Got this great idea from Christin, and have decided to share these here as well as in our emails, so we have a way to keep track of the milestones!
First Update:
12 weeks 1 day
28 weeks to go!
Official Due Date: December 5!
The baby is as big as a large plum!
Depending on where you read, we are either in the last week of the first trimester, or the 13th week is the end. Either way, I am a full 3 months along now and things are looking great. In honor of today's appointment, thought I would start to do some updates so you know what's happening with Kermie (our baby nickname) and me & Doug!
Baby Kermie Progress:
In today's appointment, *he was measuring at 2.2 inches. Right on track! First appointment (5/10) he was at 3.2 cm, today he was at 5.6. Steadily plumping up! Heartbeat today was a strong and steady 165! (Baby heartbeat range is 120-170. "They" say a faster heartbeat means its a girl, but Christine had 1 fast heartbeat and we all know she had 2 boys!)
Most of his systems are in place, though there's still plenty of maturing to do. The baby has more than doubled in size during the past three weeks. And that's just on the outside — there's plenty going on inside too. The fetal digestive system is beginning to flex its digestive muscle — literally — as it starts practicing contraction movements, a skill your baby will need after birth to push food through the digestive tract. The pituitary gland at the base of the brain has started producing hormones. And the bone marrow is making white blood cells, which will one day help the baby fight infection (including all those germs passed around the playgroup).
The most dramatic development this week: reflexes. Your baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close, his toes will curl, his eye muscles will clench, and his mouth will make sucking movements. In fact, if you prod your abdomen, your baby will squirm in response, although you won't be able to feel it. (We saw this today when she had the wand on my tummy, Kermie was bouncing like a bean!!) His intestines, which have grown so fast that they protrude into the umbilical cord, will start to move into his abdominal cavity about now, and his kidneys will begin excreting urine into his bladder. (YUM!)
Meanwhile, nerve cells are multiplying rapidly, and in your baby's brain, synapses are forming furiously. His face looks unquestionably human: His eyes have moved from the sides to the front of his head, and his ears are right where they should be.
Carin Progress:
I am feeling pretty good, still tired during the day at work and ready to jump in bed right at 10 on the dot. Thankfully I havent been falling asleep on the couch at 9 (or earlier) anymore, not that it hurt my sleeping patterns. Still struggling to eat some foods, and some things are still pretty repulsive to me (anything on the grill right now smells pretty bad) but I think I could eat mexican food and cake/sweets every day. I will not, and I am trying to get some veggies in the mix. All I can say is thank god for FRUIT so I am getting some nutrition in somewhere :) I think I still look the same, although a lot of my jeans & bras are getting tighter and uncomfortable. Thankfully my work pants still fit well (for now) or else I'd be spending the entire day miserable! Trying to fit in a few walks a week for some exercise, even when I have to push myself when I get home from work & all I want to do is lay down and snack.
Doug/Home Progress:
Lots of projects "planned" (per usual), but getting the deck finished is his number 1 priority (doing lattice around the bottom, and staining it...then we'll be "done"). When will that be?? Since our June is busy with lots of commitments, it will be fun to see what 'we' actually get done!
*we are using HE just because it's easier then saying 'it'. If "he" turns out to be "she", let's not tell her.
