week 23

At this point, I have pretty much adjusted to the fact that there is a moving being in my stomach. Easton now reacts to sounds that he might like/ or dislike (hates my alarm clock, the dogs barking, loves me talking to him at night….I know this because he told me).

His taste buds are still growing and I am trying my best to introduce him to as much food that won’t give me extreme heart burn since he can taste what I am tasting!!

His bones are continuing to ossify (harden) and his veins are visible through his translucent skin.

I am doing ok except the terrible sleep lately. I have been waking up every two hours (I guess Easton is preparing me for later…) I pee more than I usually do, if that is at all possible, and it is extremely hard to find a comfortable way to sleep. Every other month when Matthew is back on days is a big adjustment for me and I know this month coming up will definitely be the hardest so far. I definitely cannot lie on my back any more because the thought of me not giving Easton enough oxygen creeps me out, and I can also feel a lot of pressure on my back sleeping this way. They say the left side is usually the best way to sleep for the baby, because it provides the most amount of oxygen for the baby so I actually start out on my right until I am about to fall asleep and then quickly change to my left to get some zzzz’s. I can’t stay on one side too long because my hips start to hurt! WONDERFUL.

Other than lack of sleep and an over-active bladder (something I am already used too) I am doing fine. I go in for my next check up on the 5th of June and will update everyone again then!

Week 22...what's goin on!

Easton is now able to hear outside noise from down in the womb. Studies show that Easton finds gentle music and my own voice most soothing. Nipples are starting to sprout, and that little face is fully formed. And, baby's starting to settle into sleep cycles, snoozing about 12 to 14 hours a day. It’s not hard to figure out when he is sleeping or awake….he is a great kicker!!!

On Saterday morning the 16th at 6am the most amazing thing happened!!!Easton was kicking so hard that I just knew Matt would finally be able to feel him....so I woke him up and sure enough Matt felt him kick! So cool......he was kicking pretty high too....about 2 to 3 inches above my belly button (which no longer looks like itself by the way.

Here is what is happening with Easton as far as development this week....

Easton gulps down several ounces of amniotic fluid every day, both for hydration and nutrition and to practice swallowing and digesting. And, these days, those taste buds actually work! Studies show that after birth, babies are most interested in tastes they've already experienced through amniotic fluid. Easton is now the length of a banana, 11 inches and almost 13 ounces!!!

It's a boy!

Well, it's official....it's a boy, and his name is Easton Jarle. Yesterday was one of the most exciting moments of my life. After a long afternoon of waiting for 2 pm to arrive, we were called in to the ultrasound room to have the mid pregnancy ultrasound that checks all measurements and the general well being of the child. After putting my sister, Anne, on speaker so she could hear everything the ultrasound tech had to say, the tech started at the top of the baby's body checking head circumference and saw that there is no cleft lip then checked the babies heart...the left ventricle in particular... (everything looked great) saw that the baby's bladder was full confirming that the baby is not only taking after me in that area, but also that he is swallowing and digesting just fine....finally, she got to the part we were most excited about....the sex! After hearing Anne on the other line saying she was going to go shopping after the call for baby clothes, the tech said "Buy blue!!!". It was the most wonderful sentence I have ever heard. :) Proud poppa was all smiles and I have to admit I teared up for a second. We are now 20 weeks along...at the half way point and are very happy to say that Easton is healthy.

What is going on at 19 weeks

The top of my uterus now reaches my belly button and will grow about a centimeter per week. The fetus measures around 6 inches/ 15 centimeters long from crown to rump and weighs about 9 ounces/ 240 grams. She has started to swallow amniotic fluid, and her kidneys continue to make urine. Hair on the scalp is sprouting. Sensory development reaches its peak this week. The nerve cells serving each of the senses -- taste, smell, hearing, seeing, and touch -- are now developing in their specialized areas of the brain. Nerve cell production slows down as existing nerve cells grow larger and make more complex connections. If I am carrying a baby girl, she already has roughly six million eggs in her ovaries. By the time she's born, she'll have about one million. I no doubt feel the kicking and somersaulting of my growing baby. At times, she may be so mobile that I can't sleep. The next ten weeks or so will be the baby's busiest and most active time, until the womb gets too crowded.

19 weeks

Well, we are 19 weeks now and only 6 more days til we know boy or girl!!! We can't wait to put a name to the baby (we already have names picked out) and also can't wait to start registering for the gender related items!!! I'm still undecided on whether it is a boy or girl but Matt seems to be convinced that it is a boy....well see soon enough!