Chronicles of a Father-to-Be: Part I

This upcoming Tuesday, Andrea will be 14-weeks pregnant; that means our due date will be December 13.  However, the idea of me being a father hasn't quite set-in yet.  That's mostly due to the fact that Andrea has been sick and through some trying complications up to this point.  I'm sure as the summer progresses, I'll start to realize it.  But right now, I'd honestly admit that I'm feeling pretty oblivious to stark realization that I'll be a father by the end of the year.

The first ultrasound - 8 weeks

 I've been reading a week-by-week pregnancy book that tells you everything you would want to know about pregnancy and more.  It's been really helpful in understanding what the baby (as well as Andrea) is going through on a regular basis.  At 8 weeks, most of its organs are formed, but its heart is external but functioning.  Sometime between the 8th and 10th weeks, the baby will absorb the heart.

The second ultrasound - 11 weeks

At 10-11 weeks, the baby is fully formed, including heart, brain, spinal cord and genitalia.  Although determining the gender is still nearly impossible.  From this point on, the only thing the baby has to do is grow!  An aside about this picture, the baby was actually break dancing in this picture.  It was very excited to be seen.) 

The third ultrasound - 13 weeks

The 13th week is the gateway into the second trimester.  The placenta is now fully formed and the baby is starting to "drink" the fluid inside.  Unlike last time, the baby was very shy and lounging.  Sometimes by this time a gender can be determined, but it isn't usually very reliable.  

By the time of our next scan (in about a month), the baby's eyes will develop sensitivity to light, it's arms and legs will be nearly proportional to its torso and head, and will start growing its first hair and fat cells (to keep it warm).