I am sure the baby will be a thumb sucker, just like mommy was. What a good way to stop the crying!

thanks auntie erin

Erin and I did a little shopping in Traverse City, Mich. this weekend. She picked up these cute matching onesies for baby. Thanks Erin! We'll send you photos as soon as baby is here.

Begining Week 11

Nearly all structures and organs are formed and beginning to function. Baby's fingers and toes have separated and baby's hair and nails are begin to grow. There are even tiny hair follicles starting to bud under the skin. The genitals begin to take on the proper gender characteristics and are fully formed. However, it's still too soon to know what the sex will be. Amniotic fluid begins to accumulate as the kidneys begin to function - This fluid, consisting primarily of water, helps provide a cushion for baby.

I still feel great! My appetite is much better, I'm eating more normal portions again. Kevin and I were on vacation this weekend and ate lots of good junk food, so it's back to a healthy diet these next weeks.

My mom picked up a crib and changing table this week off craigslist.com so the spare baby bedroom is well on it's way. I also received a call about the new baby chair Kevin and I ordered. We can pick that up at any time.

And of course, travelling this weekend, we were surrounded by little kids and babies everywhere! I know it's also something we've become more aware of. Kevin and I look at these parents and compare ourselves. This baby is slowly becoming more of a reality each day. What a blessing!