Peanut is 19 Weeks Old!

How big is Peanut?
Peanut has grown so much during these 19 weeks but is only 7 ½ inches long and weighs about 7 ounces. Don’t worry, he/she still has a lot of growing left to do.

What is happening with Peanut?
While Peanut is continuing to grow, the development that is occurring is very specific. For example, the kidneys are making urine, and hair is beginning to sprout on his/her scalp. The parts of the brain that are responsible for the senses are specializing. If I am having a baby girl, she already has 6 million eggs formed in her ovaries.

(According to the American Pregnancy Association)

Peanut is kicking like a pro!

Peanut really started kicking this week starting Monday! It is such a neat experience to have the baby moving and kicking so that I can feel it. I was actually tearing up when I realized what I was feeling. Yesterday I joked with Eric that it felt like I had a whole soccer team in my stomach! Peanut was moving and grooving off and on for most of the day! Right now you can't see or feel the kicks from the outside. It is like my own little secret that I share when Peanut moves. I love this feeling (although slightly painful at times) as I feel so connected to Peanut now. This will help me get through the two week wait that we have to find out if Peanut is a boy or a girl (April 5th can't come soon enough!). I am so ready to know the sex of the baby so that I can start calling him/her by their actual name. The name Peanut just doesn't seem right anymore now that Peanut is strong enough to kick my stomach!

Peanut is 18 Weeks

How big is Peanut...
Peanut is now around 7 inches long and weighs 5 ½ ounces.

What is happening with Peanut?
A protective covering called myelin is beginning to form around his/her nerves. This covering will continue to form up until Peanut's first birthday. If I am having a little girl, her fallopian tubes and uterus have positioned themselves into the correct place. If I am having a little boy, then his genitals may be noticed on my next ultrasound. However, many babies do not like to cooperate during the ultrasound, and the genitals cannot be seen.

(According to the American Pregnancy Association)

The baby room decor

I think we have finally found our baby room decor! I had been toying with the idea of painting Peanut's room a light mint green. Yesterday my Sister-In-Law Carla found the perfect decor for us in the JCPenney Catalog (see picture from catalog on the left)!

We are going to paint the walls light mint green and accent the room with yellows, blues, and mint green to keep the room more neutral colors that will go for a boy or a girl. Not as much blue as you see in the photo from the catalog.

Turtles & light mint green - it couldn't be more perfect! Thanks Carla!

My 17 Week Doctor's Appointment

Yesterday was my 17 week doctor's appointment. I got to hear the hearbeat again - it was much louder this time as Peanut is much bigger now!! (Which my father fondly translates as - Peanut must be a boy!)

When the Doctor was using the doppler to listen to the heartbeat she had to keep moving because Peanut was moving so much that she had to chase the heartbeat! (Again my father fondly translates - as definately a boy!)

April 5th is the BIG appointment. It is the fetal anatomy scan where we see and measure all major organs (brain, heart, liver, etc...) and most importantly ..... the SEX OF THE BABY! YEAH! So April 5th we will finally know if I
am carrying an Austin or a Caitlin! Very exciting!

Peanut is 17 Weeks Old!

How big is Peanut?
Peanut is about 6 ½ inches long and weighs 4 ounces.

What is happening with Peanut?
Peanut's umbilical cord is not only lengthening but also becoming thicker and stronger for these last 23 weeks. Peanut's sense of hearing is also developing since the ears have fully formed and moved into their final position.
Peanut is also beginning to form adipose or fat tissue. This will help him/her take on a more normal appearance by filling out the fine features that he/she has. Fat is important in helping regulate the body’s temperature and metabolism.

(According to the American Pregnancy Association)

Peanut is 16 Weeks Old!

How big is Peanut?
By the end of week 16, Peanut is approximately 6 inches and weighs 2 ½ ounces.

What is happening with Peanut?
Peanut is preparing himself/herself for a growth spurt over the next several weeks. Peanut's head is more erect now than it has been in the previous weeks of pregnancy. His/her ears and eyes are situated in their final positions. These three things are giving Peanut a more “normal” appearance than he/she has had up to this point.

Several of the more complicated body systems are also beginning to function including your child’s urinary and circulatory system. Peanut's heart pumps around 25 quarts of blood per day. However, by week 40 this amount will increase to 1,900 quarts per day!

(According to the American Pregnancy Association)

2007: Year of the Golden Pig

I have heard from a number of my Asian friends that 2007 is a very good year to have a baby. 2007 is the year of the pig. Babies born in a pig year are supposed to be easy-going, loyal and lucky. A golden pig year comes around only every 60 years. Babies born in those years are supposed to be more likely to be healthy, wealthy and happy.

http://www.c-c-c.org/chineseculture/zodiac/pig.htm