Today our little one is the size of a turnip. We were hoping to find out the sex, but... Two more weeks!

WE GOT TO HEAR THE HEARTBEAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, I thought I would cry. She was so excited! And then when someone said, "Oh, she knows mommy and daddy are listening." Ya, I about lost it. Needless to say- I've been on cloud 9 all day!

I still think it's a girl. Scott leans towards a boy. We got her first teddy bear today- actually two. One soft little Winnie the Pooh and One fuzzy brown. I'm collecting girl clothes behind my wonderful husbands back (although, I'm sure he knows).

This week your baby is about five and a half inches long, crown to rump, and weighs about five ounces. And fetal development has reached the stage for you to start feeling those movements some time in the next few weeks — so get ready!

At 18 weeks pregnant, your baby is hitting the height chart at five and a half inches long (remember, that's crown to rump) and weighs about five ounces (the weight of that boneless chicken breast you're making for dinner).

And now for the skill of the week (drum roll please…): The art of the yawn has been mastered by your baby (someone's sleepy!). In fact, you might catch a glimpse of that adorable yawn if you're getting an ultrasound this month. You'll also catch a glimpse of all the fetal movement your baby's doing — twists, rolls, kicks, and punches. And would you believe your baby is finally big enough for you to start feeling those movements now (or anytime in the next few weeks). So get ready!

Something you won't see on the ultrasound, but you'll know is in working order, is your baby's nervous system, which is maturing rapidly at this time. Nerves, now covered with a substance called myelin (which speeds messages from nerve cell to nerve cell), are forming more complex connections. And those in the brain are further specializing into the ones that serve the senses of touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing. Talking about hearing, your baby's is growing more acute, making your little one more conscious of sounds that come from inside your body (which means you could both be listening to each other hiccup — a skill that your baby has by now).

We bought a car seat!! I know it may not seem exciting but, for us, it's a BIG step! It's one of those seats where the base stays in the car and you can take the top off and carry baby... Then we wandered the baby section and checked out all the tiny clothes! We are allowing ourselves to be ultra excited...

Talked to Jennifer again yesterday. She has an appointment today and I get to hear the heartbeat-so excited. Ok, didn't get to hear the heartbeat- but that's ok.

Week 15 & 6 days
Your baby now weighs in at a whopping three to five ounces, and he's four to five inches in length. The bones that are now in place in his ears means he can probably hear your voice as you talk to your partner and pals and sing in the car. While he’s getting used to your voice, the tiny muscles in his body, especially the ones in his back, are gaining strength, so he can straighten out a little more. And thanks to his developing facial muscles, your baby is capable of making a few expressive frowns and squints, even at this early stage. (Don’t worry, those frowns have nothing to do with the sound of your voice!) And his eyes are finally working, making small side-to-side movements and perceiving light (although the eyelids are still sealed). Peekaboo!

The due date has changed again. Because Jennifer's uterus is so high they are not going to let her go past July 12... WooHoo- Just keeps getting closer!

Adoption Papers

Ok, it's getting more real. We sent in the first of the adoption papers today. Talked to Jennifer about how she's feeling- it's a roller-coaster and I hesitate to be excited when someone else is in pain. Oh, if all of this could be easier. In a perfect world, right?

We told some friends Sunday, at dinner, about the adoption. They are super excited. They are pregnant and found out today that they are going to have a boy. I'm convinced that the odds are in our favor for a little girl. I see her in my mind- soft golden brown skin, dark brown hair (thick beyond belief), and her mom's big blue eyes. I'm sure she won't look exactly like that, but she will be beautiful.

Today Jennifer is 15 weeks along. The baby is the size of a navel orange~ that's about 41/2 inches. She's practicing sucking, breathing, and swallowing. Because she's about 2 ounces she will hardly be noticeable when she moves around and boy does she move... curling her little toes, kicking, and moving tiny arms and legs.

Scott found out that the state of Illinois doesn't allow the adoptive father in the delivery room. He was bummed about that. We've talked to work about taking all the necessary time off and going to pick up this wonderful little angel. Just a couple of weeks and we can call him or her by name!

It's been awhile since I updated. I talked to "J" on the phone for the first time. We are so excited. We have discussed the pros and cons and have decided that an adoption agency would best suit our situation. They would take care of fees, legal matters, and questions as well as any counciling services that may be needed. Then they would set up the 72 hour waiting period that would come with all of this.

We are now in week 13 and several changes have come about... Your baby can make a fist and even suck his or her thumb this week—both skills that are über-cute during infancy ... and not so much at the age of 9. If you're really lucky, you might catch a glimpse of baby's thumb sucking on an ultrasound photo. That's a framer! Other exciting developments include:

Your baby's eyelids are fused shut to protect his eyes as they develop. His bones and skull are solidifying and soon itsy-bitsy ribs may appear. (Baby ribs! How cute is that?!) Baby's intestines are finally right where you want them—in his or her belly instead of poking out into the umbilical cord. Baby's tooth sockets are all loaded and ready to pop out baby teeth six or seven months after baby is born (causing baby a lot of pain and you a lot of lost sleep).

Who's that singing? Elton John? Could be your baby: His vocal cords and larynx are completed now.

Your baby-to-be now weighs about 20 grams and is nearly 3 inches long, or about the size of a Nutter Butter, covered in chocolate. OK, it doesn't have to be covered in chocolate, but isn't everything better that way?

We are so very excited! Still thinking it's a little girl. We will find out for sure February 13... That will be an amazing Valentine's gift!!!

Week 10

Junior's skeleton is starting to grow and harden. The ears are beginning to take shape and the eyelids are no longer transparent. Tooth buds are forming, although your baby won't get any teeth until six or seven (or eight or nine or 10) months after birth.

Baby's brain will make an incredible 25,000 new neurons every minute this week. While you may feel like you're losing as many as he's gaining, we can assure you it's not permanent. "Pregnancy brain," like nausea and bloating, is a temporary symptom that soon shall pass. (And then you'll get "Mommy brain," but we won't go there now.)

If you're baby is a boy, he's started producing that macho hormone testosterone. And whether your baby is a boy or a girl, the kidneys are creating copious amounts of urine. Lucky for you, you won't have to change a diaper for another 30 weeks.

Baby weighs only 4 grams and measures 1½ inches, about the size of a mondo Brazil nut.

So much excitement!! The baby is quickly growing and we are holding back as much excitement as we possibly can.

"J" goes into the doctor on the 30th of December. Hopefully we'll hear more at that time.

Christmas was wonderful. We've talked a lot about next Christmas and the wonderful little life we will add to our family. Next Christmas she will be 5 months old!

Adoption

Your new resident is nearly an inch long — about the size of a grape — and weighs just a fraction of an ounce. She's starting to look more and more human. Her essential body parts are accounted for, though they'll go through plenty of fine-tuning in the coming months. Other changes abound: Your baby's heart finishes dividing into four chambers, and the valves start to form — as do her tiny teeth. The embryonic "tail" is completely gone. Your baby's organs, muscles, and nerves are kicking into gear. The external sex organs are there but won't be distinguishable as male or female for another few weeks. Her eyes are fully formed, but her eyelids are fused shut and won't open until 27 weeks. She has tiny earlobes, and her mouth, nose, and nostrils are more distinct. The placenta is developed enough now to take over most of the critical job of producing hormones. Now that your baby's basic physiology is in place, she's poised for rapid weight gain.

Today our baby is 9 weeks along. She's about the size of a kidney bean. "J" (we'll call the mom) is keeping us updated with all the dr appointments.

We are excited for this new opportunity... Excited and careful. Baby names are already floating around our heads as we talk about what this little one will be- it must be a strong name, a name that will define love, hope, intelligence, ability, creativity.

This is for you, Charity...

Questions:

1. What did you want to be when you grew up? A mom. It's all I've ever wanted in life.

2. Tell us about your first crush. How old were you? Who was it?I was 7. His name was Clark and he was "dreamy"

3. What 'horrid' disciplinary action are you guilty of with your children? I'll let ya know when I have some

4. Have you ever been out of the country? Where? Yes, Mexico

5. Do you shave as often as you should? Yup, 3 times a week

6. Have you ever been in a physical altercation? In high school I got into a fist fight with my "best friend". She was an evil "friend"

7. Did you ever date two guys at once... secretly? Nope

8. If you were to give advice about marriage to a young adult what would it be? Communicate about everything, know that you control the mood in the house, and enjoy your spouse frequently...
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