Big?

Alec should now weigh about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long. His eyebrows and eyelids are fully developed. And Lindsay can certainly feel him move.
The ultrasound results from last week put Alec in the 99th percentile for weight at a full pound! Our Dr questions the results and suggested we schedule another ultrasound, They also did not have a clear view of his spinal cord. We have another ultrasound scheduled for Tuesday.

Twenty Weeks - Halfway there!!

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

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

Alec is swallowing more, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's 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 his bowels, and we'll see it in his first messy diaper.

We have an ultrasound tomorrow. The needs for ultrasound exam are:

To check the baby's growth and size
To determine the age of the baby
To identify multiple pregnancy (twins or more)
To identify (or in this case confirm) the baby’s gender
To look for major birth defects
To check the amniotic fluid (is there too much or too little?)
To check the baby's well-being and movement
To determine the baby’s delivery date

Alec is in there!

Lindsay's first pregnancy photo. At almost half way through her pregnancy she looks amazing!

19 Weeks= a small zucchini

Alec weighs about 8 1/2 ounces, and he measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the length of a small zucchini. His arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of his body now. His kidneys continue to make urine, and the hair on his scalp is sprouting. Alec's brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch.

Cap

One more thing for tonight. Grandma and Grandpa Walbrun brought Alec this really cool knit cap from the Evergreen State Fair

Grandma Painting

Pumpkin

Mom and dad came over yesterday to help with the house painting. They were a HUGE help!! Dad brought Alec this mini pumpkin.

Eighteen Weeks

Alec is approximately 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a large sweet potato) and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that Lindsay can feel as I type this entry. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin and his ears are now in position and stand out from his head. Myelin (a protective covering) is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born.