Monday, August 31, 2009

Week 25 Fun Mama-To-Be Facts


How far along? 25 weeks, 2 days

Total weight gain/loss:
16 pounds, I am pleased with this for now as long as I stay within the normal weight gain for the remainder of the pregnancy. With the likelihood being that I will be having baby boy in 14 weeks (probably at 39 wks 2 days) even if I gained 1 lb a week for the next 14 weeks I would be right at 30 lbs which is what I wanted to stay around, so even still I wouldn't be disappointed. If I can stay under that gaining the 1/2 - 1 lb per week between now and then even better! :)

Maternity clothes? Yes, but still able to wear a handful of non-maternity items still.

Stretch marks? Still holding my breath that I don't get any (or at least not many) more....I think they will show their ugly face after the baby is born.

Sleep: Overall - not too bad. I'm going to say that it just depends on the night and leave it at that. ;)

Best moment this week: Getting to hear his sweet little heartbeat at my appointment last week.Also, discussing baby names this week with David....I think we *might* have a decision made soon.

Movement: Movin' and groovin' for sure! He's even doing some weird twists and rolls in there and yes, I can definitely see some strong movement now too!

Food cravings: No new ones....although, I find that I must have some type of daily dose of chocolate whether it be a candy bar or some vanilla bean ice cream with either chocolate syrup or hot fudge! I am eating small portions though, not going on a free-for-all so hopefully this is okay. :I

Gender: Hopefully still a boy, otherwise we will have some things to return! I haven't bought too much yet though.

Labor Signs: Nope, but I have been having something that I *think* might be early Braxton Hicks contractions, but I discussed it with my OB last week and know to contact her if it happens more than 5 times within an hour, which I have not even come close to experiencing so hopefully, this will not be an issue.

Belly Button in or out? Still hanging "in" there!

What I miss: Being able to walk without feeling like I have a waddle in my step, ha!

What I am looking forward to: Baby related ---- my next sonogram, but not sure when I will even have another. My monthly OB appt. is 3 weeks away and I get to do the lovely 1 hour glucose test at that one which will be so fun! (insert sarcastic tone here)

Weekly Wisdom: ALWAYS take naps if you can and NEVER pass up a restroom break while out shopping. I thought I might pee myself yesterday because I never want to use the bathroom at Snuffer's and waited until our next stop which was only minutes away (thank goodness!), but my bladder was not happy!

Milestone: Probably just us narrowing down names for our little boy to where I think we may have made a decision. That was a big thing and took a lot of time and thought.

Sunday, August 30, 2009

25 Weeks

Another week down and now we are officially at the 25th week mark. Looking forward to getting through these next few weeks and starting the third trimester, or otherwise now referred to me as the HOME STRETCH! Primarily because these will be the last few months leading up to us being able to meet our little boy and bring him home with us. I cannot wait and have a feeling that the time between now and December will end up flying by, especially with all of the weddings, holidays, birthdays, anniversary, etc we have coming up as well. It is sure to be a busy time leading up to baby's boy highly anticipated arrival!

Here is what is going on with both baby and me this week according to BabyCenter.com

How your life's changing

Your baby's not the only one with more hair — your locks may look more full and lustrous than ever. It's not that you're growing more hair, but thanks to hormonal changes, the hair that you'd normally shed is sticking around longer than usual. Enjoy the fullness while you can — the extra hair will fall out after you give birth.

You may also notice that you can't move around as gracefully as before. Unless your caregiver has advised you otherwise, it's fine to continue to exercise, but follow
a few safety rules: Don't work out when you're feeling overly tired and stop if you feel any pain, dizziness, or shortness of breath. Don't lie flat on your back and avoid contact sports as well as any exercise where you're apt to lose your balance. Be sure to drink plenty of water, and make time for both warm-up and cool-down periods.

When you have your
glucose-screening test at 24 to 28 weeks, a second tube of blood may be taken at the same time to check for anemia. If blood tests show that you have iron-deficiency anemia (the most common type of anemia), your caregiver will probably recommend that you take an iron supplement.

Have you started thinking about
baby names yet? Choosing a name is an important decision, but it should be a fun one, too. You may want to consider family history (Great Grandpa Zeb), favorite locations (Venice, where you honeymooned), or cherished literary or film characters (Greta, Meg, or Atticus, for example). Check out a couple of baby-name books to help you brainstorm, too.

How your baby's growing

Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. Her weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but she's beginning to exchange her long, lean look for some baby fat. As she does, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and she'll start to look more and more like a newborn. She's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.

See
what your baby looks like this week.

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.

Friday, August 28, 2009

How Bout.....


"How bout" is one of Hudson's favorite new phrases that he likes to say
all of the time now and I think it's just SO darn cute. He says it real slow too, like Howwwww bouttttt and then inserts something he wants to do.

For example:

"How bouttttt we watch Cars!"
"How bouttttt we go Grandma's!"
"How bouttttt we go Nana's!"
"How bouttttt we play Hot Wheels!"

And his all-time favorite phrase.....
"How bouttttt we go to Target!"

Of course, that is now a conversation that we literally have almost daily, ha!

Hudson - "How bouttttt we go to Target!"
Me - "No, we can't go to Target today babe, maybe this weekend."
Hudson - "No, how bouttttt we go to Target mom!"
Me - "No, we can't go today, why do you need to go to Target?"
Hudson - "Mom, I need go Target cause I need cars. I want more cars."
Me - "No, you don't really need more cars, but you always get them when we go to Target, so I know why you want to go, but we can't go today."
Hudson - "How boutttt....." (insert a new request here, lol!)

LOL! This kid cracks me up and he has no shame in straight up telling you, I want cars so we need to go buy some, ha!!!! Oh my, I can only imagine what will happen once there are two boys in our house, hahahaha!!!

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

A Few Pics of the Casa


Random enough, but I took a few pics last night of a couple areas of the house to show our new carpet and how different it makes everything look. Not sure if the pics are serving the full purpose that I wanted them to and of course, they don't do justice to how beautiful the carpet looks in person, but you can definitely tell a dramatic difference especially on the living and staircase pics. The other rooms weren't really looking too photogenic right now, lol, so I just focused on a couple of areas to give an idea of the overall new look that the carpet has created. We have a
long way to go on other things we need to do to the house overall, but there has definitely been a huge transformation made with just replacing that old nasty carpet with the new pretty stuff! Now we need a new coffee table and end tables to match closer to our entertainment console as well as possibly getting some other new furniture pieces in other areas as well including getting all new furniture for Hudson of course. Other top projects that need to be focused on: painting trim throughout the house, working on the baby's nursery and Hudson's room, doing some changes to the bathroom, working on some things in the kitchen, hanging new cabinets and painting the laundry room, etc., etc., etc! Oh, I tell you, the fun projects just never end, ha!


Living room view from foyer


Living room view from dining room


Another living room view from dining room


Another living room view from foyer


Foyer view from dining room


Staircase view from foyer


My office area / loft living room / playroom
Ha! Our multi-purpose room now.
Excuse my desk area looking a bit cluttered.

Hudson Says Click!


Click...take a pic...yeah, click...take a pic! LOL! Apparently Hudson thought he needed to join in on the fun with his Diego camera and take pics of mommy while she was taking pictures of the house, ha! What a little cutie he is! I kept having to stop and smile and say cheese and then he would do the same because I
*think* that he thought I was taking pictures of him instead!






24 Weeks

Here is what is going on this week with both baby and me according to BabyCenter.com

How your life's changing:

In the past few weeks, the top of your uterus has risen above your belly button and is now about the size of a soccer ball.

Most women have a glucose screening test (also called a glucose challenge test or GCT) between now and 28 weeks. This test checks for gestational diabetes, a pregnancy-related high-blood-sugar condition. Untreated diabetes increases your risk of having a difficult vaginal delivery or needing a cesarean section because it causes your baby to grow too large, especially in his upper body. It also raises your baby's odds for other complications like low blood sugar right after birth. A positive result on your GCT doesn't mean you have gestational diabetes, but it does mean that you'll need to take the glucose tolerance test (GTT) to find out for sure.

How your baby's growing:

Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at just over a pound. Since he's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.

See what your baby looks like this week. (Or see what fraternal twins look like in the womb this week.)

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.


Monday, August 24, 2009

Wishful Thinking....


I decided to go ahead and put out a few of the fall decor items that I purchased recently now even though we aren't quite into fall yet.....guess it might be some *wishful thinking* on my part hoping that the nice fall weather and all that goes along with it might arrive sooner this year. Eh', can hurt to wish, right????


Eavesdropping....


LOVE this conversation I overheard between Hudson and David while I was taking a warm relaxing, Calgon-take-me-away bath earlier this evening.

Hudson: "Dad, juice gone."
David: "Okay, where's your cup? I'll get you some more juice."
Hudson: Silence....apparently motioned towards the floor and under the bed area....
David: "What is your cup doing under there for???" (questioning Hudson as to why his cup is under our bed, lol)
David: "Well, go get it and I'll get you some more juice."
Hudson: "No, you go get it dad" (in a sassy little voice)
David: "No, you go get it."
Hudson: "No, get it, you get it dad."
David: "Okay, I'll get it....sigh...."

Tee-hee! You probably would have had to be there to understand, but it was one of the funniest things I've heard in a while. David and I even had a good little chuckle about it afterward when I brought it up and how I had been eavesdropping on their important father and son banter, lol!!!

Sunday, August 23, 2009

6 Months....


All I can say is wow....I've finally hit the 6 month mark in my pregnancy and I couldn't be happier. This little boy has so much love for him already that it is unreal and we cannot wait to meet him, see his sweet little face, pepper him with a million tiny baby kisses and coddle him to our heart's content. It's weird because I feel like these 6 months have both gone by quickly and slowly depending on what aspects I think back upon. Waiting to hear the heartbeat for the first time, seeing him for the first time, knowing that he was in fact a he for the first time and being told the best news in the world, which was that it appears that we have a completely, perfectly healthy little boy on our hands and that he is thriving and growing just as he should be. These were all immensely important moments throughout my pregnancy that I waited in worry for and held my breathe along the way, but I was (we all were) so relieved and overjoyed as we met each milestone and moved on to the next bearing good news and blessings of good health all along the way. The entire time, praying and having the faith that all would be as it should and as God see fit. He is indeed good and has blessed us with a healthy baby thus far and all of the other amazing blessings in our life for which we are eternally grateful for. Truly, we are beyond blessed and impatiently look forward to the day that our son is here in our arms with us and we get to begin the new chapter of our family.

As far as my pregnancy is concerned, I continue to feel really well and besides a continually lack of sleep that seems to be progressing week by week, all else seems to be going well. I have my next monthly OB appointment on Tuesday and can't wait of course to hear our little one's heartbeat yet again. He has made himself overly present these days becoming quite the active little guy, seemingly kicking and moving around frequently throughout the day (and night!) We still have yet to pick out a name, but no hurry, we don't want to rush the process and want to ensure that in the end, we find the perfect name for our little one rather than just picking the first name that catches our attention. Other than that, no new news, no dramatic updates, baby purchases or anything of the sort.....we've just been trying to stay afloat with everything else going on and hoping that things slow down *just a little* in the coming months so that we have enough time to do the things we need to. It shouldn't be difficult and truly, we know that it will all work out in the end so we are trying not to rush or worry about anything. I am just thrilled to be even closer to meeting my little boy and can't wait to hold him in my arms! And I'm not the only one, daddy and Hudson cannot wait to meet him either!

Friday, August 21, 2009

Belly Pics - 23 wks 6 days







Sleepy Boy

He barely made it 5 minutes from grandma's house the other night before conking out! Of course, once we got home he had his second-wind and was all hyped up again!


Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Week 22 - Fun Mama-To-Be Facts


How far along? 22 weeks, 3 days


Total weight gain/loss: 12 pounds, not great, but within reason especially considering this isn't my first pregnancy and it seems like I got bigger quicker. Still trying to shoot for 30 lbs. or so (give or take a couple) for the entire pregnancy, but not sure how close I might get to that in the end. It would be SO much better had I not already been about 15 lbs. over my normal weight when I got pregnant, but not too much I can do about that now, ha! My weight gain has been fairly consistent and low for the most part with the exception of a huge burst between my 12 week and 16 week appointment, *exactly* when I "popped" and started looking obviously pregnant.I've gained very little since then, thank goodness! :)

Maternity clothes? Yes, but still wearing some non-maternity clothes for now.

Stretch marks? No new ones that I have spotted yet!

Sleep: Not doing too, too bad, but it's definitely getting increasingly difficult as my belly grows and as little baby boy is a night owl and decides to start having his own Dance Party USA in my belly whenever I lie down to go to sleep.

Best moment this week: Feeling all the little kicks more and Hudson giving mama's belly lots of hugs and kisses. He even says love you baby to the baby, ha!

Movement: Definitely getting stronger and increasingly more often....now I am ready to be able to see him kick! I've seen a little blurb here and there, but nothing too dramatic thus far.

Food cravings: Nothing new....loving to crunch on crushed ice these days though. Must be a pregnant thing for sure though because I don't recall doing this much before.

Gender: Still a boy I presume....not sure when my next ultrasound will be.

Labor Signs: Nada, thank goodness!

Belly Button in or out? Hanging "in" there!

What I miss: Not having to pull my pants up all of the time! For some reason the super secret-fit belly always falls down on me and then my entire jeans start to sag....doesn't matter if it's my cheapo ones or designer ones either, they all do it and it drives me crazy pulling them up and repositioning them all day long. Thank goodness this is the biggest of my worries lately though....hoping I can escape any swelling / edema for the remainder of the hot summer months since I have had none so far to date.

What I am looking forward to: Baby related ---- my next OB appt. in two weeks from today and then hopefully, ordering crib bedding and other fun goodies for baby boy in the upcoming weeks as well. Non-baby related --- getting all new carpet installed on Friday. Can.not.wait!

Weekly Wisdom: Sometimes you have to slow down and say no for the sake of both your health and your sanity. I am slowing learning this with this pregnancy and trying to always take on far more than I probably should. One of my weaknesses for sure.

Milestone: Making it over half-way through this pregnancy and doing so with a healthy baby and mama thus far. Cutting back hours at work a tad bit to accommodate mama's increasingly less than stellar sleeping habits.

L-O-V-E This Dining Set.....


For our kitchen nook.....this is pretty much exactly what I want and have envisioned for our kitchen nook area forever, yet I have always had difficulty finding a table and chairs that I love and in the dark finish I want until I found this set a while back and I have been eying it ever since. (probably hoping the PB would put it on sale, hehe!) Not sure if we'll end up getting it or not, but it's definitely the look I am going for and I am set on having an expandable table with a leaf so that we have additional seating even in the kitchen nook for when we entertain. The table I love, love, love, although I have not seen any of the pieces in person. I love the look of the chairs in both the first and second pics, but feel like the ones in the second photo might be more practical for a kitchen nook space mostly because I am not sure if the first ones look too formal. However, I would not want the rattan seats shown on the chairs in the second pic, but rather the upholstered seats shown in the third photo below. Now I just need to go see it in person to see if I still love it as much in real life as I do in the photos! What do you think??? :)








Belly Pics -- 21 (almost 22) Weeks Along....




21 wks 5 days




21 wks 6 days



21 wks 6 days

22 Weeks


Just trucking along here finally hitting the 22 week mark and looking forward to getting through the next 6 weeks or so of this ridiculously hot weather. I have been beyond busy lately, so my weekly updates and blog posts in general are a bit behind. (and by a bit, I mean far, far behind, but I am sure no one is too worried about that) Everything is still going great, no new symptoms or anything as of right now (or at least none I can think of at the moment), however little man is moving around a lot more and more with each week which I absolutely love! We have yet to make any final decisions about baby boy's bedding or anything like that yet because we've just had SO much going on, but hopefully things slow down a little over the next few weeks so that we can focus a little bit on getting some of these things done now before we get close to the really busy months of October, November and December. We are having all of the carpet replaced in our house this week, Friday to be exact, and I cannot wait for the yucky-old stuff to disappear and for our gorgeous new carpet to be here. It's definitely going to make a world of difference as to how the entire house looks and will be much safer, cleaner and healthier for the baby boy and the entire family. That's about it for now....

Here's what's going on with both me and baby this week according to BabyCenter.com

How your life's changing:

At this point, you may find your belly becoming a hand magnet. It's perfectly okay to tell folks who touch your tummy that you'd rather they didn't. And if people are telling you that you look smaller or bigger than you should at this point, remember that each woman grows — and shows — at her own rate. What's important is that you see your practitioner for regular visits so she can make sure your baby's growth is on track.

You may start to notice stretch marks on your abdomen as it expands to accommodate your growing baby. At least half of all pregnant women will develop stretch marks by the time they give birth. These small streaks of differently textured skin can range from pink to dark brown (depending on your skin color). Although they most commonly appear on your tummy, stretch marks may also show up on your buttocks, thighs, hips, and breasts. There's no proof that lotion helps prevent stretch marks, but keeping your skin moisturized may help with any itching.

How your baby's growing:

At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.

See what your baby looks like this week.

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.




Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Modeling with Mater....


We finally decided a couple of weekends ago to buy Hudson some big-boy underwear in the hopes that it will motivate him to start going to potty in the potty rather than his diaper and hopefully, help us get him potty-trained before baby boy arrives in December. My thought process was that he loves Cars and so many of the cartoon characters and superheroes, etc. so much that being able to wear underwear donning his favorite characters would be just the thing to kick-start his interest in potty-training again. Well, he hasn't taken any new interest in actually using the potty for it's true purpose, however he did love putting on the underwear and of course, mommy was there chasing him around with the camera to ensure that I could snap a few quick pics of my cutie in his first pair of big boy undies....here he is modeling with his Mater undies on, lol!!!! SO darn cute!







I honestly think in the last pic that we were probably telling him how cute he was and how he needed to learn to use the potty so he could wear cool underwear like those everyday and he basically tuned us out, covered his ears and was saying la-la-la-la-la, I'm not listening to you! He definitely sports a bit of a stubborn streak just like his mama and daddy!

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Loving Two....


As the time grows closer to us meeting our little baby boy and beginning this new adventure of becoming a family of four, many thoughts and worries go through my mind about how things might change for all of us and how our relationships will change throughout the process of expanding our family. I often pray for guidance and reaffirmation that by growing our family it will only strengthen and further fortify the bond that we have now and that our love will only continue to grow throughout the process. On a personal level, I seek strength to be the mother and wife that I have always wanted and have striven to be even though I know I am human, far from perfect and sometimes (possibly even oftentimes) fall short of my calling. I know that my role will change and that things will be very different once we are parents of not only one amazing child, but parents of two amazing children. Throughout my worries and fears though, I continue to have faith that our love for not only our new son, but also for Hudson as well as for each other will only grow day by day and encourage us to be better people, better parents, better partners moving forward in our lives and doing everything we can to provide the best environment for our family. I eagerly look forward to creating the motherly bond that I now have with Hudson with our new son when he is born as well. Actually, that bond begun long ago when I first found out the news that I was pregnant again and my love for him has only grown in the months that have followed. With all of that being said, it is also bittersweet as I also cling tightly to Hudson and the relationship we now have, just between him and I. I worry that Hudson might feel envious, forgotten or resentful when his baby brother enters the world and our family dynamic completely changes. I worry about whether or not I can be the best mommy to both of our children and provide each of them all of the love, nurturing and everything else they may need. I know that I can and I will do everything in my power to be the best mother possible and I know in my heart that everything will be okay and that this is just a normal process of life and parenting, but at the same time, I do feel a bit of anxiety about the unknown and uncertainty of it all.

Oddly enough, as I have been continuously experiencing more and more feelings of uncertainty regarding this huge change ahead of us, I came upon this poem. A poem that in fact, I've seen many, many, many times, but until now, the full sentiment of it's contents has never *hit-home* so to speak as it does now. As I read it now, I can totally and completely relate to the thoughts and feelings expressed by the author and know that their struggles are the same as I am living now. In the end, it only reaffirms that love does not divide, yet instead it only multiplies which is definitely the reassurance that I needed to hear to help calm my worries and fears and replace them with joy and excitement for what's to come.


Loving Two

I walk along holding your 2-year-old hand, basking in the glow of our magical relationship. Suddenly I feel a kick from within, as if to remind me that our time alone is limited. And I wonder: how could I ever love another child as I love you?

Then he is born, and I watch you. I watch the pain you feel at having to share me as you’ve never shared me before.

I hear you telling me in your own way, “Please love only me”. And I hear myself telling you in mine, “I can’t”, knowing, in fact, that I never can again.

You cry. I cry with you. I almost see our new baby as an intruder on the precious relationship we once shared. A relationship we can never quite have again.

But then, barely noticing, I find myself attached to that new being, and feeling almost guilty. I’m afraid to let you see me enjoying him, as though I am betraying you.

But then I notice your resentment change, first to curiosity, then to protectiveness, finally to genuine affection.

More days pass, and we are settling into a new routine. The memory of days with just the two of us is fading fast.

But something else is replacing those wonderful times we shared, just we two. There are new times – only now, we are three. I watch the love between you grow, the way you look at each other, touch each other.

I watch how he adores you – as I have for so long. I see how excited you are by each of his new accomplishments. And I begin to realize that I haven’t taken something from you, I’ve given something to you. I notice that I am no longer afraid to share my love openly with both of you.

I find that my love for each of you is as different as you are, but equally strong. And my question is finally answered, to my amazement. Yes, I can love another child as much as I love you – only differently.

And although I realize that you may have to share my time, I now know you’ll never share my love. There’s enough of that for both of you – you each have your own supply.

I love you – both. And I thank you both for blessing my life. Author Unknown

Sunday, August 2, 2009

21 Weeks


Another week closer to meeting our little boy. No real new developments this week except for lots more movement, which I love! We did receive our bedding fabric swatches in the mail, so I am looking forward to hopefully making some decisions in regards to his bedding and decor and we also did a little shopping yesterday and I bought a ton of cute little newborn clothes for baby boy too. Besides that, just staying busy, but trying to slow down a little hopefully sometime soon so I don't overdo it and of course, trying to stay indoors where it is cool as much as possible. :)

Here is what is going on with both me and baby this week according to BabyCenter.com.

How your life's changing:

You're probably feeling pretty comfortable these days. You're not too big yet, and the usual discomforts associated with early pregnancy are, for the most part, gone. If you're feeling good, relax and enjoy it while you can — the third trimester may bring with it a new crop of complaints.

That's not to say you won't have some minor glitches to deal with now. For example, increased oil production may contribute to the development (or worsening) of 
acne. If that's the case, be diligent about washing well with a gentle soap or cleanser twice a day, and make sure that any moisturizer or make-up you use is oil-free. Don't take any oral acne medications — some are very hazardous during pregnancy — or use any topical acne products without first checking with your practitioner.

You're also more prone to 
varicose veins now. As your pregnancy progresses, there's increasing pressure on the veins in your legs; higher progesterone levels, which may cause the walls of your veins to relax, can make the problem worse. You're more likely to get varicose veins if other family members have them. Also, they tend to get worse with each successive pregnancy and as you age. To help prevent or minimize varicose veins, exercise daily, prop up your feet and legs whenever possible, sleep on your left side, and wear maternity support hose.

You may also notice so-called spider veins (a group of tiny blood vessels near the surface of your skin), particularly on your ankles, legs, or face. They may have a spider- or sunburst-like pattern with little branches radiating out from the center, they may look like the branches of a tree, or they may be a group of separate thin lines with no particular pattern. Though they may be a bit unsightly, spider veins don't cause discomfort and usually disappear after delivery.

How your baby's growing:

Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long —the length of a carrot. You may soon feel like she's practicing martial arts as her initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges. You may also discover a pattern to her activity as you get to know her better. In other developments, your baby's eyebrows and lids are present now, and if you're having a girl, her vagina has begun to form as well.

See 
what your baby looks like this week.

Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.