15 Weeks

Okay, I am posting this one a little late for now (since I'm almost to 16 weeks at this point!) but I decided these little updates that I get from babycenter.com are pretty neat, and maybe the rest of the world would like to know about how big our little bean is getting! Of course, he is getting closer to the size of a large piece of fruit! What is 4 inches - a grapefruit?!

Your Baby at 14 Weeks

At around 4 inches long, crown to rump, your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 ounces. He's busy inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid, which will help the air sacs in his lungs develop. His legs are growing longer than his arms now, and he can move all his joints and limbs. That means his hands are more functional, too. Sweat glands are appearing, and although his eyelids are fused shut, he can sense light. If you were to shine a flashlight at your tummy, he'd be likely to move away from the beam.

If you're scheduled for an ultrasound in the coming weeks (most women have one between 16 and 20 weeks), you may be able to find out whether your baby's a boy or a girl! Don't be disappointed if it remains a mystery, though. Nailing down the gender depends on how clear the picture is and the position of your baby during the ultrasound; he may be curled or turned in such a way as to keep you in suspense.

Your baby's taste buds are beginning to form now, too, and a study at the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia suggests he may be able to taste what you've been eating. Researchers found that flavors from the food pregnant women ate ended up in their amniotic fluid. They also found that eating healthy foods during pregnancy may help your baby develop a preference for those foods that could last a lifetime.

I especially think the part about food preference is important to know. Any child of mine is going to have to be a fan of spicy food and crawfish! I guess that also means I should be good about eating my veggies (and less french fries!) so we won't have battles over green stuff at the dinner table.