A big hooray goes out to aledol, comment #67, on winning our Miniclip Sushi Go-Round giveaway!


Update from The Fetus:
Mommy almost forgot about this week's update, because she was so busy finishing up the SodaStream review post, so this is coming a few days late. It's ok though; I forgive her for having "pregnant brain". She's setting this to auto-post on Shabbos, so don't worry...she's not actually online. And, once again, this info refers to what is happening to me this week, so by the end of the week all of this will have been accomplished.

• I will be about the size of a peach by the end of this week. My crown to rump length will be between 2.6 and 3.1 inches (6.5 to 7.8cm), and I'll weigh between 0.5 and 0.7 ounces (14 to 20g).
• My legs are longer than my arms, and my skin is red and transparent.
• My eyelids are fused together and won't open for about four more months.
• My arms are long enough to reach my mouth, and I might begin to place my thumb in my mouth.
• The most dramatic development this week will be my reflexes. My fingers will soon begin to open and close, my toes will curl, my eye muscles will clench, and my mouth will make sucking movements. In fact, if someone prods Mommy's tummy, I will squirm in response, although Mommy can't feel it yet.
• The tissue that will become my bones is being laid out, especially around my head, arms and legs.
• Some of my ribs may be distinguished at this time.
• My face looks unquestionably human: My eyes have moved from the sides to the front of my head, and my ears are right where they should be.
• My nose and chin are more prominent now.
• My intestines, which have grown so fast that they protrude into my umbilical cord, will start to move into my abdominal cavity this week.
• I will begin to practice breathing in the next few weeks as my chest rises and falls in mock breathing motions.
• I will also swallow small amounts of amniotic fluid which will be passed as urine. (ewww)
• My nerve cells are multiplying rapidly, and in my brain, synapses are forming furiously.
• My placenta is providing all of my needs for nutrition, oxygen and waste disposal, though my amniotic fluid will become more important later on.
• All major components of my body are formed and now must grow and mature.
• From now on, my development will consist primarily of organ maturity and growth and body refinement.

Update from Mommy:
As you may have noticed, I'm now posting belly pictures on my left sidebar! You can click on the picture and see all of my belly pictures from my last pregnancy right up next to this one. (That way you can compare them.) You may have also noticed that I'm now 12 weeks!!!! My pregnancy can now be public knowledge (although maybe posting on a blog makes it public knowledge anyway... lol). In either case, we've (sort of) made it to the end of 1st trimester!! I actually count 13w 3d as the real end, but many people say it's 12 weeks. In either case, it's very exciting. I have my neuchal translucency ultrasound scheduled for Monday, so I'll be sure to update you with pictures from that. I can't wait!! Also, I got to hear the heartbeat on my own doppler just a few days ago. I had heard it at the doctor's office this past Monday, but I wanted my hubby to be able to hear it too. I found it pretty quickly, since I knew where it had been the day before, and I must have listened to it for a good five minutes. *sigh* I love that sound.