26 Weeks: Eyes Wide Open

Look who's looking. Your baby's eyes — which have been closed for the past few months (so that the retina, the part of the eye that allows images to come into focus, could develop) — are beginning to open at 26 weeks pregnant. What this means is that your baby is able to see what's going on now (unfortunately the view in your uterus isn't all that exciting). But do try this at home for kicks (baby's that is): Shine a flashlight at your stomach. Your baby might kick in response (as in: "Get that light out of my eyes!").

The iris, the colored part of the eye, still doesn't have much pigmentation (that'll fill in over the next month or two), so it's too early to start guessing your baby's eye color. Even the color your baby will be born with might not be the permanent shade; so you may be kept guessing until your baby is close to six months old.

Look what else is going on this week: Your baby's brain-wave activity is kicking in at this stage in fetal development, which means your little one can not only hear noises but can now also respond to them. Not in so many words, of course, but with an increase in pulse rate or activity.

And talking about activity, at your baby's current height and weight (about 14 inches tall and two pounds… the length of an English hothouse cucumber), and at the rate he is growing, your baby will soon be feeling a little cramped in your uterus. Not to worry, there's still plenty of room for your baby to grow. It just means your gymnast will have less room for those somersaults, cartwheels, and other Olympic feats.

Tyler's Bathroom

Our guest bathroom used to be referred to as "Sugar's bathroom" but as with other parts of the house, Tyler is unknowingly taking over. My mom found this cute shower curtain (and towels) on sale a little while back and saved them for me b/c she knew that one day when I had chilren I wanted to decorate with duckies. We found some bathroom rugs that matched, and wha-lah... we now have "Tyler's bathroom".

25 Weeks: Juice Box baby

Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13.5 inches and more than a pound and a half in weight, your baby is taller than two juice boxes stacked one on top of the other, and almost as heavy as four of those little boxes.

Don't look now (as if you could), but your baby's skin is turning pinker. No, not because he’s getting overheated (in fact, the amniotic fluid is perfectly climate controlled, keeping your baby at an always comfortable temperature), but because small blood vessels, called capillaries, are forming under the skin and filling with blood. Later this week, blood vessels will also develop in your baby's lungs, bringing them one step closer to full maturity — and one step closer to taking that first breath of fresh air. But at 25 weeks pregnant, those lungs are still very much works in progress. Though they are already beginning to develop surfactant, a substance that will help the lungs expand after the baby is born, the lungs are still too undeveloped to sufficiently send oxygen to the bloodstream and release carbon dioxide when he exhales.

The lungs aren't the only system that's gearing up for air intake. Your baby's nostrils, which have been plugged up until now, are starting to open this week. This actually allows your little one to begin taking practice breaths. (Of course since there's no air in there, your baby is really only "breathing" amniotic fluid, but it's the practice that counts, right?)

Bump Comparison

Thought this was fun, look at how we've grown over the weeks.

24 Week Picture

Tyler, and I, are getting so big! There are definite advantages to this...

1. People no longer wonder if I'm pregnant (or just gaining weight).
2. Tyler's kicks and movements are getting stronger and easier to feel, which is wonderful!
3. I'm hoping that I will be better insulated for the cold weather...although I am still very cold natured (even while pregnant).
4. Let's not forget about the elastic waist bands on clothes!

Sweet Sleepy Baby

Below are pics from our visit with Caden when he was 3 weeks, 6 days old. He is doing what he does best... sleeping and being cuddly! We love going to visit him and play with him, he is just so sweet.

Uncle Jonathan practicing... he thinks the Boppy pillow (what is under Caden) is the greatest invention ever :)



Look at his cute little grin, he's so expressive (even when he's sleeping)...



My mom came with us to visit...and like the rest of us, she fell in love!

24 Weeks: Endearing Ear of Corn

Your baby weighs more than a pound and a half right now and is about a foot long (about the size of an ear of corn).

Wondering what (and who) your baby will look like? If you had a baby cam at 24 weeks pregnant, you'd almost be able to tell by now. That beautiful face (though still tiny) is almost fully formed. What's still missing from the picture is the fat that will be piled on under baby's skin. Until those fat deposits are made, that very tender skin is still very transparent, which means a close look would let you see clear through to all the organs, bones, and blood vessels. Fortunately, that see-through look won't last much longer. Babies at this stage of fetal development are gaining about six ounces each week — with much of that gain coming from fat, in addition to growing organs, bones, and muscle.

What's been playing on your little rocker's stereo system these days? All kinds of sounds can be heard by your baby in your womb: from air exhaling from your lungs (deep breath now), those gastric gurgles produced by your stomach and intestines, your voice and your partner's (which your baby will be able to recognize at birth), and even very loud sounds such as honking horns, barking dogs, or a wailing fire truck.

Our little ninja...

Tyler has been very active lately... either that or I can just feel him more as he is getting bigger. Just last night, Jonathan and I were sitting on the couch and Tyler was kicking me pretty steadily and Jonathan was able to FEEL him kick! It was a very exciting moment, as most of the time Tyler stops kicking when his daddy tries to feel him.

I've also just recently been able to SEE Tyler's kicks if I am paying attention closely, it is so much fun getting to know our sweet little ninja!!!

23 Weeks: Movin' Mango

I guess they ran out of fruit/vegetables to compare the baby's length to... we are back to a mango this week (a large mango this time).


At more than 11 inches long and slightly over a pound, your baby is the size of a large mango when you are 23 weeks pregnant. This week marks the beginning of some serious weight gain. Your baby's weight in the next four weeks alone should double (and you may feel as though yours is too).

Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With his sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. You may even be able to see him squirm underneath your clothes.

You have probably heard your developing baby's heartbeat through a Doppler a number of times already (though you never get tired of hearing it), but by now you can also hear it through a standard stethoscope. What a heart throb!

Your baby's skin is reddish in color now because of the developing blood vessels underneath (remember, the skin is very thin still). It also hangs loosely from his little body at this point. That's because the skin grows faster than the fat develops during fetal growth. But don't worry. By the time your baby is born, he will be pleasantly plump and filled out — from chubby cheeks to chubby toes.