Avocado, anyone? (16 weeks........)

16 weeks. Wow. I'm entering my fourth month of pregnancy. I read in my Pregnancy Journal, that this month my Keifer will make the most rapid growth - he/she will increase his/her weight by 6 times during this fourth month, and will reach half the length that he/she will be at birth! He/she is getting tiny little toenails, and the thought of little toes, so precious, is so exciting. 4 more weeks from today and we'll know the gender - can you tell the countdown is making me crazy?

Babycenter.com says: At 4 1/2 inches long (head to bottom) and 3 1/2 ounces, your baby is about the size of an avocado. In the next three weeks, she'll go through a tremendous growth spurt, though, doubling her weight and adding inches to her length. Her lower limbs are much more developed now. Her head is more erect than it has been, and her eyes have moved toward the front of her head. Your baby's ears are close to their final position, too. Some of her more advanced body systems are working, including her circulatory system and urinary tract. Her heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, circulating her total blood volume through her body many times. (By the end of your pregnancy, this will increase to about 190 quarts.) The patterning of her scalp has begun, though her hair isn't recognizable yet. Although closed, her eyes are moving (slowly), and she's even started growing toenails.

I don't think I've been able to feel anything inside me at this point - but once in awhile, if I'm sitting or lying down, quietly, and "think" I may be able to feel the little flutter of a possible movement, but I can't tell for sure (therefore, I say no I can't feel anything! LOL). It's almost like I can sense his/her presence inside.

Many of the ladies at work have commented this week to me that they are starting to see my belly pop out - and they are just as excited as I am. I am almost "proud" of my belly - which then makes me almost feel guilty for those that are struggling with infertility -- but I have to remember that we worked hard for this belly and it didn't come without its share of pain. I like to touch it and I honestly can't wait until its bigger and I can stroke it and really know that Keifer can for sure hear me.