Your baby is really beginning to develop more physical definition this week – their oversized head isn’t just large and oblong anymore, it’s actually a little bit pointy. The tiny receding tail bud is now starting to be overshadowed by the growth of their legs, which are now complete with knees and the beginnings of toes. Their eyes and ears are the most visible features on their head and their miniature bones are starting to harden throughout their body. You also have some variation on a boy or a girl at this point, although their genitals won’t be visible enough to determine which color cigars you’re going to buy until around the 16th week.

We've gone public

Yesterday was my first ultrasound. Not much to see other than that the baby was there! Everything looks good so far, and I go back in about a week for another ultrasound just to monitor development. I'm almost 100% sure that I'm going to use my OB close to home. I was conflicted on that, but I do think it would be easier for my husband if the appointments are closer to home and for the delivery to not be two hours away!

Anyway, Phil couldn't make it to the ultrasound yesterday. He had an allergy attack, so I left him at home, had the ultrasound and then went to work. I showed him the ultrasound once I got home, and he was so excited. I found out later he had already told his sister, and so he thought it was okay for us to tell my family. I called my mom, my sister, my aunt, and my uncle. Then we posted the ultrasound on myspace and facebook, and today, I'm making individual announcements to people at work.

The doctor did tell me that most of my cramping is probably related to dehydration, and I need to drink more water. So, I have a water bottle with me today. It's hard to get used to drinking that much water, but I'm going to do my best!

6 Weeks!

This is going to be a busy week for your amazing little embryo. Their brain is still growing remarkably fast; miniature hand plates are starting to develop and the early formations of what will be their fingers are already visible. Also, the lower limbs do not develop quite as fast, so they’re pretty much still flippers. Up until this point, your baby has been very curled up with the head and tail in close proximity, but this week their trunk and neck are beginning to grow and straighten as their tail recedes into its resting position in the back. Even though your little miracle is only 6 weeks old, they’re already capable of demonstrating reflex responses to touch!

7 days till my first ultrasound!

Well, Boston was exciting, but emotionally and physically difficult. I planned the trip, of course, before I was pregnant, so I didn't think that a red-eye flight would be that bad. When you're trying to operate after 30 hours of no sleep, though, it's not fun. I had lots of cramps and lots of heartburn. But, that didn't stop me from seeing lots of tourist attractions.

I am happy to be home and back to work, and I'm looking forward to my 6-week ultrasound. Today, I'm having lots of heartburn, and I forgot my antacids at home. I won't make that mistake again!

5 Weeks!

From Babygaga.com:

The changes to your growing embryo are not quite as drastic this week as they've been in the last few weeks. Growth is now largely focused on its little head, which is starting to develop much more rapidly than the rest of its tiny body. This is because its amazing brain is undergoing some very crucial and rapid development in order to effectively regulate its heart rate, blood circulation, and other vital functions. As for the rest of its miniature body, what were simple limb buds last week are limb flippers this week and the tail is more expressed. Amazingly, within a mere five weeks your little miracle is already developing the rudimentary forms of its liver, pancreas, lungs, stomach and nasal pits while its little heart is already increasing its circulation. Your baby is now a whopping 4-6mm in length.

Boston!

I'm traveling to Boston tonight. All last night, I spent washing clothes and packing. I crashed around 1am and then couldn't sleep. I kept waking up every hour. I finally gave up trying around 7:30a. I packed those last minute things and then headed out for the day. My first stop was Motherhood Maternity where I was told I could pick up these sucker candies called Preggie Pop Drops. They were very easy to find, right near the register. The cashier asked me if they were for myself or a gift, and I stuttered -- For me. I almost started crying on the spot. I know I was shaking. She asked me a couple of other questions -- I think about morning sickness, and I told her I was flying and my doctor recommended them, and then I left. The whole walk through the mall back to my car, I was shaking near tears. I guess I can blame this on pregnancy hormones, but I think it's still the shock at realizing I'm pregnant. I'm not sure that I really believe it's real yet. Maybe once my belly is huge, it will finally hit me!

Well, now I'm at work for the next five hours and then off to the airport! I probably won't add anything until I return from my trip. Of course when I return, I'll be over 5 weeks! WOW!

4 weeks

Along with posting my personal thoughts, I thought it would be interesting to post what the baby is doing each week. From babygaga.com, this is the baby's development at 4 weeks:

By the end of this week the round and pointy ends of your little pear-shaped baby will be slightly more exaggerated and their body will look more like that of a miniature manatee. Despite your baby not looking particularly human without any eyes, ears or mouth, the earliest developments of what will become the larynx, internal ear, and eye lens are already forming, although you’d have to be a trained expert to recognize them for what they’re going to be in the future. Likewise, tiny bumps are forming on your little embryo which will eventually be their cute little arms, elbows, fingers, legs, knees and toes. What’s more your little swimmer will have a teeny tiny tail by the end of this week-- but don’t worry, it’s just the end of their developing spinal cord! A microscopic photo would reveal what seems to be their vertebrae filling out the spine and tail. Although they aren’t bones yet, but rather, the “bone seeds” that will give rise to your baby's tiny vertebrae, ribs and sternum.