Baby Update - Week 18 & Nate Update

Guys,

I'm sorry! I've neglected our blog yet again. Long story short, Nate is on the move again! He found out on Jan. 7th that he was going to Texas for a class with the military. Oh! That class started on the 12th and he got his travel information finalized about 4pm on Jan. 9th and flew out of Jacksonville on Jan. 10th. He is about halfway through his class and he will be back home by Jan. 27th. So far, so good!

As for the baby, things are going well. I had my regular 16 weeks checkup on Jan. 8th. The batteries were dying on the doppler while the doctor was trying to find the hearthbeat so he checked it out on the ultrasound again! Nice strong heartbeat! :) The doctor gave me a picture (because Nate couldn't be at that visit) but our scanner doesn't seem to like me and I can't get it scanned. At the present moment, I have a rather bad cold but I'm at home resting. For the second time (I think) since Nate has been here [2002], they have closed the base because of SNOW!! I had a doctor's appointment today for my cold but the clinics are closed. This is a shot out our front door:

Taken less than 30 minutes ago:
And it's still coming down pretty good now!

Here's THIS week's information:
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.

OH! Next week, on the 28th, we get our "anatomy scan" ultrasound at the Naval Hospital and hopefully they will be able to determine the gender. We have also planned to get a 4-D ultrasound done on February 13th. YAY!

Love,
~Stacy

P.S. If you are interested in the weeks we missed:

Week 16's information -
Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. Right now, he's about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than is has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp begun, though his locks are recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot of happening inside as well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby continues to develop.
Week 17's information -
Your baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone and the umbilical cord - her lifeline to the placenta - is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and she's aruond 5 inches long from head to bottom. She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop.