25 weeks!

What's happening with our sweet tiny this week???

Head to heels, our baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches and weighs about a pound and a half... about the size of an eggplant! (S)he's beginning to exchange her long, lean look for some baby fat. As this happens, his/her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and (s)he'll start to look more and more like a newborn. (S)he's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture (and I'm guessing any child of ours has little to no hair and it's probably as blonde/white as can be!).

Our baby's skin is turning pinker. Not because he or she's getting overheated (in fact, the amniotic fluid is perfectly climate controlled, keeping our baby at an always comfortable temperature), but because small blood vessels, called capillaries, are forming under the skin and filling with blood. Later this week, blood vessels will also develop in our baby's lungs, bringing them one step closer to full maturity — and one step closer to taking that first breath of fresh air. But right now those lungs are still very much works in progress. Though they are already beginning to develop surfactant, a substance that will help the lungs expand after the baby is born, the lungs are still too undeveloped to sufficiently send oxygen to the bloodstream and release carbon dioxide when he or she exhales.

The lungs aren't the only system that's gearing up for air intake. Our baby's nostrils, which have been plugged up until now, are starting to open this week. This actually allows our little one to begin taking practice breaths. (Of course since there's no air in there, our baby is really only "breathing" amniotic fluid, but it's the practice that counts, right?) We had our first appointment with our new midwife here in Oklahoma last Thursday. Everything is still looking good! We're measuring right on schedule and that little heart beat is still as sweet as ever! Hearing it sends me straight to cloud 9 every time! This sweet tiny's kicks and punches (or breakdancing) are getting stronger. Daddy Taylor finally got to feel a kick from the outside the other night! Every once in a while you can see my belly move when the baby kicks. SO COOL! We've been working on the nursery a little more. Hopefully it will come together soon! It's going to be darling! Until next time! (I may start doing 2 week belly pics... I think we're going to be growing a little quicker here pretty soon!) Much love! The Taylors **I'm not sure why the format of this is showing up all weird... and I can't get it to change. Oh well! It's legible! :o) **