Our baby's development: 13 weeks

Measuring in at about seven centimeters crown-to-rump and weighing about two ounces, your baby will spend the rest of the pregnancy concentrating on growing and becoming strong enough to live outside the uterus. Your baby's intestines have now moved from outside the body to inside the abdomen. While your baby won't be saying "Mommy" for some time, vocal cords are now developing. Your baby also has developed many reflexes and will squirm inside of you if your abdomen is prodded.

Active Baby Contest

Yes....yours truly (and baby) won the "active baby contest" at Dr Maxwell's office on Monday. I had an ultrasound to make sure all was okay after a little scare this weekend. She wouldn't let me see the screen until she knew everything was clear, but as I watch her watching the screen, I got very curious. She has the "ultrasound wand thingy" moving all over my stomach. I asked her if she was looking for something in particular since she was all over the place. She explained that she was moving as much as she was because the baby was moving so much. And of course, my response is "Moving????? Seriously, the baby is moving and you can see it on the screen??" Sure enough, she turned the monitor toward me and that little bundle of joy was jumping all over the place! I got to see arms and legs moving like crazy. The baby got still for a minute so she wiggled my tummy to wake him/her up. It worked. I got to see the baby's spine - that was so cool! I was then awarded the winner of the active baby contest - very proud moment for our family!!!

Since it was a last minute thing, Ben had to work and couldn't be there. He couldn't believe that the little dot on the screen that we've seen so many times is actually moving and you can see baby characteristics. The nurse gave me a copy of the ultrasound so I can show off our little "active baby". You can see the nose, mouth, arms and legs - and I thought hearing the heartbeat was the best thing...I was wrong.

We go back on May 21st at 8:30 for our 16 week check up and another ultrasound. Can't wait to see how much the baby has grown.

We heard the heartbeat!!!!!!

We had our 2nd OB appointment on Friday and got to hear the baby's heartbeat!! It was the best thing I have ever heard. To top it off, I look over at Ben sitting next to me and he is smiling ear to ear. Dr Maxwell said the heartbeat sounded great and was at an amazing 170bmp - we think it's a girl!!!!

Here's our baby's development for this week:

Your baby is now 60 to 65 millimeters long or about two and a half inches long, and weighs about 14 grams. He or she has the ability to swallow and absorb and discharge fluids. Hands, now complete, are growing fingernails. Even tooth buds are appearing. Your baby's face now has a distinctly human appearance. The amniotic sac contains about 50 cubic centimeters of fluid (one and one half ounces). This week, your placenta takes over the important task of hormone production

Our Baby's Development: 11 Weeks

Your baby is about 50 millimeters crown to rump and weighs about eight grams (about a quarter of an ounce). The irises are now forming. The liver, intestines, brain and lungs are beginning to function on their own. The primitive "tail" is now gone. The intestines are beginning to migrate into the abdominal cavity and the external genitalia are present but difficult to distinguish. Now that most of the major organ work is done, your baby adds such details as hair, fingernails and toenails. While your baby's head is nearly as large as the rest of her body, head growth begins to slow during this period.

Baby Name List - The Final 4

The list has been narrowed down to the following 4 and here are their meanings. Please vote and let us know what you think.

GIRL NAMES
1) Olivia Grace = Peace,Blessing

2) Hayley Nicole = Hero,Victorious People

3) Victoria Lynn = Victory,Beautiful

BOY NAME
Kevin William= Gentle,Lovable,Valiant Protector

Our Baby's Development: 9 weeks

By the end of this week, your baby will have verifiable fingers and toes. The tadpole appearance diminishes as the tail completely disappears. Eyelids fuse and will stay shut until weeks 25 to 27. Both the external ear and upper lip are complete, and the beginnings of external genitalia appear. The average size of your baby-to-be is 27 to 35 millimeters, crown to rump, or 1.06 to 1.38 inches. Your little one weighs in at a hefty four grams!

Our Baby's Development: 8 Weeks

Your baby's head is quite big, due to the rapid growth of the brain. The upper limbs resemble paddles. Your baby-to-be's heart begins to separate into four chambers, and blood is circulating throughout the body. Intestines form within the umbilical cord, but will later migrate back into the abdominal cavity. In the next few days, foot plates, with the beginnings of toe rays, will appear. The external ears are now present. Your baby is now 10 to 13 millimeters long -- about the size of a cherry. The cells that will become either testes or ovaries arrive, but there is no obvious sign of gender yet. Muscle contractions are beginning, but these early "movements" are not yet perceptible.