experiencejournaldr visitsabout my parentsmilestonesthe pregnancyemail
Daily Journal

Week 18, Dec. 18- Dec. 24

Thursday, Dec. 18th
Baby Update: Over the next three days, pads will begin to form on the baby's fingertips and toes. - "The Pregnancy Journal" by A. Christine Harris, Ph. D.

Friday, Dec. 19th
Baby Update: By today, meconium (the early fecal waste material) will begin to accumulate in the baby's bowel. This material is the product of cell loss, digestive secretions, and swallowed amniotic fluid and is the result of the digestive system practicing digestion while the baby is still in the womb. - "The Pregnancy Journal" by A. Christine Harris, Ph. D.

Saturday, Dec. 20th
Baby Update: By today, the baby has pads on its fingertips and toes that will develop the characteristic swirls and creases of the finger and toe prints. - "The Pregnancy Journal" by A. Christine Harris, Ph. D.

Sunday, Dec. 21st
Sorry I haven't written much on the personal level lately but nothing interesting is going on right now. I'm just waiting impatiently for the day I feel the baby move (should be sometime in the next 4 weeks). Here is a link to babycenter.com's take on the baby's Development at 18 weeks.

Baby Update: The baby's eyes now look forward rather than to the sides. - "The Pregnancy Journal" by A. Christine Harris, Ph. D.

Monday, Dec. 22nd
Last night had me up late with heartburn, and once I finally did go to sleep it was to dreamland. This time I was trying on ugly dresses (while pregnant) in one dream, and I don't really remember what all was going on in the other dream, but my mom was mad at me, and I couldn't tell why. I do remember trying to get my sister to do some reconnaissance (spelling is probably way off on that one) for me. Silly dreams.

Isaac (and a little bit me) got the shed finished yesterday. Now it needs to get filled up so that we can work on the nursery. Probably won't have time to empty out the storage room until next weekend though. I'd do it myself but some of Isaac's "illusions" are pretty heavy. But I'm pretty excited that it's almost time to get to work on the nursery. I'm determined to have the room painted before we head to Vegas on the 11th. Yes, I said Vegas.

Isaac made a goal for himself for the month of December as far as how much money he brought in, and he achieved his goal. The prize was a vacation. It's a short 3 nights, 4 days, vacation, but we're excited to have one last trip where we're not worrying about anybody but ourselves. Of course we worry about our animals, but that's different. All you have to do is feed them. We've got a friend housesitting for us. We honestly tried to go somewhere other than Vegas since this will be our 3rd trip in a year and a half, but it's hard, because Vegas has the best deals! Our 3 nights of hotel and flight only cost $227.50 each. And we're on the strip, in the middle of the strip, at the Imperial Palace. Not the swankiest place, but it's clean and it'll do just fine. We'll manage.

That's all of my reporting for now. Here is this week's heartbeat sound.

Baby Update: Over the next two days, the ears will move to their final positions. - "The Pregnancy Journal" by A. Christine Harris, Ph. D.

Tuesday, Dec. 23rd
Last minute entry: it's 11:10pm. Actually, I put the "baby update" up this morning, but I'm just now adding this picture. Not sure if it's really a good idea, but I'm going to do it anyway. Some people don't see me very often.



Baby Update: Many of the baby's bones have begun to harden. - "The Pregnancy Journal" by A. Christine Harris, Ph. D.

Wednesday, Dec. 24th, Christmas Eve
Merry Christmas Eve Everybody!!

Baby Update: By this time, if the baby is a boy, the male prostrate gland has developed. Also, the process of myelinization has begun. Myelinization involves coating the nerves with a fatty substance called myelin to speed nerve cell transmission and to insulate the nerves so messages are uninterrupted. The baby that has been growing so rapidly now measures 5 1/2 inches in length: big enough to cradle in the palm of your hand. - "The Pregnancy Journal" by A. Christine Harris, Ph. D.

web site design by Noodle Design (aka "mum mum"), Copyright 2005