26 weeks

Fetal development in pregnancy week 26: fetus in sixth monthAt long last, your little swimmer can see the womb! Your miracle’s little eyelids have finally separated (they were fused closed previously) and they’re probably having their first moments of sight as you read this (or maybe it already happened while you were brushing your teeth or watching Oprah or something). In addition to seeing their little studio in your belly, they’ve recently acquired the ability to say “yes” and “no” in rudimentary sign language as they can now move their head back and forth. This is also the time where your little super star’s head hair is starting to grow! A cute little cowlick or two may be springing into position right now, getting ready for years of cute-but-stubborn bed-head. Also, their toenails have grown in and you little raisin continues to slowly pile up fat beneath their still-loose skin. Most importantly, brain tissue and neurons are all developing at a rapid pace, increasing their (genius-level?) brain activity and will continue to function at accelerated levels for the first seven to eight years of childhood!

Catching Up

Your closet grows fuller by the week, Appleseed :) And your mommy is growing bigger by the day! You have been very good to me and I am not nearly as big with you as I was with your brother. People are usually surprised at how far along I am, actually. Next week we enter the third trimester! It usually feels like the longest because mommies are so excited to meet their little ones that a minute feels like a year!!! I am SOOOO excited to meet you when you are big and strong and healthy :) I am a bit nervous though because you are such a night owl. You start kicking A LOT around 7 and dont stop until 1 am or so. The last two days you have been much more calm though and then I worried so...I will take the all the crazy kicking whenever you want!

Here are some pics of your Momma and your Momma's friends from last weekend :)

Shopping

Oh baby girl, I can't wait to put your cute little self into the outfits I have been buying for you!!!!!!!!! Some are warm, pink, snuggly things while others are in preparation for next summer - sundresses and bathing suits with tu-tus!

As the reality of you, my girl, sets in, I imagine dress recitals and pigtails and all that is GIRL :)

I am 24 weeks now and that is a "viability" milestone. That means that if anything bad were to happen (pray pray pray that it doesnt) that if you had to be delivered you would have a great chance at surviving. Though its a scary thought, the cool part to me is that you are SO developed already! Your kicks are harder and I have felt a bit more "sliding" of body parts. You are almost ALWAYS on my right side. During the ultrasound you even went to the bathroom, I forgot to mention that before. It was so strange to see your bladder empty and start to fill again. Technology is amazing. I have another Dr. appt tomorrow at 3 30 and she will start measuring my progress from the outside now. I feel much bigger but the scale hasnt jumped up much yet.

I am back to school and all the kids were SOOO excited to "see" you! You got many rubs and random voices talking to you :) The love around us is incredible, Appleseed.

I also received the results from the quad test and nothing strange was marked. You are a healthy little girl!!

love, mom

p.s. I started a registry for you - I need a bassinet for you and picked out some girly pacifiers!