# 2, week 18

Week 18 has been better than week 17. Woo hoo! I haven't felt great, but I feel "better" and that's a start. There is a lot going on in my life, at home and at work. All I can do is trust in the Lord and know that he will take care of me. Praying for a peaceful, drama-free, weekend.

What babycenter.com has to say about week 18:

How your baby's growing:
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.

# 2, week 17

Week 17 has been one of the worst, which is why this post is more than a week overdue. I caught some sort of stomach virus and couldn't keep any food or liquids down. It was terrible. It started on a Tuesday afternoon and continued into Wednesday morning. I called the doctor and the nurse called in some medicine for me. I was finally able to keep something down, but didn't feel well the rest of that week.

Here's what babycenter.com says about week 17:

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.

# 2, week 16

I had my 16 week appointment on Monday...or so I thought! I get to the doctor's office and they ask my name as I'm signing in. Then they asked what time my appointment was and I thought this can't be good. The receptionist then informed me that my appointment was Tuesday, not Monday. Uh-oh...I'm sure I looked like I was about to cry. She said that she would check and see if they could go ahead and see me. Fortunately, they did...and I don't know why they wouldn't, I'm an easy appointment right now! They weighed me, made me leave a urine sample, listened to the baby's heartbeat and I was on my way! My next appointment is the BIG one...we get to find out what we're having! Maybe I'll change the blog background as an indicator...we'll see. We should at least have some ultrasound pictures that I can post on here instead of the generic ones I've been using. Also, I'm going to get Jeff to start taking a picture of me each week so maybe I'll put that on here too...maybe.

On another note, there are a lot of changes happening in our family and this could be a very busy month/month & a half. Please keep us in your prayers. I'll update more about that when the time comes.

Here's what babycenter.com says the baby is doing:

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.

# 2, week 15

I was hoping by now that I would be through with morning (all-day) sickness...not so much. I'll have a few "decent" days which make me think I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and then I'll have a day like today that completely grounds me. Oh well, it will all be over by September 22nd at the latest so I guess that's the light I need to focus on! I go back to my doctor on Monday for my 16 week appointment so I should have a good update next week!




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.")