weeks 18,19,and 20

So-I've been a slacker at updating! There's a post below about what we did this weekend, but this post is going to be about Lincoln! We have our 20 week appointment with Dr. Riely tomorrow. She will go over the basics with us--like weight gain, blood pressure, and Lincoln's heartbeat. We will also be able to ask her any questions we have then too. They will do our 20 week fetal anatomy ultrasound as well. Lincoln's head, abdomen, chest, spine, arms, legs. placenta, umbilical cord, and amniotic fluid will be evaluated. We are really excited that we get to see Lincoln again! We are also anxious to here that everything is A-okay with him. Although our 3D ultrasound showed that Lincoln was perfectly healthy just a week and a half ago, a lot can change for a baby in that amount of time. I'm also hoping that they will tell us that my placenta has moved away from my cervix. Please remember to keep us in your prayers :)

Soon after my aunt Chrissy found out that we were pregnant, she bought us a heart prenatal listening system so we could hear Lincoln's heartbeat at home when I was further along. We tried it out this weekend and it was so neat! We could hear his heartbeat! We could also hear him moving around and kicking.

I'm going to sum up what has changed with Lincoln over the past few weeks...

• He is now yawning and hiccupping.
• He has unique fingerprints on his fingertips and toes.
• Vernix caseosa--a greasy white protective substance--now covers his sensitive skin, protecting it from the surrounding amniotic fluid. Without that protection, he would look very wrinkled at birth. The coating sheds as delivery approaches, but some babies born early are still covered with vernix at delivery.
• Lincoln is now the size of a small cantaloupe in my melon-size belly.
• He should way about 10 ounces and measure in around 6 1/2 inches from his head to his bottom.