24 Weeks!

How your baby's growing:

Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts her at just over a pound. Since she's a foot long (picture an ear of corn), she cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but her body is filling out proportionally and she'll soon start to plump up. Her brain is also growing quickly now, and her taste buds are continuing to develop. Her lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help her air sacs inflate once she hits the outside world. Her skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.

How your life's changing:

In the past few weeks, the top of your uterus has risen above your belly button and is now about the size of a soccer ball.

Most women have a glucose screening test (also called a glucose challenge test or GCT) between now and 28 weeks. This test checks for gestational diabetes, a pregnancy-related high-blood-sugar condition. Untreated diabetes increases your risk of having a difficult vaginal delivery or needing a cesarean section because it causes your baby to grow too large, especially in her upper body. It also raises your baby's odds for other complications like low blood sugar right after birth. A positive result on your GCT doesn't mean you have gestational diabetes, but it does mean that you'll need to take the glucose tolerance test (GTT) to find out for sure.

Finally, if you don't already know how to spot the signs of preterm labor, now's the time to learn. Contact your caregiver immediately if you notice any of the signs mentioned below.

How Far Along: 24w4d

Total Weight Gained: 12 Pounds (Eek!)

Maternity Clothes: Yes...And loose 'real people' clothes (see picture to the left!)

Sleep: Pretty good!  I have to use the restroom still a couple of times a night, but I fall right back to sleep!

Best Moment of the Week: I got to hear her fast, strong heart beat again at my monthly check up!

Movement: Yep!

Food Craving: Sweets...Well, pretty much anything!

Food aversions: Tomatoes and Italian food.  Besides that, it really depends on the moment!  For the most part, my appetite is full blown, so there aren't too many aversions!

Morning sickness: Never had any (lucky me!)

Gender: Girl!  Danicka...

Belly Button: In - Although, my belly button is almost completely flat!

What I miss: Sleeping on my back, but I'll get used to it!

What I look forward to: Our maternity photo shoot, an upcoming baby shower, and Daniel's graduation!

Milestones:  Her nose is 'un-plugged' so she can practice breathing now, and her taste buds have formed!