Dumbo

The weeks seems like they are starting to pick up some speed now. I can't believe it's already been 18. It's almost as if Austin knew that around 18 weeks you should start to be able to feel the baby more. Yesterday I felt him on and off at least every couple of hours. He was the most active during our morning car ride with the music going. This morning I was dancing on my way to work and he gave me a kick...I guess he doesn't enjoy the dancing as much as I do. It's exciting to be able to feel him more. It's one of those things where you KNOW he's there...but it's still a little hard to believe. I have another ultrasound in 2 weeks, on the 6th. I get so excited every time I get to see him or hear his little heartbeat. The heartbeat is really just the coolest little sound. I wish I could get a good recording of it. Maybe the ultrasound tech will be nice and print out another 4d pic again. I'd love to see how his little face has changed in the past month.

I'm still not really getting the cravings or anything. Eric swears my cravings are ice cream...but I like to have options! I don't think there's anything wrong with getting 3 different flavors...you never know what you're going to be in the mood for, right?? I don't know why he's picking, at least it means there's ice cream in the house for him too.

I don't know when some of the more strange symptons are supposed to occur, but I'm thankful they haven't yet. Maybe I'm lucky, I would sure love to avoid the spider veins and facial hair and other weird things that happen during pregnancy. I am having a harder time sleeping at night and getting comfortable. My belly also seems to be the heaviest at night time when I'm trying to get up and down. I imagine this is only the beginning of moving funny. I read the baby will be having a big growth spurt the next coupld of weeks, I'm curious to see what this belly will do. 

How your baby's growing:

Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long 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 (I'm picturing Dumbo as I read this) . A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born. Your baby is growing rapidly. His bones are continuing to harden and the pads of his fingers and toes are formed. He even has his own set of fingerprints developing as well. He also is developing his stomach, intestine and colon and the intestines are collecting meconium (the initial stool a baby will pass after birth). If the baby is a boy, the prostate will begin to develop this week as well.  The four-chambered heart begins to build up muscle cells and is pumping between 25 and 30 quarts of blood per day. And now for the skill of the week (drum roll please…): The art of the yawn has been mastered by your baby (someone's sleepy!).