34 weeks = 6 months ???

What does 34 weeks have in common with 6 months?

This morning, a resident walked into my office with a big smile on her face.  She said, "Stuart, do you know what today is?  Today marks 6 months of me being clean.  Thank you Jesus."  Then I said, "That's really awesome.  Good for you.  Congrats!  Do you know what today is for me?  Today my babies are 34 weeks old.  We've been praying so hard that our babies would make it to 34 weeks without delivering early and today marks 34 weeks."  And she replied, "That's beautiful - 6 months and 34 weeks."

That is frickin' beautiful!

Week 24

Each baby is about 1.5 lbs now and almost a foot long ($5 footlong?). They will pack on about 6 oz. a week. This mostly consists of fat deposits, but also of growing organs, bones, and tissue. Along with loud noises, the baby can also hear Carrie's breathing, Carrie's heart beat, and my voice when I yell at Carrie's belly.  The inner ears are fully developed now. The babies can tell if they are right side up or up side down. They can also tell when Carrie is moving.


They can also smell fear.

Week 23

This week the babies will....

Practice breathing by sucking in and blowing out amniotic fluid with their lungs. 
Fat production is in over drive. Over the next 3 to 4 weeks the babies will double in weight. 
Finger nails are now fully formed
Their skin will become less see through as fat continues to collect over the next few weeks.
Each baby is about 11 inches long and weighs 18 to 19 ounces. 


With this being such a weight gaining and growing phase, we are hoping for each baby to be around the 2.5 pound mark at our next ultrasound in 2 1/2 weeks.

What starts with "T" and ends with "Holy Crap, We're Having Twins"

If any of you didn't know, Carrie is pregnant.  Today, we had our first ultrasound and found out that we are not having a boy OR a girl.  We're having a boy AND a girl.  Fraternal TWINS!

No one (literally none of you) are more shocked than I was at this news.  We are super-excited and terrified, simultaneously.

Hot Potato (baby boy) and Sweet Potato (baby girl) are due March 28th.

Stuart (and Carrie)

P.S.  Hot Potato and Sweet Potato are not their actual names (not yet, at least).  We are still accepting name suggestions.

Hiccups

Here is a list of what Hot Potato can do/is going through this week:

• It's neck is developed and the head is no longer resting on its chest or shoulders
• It is growing eyebrows, eyelashes, and hair on its head this week
• Its eye are closed but it can sense light 
• It can suck, swallow, and get the hiccups
• It is now a whopping 4 inches long

It still looks like an alien, but I love this particular alien.

Peachy

So, this week Hot Potato is the size of a peach, or you might say a potato.  Its vocal cords will finish developing, and it can also suck its thumb. Its intestines are fully developed and the skeletal system is well underway.

Unbelievable...

...Seriously.

Heartbeat

So, they tell me that I get to hear my baby's heartbeat today.  That is blowing my mind.  I am strangely nervous.  But more so, I'm excited.  What a beautiful, little, alien-parasite miracle!!!  I don't know how, but I already love my child.

not my actual baby
just some stranger baby from the internet
maybe it's you