Ooh La La.... baby visits Paris

Pictured are Kelli and I in the stands on court number 17 at Roland Garros during the French Open. For years Kelli has wanted to catch up to me in attending the tennis majors super tournaments and boy was the timing perfect for this year. Not sure when we'll do the Australian Open but with the baby soon joining our brood, it will be some time before we haul a child to a trip or an event this grand. So by our count, the baby will only be 1 major tournament behind mommy and daddy after the US Open this year.

Week 16 - Smiley face

Your baby is the size of an Avocado Your baby now measures about 4.3 to 4.7 inches (10.9 to 11.9 cm) long from crown to rump, and weighs 2.75 ounces (78 grams). Your baby is growing fast, and your weight is likely increasing as a result. Your baby’s muscles are now developing to the point that your baby can hold its head erect, in a straight line, and its facial muscles can display a variety of expressions. Your baby’s nails are well formed and he or she is emptying out its bladder every 40 to 45 minutes. Your baby is also covered in lanugo and his or her ears have moved from the neck to the head. Depending on the baby’s position, your doctor may be able to determine your baby’s sex on an ultrasound scan. For some parents, this is one of the most exciting moments of pregnancy.

Week 15 - Daddy loves apples

Your baby is the size of an Apple Your baby measures about 4 inches (10.2 cm) long from crown to rump. At this point, your baby weighs about 1.75 ounces (50 grams). The speed of your baby’s growth over the next few months is picking up. Your baby’s skin has developed but is so thin and translucent that you can see through to its blood vessels. The skeletal and muscular systems continue to develop as your baby slowly becomes more active. His or her bones harden and retain calcium. Some fine hairs, or lanugo, are also developing all over your baby’s face. This hair will eventually cover your entire baby and will be shed before birth. If you’ve been pregnant before, you may feel your baby start moving at this time. If this is your first pregnancy, it will probably be another few weeks before you feel any movement.

Week 14

Your baby is the size of a Nectarine...

Your baby measures about 3.5 to 4 inches (8.9 to 10.2 cm) long from crown to rump. At this point your baby weighs about 1-1.5 ounces (28.4 grams).

Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee and possibly suck his or her thumb. Thanks to brain impulses, your baby's facial muscles are getting a workout as tiny features form one expression after another. 

The baby has also started secreting hormones of its own from its matured thyroid gland. Its body systems are also starting to work on their own. The digestive system is practicing moving food through the intestines while the renal system is creating and eliminating urine.

Your baby also continues to practice breathing the amniotic fluid through its lungs. In addition, he or she has developed soft nails on its fingers and toes. Your baby’s blood is also starting to form in its bone marrow and blood vessels. Its hands continue to develop as well and are becoming more functional.

As the eyes and ears continue to move into place, the baby’s mouth has gone through major development. The sucking muscles are growing strong and the salivary glands are almost fully developed. The esophagus, windpipe and larynx should all be present by the end of this week.

Cravings...

Right now I find myself stopping each morning on my way to work to buy Wawa chocolate milk. Even though my stomach is still a little queasy and breakfast foods are questionable, right now we want chocolate milk. And watermelon! Hmmm...

What were some of the foods you Moms out there craved during your pregnancies?

                                  

Yeah Ushering in the Second Trimester

Your baby is the size of a Tangerine

Your baby measures approximately 2.5 to 3 inches (6.4 to 7.6 cm) long from crown to rump. At this point, your baby weighs between 0.5 and 0.8 ounces (14.2 and 21.3 grams). The placenta and your baby also weigh the same now. Your baby’s vital systems are all fully developed and your baby will now concentrate on growing as much as 1 inch per week.

Your baby is developing significantly. One thing that is apparent is the slowdown in the growth of your baby’s head as its body catches up. Your baby’s face is also starting to look more human — its eyes are beginning to move closer together while its ears are moving to their normal positions.

Internally, your baby’s intestines are migrating into its abdomen. The intestines are also beginning to form villi, which aid in absorption and digestion. The liver also begins to secrete bile; the pancreas starts to secrete insulin. Your baby is practicing swallowing as it continues to take in amniotic fluid and pass it out as urine.

While your baby may have a thumb in his or her mouth, practicing for nursing, its sucking muscles are not fully developed yet. All 20 teeth have also formed and are hidden under the gums. Your baby can also smile and its vocal cords are rapidly developing.

Final week of first trimester...

Your baby is the size of a Lime

Your baby is now approximately 2.5 to 2.8 inches (6.4 to 7 cm) long from crown to rump. At this point, your baby should weigh about 0.3 to 0.5 ounces (8.5 to 14.2 grams).

At week 12, your baby is fully formed. Though its brain and organs will continue to grow and develop, it has all the necessary pieces. However, it wouldn’t be able to survive outside of the womb yet. Your baby’s brain will continue to grow from this point on but will maintain its current shape. The pituitary gland, located at the base of your baby's brain, is also beginning to produce hormones this week.

The most dramatic development this week: reflexes. Your baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close. His or her mouth will make sucking movements. Toes will curl, and eye muscles will clench. Meanwhile, nerve cells are multiplying rapidly, and in your baby's brain, synapses are forming furiously.

Your baby has also started developing nerves and a spinal cord which allows him or her to feel some types of pain. Fingers and toes have separated and hair and nails are starting to form.

Your baby’s vocal cords also form this week. In addition, the kidneys begin to function as the baby starts swallowing amniotic fluid and passing it out as urine. Your baby’s digestive tract is also strengthening.

Most importantly, your baby’s heart is beginning to pump several quarts of blood daily. This can be heard with the aid of a doppler (a special listening device). The heartbeat will be very fast, like the clicking of horse hooves.

The external genitalia have also developed and will begin showing signs of either the male or female sex. Though your health care provider may guess the gender, there is still a lot of uncertainty.