It looks the same ...

I thought it was time to put a new picture of myself and my belly on here. I don't feel as though there has been much change in the size of my belly in the last few weeks, and you can see from the picture that it doesn't look like it either. My belly popped out early, but has not gone anywhere since then. The only bad thing about this scenario is that I still don't have any clothes that fit me. My regular clothes are too small, but maternity clothes are too big. Oh well!

I have been feeling better this week. No nausea and I've had a lot more energy than last week. I am waiting to feel the baby move. I should be able to feel it at any time now, but there have been no movements yet. We will go back to the midwife next week. There is no ultrasound scheduled, so this will be my first heartbeat only appointment. I'll keep you posted on any new movements or discoveries! Also, here is a picture of our little Isabel .. she has recently decided that she LOVES the camera and frequently asks me to take her picture. When I go and get the camera, she proceeds to find a good spot to sit and then begins posing for me with various props from stuffed animals to our dog, Bailey. I am trying to make the best of this phase and become better at taking pictures on a regular basis.

This is how the baby is growing this week!!.....

At around 4 inches long, crown to rump, your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 ounces. He's busy inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid, which will help the air sacs in his lungs develop. His legs are growing longer than his arms now, and he can move all his joints and limbs. That means his hands are more functional, too. Sweat glands are appearing, and although his eyelids are fused shut, he can sense light. If you were to shine a flashlight at your tummy, he'd be likely to move away from the beam.
If you're scheduled for an ultrasound in the coming weeks (most women have one between 16 and 20 weeks), you may be able to find out whether your baby's a boy or a girl! Don't be disappointed if it remains a mystery, though. Nailing down the gender depends on how clear the picture is and the position of your baby during the ultrasound; he may be curled or turned in such a way as to keep you in suspense.
Your baby's taste buds are beginning to form now, too, and a study at the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia suggests he may be able to taste what you've been eating. Researchers found that flavors from the food pregnant women ate ended up in their amniotic fluid. They also found that eating healthy foods during pregnancy may help your baby develop a preference for those foods that could last a lifetime.