17th week

We're moving right along from an avocado to an onion! Baby Schepis weighs around 5 ounces and is about 5 inches long.  The cartilage is starting to harden into bone while fat is beginning to accumulate.  The baby can swallow and the heart beat (now controlled by the brain) is about 140-150 beats per minute. Perhaps the most cool of all, however, is that prints are present on the fingers and toes!  I'm still waiting to feel those little kicks...

Things are good with me as I make my way through the second week of school. While a little tired at the end of the day, I can honestly say this is one of the best starts to a new school year! I'm just wondering how long I can get away without telling my students about the pregnancy. With all the birthday cake around the corner, I am sure I won't be able to hide it much longer!

Eric, too, is motoring through his 4th paper. One more to go and then it's show time! Talk about a light at the end of the tunnel. Now, if he can just figure out how to fit biking 8 hours a day into having a baby, finishing his dissertation, and finding a job, life would be absolutely perfect! Who says you can't have it all?!

One last thing- our appointment for today was moved until next Monday. Suits me fine as I was told it is a major blood taking session and we don't even get a peek at the baby. Is 8 vials REALLY necessary?! I think our next ultrasound is during the 20 week appointment. Hopefully we'll have new sonogram pictures then!

Later gators!

-Katy