28 Weeks--Nursery ALMOST complete

Wow, I don't know where the time has gone! Only 12 weeks remain until Owen's due date! That just doesn't seem like much time at all to me. For some reason to me, saying that Owen is due March 4th seems further away than saying he's due in 12 weeks. I don't know why...it's funny though. I'm starting to feel the tiredness coming back somewhat. I could really use a nap every day around 3:00 :) It's not too significant yet, but I'm sure it will catch up with me soon. It doesn't help that I am not sleeping well--I just cannot get comfy at night. My hip starts hurting around 2am and then I toss and turn for the rest of the night. Weekends seem to be better--I guess because mentally I know that I don't have to get up and go to work in the morning so I relax a little more. Oh well, this too shall pass :)

Tony asked me the other day if I was ready for Owen to get here and I told him, "yes, for sure!" He said, "well you know, we won't sleep when he gets here either," but I just told him, "well, I can sleep when he does which will hopefully add up to more sleep than I'm getting now!" Tony and I have both been reading On Becoming Babywise which, so far, has been quite a useful tool to prepare us for things to come. My cousin, Mary Beth, & her husband, Scott, used it with their children and they are the most well behaved children that I know so I think it's worth a shot! Supposedly, if we follow the philosophies given in the book, Owen should be sleeping through the night by 7-9 weeks old. We will just have to see about that--I know that every baby is different so I'll have to update on this subject when the time comes.

Owen's nursery is ALMOST finished...yay! All we have left is a little bit of touch up paint and add a few accessories...shelving, pictures, etc. Tony also plans to make a hutch for the dresser/changer combo so that is still yet to come too. I do hope he finishes it before Owen gets here...he says that he plans to so we'll see :) I will post more pictures when we're 100% done, but here are a few pictures of the nursery now:

The crib & glider--you can see the dust ruffle pretty well, but I'll have to post a better picture of the bumper pads later. I will also be making a few throw pillows for the glider and hopefully a blanket too.

The dresser/changer with a few of the sweet gifts we've been given for Owen--they won't stay there--they'll move to the shelves or the hutch, but I like looking at them so I've displayed them here for now .

The curtains

Here are 3 paintings that I did for the wall--they are similar to the fabric I used in the bedding & I think they turned out pretty cute :)

28 Weeks: The Eggplant Reign Comes to an End

Are you dreaming about your baby? Your baby may be dreaming about you, too. Brain wave activity measured in a developing fetus shows different sleep cycles, including the rapid eye movement phase, the stage when dreaming occurs.

By now, your baby, who weighs in at about 2 ½ lbs and stands — or rather lies — at almost 16 inches (measured head to toe) has added blinking to his growing bag of tricks. (Outside in the real world, blinking is necessary to help keep foreign objects out of the eyes.) Other impressive new talents being added to your baby's roster include coughing, more intense sucking, and, perhaps most important, better breathing.

The good news is that babies born this week, though premature, have an excellent prognosis because their lungs have reached the point (for the most part) of maturity — so you too can breathe a little easier now. Of course, it's still best if a baby doesn't make his debut yet — there's still a lot of growing and maturing to do over the next 12 weeks.

27 weeks

Not a whole lot to report since my 26 week post was so late :) Tony and I have been SO busy this week! He took a trip to Las Vegas this past weekend with the guys and had a lot of fun. They mostly spent all of their time at the Sports Book watching all the football games. It was his first trip out there and he's always wanted to go. I was really glad he got to go before Owen gets here (not to mention grateful he took the trip with the guys--I'm not a big fan of Vegas!)


We got our Christmas tree on Tuesday night and soaked it in water overnight so it would be nice and hydrated before we put it in our house. Wednesday we put it in the stand and last night (Thurs.) I strung on the lights. I ran out of lights so we are going to have to go out and get a few more strands this weekend. Slowly, but surely we're getting our tree decorated--we hope to have it completely finished by Sunday. We did some Christmas shopping last night and took care of almost everyone on our list. We just have a few more to get and then we'll be done with that too!


Also on the list for the weekend is dinner tonight with the Dichiara's for Kelly's birthday (which is tomorrow), finishing the walls in Owen's room, and also hopefully finishing our Christmas shopping! Looks like our busy week is going to contiune well into our weekend too! Oh well, at least it's all fun stuff on the agenda...that's what the Christmas season is all about, right? :)


27 Weeks: Maintaining Eggplant Status
Most babies this age, yours included, still like to snuggle in a slightly curled position inside the uterus (thus the term "fetal position"). Even so, beginning at this stage, your baby's length will be measured from top of head to toe — which makes your baby nearly a full 15 inches now. And at just over 2 pounds, he has doubled in weight from four weeks ago.

Your baby's auditory development is progressing as the network of nerves to the ears matures. And even though the sounds your baby hears are muffled (thanks to the creamy coating of vernix covering those ears), he may recognize both yours and your partner's voices. So this might be a good time to read and even sing to your baby. And while you're at it, here's another way to have some family fun: If your partner presses his ear to your belly, he might be able to hear the baby's heartbeat.

Your baby's taste buds are very developed now too (with more taste buds than he or she will ever have outside the womb, actually). Need a taste test? If you eat some spicy food, your baby will be able to taste the difference in the amniotic fluid (but keep in mind that you'll have different mealtimes, with your baby's coming about two hours after yours). Some babies will even respond to that spicy kick by hiccupping. And although hiccups (which feel like belly spasms to you) may seem like they're disturbing to your baby, he isn't stressed at all. It's just one more sensation that babies need to get used to.

26 weeks...a little late, sorry :)

Last week time just got away from me and I forgot to blog...oops :) We did quite a lot of work on Owen's nursery last week. Tony and Robert (his dad) finished putting up the paneling and they did SUCH a great job :) I wasn't there while they worked so unfortunately I don't have any photos of their work in progress, only pics of the finished product, but man does it look good! You will notice that the color is grey--this is NOT the finished color, it's been primed so that it's ready to be painted!

You can also see Owen's crib in the middle of the room--it's filled with all of the tools Tony & Robert used, but you can get an idea of what it will look like :)

After the paneling was up, Tony and I spend an evening last week painting the paneling. We had to brush the paint on, so it took a little while longer than rolling it, but it was worth the extra time--it looks great! We still have one more coat to put on, and then after that Tony can put up the chair rail and put back up the base boards and then the painting part of the nursery will be complete! We hopefully plan on getting that part done this week/this weekend so more pics to follow!!! Yea! I can't wait to see the finished product.

Here's Tony painting the paneling.

And one of me painting too...please excuse the lovely outfit, I was COLD! :)

Proud daddy-to-be...one coat of paint down, one to go!

Here's what I found "precious, innocent" Margo doing while we were painting...what a brat!

26 Weeks: Still an Eggplant
Your baby's eyes — which have been closed for the past few months (so that the retina, the part of the eye that allows images to come into focus, could develop) — are now beginning to open. What this means is that your baby is able to see what's going on now.

The iris, the colored part of the eye, still doesn't have much pigmentation (that'll fill in over the next month or two), so it's too early to start guessing your baby's eye color. Even the color your baby will be born with might not be the permanent shade; so you may be kept guessing until your baby is close to six months old.

Look what else is going on this week: Your baby's brain-wave activity is kicking in, which means your little one can not only hear noises but can now also respond to them. Not in so many words, of course, but with an increase in pulse rate or activity.

And talking about activity, at your baby's current height and weight—about 9 inches tall and 2 pounds—and at the rate he’s growing, your baby will soon be feeling a little cramped in there. Not to worry, there's still plenty of room for your baby to grow. It just means your gymnast will have less room for those somersaults, cartwheels, and other Olympic feats.

25 Weeks-Happy Thanksgiving!

A very Happy Thanksgiving to all! We have lots of fun time planned to spend with family starting today :) In a little less than an hour, as soon as I get off of work (YEA!), I'm headed to my parents' so that mama and I can do some baking for tomorrow's big dinner. This evening, Tony and I are going to his parents' house to hang out and have dinner with his dad's side of the family. Then tomorrow we're headed to my grandparents for the day to have a big ol' dinner at their house (my dad's parents).

We're headed to the very last UGA game of the year on Saturday against Ga Tech. The game is at Tech and Matt & his fiance, Denine, as well as James, Caitlyn, Travis, Robert, and I'm sure Jason will be there too along with a few others so we're looking forward to hanging out with all of them on Saturday. Ashleigh & Joel are going to meet up with us after Emmi Kate's (Ash's neice)dedication and Lauren is gonna be there too so it should be a blast! It's supposed to be SO COLD on Saturday so I'm planning on bundling up :)

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I'm ALMOST over my cold (YEA!!!) and doing much better now! I took some cough syrup last night and slept better than I have in few days. Looks like I almost have this cold beat so that's good...now I'll just have to keep from getting another one and I'll be good...looks like it will be plenty of o.j. for me this winter :)

25 Weeks: An Eggplant, hmmm....

At 9 inches and more than a 1 ½ pounds in weight, your baby is taller than two juice boxes stacked one on top of the other, and almost as heavy as four of those little boxes.

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Let your spouse put an ear to your belly -- he might be able to pick up baby's heartbeat (no stethoscope required) Baby's also soaking up your antibodies, getting the immune system ready for life outside the womb. Eyes are forming, and baby will soon perfect the blink -- perfect for batting those freshly grown lashes.

Baby's skin is turning pinker this week because small blood vessels, called capillaries, are forming under the skin and filling with blood. Later this week, blood vessels will also develop in your baby's lungs, bringing them one step closer to full maturity — and one step closer to taking that first breath of fresh air. But those lungs are still very much works in progress. Though they are already beginning to develop surfactant, a substance that will help the lungs expand after the baby is born, the lungs are still too undeveloped to sufficiently send oxygen to the bloodstream and release carbon dioxide when he or she exhales. The lungs aren't the only system that's gearing up for air intake. Your baby's nostrils, which have been plugged up until now, are starting to open this week. This actually allows your little one to begin taking practice breaths. (Of course since there's no air in there, your baby is really only "breathing" amniotic fluid, but it's the practice that counts, right?)

24 weeks--feebin' stobbed up...

So this week I have a cold...boo! It's no fun (when is it ever?!) I really can't take any meds--I can take Benadryl at night, but during the day it's hot tea and Vicks scented kleenex for me. Doesn't seem to be affecting Owen much though, he's as active as ever--kicking me all the time so that's good :) I think he must feel a little cramped in there when I lean forward at my desk when I'm at work. If I stay in that position for more than a minute or two, I start feeling hard nudges right in the center of my belly. It's almost like he's saying, "hey, move outta my way mom!" It's pretty comical actually and always makes me smile :)

Tony and I picked up the nursery furniture last Saturday and it's now put together in Owen's room. I even made one side of the bumper pad already because I really wanted to get an idea of what his crib bedding is going to look like. Tony is going to put up the paneling in the nursery next week over his Thanksgiving break and I think his dad may come and help with that. I plan on doing some more sewing next week too. The nursery is really starting to come together which is so neat to see. Tony's parents also told us that they want to buy a glider for Owen's room which is so special! I am so excited that they're going to help us out with that, I can't wait to go and pick it out! What an awesome gift, I know Owen will love being rocked in it in his nursery :)

Tony's birthday was on Tuesday and so we're celebrating with our parents tonight by going out to eat at Pappasito's--Tony's very favorite restaurant. We always get the fajitas for two and I know that's what we'll get tonight too, we don't even have to open the menu! I'm looking forward to it because Pappasito's is one of my favorites as well :) After dinner we're headed to Athens for the last home game of the season against Kentucky. Hopefully we'll pull out another win this weekend! I can't believe our season is almost over, it seems like it just started. Even harder to believe is that at the start of next season we'll have a 5 month old in tow! I know Owen will be a little bulldog right from the start. Tony already talks about how excited he is about throwing the football with him. He'll bleed red and black just like his mama and daddy...GO DAWGS!!!


24 weeks: last week of the papaya

Your baby weighs more than 1 ½ lbs. now and sports a crown-to-rump length of about 8 ½ inches.

Wondering what (and who) your baby will look like? If you had a baby cam, you'd almost be able to tell by now. That beautiful face (though still tiny) is almost fully formed. What's still missing from the picture is the fat that will be piled on under baby's skin. Until those fat deposits are made, that very tender skin is still very transparent, which means a close look would let you see clear through to all the organs, bones, and blood vessels. Fortunately, that see-through look won't last much longer. Babies at this point are gaining about 6 ounces each week — with much of that gain coming from fat, in addition to growing organs, bones, and muscle.

What can your baby hear from inside the womb these days? All kinds of sounds: from air exhaling from your lungs, those gastric gurgles produced by your stomach and intestines, your voice and your partner's (which your baby will be able to recognize at birth), and even very loud sounds such as honking horns, barking dogs, or a wailing fire truck.

23 weeks

My uncle Rick, one of my dad's younger brothers, passed away unexpectedly last Thursday. Our family was quite in shock and is still hurting from the loss, but by God's grace I know that the pain will heal in time. We were told that he had a heart attack and went very quickly. My grandfather made a statement at his funeral that was so well put. I can't remember it exactly, but he basically stated that though Rick's death is hard and painful to deal with right now, eventually the pain and loss will go away, but the wonderful memories will stay and last forever. So that is what I try and focus on now. Needless to say, we had quite a lot going on last week and this past weekend. I did not get to a blog last week, but I still wanted to post the 23 week developments of Owen so here they are:

23 Weeks: Still a Papaya

At 8 inches and slightly over 1 pound, your baby is the size and shape of a small doll. This week marks the beginning of some serious weight gain. Your baby's weight in the next four weeks alone should double.


You have probably heard your baby's heartbeat through a Doppler a number of times already (though you never get tired of hearing it), but by now you can also hear it through a standard stethoscope.


Your baby's skin is reddish in color now because of the developing blood vessels underneath (remember, the skin is very thin still). It also hangs loosely from his little body at this point. That's because the skin grows faster than the fat develops. But don't worry. By the time your baby is born, he will be pleasantly plump and filled out — from chubby cheeks to chubby toes.

22 Weeks

A little late posting this week, but things have been busy at work--I had 2 episodes of Grey's Anatomy to catch up on for goodness sakes! :) Not much to write about again this week either. I'm slowly getting bigger, but feeling great overall. I have been a real slacker with my belly pic documentations...I am almost 6 months (some things say I already am...all I gotta say about that is, reference: the NUMBers blog...) and still haven't taken my 5 month pic yet, oops!

We had a very Happy Halloween with our annual bonfire with the neighbors...and Sara got to join this year which was way fun (Richard was flying). We had a great time passing out candy, sipping on hot chocolate, and making s'mores.

So last weekend was WAY exciting with a Dawgs victory over the Gators...YAHOO! Tony said we had to go to Jacksonville every year until we won, so I guess we're taken care of for at least a few years with that awesome victory :) Not like I really would have wanted to make that trip with a 7 month old anyways....maybe the year after that, we'll just have to wait and see!

This weekend is the very weekend that I look forward to and count down the days to all year long (okay...it's not the only weekend I do that for, but it's on my top 5)...it's GIRLS WEEKEND!!! We're headed tonight to Katie's lake house on Lake Sinclair and I cannot wait for a nice relaxing weekend with my girls. We will sit around and catch up on each others lives, have a big ol' breakfast in the a.m., and our "Official Girls Weekend meal" tomorrow night, along with a few other shenanigans and traditions that I could tell you about, but then I'd have to kill you... Haha, for real though, I just can't wait to sit and be with them. It truly is one of my very favorite times of the year!

22 Weeks: Pa-pa-pa-papaya
Your baby has finally broken the one-pound mark. This week he is developing the sense of touch. In fact, your little one's grip is quite developed by now — and since there's nothing else to grab in utero, he or she may sometimes hold on tight to that umbilical cord. The sense of sight is also getting more developed. Your fetus can now perceive light and dark much better than before (even with those fused eyelids), but unless you're shining a flashlight over your belly it'll be mostly dark for your baby inside that cozy womb of yours.

Moving up from the eyes, the eyelashes and eyebrows are well formed now — and even more hair is sprouting atop that cute little head. You'd be quite surprised, though, if you could see your little one up close and in color. Hair at this stage has no pigment, so it's bright white.

Baby is now able to hear outside noise from down in the womb. Studies show that baby finds gentle music and your own voice most soothing. Nipples are starting to sprout, and that little face is fully formed. And, baby's starting to settle into sleep cycles, snoozing about 12 to 14 hours a day. It shouldn't be hard to figure out when -- just pay attention to those kicks as they start and stop.

21 Weeks

Not a whole lot of news to report this week. Owen's starting to move around more and more each day--or rather I can feel the movement more and more each day :) On Sunday I went to JoAnn's to get the last fabric that I mentioned was going to be on sale and they were out! I couldn't even believe it...I was so upset because there had been an ENTIRE bolt of fabric there just a few days before. Someone bought the WHOLE thing :( So I had to go with "plan B" which, as it ended up, I think worked out better anyway. The fabric that I was looking for was a striped fabric and it just so happened that I had picked up a swatch of fabric with a different striped pattern at Fabric & Fringe a couple of weeks earlier. Well, when I pulled it out and looked at it, it matched my other fabrics perfectly! Tony also added that he liked the "plan B" fabric better anyways so I went to get it and they had it! I am relieved to have all of my main fabric bought & paid for now. I can't wait until the nursery furniture gets here so that I can start sewing, yea!

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I also kinda, sorta started cleaning out the closet in Owen's room. So far all I've really done is to move the winter coats from his closet to the guest room closet, and take a few other things out to be put in the attic...but hey, it's a start, right? :)

Well, I guess that pretty much summarizes this week. Going home to pack in a little while (I'm posting this at work) for St. Simons. I'm looking forward to a fun packed weekend with friends and some relaxing on the beach...maybe my Bulldogs will actually show up and put up a fight against the Gators...hey, ya never know!

21 Weeks: This baby is BANANAS :)

At about 7 inches in length and almost 11 ounces in weight, your baby is about the size of a large banana.

Baby gulps down several ounces of amniotic fluid every day, both for hydration and nutrition and to practice swallowing and digesting. And, these days, those taste buds actually work! Studies show that after birth, babies are most interested in tastes they've already experienced through amniotic fluid.

Your baby still has a great deal of room in the womb — though like anyone who lives in one space for a long time, this tenant will soon begin to feel cramped. Until those uterine walls start closing in, however, there's plenty of space for twisting, turning, and even an occasional somersault.

With all that moving going on, it's hard to believe your baby gets any sleep at all. But believe it or not, he sleeps as much as a newborn--perhaps 12 to 14 hours per day!

20 Down, 20 To Go

So as I post this and then look at the ticker above, I'm realizing that in order to achieve a more accurate picture of how Owen's growing this week, I should probably post at the beginning of the week instead of the end of the week , but....I'd rather be less accurate and be able to do more of a reflection of the past week instead :) I'm sure no one really cares either way, but I just thought I'd bring it up in case anybody's been confused.

So, wow, half way done. This time has FLOWN by!!! It really feels like we were in Italy yesterday finding out, but in the same amount of time that has passed since then, the two of us will become the three of us. Okay, I have to stop thinking about that, I'm starting to freak myself out!

On Sunday Tony and I ordered the furniture for the nursery--it take about 4 weeks to get here so we should have it by mid-November, yea! My wonderful, AWESOME parents wanted to buy the crib as a gift to Owen and actually ended up buying the dresser/changing table combo for us as well. We are SO INCREDIBLY grateful for their generosity...that helps us out in a HUGE way! I must say, for anyone who may be searching for nursery furniture, Baby Junction in Acworth has very reasonable prices. Here are the pictures of what we ordered except that we ordered them in white, not the natural color pictured here...

Okay, so I must brag on my husband for a minute--Tony has been a real trooper lately. He went to not one, but TWO fabric stores with me this past weekend. I have one more fabric to get--don't worry, I won't drag the husband along for this one--and it goes on sale on Sunday so I'm holding out until then. After that, I will have all that I need to sew Owen's bedding, YAHOO! Okay, for anyone who's ever sewed, you're probably thinking there's no way she's done...things always come up when sewing, you're going to have to go out and buy SOMETHING else...and you're probably right...so I will revise that to say that I will have all the major things that I need in order to sew his bedding :)

Well, I guess that's about it for this week. Next week I will actually be posting early because we're headed down to St. Simons & Jacksonville for the UGA/UF game, YAHOO!!! I can't WAIT to sit on the beach...but not as much looking forward to the mass of orange & blue that will be paired ever so trashily by jean shorts and the occasional mullet. Case in point, see below...

I mean, COME ON, even their beloved quarterback wears the "jorts"...this is just tooo stinkin easy!!!

20 Weeks: Owen's the size of a Cantaloupe

You've got a heavyweight in your belly now (well, in baby terms, anyway). Your little champ weighs about 10 ounces and has a height—crown to rump—of about 6 ½ inches. Think the size of a small cantaloupe.

Baby's digestive system is busy creating meconium this week—a tarry black substance made of swallowed amniotic fluid, digestive secretion and dead cells.

Your baby boy’s testicles have begun their descent this week, though they're still located in the abdomen, waiting for the scrotum to finish growing so they'll have a place to drop into in a few weeks.

almost halfway there--19 weeks!

Well, 1 more week (actually less since I'm posting this on Friday and my weeks change on Mondays) and I'll officially be at the 1/2 way point! That sounds so wild to me! I feel like it was just a few days ago that we were finding out and now time has flown by and this pregnancy is 1/2 way finished. Not a whole lot of news this week really. I'm starting to feel movement more regularly now--it's not a constant yet--but Owen did keep me up for a while longer than usual after a 2am potty break last night. The best way I can describe the movement is that it's kind of like my belly has hiccups or there are bubbles popping inside me--nothing like anything I've ever felt before for sure. As little guy gets bigger I'm sure the movements will feel more and more like "kicking," but for now it's hiccups for this baby bump.

I love UGA football...anyone that knows me, knows this...but I am so glad to get a break for a few weekends so that Tony and I can get a few things done at home! Today mom and I are going to look at (and hopefully buy!) Owen's crib-I'm really excited about that! (Tony's bowed out of the baby bed decision giving me full reign to pick it out--furniture shopping isn't exactly his idea of a great time!) At some point, I also plan to get some paint samples and fabric samples so that I can get the nursery decorating project going. I'm sure there will be a bit of house cleaning and yard work mixed in there as well, but I'm surely not complaining as this cooler weather is such a blessing...God is so good, it is BEAUTIFUL out there today!!!

19 weeks: Owen's the size of a MANGO

6 inches long this week and about 8 ounces in weight, your baby is the size of a large mango. and legs are finally in proportion, neurons are now connected between the brain and muscles, and cartilage throughout the body is turning to bone. All these upgrades combine to give your baby more control over limb movements. Which explains all that kicking, stretching, and other movement you've possibly started feeling by now.

Something else going on this week: Your baby is getting a protective substance called vernix caseosa (vernix is the Latin word for varnish; caseosa is cheese) now covers your baby's skin. It's greasy and white and is made up of lanugo (that downy hair), oil from your baby's glands, and dead skin cells. This waxy "cheese" may not sound too appetizing or attractive, but it's there for good reason: Vernix protects your baby's sensitive skin from the surrounding amniotic fluid. Without it, your baby would look very wrinkled at birth (sort of what you'd look like if you soaked in a bath for nine months). Some babies — especially those born early — will still be covered with vernix at the delivery, so you might get a look at your baby's first anti-wrinkle cream.

It's a... (18 weeks)

BOY!!!!!


We had our BIG ultrasound on Wednesday and found out that we're having a little baby boy! We're so VERY excited!!! The u/s lasted about 30 minutes and we got a video out of it (old school video tape not DVD otherwise I'd post a clip) Hopefully we can transfer it though and then I can post some action shots of him moving all around! Now we're getting into shopping mode (or at least I am) and starting to look for all kinds of fun stuff...stroller, car seat, fabric to make my bedding...the list goes on and on, FUN!!! We have a book that we are using to help us called Baby Bargains and it's fabulous! It sorts through all the brands and tells you pros/cons of each and points out the junk that we don't need that all the baby stores will try to sell us. It's a pretty fantastic tool and I highly recommend it for sure. Tony's headed to Knoxville this weekend to see the Dawgs take on the Vols so it's just lil' ol me at the house this weekend. I don't think I'll have trouble finding things to do now that we know it's a boy...I'm sure I'll get myself knee deep in some sort of project :) Well, that's about it for this week. Here's an updated picture of me and the "baby bump". It should have been the 4 month picture, but I'm a few weeks late :) In this picture I think it doesn't look like my "bump" is quite as big as it really looks (to me anyways) now...maybe it's the white shirt? You get the picture though...

Introducing OWEN DICHIARA...

18 weeks--Our lil' sweet Potato:

This week your baby is hitting the height chart at 5 ½ inches long (remember, that's crown to rump) and weighs about 5 ounces (the weight of that boneless chicken breast you're making for dinner). And now for the skill of the week (drum roll please…): The art of the yawn has been mastered by your baby (someone's sleepy!). In fact, you might catch a glimpse of that adorable yawn if you're getting an ultrasound this month.

You'll also catch a glimpse of all the movement your baby's doing — twists, rolls, kicks, and punches. And would you believe your baby is finally big enough for you to start feeling those movements now (or anytime in the next few weeks). So get ready!

Also in working order is your baby's nervous system, which is maturing rapidly at this time. Nerves, now covered with a substance called myelin (which speeds messages from nerve cell to nerve cell), are forming more complex connections. And those in the brain are further specializing into the ones that serve the senses of touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing. Talking about hearing, your baby's is growing more acute, making your little one more conscious of sounds that come from inside your body (which means you could both be listening to each other hiccup — a skill that your baby has by now).