23 Weeks

So...did you think we had fallen off the face of the earth?? It seems like everything has been so crazy lately. I can't believe that Christmas is right around the corner. I haven't even started Christmas shopping yet!!! Does that mean I am a bad mommy?? I haven't even begun to think about what I am going to buy Garrett. What do you buy a child that has everything he could possibly want?? The way the weather is turning out, I should probably buy him a snow suit!!!

We had Christmas pictures taken on Saturday. Joel and I are so disappointed in them. It could be that the problem was Joel and I though!!! The pictures of Garrett are adorable. I look like I have been on an eating binge for a few weeks and Joel looks like he hasn't slept in weeks!! We are going to have them re-taken next week. Hopefully they will turn out better than the last ones!!!

23 Weeks

~Proportions of the body are now quite similar to a newborn although thinner since he hasn't begun to form body fat.
~Bones located in the middle ear harden.
~Your baby is able to hear. (Dads, did you know: low-frequency sounds mimicking a male voice penetrate the abdomen and uterine wall better than the higher frequencies of the female voice?) ~The eyes are formed, though the iris still lacks pigmentation.
~The pancreas, essential in the production of hormones, is developing steadily. She has begun producing insulin, important for the breakdown of sugars.
~If born now, your baby has a 15% chance of survival, his odds going up with each passing day. . ~The average baby at this stage weighs 1.1 pound (501gm) and is 11.38 inches (28.9cm) long.

~Real hair and toenails are beginning to grow. Baby continues to urinate and drink amniotic fluid, which is exchanged every three hours.

More Facts

~At this point you’ve pretty much adjusted to the fact you’ve got a moving little gymnast inside of you, but now they’re going to kick up the party a notch because they can hear and react to sounds from the outside world. Sounds from your alarm clock, a thunder roll, or that darned car honking at you across the intersection can actually jar their little ears enough to elicit a kick or violent bout of squirming.

How's Mom Doing

~If no one warned you about the joys of the pregnancy-sleep-challenge, you’ve probably already started to discover just how difficult it can be to find adequately comfortable sleeping positions.

~Plenty of good ol’ fashioned H20 (water) can help reduce swelling in your poor ankles and feet-- resulting from the pressure your now over-sized uterus is putting on your pelvic veins, thereby slowing fluid circulation to the lower half of your body. Also, if you want to further reduce the dreaded appearance of pregnancy “cankles” (calf-ankles) try to avoid sitting for long periods of time—and for the hundredth time: don’t forget to stay active! Keeping your fluid intake up is also good for your little resident swimmer as dehydration is frequently connected with premature birthing. Yep, it’s a lot of responsibility, but you can do it! You’re almost two-thirds of the way there already! Keep up the good work mom!

Love To All!!!