21 weeks!

It feels as though the weeks are flying by! This week, baby is the size of a large banana. According to the web, Shmu is gulping down several ounces of amniotic fluid every day, both for hydration and nutrition and to practice swallowing and digesting. Taste buds are actually working now and studies show that after birth, babies are more interested in tastes they've already experienced through amniotic fluid. Another reason to eat a variety of healthy food.

Last night, Rudy and I read that we should be able to start hearing the heartbeat with our stethoscopes.  So after just a few minutes of trying, Rudy found it! It was not as loud or easy to hear as an adult heartbeat, but it was definitely there. It was so fun! Ru immediately started talking to the baby and asked it to kick or move so he could feel it. Surprisingly, after holding out on him all week long, Shmu moved and Rudy felt it! :) It's always a magical moment when dad gets a little piece of the action, too. 

Another random fact . . . I also traded a throw pillow for my body pillow to sleep at night and what a difference it makes. I'm loving it and am actually sleeping through the night now! :) We hope the pattern continues!