Nilsen Family Blog

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Baby Boy Nilsen is approximately just under 2 pounds and just under 14 inches. Baby will continue to put on a lot of weight in the 3rd trimester and fatten up. He is pretty lean and slender right now.
The development that is occurring in this stage may seem small and insignificant, but it is very important as the baby begins to prepare for his entry into the world.
The nerve pathways in the ears are developing and allowing baby to respond more consistently to the sounds he hears.
Baby boy is continuing to swallow amniotic fluid which is causing his lungs to develop.
His eyelids have finally separated (they were fused closed previously) and he is finally having his first looks around the studio in Mommy's belly. His eyes are blue in the womb and may change color later in life. Pupils do not have their final color until a few months after birth.
Baby boy has recently acquired the ability to say "yes" or "no" in rudimentary sign language as he can now move his head back and forth.
Brain tissue and neaurons are all developing at a rapid pace, increasing his brain activity and will continue to function at accelaterated levels for the first seven to eight years of childhood.
Baby boy's blood circulation is completely functional.

I am WAYYYY overdue in posting these pictures.

But, these are from a couple of weeks ago.

You can see Baby Nilsen has grown a lot since our last photo shoot.

Mommy and Daddy can feel him kicking, rolling and moving around in there.

Baby boy is starting to put on the baby fat, which will be one of the main ongoing changes in appearance in the upcoming weeks.
Baby is approximately 1 3/4 pounds and 13.5 inches in lenght. That is the approximate size of a 5 pound bag of flour or eggplant.
This week baby will be scootching slowly out of the old breech position and start rotating (already) into a better position for delivery.
Baby boy is now able to do more with his fingers and can now move his fingers to make a complete fist. His movements become more dexterous, and he will be able to touch and hold his feet. He will also begin to prefer his left or right hand at this time.
The tooth fairy is hovering over baby boy this week as his permanent "grown-up" teeth are developing in buds high inside his gums.
Baby boy's nerves around the mouth and lip area are showing more sensitivity now, preparing baby for eating. His swallowing reflexes are developing too.

Baby boy is continuing to gain weight and starting to fill out. He is about 1 1/2 pounds and about 13 inches long.
His ears are done.
His fingernails are done.
Baby boy is about to kick up the dance party a notch because he can now hear and react to sounds from the outside world. Studies show that babies find gently music and Mommy's voice most soothing.
Baby boy's taste buds are still growing.
His bones are continuing to ossify (harden).
His brain is growing rapidly.
Baby boy's lungs are becoming more developed and more complex. The branches of the main lung are beginning to form as well as special cells that will produce surfactant. Surfactant is necessary for the airs sacs to inflate easily.

Baby Boy has pretty much taken on the form of a newborn baby, but is incredibly small. He weighs approximately 1 lb and is probably almost a foot in length (head to toe).
Much development will continue to occur over the next 18 weeks. The baby's skin appears wrinkly, but this is because he has not yet gained enough weight to fill the skin out. The baby chub is soon to come!
Baby Boy's lips are becoming more distinct, and the first signs of teeth are appearing as buds beneath his gum line.
His eyes are completely formed, but the iris (the colored portion of the eye) still lacks pigment.
His inner ear is developed and he has his own sense of balance. Balance also promotes physical dexterity, which has him actively feeling out his surroundings where skin, body parts and the resident umbilical cord are the big sensory experiences.
Baby boy's senses are developing daily. His brain now has a full complement of neurons and the baby is learning about his body and surroundings through touch. Touch is one of the first senses to mature and the baby may stroke his face or feel his arms and legs.

Baby Boy is very busy moving.
Baby probably weighs around 12-15 ounces and is around 10 1/2 inches long from head to toe.
Within the next 5 weeks, baby boy will have another rapid growth spurt and be more than a little lean mean growing maching. The beginnings of what is commonly called "brown fat" is just starting to fill into help baby retain some body heat, which is crucial as he is not yet capable of regulating his own body temperature.
His eyebrows and eyelids have finished forming this week.
The addition of REM (Rapid Eye Movement) has been added to the baby's sleep schedule. He sleeps approximately 12-14 hours a day.
Taste buds are being formed on his tongue.

Baby boy continues to grow...

His bones are continuing to ossify and toughen.
His finger and toe pads are finishing up the creation of its unique finger/toe prints.
His teeth buds are formed and hidden beneath the gum line.
Baby boy's lips are pink and more defined.
His eyelashes and eyebrows are visible.
At this point he realy looks like a miniature baby - but weighs a mere eighth of what his estimated birth weight will be.