Twelve Weeks and Thumb Sucking....

So...even though baby turned 12 weeks on Monday, I waited until today to do the weekly update since today was her/his visit with her/his favorite perinatologist. We made Red Velvet Cupcakes (I WISH I could remember who suggested that!!!) and they were a big hit--not real cream cheese frosting because baby and I don't necessarily love the smell of that, but they were a hit nonetheless. I'm making fudge (another recipe sent to me and I can't remember from whom) for Dr. Shonekan next week and then the following week, Dr. Sweeney's office will get Oreo Truffles (I got two recipes for those from Tessa and Jennifer and I may have to make double batches because those sound delicious to ME!) I love the recipes! I told Dr. Sweeney there's a que of recipes waiting to be made for all the appointments and I really love it!

Anyway...in addition to the cupcakes, the appointment went fabulously! Today was the neuchal translucency/1st trimester screening and all looked good. The neuchal fold measured lovely and there were no soft markers seen for anything chromosomal so far. It was very hard to get a look at the nasal bone because baby is a THUMB SUCKER!!!! Big time. Like, kept her/his thumb in mouth for a good long while and made it hard to see the bones in the nose because her/his hand was blocking! I had a dream last night that Dr. Sweeney told me my cervix was shortening and when I told him that, he laughed and told me everything looked great and I didn't have to worry about that.

Baby was even measuring 2 days ahead! We laughed at that, since Matthew was always such a little (but LONG!) peanut! Heartbeat was good and strong (when baby was still enough to catch it) a nice 162! Two kidneys, in the right places, as well as stomach and bladder in appropriate placement as well. All in all...great check-up.

He also took an educated guess on gender and guessed GIRL. I've been feeling girl, but haven't been sure...the sono tech also said she thought it was a girl too but was waiting to see what Dr. Sweeney said. In honesty, to me, it looked like a little pee-pee but he said that even though at this stage there are a lot of similarities, there are also some anatomical differences and he thought he was seeing them. Baby was in a great position for checking, so that was helpful!

So....our trip-to-Annapolis baby items were two little girl outfits. We'll keep the receipt until our next appointment (July 19) when he's pretty sure we'll know for sure.

Baby was jumping all over the place!!! I loved that Matthew was such a mover and a shaker and I pray every day this little one is too. So far, she/he is! It could have been the chocolate shake I had before, but...I think it's a wiggler too. She/he gets it honest....

I haven't gained any more weight, and waver between losing another pound, but still not worried. I'm showing a good bit more and baby is doing super, so I'm sure the weight will be coming soon.

Still a lot of trepidation about whether or not we'll be bringing this little one home, but I really feel more and more that all will be well. Every day seems to bring me a little more confidence than the day before and I am really thankful for that. "This one she will keep" just resonates with me so strongly and reminds me that God does not lie.

Here are some shots from little one today. On some of the 3D ones, it looks like we are having a little elf...pointy ears and a pointy nose. In reality, it's just the ultrasound blur/imaging, but it sure is funny!

IT'S A GIRL?

ARROW POINTING TO GIRLY BITS

OUR LITTLE ELF....

(Rotated a bit) LESS ELFISH

Baby's little thumb going for mouth!

I love this profile shot because it reminds me SO much of my mom!!!! I wish there were more pictures of my mom's family when they were babies/children (they were dirt poor; there aren't many!) and I know it's hard for John to see it because he doesn't have that familiarity either, but Matthew was SUCH a little Gosnell (my mother's family) baby...same chin, sort of little pout--definitely so much like my mom and I often said it with the 3D pictures we'd get. Looking at his NILMDTS pictures, I am just always so amazed at how much I see my mom and her brothers in him. With this little one, I see it again...the chin and the little mouth. Can't wait until next time--maybe we'll get a little closer up in the face 3D and will be able to make even more out!!!

Here's what's going on in week 12:

Week Twelve: Fingernails and toenails appear

You are 12 weeks pregnant. (fetal age 10 weeks) The fetus is now about 2.5 inches (6cm) length and weighs about 0.7 ounce (20 g). The feet are almost half an inch (1cm) long. The fetus starts moving spontaneously. The face is beginning to look like a baby's face. The pancreas is functioning and producing insulin. Fingernails and toenails appear. The baby can suck his thumb, and get hiccups. From this week you may well be able to hear the baby's heart beat through a doppler monitor on your tummy. You will notice that the rate is up to 160 a minute, double that of a normal adult. Your baby now has a chin and a nose and a facial profile. Vocal chords are complete, and the baby can and does sometimes cry silently. The brain is fully formed, and the baby can also feel pain. The fetus may even suck his thumb. The eyelids now cover the eyes, and will remain shut until the seventh month to protect the delicate optical nerve fibers. The hair is on the head and the fingers and toes have developed soft nails. The kidneys are developed and begin to secrete urine. Your baby weighs between 0.5 and 0.7 ounce (14 to 20g), and crown-to-rump length is almost 2.5 inches (63mm). Your baby's size has almost doubled in the past 3 weeks.