23 weeks

We had an appointment with the doctor yesterday and we had what will probably be the final ultrasound. Anna Hope thought it would be fun to hide from mommy, daddy, and the doctor when they were trying to get a look at her face. She just put her arm up over her face and head. I can explain how happy/excited I am feeling right now. Only 17 weeks left until our little blessing gets here. Well, here's what all is going on this week.
-Derrick


Anna’s length, from crown-to-rump, is approximately 8 inches this week! She has finally reached one pound (The doctor told us yesterday she is right at 1 pound). She is about the size of a small baby doll and looks very human. Her face and body look similar to that of a newborn at this time.

Fat is still being deposited at a rapid rate, but Anna still looks red and wrinkled. Skin is being produced at a higher rate than the fat is, so the skin hangs loosely. She looks red because the skin is losing its transparency and pigment is beginning to form. They say that we should be feeling Anna move, kick, etc and trust me we have. She is not a big fan of her mother walking too much  We have been talking to her. I tell her how happy and excited we are that she is going to be here in a few months and that we can not wait to be her parents. And that we love her very much!!

She now can suck her thumb for real, where she was just sticking it in her mouth. She will continue to swallow amniotic fluid and recycle it as urine. The liquids and sugars that the baby retracts from the fluid is a supplement to the nutrients that the placenta delivers. Laura may be able to feel small `jumps` inside of her when Anna gets the hiccups from swallowing fluid. The pancreas is developing and it will responsible for insulin production, to help break down sugars.

As she continues to grow, she has less space to move around in the uterus. Bones, muscles and organs are growing steadily.