12 weeks

We have made it through 12 weeks now :)  Yay!  I am starting to have a bit more energy and the nausea is better.  Overall, I am not complaining!

According to my baby sites, our baby is the size of a a plum now!  About 2 inches from crown to rump and weighs half of an ounce.  Almost all of the organ systems are formed now.  The baby will move from development stage to the maturation stage.

We went to the doctor yesterday for the first trimester screening, which is a nuchal translucency screening.  It is an ultrasound and a blood test that can help in predicting Down's Syndrome.  It isn't a conclusive test, but it can be used as a predictor and it is non-invasive so it isn't dangerous for the pregnancy or the baby.  Since we aren't a high risk pregnancy, I don't want to risk anything dangerous so this testing seemed like it would be ok.  Plus we got another ultrasound!  We were so excited for that since we haven't seen the baby since 7 weeks, and then the baby just looked like a little dot on a screen.  Now it was going to look like a real baby!  We couldn't wait!

The baby was lying in perfect position for the ultrasound.  The baby is at the stage now where he/she should move in reponse to being prodded or poked.  The ultrasound tech needed the baby to change position and so we were trying to disturb him/her.  The baby didn't really seem to want to move, but then...oh the movement!  It was so excited to see!  The baby was kicking and moving the arms!  The baby turned completely over on his/her side with the back to us then wiggled around trying to get comfortable.  Then changed completed to the other side!  All so fast too!  It was amazing!  It is so amazing that even while the baby is still so small there is so much going on...and I can't feel any of it!

Here is Baby McGaughey!  It is amazing to see a real baby head and tummy!

In this close up you can see the profile!  Look at that nose :)

Here you can really see the leg and foot on the left and the arm and hand on the right.  Looks like the baby is rubbing his/her eye :)  The legs were crossed and kind of bowed out, like frog legs.  Shawn is happy about that...he said frog legs are good for swimming :)

We continue to be amazed by every bit of this pregnancy!