We were so happy to hear that your little heart was beating and that you are developing on track! We can't wait to see you again soon. Mommy is still feeling great and really enjoying pregnancy!
Your Baby
Your baby is teething. Well, not exactly the way
you’re thinking, but nevertheless, the tooth buds are forming. It’s hard
to imagine that one day this tiny blueberry-sized baby will be chewing
on steak or tofu. Your baby’s arm and leg buds have grown longer and are
beginning to segment into future fingers and toes. That belly that you
will eventually be tickling is even beginning to take shape, and inside
your baby’s pancreas and appendix are developing. The brain is growing,
and so are the eye lenses. The color of the eyes is determined at the
moment the sperm fertilized your egg, thanks to those good old
chromosomes.
Today was our first Dr. appointment! We got to see you on the ultrasound! Right now, you look like a little blob. The Dr. found your heartbeat and turned up the volume so we could hear it. He said it was a "Strong Heartbeat." Your heart was beating at 163 beats per minute. The Dr. says everything looks great. Grandma Lisa and Aunt Noelle came to the appointment. After daddy and I heard the heartbeat they came in. Grandma cried.
Only one more week until we set eyes on your for the first time at our first Dr. appointment!
Your Baby
These first six weeks went by pretty quickly!
You’ve only known that you’re pregnant for a week or two, but some
amazing things are going on inside with your tiny, developing baby. At
this stage, if you are carrying twins, their development will be the
same as with one baby. Although your baby’s body is just a head and
tail, little eyes, mouth and ears are growing. And those arms and legs
that will be moving around in the coming months are only tiny buds.
Those little buds will soon turn into flipper-like hands and feet. If
you’re curious about the size of your little one, you only need to
compare him or her to something about the size of a grain of rice. It is
at this stage that the neural tube closes in your baby’s back. Even
though your baby’s heart is beating regularly, it is still too soon to
hear.
Today we had a planned dinner with the Shanahan side. We decided to share the news with Aunt Jen, Uncle Chris, Aunt Jessica, Uncle Jason and your cousins (Alyssa, Caden, Madisen and McKinley). We told them all at dinner time and we surprised everyone! They can't wait to meet you and your cousins can't wait to play with you!
Mommy is still feeling great! I have not been sick or feeling any other pregnancy symptoms! I am still praying for you and that you are developing healthily.
We decided to tell the Shanahan side today! Grandma Cindi, Great Grandma Phyllis and Uncle Dave came over for a visit. I told Grandma Cindi that I had a card for her. When she opened it, it said "Grandbaby on the way!" She shrieked and said, "really?!" Everyone got teary eyed and hugged. I also gave Grandma Cindi the book, "I Loved You Before I Knew You." After that, Grandpa Jeff came over and your dad showed him the pink and green hunting onesies to tell him that we were expecting a baby. We also gave Grandpa Jeff a book called, "I Already Know I Love You."
Your Baby
Your baby now has millions of cells that are busy
multiplying and creating the complex structures of your baby’s
developing body. Your little one now has a two-chambered heart that is
basically a tube that is twisted back onto itself. Believe it or not,
this heart will start beating on or around day 21. Even the beginnings
of the spinal column have started to form, as well as your baby’s
skeleton structure. You likely wouldn’t recognise your baby at this
point, as her or she resembles a tadpole and is only about the size of a
sesame seed. Inside the comfort of your warm and cushioned uterus, your
baby’s heart is beating regularly, and even facial features, such as
tiny ears and eyes are beginning to form.
So much for keeping this a secret. Daddy and I couldn't wait any longer to share our excitement with the rest of our family. We planned a get together with the McCord side. We planned to tell your Grandma Lisa, Grandpa Dan and Great-Grandma June. We planned a nice day to the apple orchard. Your grandma thought that I had a remodeling gift for the Bahamas condos to give her. Little did she know that she was about to get a bigger gift than that! I wrapped up a book called, "I Loved you Before You Were Born" for grandma. I put a card on top that said, "for the grandma-to-be." For great grandma, I wrapped a book that she can record her voice in and read to you.
On our way to their house someone crashed into the back of our car! When the man from the other car ran out to see if we were ok he said, "I am so sorry, I hope you weren't on your way to something important!" Your dad and I had to hold back a little laugh.
When we finally, made it to grandma and grandpa's house, we gave the gifts. When your grandma opened the card she read the front (grandma-to-be) and she threw the card in the air and started crying happy tears. She hugged us both. Great Grandma yelled out, "I KNEW IT!" Grandpa Dan was in shock but was also very excited! He informed us that he would prefer to be called, "Pa Pa Dan." We gave him a book called, "I Already Know I Love You."
The day was beautiful and we spent the rest of the afternoon chatting about you as we spent the day outside at the apple orchard.
When we got home, grandma and grandpa told us that we should tell Uncle Nate and Aunt Rebecca. Uncle Nate just moved to South Carolina, so we video chatted with him on the computer. When we told them, they thought we were playing a trick on them. When they realized we were serious, they were so excited!
That night we went to a firework show and told Aunt Kathy and Uncle Curt. Then, at the end of the night we picked up Aunt Noelle and I told her by framing a silly photo of me with the pregnancy test. Aunt Noelle usually doesn't get emotional and she got teary eyed when she found out. She can't wait to be your aunt!
Today you went to your first concert! Justin Moore! You don't know it yet, but your favorite music is country :)
No signs of pregnancy on the outside yet!
I am four weeks pregnant! I have a doctors appointment scheduled for September 24th and can't wait to see you and hear your little heart beating! Until then, you are busy growing. I am making sure to get plenty of rest and eat a lot of healthy food! It is so hard to keep this a secret from everyone!
Your Baby
The blastocyst that formed last week has now
reached the uterus and burrowed into your uterine lining. Its cells will
divide into those that will become the baby and those that will become
the placenta. The embryo which is the part of the blastocyst that forms
your baby has now found its home until delivery. Your baby’s spine and
major organs are starting to develop, and the placenta has also started
to form. The embryo is made up of three layers. The first will become
the digestive system, liver and lungs; the second will become the heart,
muscles, kidneys, reproductive organs, and bones; the third will become
your baby’s nervous system, hair, skin and eyes. Your baby is now the
size of a tiny little poppy seed.
