Week 21

So my goal is to get a new post up around Monday of each week. As I just spent some time going through and adding a Baby's Development section (easier to read than the paragraphs from WhatToExpect.com) to each entry, it gave me the opportunity to see the progress Baby Rassman and I have made since first finding out 16, yes 16, weeks ago. Not to be cliche, but it really is a miracle that this baby started off as a countable number of cells and then somehow 'turns' into a human being...crazy!!!

I feel that in the last two weeks by belly has certainly grown. Sometimes it feels like my stomache is trying to stretch more than my skin is letting it! But, I guess it still can be unnoticeable as I went through 17 parent conferences and no one seemed to know (or at least they did not elude to it). I figure that I will officially let them know just before Winter Break so that they will have time to take in the information without immediately panicking - you never know with parents of kindergartners. But, as I have told many people, this will be a hard class for me to leave because they have been one of my best classes ever - full of personalities, hugs, kisses, and just cute kids.

Finally, I have definitely been feeling movement this week. I think I have been feeling it here and there over the past two weeks, but it's just taken me a while to figure it out. It truly is a neat feeling, makes it even more real that a little guy or girl is in there getting ready to come out in just 4 short months!

Time to get Team Rassman to bed - we had a busy weekend finding and cutting down our Christmas tree! Have a wonderful week!

Baby's Development (from Pregnancy.org)

• White blood cells are under production. Leukocytes (or white blood cells) form our body's defense systems. They help fight infections and diseases.
• Your little one's skin has changed from translucent to become more opaque. Your infant's tongue is fully formed. If you were able to peek you might catch your son or daughter practicing giving you a raspberry!
• If your baby is a girl, her womb and vagina are formed. Unlike males, females have a limited supply of eggs in their lifetime. At this point your daughter will have 6 million eggs. This amount decreases to approximately one million by birth.
• Baby swallows more this week. After your baby takes in amniotic fluid, his body absorbs the water in the liquid and moves the rest into the large bowel. This is good practice for his digestive system!
• Wake and sleep periods become more consistent. Some research suggests that baby sets her internal clock to match the outside world's even before birth! Your eating and sleeping habits as well levels of light and noise serve as her signals.
• Length is now measured crown to heel; therefore, take notice of the difference between this week's length and last week's!!
• Baby measures about 10.51 inches (26.7cm) and weighs nearly 12.7 ounces (360g).

(pictures from Pregnancy.org)