Cartoon Catch Up

Week 19


Week 20


Week 21

Week 21 -- Finally caught up...sorry!

Week Twenty-One

White blood cells are under production. Leukocytes (or white blood cells) form our body's defense sytems. They help fight infections and diseases.

Your little one's skin has changed from translucent to become more opaque.

Your infant's tongue is fully formed. If you were able to peek you might catch your son or daughter practicing giving you a raspberry!

Her womb and vagina are formed. Unlike males, females have a limited supply of eggs in their lifetime. At this point your daughter will have 6 million eggs. This amount decreases to approximately one million by birth.

Baby swallows more this week. After your baby takes in amniotic fluid, her body absorbs the water in the liquid and moves the rest into the large bowel. This is good practice for her digestive system!

Wake and sleep periods become more consistent. Some research suggests that baby sets her internal clock to match the outside world's even before birth! Your eating and sleeping habits as well levels of light and noise serve as her signals.

Length is now measured crown to heel.

Baby measures about 10.51 inches (26.7cm) and weighs nearly 12.7 ounces (360g).

Week 20

Week Twenty

You're half way there!

The rapid growth stage is about over. While things have slowed down, this next stage is vital to survival.

The baby's heart grows stronger. Find a quiet place, lay flat on your back. Locate your own heartbeat by finding your pulse. Next lay your hand on your belly. You may be able to distinguish the two heartbeats!

Her legs are reaching their relative size. With the increase muscle develop occurring as well, you will start feeling much more than tiny flutter kicks soon!

Immunities are being transferred from you to your baby now. These immune cells will protect her from viruses you've already had for up to six months after birth!

The nerve cells for taste, smell, hearing, seeing, and touch are now developing in specialized areas of the brain. Production slows down as existing nerve cells grow larger and make more complex connections.

Your baby may startle in reaction to loud sounds. Amazingly, she can actually hear noises outside of the womb. Familiar voices, music, and sounds that baby becomes accustomed to during her development stages often are calming after birth.

Her uterus is starting to develop. She has approximately six million eggs in her ovaries. About one million will remain at birth.

Baby is about 6.46 inches (16.4cm) and weighs around 10.58 ounces (300g).

Week 19

Week Nineteen

Your baby has the same awake and sleep patterns of a newborn. She has a favorite position for sleep and recognizable active and rest periods.

Throughout baby's body, nerves are being coated with a fatty substance called myelin, which insulates the nerves so that impulses can flow smoothly.

Scalp hair becomes apparent this week. It has sprouted and continues to grow.

The milk teeth buds have already developed and over the next few days the buds for the permanent teeth will begin to form behind the milk teeth.

The uterus starts to develop. The vagina, uterus, and fallopian tubes are in place.

Your baby is swallowing amniotic fluid and her kidneys are making urine.

Your little one's size is around 6.02 inches (15.3cm) and 8.47 ounces (240gm).

Chair Rail is up!

We finished putting up the chair rail this weekend in Sofi's room. The railing is on the wall and it's painted. Now we are just waiting for the crib set to come in so we can match colors for the bottom portion of the wall. If you want to check out the progress on the room go to our Building the Nursery Photo Album

Baby Registries Added

As many of you know we have already created baby registries at a couple retailers (Target and Babies "R" Us). I've added a new Baby Registries section on the right hand side of the screen.

It's Time to Start on the Nursery

Well it's finally time to start on the nursery. We've cleared the room out and began working on the chair rail. To see the progress as of the nursery check out the Building the Nursery below

Building the Nursery

18 weeks!

Week Eighteen

Vernix (a white cheese-like protective material) forms on baby's skin with the lanugo (soft, lightly pigmented hair covering the body and limbs); both serving to protect your baby's skin during the months in water.

Your placenta continues to grow and nourish the baby. Don't forget those prenatal vitamins!

Tiny air sacs called alveoli begin to form in lungs. He'll be putting these lungs to good use in just a few months!

Her vocal chords are formed. She goes through the motions of crying but without air she doesn't make a sound.

Features of your baby's heart, including ventricles and chambers, should be visible during an ultrasound.

Your baby measures about 5.59 inches (14.2cm) this week and weighs about 6.7 ounces (190gm).