18 Week Update

I am little far behind on getting a 17 week picture and 18 week update together but we were traveling all day Sunday when I normally do my updates. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with Mama and Papa. We didn't do a whole lot but it was very nice to relax. We also got to see Aunt Beth, Uncle Roger, Luke and Emily which was just wonderful. I hate that so much of my family is so far away especially now that Jackson and Jacob are on the way. I want them to all be able to enjoy time with them. We will continue to make our road trips to see them all, though. Those road trips will be pretty comfortable in our new Nissan Quest that we bought last night. It is so awesome. I will post pictures of it a little later after the weather clears up a bit and Justin cleans Ol Silver up (Aunt Beth named her).

Well yet another week has passed and I can't believe it. We are almost half way through the pregnancy. I am still feeling absolutely amazing! Yesterday was day one of week 18. Let's see what's going on with these babies now...

Week 18:
This week, 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 sleep!). 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 movement your baby's doing - twists, rolls, kicks, and punches. And would you believe your baby is finally beig enough for you to start feeling 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 lsitening to each other hiccup - a skill that your baby has by now).