July is the time for a nice ear of corn...

Week 24
I have mixed feelings about this baby size comparison to fruits and veggies since we seem to be going round then long then round, back to long again. This week however, they say the baby is about the size of an ear of corn, an image I can definitely relate to in the month of July.



Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at about 1 1/3 pounds. Since he's almost a foot long (about the size of an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.

Week 23...exclusive photos of pomegranate-sized baby revealed

Your baby is the size of a Pomegranate                                             

Your baby measures around 11.4 inches (28.9 cm) long from head to heel and weighs almost 1 pound (453.6 grams). Actually, today they estimated our baby to weigh 1 pound 5 oz.

Your baby continues to accumulate fat and drink in amniotic fluid (we think we saw baby "chewing" amniotic fluid during the ultrasound today). His or her sense of taste is maturing, along with other senses such as touch and hearing. The baby’s lanugo (hair that covers its body) is growing darker and its fingernails are also almost fully formed.

Over the next few weeks, your baby will gain significant weight and will almost double in size. The ears are also starting to develop as the three main bones (hammer, anvil, and stirrup) are hardening. This means the baby can listen to sounds but the brain is still developing rapidly.

Your baby’s important organs are also developing quickly. The pancreas, which helps produce insulin, is maturing, and your baby now has sweat glands. Today we got to view all 4 chambers of the baby's heart, and our tech said his/her heart was "beautiful". She measured it beating approximately 145 beats per minute.

Your baby will also be moving around a lot during this time, so the kicks and punches you felt before will continue. We watched the baby at the end of our ultrasound showing off and playing with his/her toes above his/her head. At this point, you might even be able to feel the movements from outside your belly! I started feeling movement and kicks a couple of weeks ago... 

Exclusive paparazzi photos of Baby Velez

Top picture - baby's right foot
Bottom - baby's hand and fingers

We're selling all we can to raise money to afford more paparazzi photos...stay tuned!!

Feeling lots of little kicks in week 22

      Your baby is the size of a Papaya

Your baby measures about 10.9 inches (27.8 cm) long from head to heel. At this point, your baby weighs about 12.25 ounces (347.3 grams).

Your baby is developing the senses it will use in the outside world. Taste buds have started to form on the tongue. The baby's brain and the nerve endings are also developed enough so that the baby has a sense of touch. Your baby may begin testing its sense of touch by touching its face or sucking its thumb.

Your baby’s reproductive system is developing. In boys, the testes have begun to drop from the abdomen, while in girls, the uterus and ovaries are in place and the vagina has developed.

You may notice your baby kicking and turning as well. His or her heartbeat can also be heard with a stethoscope. 

Week 21 - Baby Velez is the new orange since s/he's the size of a carrot

Your baby is the size of a Carrot                                    

From this week on, your baby will likely be measured from head to heel instead of crown to rump. Your baby should measure around 10.5 inches (26.7 cm) long from head to heel. At this point, your baby weighs around 10.5 ounces (297.7 grams).

Your baby’s digestive system has developed enough to start absorbing water and small amounts of sugar from the amniotic fluid that it swallows. Most of the baby’s nourishment, however, still comes through the placenta.

Your baby’s bone marrow has also developed enough to contribute to blood cell formation. Your baby’s liver and spleen have been responsible for creating blood cells until now. The liver will stop producing blood cells a few weeks before birth, while the spleen stops producing blood cells around week 30.

Your baby is also developing visible eyebrows, eyelashes and hair on his or her scalp.