20 weeks, 38 inch circumference and happy, happy happy.
The baby only weighs about 12 ounces and is about 7 inches long,
so we've still got a long way to go!
I feel great and am enjoying my 2nd trimester energy and attitude. Can't wait for the weather to warm up a bit so that I can get outdoors and play in the sun.

20 (ish) weeks and looking good!

We had our 20 week ultrasound this morning and it went so well that we had to rush some new pics on the blog right away. Our ultrasound technician was really great and so knowledgeable. She took her time and allowed us to simply watch the baby move around on the screen for quite a while. Here's a look of the baby's face. It's amazing how clear it is; you can see the eyes, nose, and lips!



Here is an adorable profile shot. The baby tried for several minutes to suck it's thumb. This was taken right before we think that the thumb sucking success was finally achieved. You can also see the outline of the skull and the spinal column at the bottom of the shot.





Here is another profile shot with a better view of the spinal column. You can also see just how curled up the little babe was for the entire ultrasound. Because of this, we didn't get an exact length, but the technician estimated somewhere just under 8" long. Weighing in at 12 ounces as well, we learned that currently our baby is in the 80th percentile for size. This may be due to an early growth spurt, or it may be that I am a little farther along than they thought. They are not moving my due date (technically), but the technician said that she would estimate a due date of September 1-4th instead of the 9th.


High Five Baby! This shot really got the technician excited because she said it is often difficult to get a picture of the hand opened up. You can actually count all the fingers! (and good news, there are 5!) The dark spot in the center of the chest is the heart, beating at 137 beats per minute.







Here we can see the left hand again very clearly with all its fingers and a beautiful little thumb in addition to the left forearm, right in the middle of the screen. To the left you can see the head and part of the umbilical cord.




As the picture clearly states, the anatomy most clearly seen in this shot is the left foot-as we are looking straight down on it. Again it was so fun to count the five toe knuckles on this little stinker. A shadow of the right foot is hovering right above it in the shot.

*pop!* *pop!* *pop!*

Well, I felt the baby Thursday for the first time. I'd love to say that it was amazing and magical and that it was full of gentle flutters and little swishes...but to be truthful, it felt like popcorn popping inside me, and I was pretty confused at first! My first reaction was (of course) to gently push back on the spot where I felt the popping and after I did, it responded and "popped" back, so that was pretty fun. Since then, I've been feeling the baby more and more. Last night I attempted (about 10 times) to get Luke to feel it as well, but the baby always stopped right when I'd get Luke's hand on my belly. Silly baby. It was actually really funny, because it was like it knew when Luke was there and it got all still. Then, when he gave up and pulled his hand away, "pop!"

Hopefully the baby will be kicking and moving a little stronger soon, and it will be really easy for Luke and others to feel. All in all, it's amazing how the activity just keeps on growing and changing. I'm so excited to meet this little kicker!