They Grow Up So Fast

We now have a fetus!  From whattoexpect.com: "Sunrise, sunset: Would you believe [our] baby is having his or her first graduation already? Yes, it's true: At 9 weeks pregnant, [our] scholar-to-be has ended his or her embryonic stage and is entering the fetal period now (good-bye embryo, hello fetus). [Our] fetus is now about one inch long, the size of a medium green olive (but no martinis, please). The head has straightened out and is more fully developed, the ears are much more prominent, and some new organs (the liver, spleen, and gallbladder) are forming. [Our] fetus is also making spontaneous movements of his or her arms and legs now that minuscule muscles are beginning to develop, though [Julie] won't feel [our] tiny dancer for at least another two months.

While it's way too early to feel anything, it's not too early to hear something (possibly). [Our] baby's heart is developed enough — and grown large enough — so that its beats can be heard with a Doppler, a handheld ultrasound device that amplifies the lub-dub sound the heart makes. But don't worry if [our] practitioner can't pick up the sound of [our] baby's heartbeat yet. It just means [our] shy guy or gal is hiding in the corner of [Julie's] uterus, or has his or her back facing out, making it hard for the Doppler to find its target. In a few weeks (or at [our] next visit) the miraculous sound of [our] baby's heartbeat is certain to be audible for [our] listening pleasure."

Our next ultrasound is scheduled for December 16th.  The baby will be 10wk4days at that point, so we should be able to hear the heart beat for the first time.  Julie is having more fatigue lately, and is a bit more emotional, but otherwise is having a very easy pregnancy so far.  We are hoping that it stays this way!