23 week baby belly

This week marks 23 weeks of pregnancy.  According to the pregnancy books Pebble is about the size of a small baby doll now, and weighing about one pound.  

Sorry for the blurry images below.  I guess there was a smudge on my lens last night.

Here I am belly to belly with my friend Caitlyn who is 31 weeks pregnant.

and back to back with Caitlyn.

I have been trying to stay as active as possible despite my growing belly.  Steamboat had record breaking snowfall this past week with 27 inches falling on the mountain in 24 hours last Monday.  Tim got to take advantage of the powder day (oh the pleasures of owning your own business), but I had to work all day.  By Wednesday there was 4 feet of new snow total and I went up for what might have been my last powder day before baby.  The snow was heavy and thick that day and I really struggled, especially when trying to get up from falling in the deep stuff.  My back hurt terribly for the rest of the day and it totally exhausted me for the next couple days.  

Tim got to feel Pebble moving for the first time this week.  The movements are often quite subtle and he was having a hard time feeling anything with his hands.  He squished his face into my belly and Pebble responded with a swift kick right to Tim's eye.  Since then he has been able to feel some of the movements with his hands as well.  Pebble is especially active in the mornings and evening, or maybe that is just when I'm sitting or laying quietly and I notice the movements more.  

The baby also seems to respond to the purring of a warm kitty on my stomach.  When one of the cats curls up on my belly the kicks seems to get more frequent and more intense.  Not sure if the baby likes the purring or is trying to kick the cat off my belly.

Pebble's Ultrasound Progression: 9 weeks to 20 weeks

After falling off the blog wagon for the past 2 months, I was trying to decide how to catch up on what has happened since I last posted.  Obviously our little one, who we have nicknamed Pebble (as in little Stone), has been doing a lot of growing.  So I decided to post the progression of ultrasound photos.

Little Pebble is 9 weeks in this image and is upside down.  You can see his/her little foot at the top.  I also think it is amazing how you can see the amniotic membrane (the faint white line) within the chorionic sac (the dark fluid filled cavity where the baby grows).

 The next couple of ultrasound images were taken because the hospital where I work needed a test subject for determining the capabilities of the ultrasound machine we have on Labor and Delivery.  These were at 13 weeks gestation.

On the left of the photo is the placenta, which I think looks like a pregnant abdomen.  You can also see Pebble's arm bones and fist in this image.

A 13 week silhouette of Pebble.  You can also see some loops of umbilical cord near the top of the frame.

 The next series of photos are from our 20 week full anatomy scan.  At this doctor's appointment a comprehensive anatomical survey is done to look for any problems or defects.  Most people (80% according to some recent reading I've been doing) find out the sex of the baby at this appointment.  Tim and I have chosen to allow Pebble's sex to remain a surprise until the birthday.

3D image of Pebble's face cradled in his/her hand.  You can see that the latest in utero fashion is to wear the umbilical cord like a scarf.  My sister Camille thinks Pebble looks like Tim in this photo.

Another 3D image of Pebble

and another....

Pebble's legs and feet, crossed at the ankles.

Hopefully Pebble inherits Tim's legs, rather than the Gaufankles (Gaume fat ankles) from my side of the family.

The 20 week ultrasound is typically the last scheduled ultrasound in uncomplicated pregnancies.  We will actually have at least one more ultrasound around 26 weeks to follow up on a potential problem with one of Pebble's kidneys.  Sounds like it is a minor concern that only needs watching and hopefully will resolve in utero.

And here are some belly shots...

19 weeks pregnant with Pebble

21 week baby belly

Tim did some studio shots of my baby belly today.  I will try to post some soon.  I'm currently 22 weeks pregnant and hoping to take weekly photos of my growing belly to post to the blog.