Week 17

This week has brought me a better night's sleep most days. I think it has to do with getting back to work and wearing myself out, but it is nice not to have to get up more than once! I am starting to notice that my wrists and ankles are bigger, which I bet has to do with all the increased blood volume. Sometimes I feel like my neck is just pulsing. This has caused me to switch to my fake wedding ring, which we bought a few weeks ago in preparation. Travis said this ring buying trip was much less stressful than the first ; )

I haven't noticed an increase in appetite yet, but maybe that's because mine increased long ago. This trimester my cardiovascular system is undergoing dramatic changes, and my blood pressure will probably be lower than usual. That means I am trying not to spring up too fast when sitting, reaching or lying down, lest I see stars (I've already done this once or twice without thinking about it). I've started asking Travis to carry the laundry basket and other larger items downstairs for me, since I've noticed my center of gravity shifting. Going up isn't too bad as long as I go slow. But soon those jobs will go to him too. Here is proof of this week's growth.

In other news, here's what will be going on with the babies in the week ahead... Head to rump, they will be about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and they'll weigh almost 7 ounces each. In week 18 they are busy flexing their arms and legs — movements that I've started noticing more the last few days. Their blood vessels are visible through their thin skin, and their ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from the head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around their nerves, a process that will continue for a year after they're born. Exciting stuff!!!