21 Weeks

Hard to believe we are now over half way there! This week we ordered Baby Girl's bedding and the rug for her nursery. We still need to paint the room and pick up a few more things like curtains, pictures, etc. I can't wait for the bedding to come in! My other thrilling purchase this week was her going home from the hospital/first pictures dress - it's her first hand smocked bishop dress and I picked up at the Christmas Show in Charlotte which closed 30 minutes after we got there much to my disappointment. I've been teasing Kyle that we need to knock out the side of our house to create walk in closets for Baby Girl and I. Other then shopping, here is what she is up to this week:

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

Sewing Projects

I had Veteran's Day off from work and it was the perfect day to dust off the sewing machine for a few projects - remnants of Hurricane Ida has graced us with pouring rain and gusty winds.

I used fabric scraps I had on hand, a brand new pack of burp cloths Mom had scored at Goodwill, and some you tube tutorials for an afternoon full of projects that cost me nothing. I was pretty pleased with the results and I'm itching to get to Joann's this afternoon to pick up some more supplies with my birthday gift card.

I had never tried applique before so my first one turned out okay but I adjusted by stitch settings and the 2nd one came out much better.

Half Way There!

It's hard to believe we are half way there - another 20 weeks to go and we get to meet our baby girl! We had a busy week filled with registering, meeting with a pediatrician, and maybe a little bit of shopping for some dresses and pink of course! All is well with the pregnancy - we've been blessed. Her movements are becoming more and more pronounced and easier to feel from the outside. Here is what she's up to this week:

Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. She's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a cantaloupe. (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, she's measured from head to toe.) She's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for her digestive system.

19 Weeks

Almost half way - here is what Baby Girl is up to this week...

Your baby's sensory development is exploding! Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a mango. Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. Her kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.

It's a... GIRL!

This morning was our ultrasound - it was the first ultrasound where Kyle was able to see the baby - and the first for both of us where it actually looked like a baby! So neat. Our little one cooperated fully and we were thrilled to find out it's a girl! Kyle's reaction was something along the lines of "well I guess it's time to start saving more money, worrying about boyfriends, and designer jeans" but it's ok she already has him wrapped around her finger!

Here are a few pictures of our Little Girl...

The Bump

17 and 18 Weeks

We got back from our cruise last night. We had a wonderful time full of sunny weather, new friends, and we even won $500 playing Bingo! I also started feeling baby move this week. I wasn't sure at first but it became more and more regular throughout each day and especially during the loud shows (apparently baby likes to dance) and during the bumpy island rides. Kyle and I were both able to feel the baby from the outside for the first time last night right as we were about to take off for Raleigh. Lots of people describe it as feeling like a butterfly - I'm not sure how I would describe it but a butterfly this baby is not. One week from today until we find out if we are having a son or daughter! And if you are lucky I may just post a picture of "the bump". It definitely grew this week and not from the cruise food - I am very proud to say I managed not to gain a single pound. Must have been all the walking and stairs.

Here is what baby is up to:

18 Weeks

Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.

17 Weeks

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.