19 weeks (1/2 way)

Babies' sensory development is exploding! Their brains are designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that they 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.

Babies weigh about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. Their arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of their bodies now. Their kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on their scalps is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on their skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid.

Back from Vacation

We are back from Mexico and had a great time.

18 week belly pic

This week's belly pic was taken today in Cozumel, Mexico. We are having a great time and it's just what I needed before we really start to prepare for getting ready for babies.

18 weeks

Head to rump, babies are about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and weigh almost 7 ounces. They're busy flexing arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. Blood vessels are visible through the thin skin, and their ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from their heads a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around their nerves, a process that will continue for a year after they're born. The girl's uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place.

BIG u/s results

All three babies look great and are measuring right on track.
We are thrilled!!

One Year Ago

One year ago today, I was at having my ER and getting ready to start chemotherapy the following week. I thought I would have to wait 3-5 years in order to use those little frosties and look at me now.

WOW, what a difference a year makes.

16 weeks

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

15 week belly pic

I did bare belly so you can get a real sense of what the size is!!