12 Weeks and My Birthday!

Yesterday was my 26th birthday, and we hit the 12 week mark!

We had a fantastic ultrasound on Monday. Baby A was measuring 2 or 3 days ahead and was kicking, waving, and hiccupping the entire time. We heard the heartbeat (167 bpm) and got some great profile shots -- cute little button nose!

Here is a picture from the ultrasound (look at that LOOOOOONG leg on the far left -- just like daddy!):

And here is a picture of me (and Lucy):

Here is what is happening with Baby A this week:

The most dramatic development this week: Reflexes. Our baby's fingers will soon begin to open and close, his toes will curl, his eye muscles will clench, and his mouth will make sucking movements. In fact, if you prod my abdomen, our baby will squirm in response, although I won't be able to feel it. His intestines, which have grown so fast that they protrude into the umbilical cord, will start to move into his abdominal cavity about now, and his kidneys will begin excreting urine into his bladder.

Meanwhile, nerve cells are multiplying rapidly, and in our baby's brain, synapses are forming furiously. His face looks unquestionably human: His eyes have moved from the sides to the front of his head, and his ears are right where they should be. From crown to rump, our baby-to-be is just over two inches long (about the size of a lime) and weighs half an ounce.