14 weeks

Here is what is going on with our baby this week according to babycenter.com;

This week's big developments: Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him — a process he'll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb.  Your baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon — and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces. His body's growing faster than his head, which now sits upon a more distinct neck. By the end of this week, his arms will have grown to a length that's in proportion to the rest of his body. (His legs still have some lengthening to do.) He's starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair, called lanugo, all over his body. Your baby's liver starts making bile this week — a sign that it's doing its job right — and his spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells. Though you can't feel his tiny punches and kicks yet, your little pugilist's hands and feet (which now measure about 1/2 inch long) are more flexible and active.

Welcome to your second trimester! Your energy is likely returning, your breasts may be feeling less tender, and your queasiness may have completely abated by now. If not, hang on — chances are good it will soon be behind you (although an unlucky few will still feel nauseated months from now).  The top of your uterus is a bit above your pubic bone, which may be enough to push your tummy out a tad. Starting to show can be quite a thrill, giving you and your partner visible evidence of the baby you've been waiting for. Take some time to plan, daydream, and enjoy this amazing time. It's normal to worry a bit now and then, but try to focus on taking care of yourself and your baby, and having faith that you're well equipped for what's ahead.

 

As for me, my belly is poking out more than a tad!  It's getting hard to hide, even in my baggier men's tshirts it's still sort of obvious.  Some people may still question whether I am pregnant or bloated upon first glance, but there is definitely a protruding tummy visible.  My tummy has gotten firm all over now also, rather than just feeling like extra pudge a few weeks ago.  I'm still feeling well most of the time, with an hour of nausea here and there.  I'm still craving lots of fruits and veggies and made another boiled cabbage this past weekend.  I'm still LOVING sushi and the Edy's strawberry fruit bars.  I've been craving a hot dog for several weeks, and when there were some being served at Jeremy's company picnic on Sunday I was THRILLED.  I had the dog, bun, chopped onions, relish, ketchup, and mustard and thought it was the best thing that I have ever eaten.  If I didn't have self-control I would have had two, maybe three.  I think I will definitely be picking up some turkey dogs this week and enjoying these at home more often.  I've been craving a Taco Salad (homemade, not from The Bell) for a few weeks now, and I'm hoping to get around to making that sometime soon also.    My skin on my belly has been itching like crazy (I'm assuming from my skin stretching), so I've resorted to lathering it with lotion each evening.  There have been nights where we have both lost sleep because I couldn't stay still and stop scratching it, and let's just say that Jeremy isn't too thrilled with me constantly shaking the bed with my scratching shenanigans.  Everything is great in prego-ville, so far the second trimester seems to be much kinder to me than the first trimester and I'm actually starting to enjoy being pregnant.

 

Shannon