Update on Baby Horak - 19 Weeks Pregnant

Our baby is probably about six inches long this week and weighs about half a pound.
  
Arms and legs are finally in proportion, neurons are now connected between the brain and muscles, and cartilage throughout the body is turning to bone. All these upgrades combine to give our baby more control over limb movements. 

Something else going on this week: A protective substance called vernix caseosa (vernix is the Latin word for varnish; caseosa is cheese) now covers our baby's skin. It's greasy and white and is made up of lanugo (that downy hair), oil from our baby's glands, and dead skin cells. Vernix protects our baby's sensitive skin from the surrounding amniotic fluid. Without it, you can imagine that our baby would look very wrinkled at birth (sort of what you'd look like if you soaked in a bath for nine months).

Our baby's sensory development is exploding! The brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch.

Here's my 19-week picture!  :)

Oh, and the Big Ultrasound is Monday!!!  If our baby cooperates, I'll be sure to let you know if it's a girl or a boy!!  :D