17 weeks

Your pregnancy: 17 weeks

How your baby's growing:

Your baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — her lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop.

How your life's changing:

Starting to feel a bit off balance? As your belly grows, your center of gravity changes, so you may begin to occasionally feel a little unsteady on your feet. Try to avoid situations with a high risk of falling. Wear low-heeled shoes to reduce your risk of taking a tumble; trauma to your abdomen could be dangerous for you and your baby. You'll also want to be sure to buckle up when you're in a car — keep the lap portion of the seat belt under your belly, drawn snugly across your hips, and also use the shoulder harness, which should fit snugly between your breasts.

You may also notice your eyes becoming drier. Using over-the-counter lubricating drops may help. If your contact lenses become uncomfortable, try wearing them for shorter stretches of time. If you still have discomfort, switch to glasses until after you give birth.

16 weeks

Your pregnancy: 16 weeks

How your baby's growing:

Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. Right now, he's about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby continues to develop.

15 Weeks and feelin like a champ

Well here I am, 15 weeks prego, and still feelin like a million bucks. Whoo hoo! Guess I'm lucking out with this pregnancy. Of course it's pretty early still. Ask me again in another 15 weeks and I may have a few more complaints then :)

I'm going to start posting weekly updates on the baby's progress so that I have a personal journal of what's goin on with this little bundle of joy in me belly. This information is from http://www.babycenter.com/. It's a really cool website! Check it out if you get a min. That is, if you care about that kind of stuff. lol.

Week 15 - How your baby's growing:


Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds. Finally, if you have an ultrasound this week, you may be able to find out whether your baby's a boy or a girl! (Don't be too disappointed if it remains a mystery, though. Nailing down your baby's sex depends on the clarity of the picture and on your baby's position. He or she may be modestly curled up or turned in such a way as to "hide the goods.")

Happy Halloween!

 My headless horseman pumpkin on the left and Lenny's evil pumpkin on the right.

PCP 2011

Yesterday was the annual Pumpkin Carving Party at J&J's. What fun! I be lovin errthing Autumn, so this is one of my fave activities of the whole year! Those Orfs always put on a great party!

Most memorable moment this year goes to Dean, who was a cheapo and bought a $2 pumpkin on the side of the road on his way to the party, only to find out it was rotten as all get out when he cut into it. Seriously, that thing was N-A-S-T-Y. The inside was about 1/2 liquified mush. And it had a LOVELY smell, too. Blech. Maybe next year he'll splurge and pay the extra $3 to get a non-rotted pumpkin!

Hard at work

Sam checkin out the inside of the pumpkin

 
Soney made a lil pumpkin (actually it was a squash) that had pink and blue flowers coming out of it with a sign that said "Miracle Grow." You know, for the baby. ;) Always the creative one!

I'll light up our punkins tonight and post those pics later.

Bella's reaction to the big news, Part 2

Bella's reaction to the big news, Part 1