01/02/06 Week 22

So............it's a girl! baby shack is a girl. wow!

*How Ms. baby shack is growing:* She now looks like a miniature newborn, checking in at 10.9 inches and almost 1 pound. Her skin will continue to appear wrinkled until she gains enough weight to fill it out, and the fine hair (lanugo) that covers her head and body is now visible. Her lips are becoming more distinct, and the first signs of teeth are appearing as buds beneath her gum line. Her eyes are developed, though the iris (the colored part of the eye) still lacks pigment. Eyelids and eyebrows are in place, and her pancreas, essential for hormone production, is developing steadily.

*How my life's changing:* I'm just getting bigger & looking a little more pregnant than just overweight. I can feel baby shack move every day and I love it. Last night Derek FINALLY got to feel her move. It was so cool! What a Happy New Year present huh? I've discovered that my belly button is flattening a bit too. I can now see my tiny scar from my surgery two years ago.
I have been sick for two days. I think I have a cold and it's really kicking my butt. Just can't do much at all. I HATE BEING UNPRODUCTIVE! I'm hopeing I feel miraculously better tomorrow or I'll have to go the doctor I think. I have so much to do, prepare shower lists with addresses, paint rooms, move furniture, register...all fun stuff but I just can't hardly get off the couch!
This is day number 154 into my pregnancy and I am 55% of the way done. I still have a lot of growing to do and a lot of preparations to make. I have loved being pregnant so far and I hope this last half continues to be wonderful.

-Holly

I'M HALFWAY THERE! Wow, it's gone by soooooo fast! It's been fun to have many of you email me saying, "Where's the update? Is baby shack ok? Is it a boy or a girl?"

Well, we did have our ultrasound but THIS EMAIL DOES NOT CONTAIN INFORMATION ABOUT THE SEX OF THE BABY. That information is part of our Christmas present to our family so that news won't be shared til the New Year. If, however, you don't think you can wait that long, email me and I'll tell you the secret...UNLESS YOU'RE A MEMBER OF OUR FAMILY. Too bad!

How baby shack's growing: baby shack weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. She/he is also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom, and about 10 inches from head to heel. (For the first 20 weeks, they use measurements taken from the top of the baby's head to the bottom — known as the "crown to rump" measurement. After that, they use measurements from head to toe. This is because a baby's legs are curled up against the torso during the first half of pregnancy and are very hard to measure.)

A greasy white substance called vernix caseosa coats the entire body to protect the skin during its long submersion in amniotic fluid. (This slick coating also eases the journey down the birth canal. HIP HIP HORRAY!)

baby shack is swallowing more, which is good practice for the digestive system. I suspect that's what I saw baby shack do in the ultrasound when it's mouth was opening & closing. The baby is also producing meconium, a black, sticky substance that's the result of cell loss, digestive secretion, and swallowed amniotic fluid. This meconium will accumulate in baby shack's bowels, and we'll see it in the first messy diaper (although a few babies pass it in utero or during delivery HIP HIP HORRAY? I THINK NOT).

I am finally feeling baby shack move on a daily basis & I LOVE IT! I smile when I feel it. I simply can't wait til shack daddy can feel it too!

How my life's changing: The top of my uterus is at the level of my belly button now, and I've gained about 10 pounds. I have to make sure I'm getting enough iron, a mineral that's used primarily to make hemoglobin (the part of my red blood cells that carries oxygen). During pregnancy, my body needs more iron for my developing baby and the placenta, and to keep up with my expanding blood volume.

When we return from Christmas we have to investigate childbirth education classes and figure out when and where to sign up, weird!

Attached is a picture of me getting the ultrasound. Cool huh? DON'T LOOK AT MY BELLY BUTTON! I am surprised at the curviture of my lower belly ;) The technician said everything looks great & healthy. Baby shack moved around a lot for us and I've lost count of how many times I've seen the video. It's all so much fun!

Merry Christmas everyone!

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