Week 27 - Last week of the 2nd Trimester!!!

This week, Ashley weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended. She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. I've been noticing more of a pattern to her waking hours - versus it just being all day and all night! :) As long as I'm moving, she's pretty content to just float along. But once I settle down for more than a few minutes she's awake and kicking! I really feel it while I'm driving and there's pressure on my belly from the seat belt or my waistband or when I lay down on my left side. She's pretty consistent with where she tickles and I love it every time! I think Katelynn finally felt her move too. There's been a few times I've had her feel but not sure if she really got it. It's really cute when I have her put her hand on my belly because she always bends down and puts her ear close as if to hear her too!  She says Ashley is playing hide and seek and then she'll say "Baby! Come out come out wherever you are!"  She's such a great big sister already!!  She even got out her little playschool dr. kit stethoscope and "listened" to her through my belly. I have to watch her though because she'll come running up to me to kiss, hug, or talk to the baby and she runs right into my belly - ouch!! But it really is cute.

With more brain tissue developing, Ashely's brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if she were born now. I can chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements I might begin to feel to a case of baby hiccups, which should be pretty common from now on. I haven't felt them yet, but looking forward to them! Both girls had lots of hiccups in-utero (more so with Katelynn than Kristen) so I can only expect Ashley to do the same! Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother her, so I'll just relax and enjoy the tickle!

It's amazing how fast - and yet how slow - this pregnancy is going. I'm finally starting to show "enough" that people are making more comments. The other day I wore a shirt that made it look like I was over-due and had lots of comments! :) I think I'll put that shirt away for a while!!  ha ha. Next week I am officially in my 3rd Trimester - yieks!  It's getting exciting!