Second Ultrasound Appt - Week 18

Michael and I met Grandi Candi and G-pa Mike at St. Luke's in The Woodlands for our second ultrasound visit on Wednesday, July 28th. Unfortunately, we found out once we got there that this appointment was going to be just to check Baby Michael's heart. His heart looks great! But we were expecting an appointment like last time. We got ten more photos of our little guy, but he was pretty sleepy. (That may be because he and Mommy were up late the night before at Bunco.) Needless to say, Baby Michael was very still and trying to sleep. Most of the pictures we got were of his back and they don't show much.

Here is one where you can see Baby Michael's nose and his hand. My sweetheart!


Michael and I had on our Astros' gear since we were going to the game that afternoon. Dr. S thought she should make sure Baby Michael was showing his team spirit, so she changed the coloring. Here is Baby Michael, the Astros' fan.


I have another appt with Dr. B, my OB, tomorrow morning. My mom and her sister, Jan, will be coming with me to the appointment. My parents are taking a quick trip to Nebraska this weekend and I'm hoping to go with them if Dr. B says it's okay. I'll try to update after that appt, but I'm not sure there will be much to report. Thanks for following along!

Weeks 18 & 19

-Week 18 (Large Mango): Baby Michael weighs about eight ounces and is about six inches long. His arms and legs are finally in proportion, neurons are now connected between the brain and muscles, and cartilage throughout his body is turning to bone. All of these things combine to give him more control over his limb movements. Baby Michael is also being covered by a cheesy varnish called vernix caseosa. This protective substance is greasy, white, and made up of lanugo, oil from his glands, and dead skin cells. Vernix caseosa protects Baby Michael's sensitive skin from the surrounding amniotic fluid. Without this protection, he would look very wrinkled at birth.

-Week 19 (Small Cantaloupe): Baby Michael is about ten ounces and six and a half inches long. Most women are getting ready to find out what they are having during this week, but we found out during week 16 due to the need to check out his heart every two weeks until week 26. Baby Michael's testicles have begun their descent this week, though they are still located in the abdomen, waiting for the scrotum to finish growing so they'll have a place to drop into in a few weeks.