Week 17

ok so we are now at 17 weeks and 3 days. It's amazing how quickly this is going! the baby has been doing awesome things every week and really, I know I've said this a bunch of times, but it's hard to believe that SO much is happening in the span of just a few days!!! Like last night, I lay there for about 20 minutes just feeling her kick and roll and play around. 20 minutes! this morning so far, it's been 15 minutes! It used to be a kick here or there, maybe a few minutes of movment at a time, now... well, it just gets more and more profoundly "in my face" that there is a little person growing inside me. And I am so grateful and so amazed everytime I feel "her".

I am having some concerns, mostly about how it's going to be with my mom coming back home. I'm worried about how much care she'll need, how overbearing she may be during my pregnancy and after the baby is here. Don't get me wrong, my mother is a child/baby GURU! no lie! but I don't want her hovering over me at 3am when the baby is crying or anything.. I guess I'm just a little worried about not having a seperate home. But we'll see! It might be wonderful and I'm worrying over nothing! :)

ok: so baby developements!

*over 5" long from head to butt now, and over 5 ounces!!!!!
*she is moving a LOT the last few days!
*this week marks the begining of "getting fat" for the baby!Fat helps their
heat/metabolism. This week the baby will have .018 oz of fat on "her"
body. By birth: 2/3 of body weight will be fat!! wow!
*the limbs are in normal porportion to the body and will stay like this until birth.
*the placenta is growing at the same rate with the baby now, and will weigh over a
pound at birth! It also is fully taking care of all the babies needs while
allowing the baby to do some of it's own "work" too!
*eyes are where they will be when the baby is born, and the ears are now "popping"
out more. (the "bowl" of the ear developing)
*"she" is developing reactions and personality responces (likes/not likes certain things) that will remain consistent. For instance, if certain types of music make
"her" move and wiggle happily, it is a sign that "she" enjoys it. When she
balls up in a tight spot and pushes into it (which hurts!!) it is a sign
that "she" doesn't like something. And those reactions will remain
consistant. Her reactions to voices is fun too! She REALLY likes certain
people!
*this week the parts of the brain that process other senses (sight, feel, taste) are
growing and developing FAST!
*all the joints are workable now, fingers, toes, neck, ect..
*the skeleton continues to harden and build more calcium!
*sweat glands are starting to develop
*the umbilical cord is getting very strong and thick now
*AND if we are in fact having a girl (2 1/2 more weeks to find out!) her ovaries are aready producing millions of primordial eggs, which in just a few weeks will become actual eggs!

***one thing I have thought is amazing for a while now is that for all the mothers who have had little girls think of this: you have already held every grandchild you will ever have from her. Isn't that amazing?!?! You are in essence carrying not just one generation in you, but two. Wow right?

There is SOOO MUCH that is going on this week!!!!! Isn't it incredible???

oh yeah, she's the size and weight of a turnip now lol