21 Weeks!

Another week has passed and still no movement! It's driving me crazy that I haven't felt the little guy yet. I know it must be right around the corner, but it feels like the day will never come.

This week, baby is the size of a root beer bottle (How the heck can I not feel a root beer bottle moving around in my belly?!?):

And looks like this:

Baking Baby Blakely

"Chances are good you're feeling someone performing a round-off back handspring in your uterus by now. Is there any other feeling this cool? (Don't ask me!)

Other highlights this week:

By now your baby looks like a mini-version of what she'll look like when she's born. All his facial features are formed and hair is growing on his head. He's even acting like a baby and will occasionally suck his thumb or yawn. Aww ...

Baby's heartbeat is getting stronger and can be heard using a good old-fashioned stethoscope. Ask for a listen at your next prenatal visit!

By 21 weeks, fetal bone marrow starts making blood cells—previously done by the liver and spleen. This may not sound that exciting, but it's good news. The amniotic fluid that has been cushioning your little bean now serves another purpose: Your baby uses it to "practice" chowing down. Yes, it sounds gross (as many aspects of pregnancy do), but it's an important step for your baby toward being able to chow down in the real world. Your baby has been swallowing amniotic fluid for a while now, but now the intestines are finally developed enough that she's absorbing small amounts of sugars from it. And let's face it, being able to effectively digest sugar is important at every stage of life.

Your baby now weighs between 10 and 11 ounces and is approximately 7 inches long—the size of a delicious, cold, frothy bottle of root beer. Float anyone?"

21 Week Belly Pic

And for your entertainment, Liam's growth spurts are leaving some lovely stretch marks across Mommy's tummy:

Oh well! I wasn't wearing any bikinis before and don't plan to after this. Speaking of bathing suits, today I throw on my maternity tankini and head to my first prenatal aquatics class. I'm a little nervous, but excited. I don't really want to get into a bathing suit (even in front of other pregnant ladies!) but I'm glad to get some exercise and I'm hoping to meet some ladies with a due date close to mine. I'll let everyone know how it goes!