23 weeks

I guess we're both getting bigger and bigger every day. I read this story on Yahoo yesterday: Pregnant moms' weight affects toddlers. So, I've decided that Baby Woof will probably be an overweight toddler because I am most definitely going to gain, at the very least, the "recommended" amount of weight. I've prepared myself (and my husband) that I'll probably gain 40 lbs. or so. Who knows how high I can go?!?!?

I've gained 20 lbs. so far...if anyone would like to guess how much I'll weigh by the end - I'd like to hear it! Winner gets...ummm...the winner gets...the satisfaction of being right! (I promise not to be offended by any weight gain estimates.)

23 weeks

Your baby is more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound. She may be able to feel your movements now, so put on some fun tunes and dance around the house. No matter what race your baby is, her skin is red and wrinkled at this stage and will likely look pink or reddish at birth. Blood vessels that show through your baby's transparent skin cause this coloration. Her true skin tone will develop over the course of her first year.

Blood vessels in your baby's lungs are developing to prepare her for breathing, but complete lung development will take many more months. The lungs are the last organ to fully develop in babies. That's why premature babies (those born before 37 weeks) often have such a hard time breathing. Babies born this week have a chance of surviving with the help of intensive medical care, but their risk of serious complications is very high.

22 weeks

Ah, Baby Woof is growing and growing. I had a doctor's appt. this past week. I got "great" news...At my appointment next month, I get to have more labwork and ORANGE DREAMSICLE, (a/k/a pukesicle) delight!! Yayyyy! I'm sure you'll all want to come along and watch this. Maybe, Mike will come along and make a video...

22 weeks

Your baby now looks like a miniature newborn, checking in at 10.9 inches and almost 1 pound. Her skin will continue to appear wrinkled until she gains enough weight to fill it out, and the fine hair (lanugo) that covers her head and body is now visible. Your baby's eyes are developed, though the iris (the colored part of the eye) still lacks some pigment. Her pancreas, essential for hormone production, is also developing steadily. Your baby's lips are becoming more distinct, and the first signs of teeth are appearing as buds beneath her gum line. You won't actually see her first tooth until she's around 4 to 7 months old unless she's one of the rare babies who's born with teeth.

Halfway there!

Baby Girl Woof is now about 10 inches long. Wow, that's kinda hard to believe. What's even more hard to believe is that she'll be twice that size when she's born. Wooooo, golly!

I was lying in bed the other night thinking: "I want my body back!" I know it's a little early for those thoughts, but I'm starting to feel bigger and bigger everyday. At the same time, it's exciting that I'm starting to show and I even bought some maternity shirts. It's kinda fun to wear them.

Oh, I removed some of the "gross" stuff from this update below - something about a coating and...uh, her excretions. We'll ignore that for now...(while we can!)

20 weeks

You've made it to the halfway mark — congratulations! Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. She's around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom, and about 10 inches from head to heel. (For the first 20 weeks, we use measurements taken from the top of the baby's head to her bottom — known as the "crown to rump" measurement. After that, we use measurements from head to toe. This is because a baby's legs are curled up against her torso during the first half of pregnancy and are very hard to measure.)

19 weeks

She's a zucchini! We've made the transition to vegetables I guess...I think they want me to get hungry(er). I'm still waiting for that infamous watermelon. Will they call it that? Wait - I guess not. The baby wouldn't get THAT big, would it?? [fingers crossed]

Uh, this picture looks pretty crazy. I kinda thought it'd be too early for her to be this scrunched up (if you're claustrophobic, don't look!):

19 Weeks

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces, and she measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the length of a small zucchini. 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. If your baby is a girl, she has an astonishing six million eggs in her ovaries.

This is a crucial time for sensory development: Your baby's brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. While you may think your womb is a quiet place, it's far from it and your baby may be able to hear what's going on now. What's she listening to? The main sounds are blood moving through your vessels, digestive noises from your stomach, and your voice. Some women like to talk directly to their babies, but even if you don't, your baby can still hear you as you talk to others. Research shows that she's learning to distinguish your voice from others and she'll soon show a preference for it. Studies have shown that when a pregnant woman speaks, her baby's heart rate will decrease, indicating relaxation. Let Dad get in on the act too — encourage him to talk to your baby.