9 weeks, 3 days

Hey guys :) Here's the latest on what's going on with our little bean:

Our new resident is nearly an inch long - about the size of a grape - and weighs just a fraction of an ounce. It's starting to look more and more human; essential body parts are accounted for, thought they'll go through plenty of fine-tuning in the coming months. Our baby's heart finishes dividing into four chambers this week and the valves start to form - as do its tiny teeth. The embryonic "tail" is completely gone. Our little one's organs, muscles and nerves are kicking into gear. The external sex organs are there but won't be distinguishable as male or female for another few weeks. His/her eyes are fully formed, but the eyelids are fused shut and won't open until 27 weeks. It has tiny earlobes, and its mouth, nose and nostrils are more distinct. The placenta is developed enough now to take over most of the critical job of producing hormones. Now that our baby's basic physiology is in place, it's poised for rapid weight gain.

It's really exciting to think about all of that and picture what the little thing looks like :) I'm definitely right on track with all of the symptoms still. I've been getting sick more and more and the fun moods swings are there too :) Thankfully Russell has guy friends at work to talk to who have all been through this before and have assured him that my craziness is normal hehe. He's so sweet and I'm so lucky to have him to go through this with.

My next appointment is on Tuesday, February 8, so I'll have more to report then!