The Shape of Me and Other Stuff: June 2012

Week 25

I feel like I have not been on here in so long! Zach and I had a wonderful time on the cruise with Zach's family. Thankfully I did not get seasick and Jackson really seemed to love the movement of the water:) We got to snorkel and see a lot of neat fish, SEA TURTLES, and other ocean creatures. I absolutely loved every minute in the water. The whole week was so relaxing and it was so good to spend time with family. Once we got back to reality we had Memorial day off, which was wonderful since we had a lot of laundry to do, and then started our work week. We were happy to be home to see our babies and get back into a routine. This past week has been especially busy for both of us trying to catch up on work and getting ready for my VPK graduation. Thursday I drove to Gainesville to see my first class graduate from VPK and this Sunday was my current VPK's graduation. It was a bittersweet time but I am excited for them to start school and cannot wait to hear all their stories:) Saturday we also went to Baby's R Us to register and had a great time finding things for Jackson. Zach is convinced they have an undercover cam to record all the new parents trying to figure out how to work all the stuff, especially the strollers and carseats, and then put it on America's Funniest Videos. It was a fun day out together and we definitely learn a lot:) Sunday was my current VPK class's graduation and it was exciting to see all of them on stage.
These past weeks have been exciting for me because Jackson has really started to move and it is such and amazing experience. Zach has also been able to feel him more and more now and gets so excited to feel him. I feel so blessed to have such a loving and supportive husband to go through this journey with.
Week 23.
Jackson is now the size of a grapefruit, about 11 inches long and weighs a little over a pound. The blood vessels in his lungs are developing this week to help prepare him for breathing. He is also starting to hear more, his cochlea - the inner ear mechanism that houses all components of hearing- is fully formed. His skin is saggy and hanging loose at this point because his skin grows faster than fat develops, but in the next few weeks that will start to change. Right now if you could see him, you would be able to see his organs and bones through his skin because it is still transparent with a reddish hue. This reddish hue is due to the fact his blood veins and arteries are developing just under the skin. His pancreas is also developing this week, which is important in hormone production- particularly insulin production.

Week 24.
Just since last week Jackson gained about 4 ounces. His weekly gain from here on out will be about 6 ounces. Much of this weight is coming from accumulating baby fat, as well as from growing organs, bones, and muscle. He is a foot long about the size of a standard envelope but weighs a lot more at around 1.5 pounds. His face is almost fully formed, complete with a full set of eyelashes and eyebrows and a sprinkling of hair, which is white because it still has no pigment. His brain is also growing quickly now, which Zach is excited about it and has already started planning for. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree"as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help air sacs in the lungs inflate once he joins the outside world:) We cannot wait to hear that first cry! His skin also is starting to get a pink glow, thanks to the capillaries that are starting to form.

Week 25.
It is crazy to think, but if delivered now, Jackson would have a chance at surviving! He is around 13.5 inches long now and weighs around 2 pounds. He is beginning to exchange that long, lean look for some baby fat. As this happens, his wrinkled skin will smooth out and he will start to look more like a newborn. Capillaries are forming under the skin and filling with blood. By this week's end, air sacs lined with capillaries will also develop in his lungs- getting him ready for that first breath of air. His nostrils, which have been plugged up until now, are starting to open up this week. This will enable him to begin taking practice breaths. His vocal cords are functioning now too, which means he will start having hiccups more frequently. My uterus is also about the size of a soccer ball, which is scary! I cannot believe I will be getting bigger but I know he will definitely keep growing:)