Morning antics..

Try rationalizing with a 2 1/2 year old why a pregnant butt of 23 1/2 weeks cannot feasibly fit on a ride on toy suited for a toddler...good morning fun! Yes, Greyson wants me to "race" him on a ride on toy of his choice, all which didn't really fit me when I wasn't pregnant, but with this newly acquired figure, it sure as heck isn't going to fit me now!

Pumkin on the other hand has become increasing noticeably active. Sure he/she has been moving like crazy for awhile now, but now I can feel it in a noticeably regular pattern. Favorite times of activity are at about 8pm at night and then again when I lay down to go to sleep. If Greyson wakes up in the middle of the night or I get out of bed to hit the restroom, then I lay back down I also feel an active baby. Pumkin must be disturbed by this too. I just love feeling it. The real kicks, not the tickly movements. Brian hasn't tried to feel it yet, but he isn't really patient enough to feel it yet.

24 weeks... what's happening inside

Week Twenty Four: Practices breathing

You are 24 weeks pregnant. (fetal age 22 weeks)

• The child is now gaining around 3 ounces (90 grams) a week.
• Baby weighs about 1.3 pounds and is 12 inches long.
• Baby weighs about 600 grams and is 30cm (crown to heel) long.
• The eyelids can be seen very clearly.
• If born at this stage is officially considered viable, they may well be able to survive.

Your baby is producing surfactant. This is stuff that keeps the small air sacs in our lungs from collapsing. The unborn baby is covered with a fine, downy hair and the skin is protected by a waxy substance. Some of this substance may still be on the child's skin at birth at which time it will be quickly absorbed. The baby practices breathing by inhaling amniotic fluid into developing lungs.

Baby gains about 3 ounces this week. The weight is in muscle, bone mass and organs. The body begins to fill out with his appearance increasingly becoming more like a newborn. Taste buds begin to form. If mom drinks something strange or bitter, baby may be observed showing his or her distaste.

Little creases have appeared on his palms. The muscular coordination of the hands has improved as they sucks their thumb. Over the next week or so, the sweat glands will be forming in the skin. The lungs are developing branches of the respiratory tree and cells that produce surfactant, a substance that helps the air sacs inflate easily.

After this week your baby is officially considered viable. 36% of babies can survive premature birth at 24 weeks - However, serious complications are still possible. Baby now weighs about 1.3 pound (600gm) and is around 12 inches (30cm) long.

23 weeks...what's happening inside

Week Twenty Three: Sense of balance develops

You are 23 weeks pregnant. (fetal age 21 weeks)

• He or she measures over 28cm and weighs up to 550 grams.
• The baby is over 11 inches tall, weighs about a pound.
• The eyebrows are visible.
• The child can successfully suck.

Bones located in the middle ear harden.Your baby does a regular 'workout' inside your womb. He or she turns from side to side and head over heels. Thanks to a fully developed inner ear, which controls balance, your baby may have a sense of whether he or she is upside-down or right side up in the womb.

Skin pigment is now forming. The fetus is now proportioned like a newborn except it is a thinner version of a newborn baby since its baby fat has not developed much yet. The pancreas, essential in the production of hormones, is developing steadily. Baby has begun producing insulin, important for the breakdown of sugars.

If born now, your baby would have a 20% chance of survival, the odds going up with each passing day. By this week, your baby weighs a little over 1 pound (500g). Its crown to heel length is 11 inches (28cm).

Dr Appt....22 weeks

Had my 22 week appointment today. Found out that baby pumkin is perfect, so despite the disappointing ultrasound, he/she is perfect. "No fetal abnormalities indicated" is a beautiful sentence.

On another good note, blood draw one for fifth's disease....negative. Yes, I have to do another, hence the name blood draw one, but that will be in another 2 weeks, so although not completely out of the woods, getting closer.

Of course, it wouldn't be possible to time it so that I could do the nasty glucola screen at the same time, instead, I get to be a human pin cushion...yee ha. Oh well, what mommy's do for their babies...we all know it.

Heart beat was right at 150 today. My weight, blood pressure and everything looks great. All is well and good on the baby front! In fact baby is moving like crazy lately. Loving it!

New belly pic...

So here is the latest belly pic. Definitely have one now. Not just bloat, not just fluff, full fledge baby belly. This is pumkin at 22 weeks. Be sure you vote on the latest poll...

I just had dinner and baby must have enjoyed it, pumkin is kicking up a storm and I am just basking in the joy of feeling it all.

One more thing to worry about...

So Greyson has been sick. Icky nasty sick since Thursday (didn't know this till Saturday). Of course, it happens over the weekend when the dr's are closed. So we got in today, he is feeling better of course. But he was diagnosed with "fifth disease" which to him means nothing. It is just a minor virus that causes a rash. However, now I had to get a blood draw today and most likely again in another 4 weeks due to the possible risks to Pumkin...darn germs!

More Belly Pic Fun....A comparison for you gender hounds

Here are some side by sides of how Greyson was carried and now how Pumkin is riding. Greyson's belly is on the left, Pumkin on the right.

14 weeks for Greyson, 13 weeks for Pumkin:

Then, Greyson at 20 weeks and pumkin at 18 weeks