22 weeks

At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. (Let's hope he gets his Daddy's eyesight instead of me and my family's) Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily. It's time to pull out your favorite children's book! This week, your baby can hear you more clearly because the bones of his inner ear are developed enough to detect vibrations. Some studies suggest that your baby will feed more vigorously if you read to him in utero, so why not try it? It's fun and it's a great way to connect with your baby. Your baby will be busy exploring other sensations too, stroking his face as he gets to know himself. His fingernails have grown long enough to cover his fingertips by now, and his liver is capable of removing destroyed red blood cells (bilirubin) from his blood. (Babies who haven't yet developed the ability to do this are sometimes jaundiced and may look yellow at birth; this is easily treated with light.) Your baby's heartbeat is so powerful now that you may be able to hear it with just a stethoscope. He continues to practice swallowing, gulping down amniotic fluid not for nourishment but because he's opening and closing his mouth to work his jaw muscles and tongue. Since everything you eat crosses through the placenta, your meals season the amniotic fluid he's swallowing. Your baby's taste buds are now developed enough to taste different flavors. In fact, ultrasounds of babies may even show them grimacing after their mothers have eaten garlic or spicy food. These different tastes prepare your baby to prefer your own uniquely flavored breast milk.
Me this week...Pregnancy Highlights:
How Far Along: 22 weeks tomorrow
Total Weight Gain/Loss: 7lbs at last appt
Maternity Clothes: I am wearing them and they are so much more comfy!
Best Moment this week: Feeling Davis more and more each week! He has been extremely bashful when it comes to other people feeling him. It's like he only wants me :) Everyone always wants to feel but he always stops when they put their hand on my tummy. BJ even put his head to my stomach last night and was "having a talk" about how he never lets him feel...haha However, Ashley H. got to feel him over the weekend.
Gender: It's A Boy
Movement: I LOVE IT!
Food Craving: Over the weekend I was wanting strawberry shortcake?!?! crazy huh?
What I miss: Sushi!!!! yum-o
Sleep: This week for BJ has been rough..he says he doesn't know who is snoring louder me or Roxie! I've been kind of "stuffy" esp at night so that has a lot to do with it.
What I am looking forward to: His bedding coming in...I just tracked it and it should be at my house when I get home todayyyyyyy! I think my mom and BJ are going to start painting Sunday or Monday :)
Belly Button: In
Symptoms: Just getting bigger everyday. One of our friends asked me the other day if I was poking out my stomach...seriously?!?