18 weeks

How your baby's growing:
Head to rump, your baby is about 5-1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs - movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born, If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.

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Wow! Look how much baby has grown! I can hardly believe I look this large. People have started making comments and suggesting I may be having twins. One friend I have here (who's the mother of twin boys) says she didn't find out until her first ultra sound. Eeek! Mike says not to believe in that nonsense, but to be honest, I'm not going to rule ANYTHING out until it's confirmed. I am secretly hoping that I am just 4'11'' and the baby simply has no where to go. I'm not convinced that I'd be cut out for a "2-for-1" deal!

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Ever since we watched fireworks on July 3rd, Baby Weston has been active enough to let me know about it! S/he is moving around a lot! It happens every day, throughout the day. During a previous post, I mentioned how strange it is to feel...and it still is...but I'm also starting to feel comforted by that movement. Ironic. A feeling that is weird and yet I don't want it to stop. It actually warms my heart each time I feel it. Mike has started to try to feel Baby by putting his hand on my belly when we watch TV, but the movement isn't quite strong enough, yet, to be felt on the outside. I'm sure once he feels it, it will warm his heart each time, too.

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My next OB appointment is this Thursday, 7/9. It's also the appointment when I get to schedule my first ultrasound. I have TONS of people (possibly, you may be one of them) that keeps asking when I'll find out. Don't you think I'm just as anxious and excited as you are to find out if it will be a boy Weston or a girl Weston?? I'm DYING to find out! And TRUST ME, I will notify all important parties (you are one of them) as soon as we know. Some prayer requests are #1 - they will find that Baby Weston is perfectly healthy (all organs/parts/pieces are present and growing where they should be) #2 - that Baby cooperates and is in a good position to see clearly his/her gender (no hiding allowed!!).

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People are different. And that means they come with their own ideas and opinions on a variety of topics. So, please understand, that when I say this, I am NOT speaking for all women. I am speaking only of myself...I have absolutely grown to LOVE being pregnant! (No, I did not enjoy it right away. Because a woman's first experience with pregnancy is the first trimester, which was, by NO means, a tad-bit enjoyable for me - EXCEPT for the fact that I was pregnant.) I love everything about it - especially knowing God is using us to bring a life into this world. A precious and dear life, that, by God's grace, will do amazing things for His glory.