26 weeks

How your baby's growing:

The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he's born and takes that first gulp of air. And he's continuing to put on baby fat. He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel.

By this week, your baby's crown-to-rump length is approximately 9.2 inches. Remember, that is only from the top of his head to his bottom and does not include his leg measurements! Your baby weighs almost 2 pounds and is beginning to put on weight. Your uterus is about 2.5 inches above your bellybutton and you will continue to grow approximately 1 cm each week. If you have been eating a well-balanced diet, you probably have gained about 16-22 pounds so far. Because your baby has moved further up, you may get occasional pain underneath your ribs.

After a month of having his eyelids sealed shut, your baby begins to open his eyes again this week. Your baby's eyes are almost completely developed. Your baby's eyes are blue in the womb and may change colors later in life. This is true for all races because the pupils do not have their final color until a few months after birth. However, some babies are born with darker or lighter shades of blue. Your growing baby will continue to put on layers of fat until he is born. He is still lean at this point of the pregnancy though. By the time your baby is born, he will assume the typical newborn's plumpness. Your baby's skin will still be wrinkled and red, but the fat continues to fill the skin out.

Finger and toe nails continue to grow. Blood vessels start to develop in the lungs to prepare the baby for life outside the uterus. Your baby's blood circulation is completely functional. The umbilical cord system continues to grow and thicken as blood travels with considerable force through the body to nurture the baby. The placenta is now almost equal in size to the baby.

Even though it is still way too soon for your baby to be born yet, the chance of survival without severe abnormalities is now 70% provided it is born in a hospital.

How far along? 26 weeks.

Due Date: August 13, 2010

Total weight gain/loss: +/- 0 ... hm.
Maternity clothes? Yes. But I'm finding more regular shirts that fit... and they make my belly so cute!
Sleep: Doin' alright.

Best moment this week: Geoff bought me a Gardenia plant for the kitchen as an early Mother's Day gift :)
Movement: Yes. Lots. Constantly. Wiggly baby!!!

Food cravings: Most recent: Nothing specific... I doubt my love of Twix recently counts as a "real" craving.
Food aversions: I think I might be over most of it... the thought of creamy/spicy still makes me want to hurl... but it is a very specific spicy that I refuse to describe. :)
Gender: GIRL!! A healthy wiggly(!) girl
Labor Signs: Nothing.
Belly Button in or out? In... but definitely less in.
What I miss: Subway!!!
What I am looking forward to: My first Mother's Day and getting to see family next weekend that I only see about twice a year.
Milestones: "Even though it is still way too soon for your baby to be born yet, the chance of survival without severe abnormalities is now 70% provided it is born in a hospital" ... That sounds like a milestone to me!! :D And it just keeps getting better from here.

Other: This is my first Mother's day... :) Anyone can try to tell me this little ball of energy isn't a baby... but that's because they don't feel her kick all day! :D

Also: She has gained almost a pound in two weeks! No WONDER I've been so tired!