22 Weeks- Spaghetti Squash!

Squash casserole anyone?

Baby Stribs - 22 Weeks

How your baby's growing: How your baby's growing:At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. (YAY!!!! - no more alien face!) His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.

How your life's changing: At this point, you may find your belly becoming a hand magnet. It's perfectly okay to tell folks who touch your tummy that you'd rather they didn't. (Yeah, everyone has been doing that since about 14 weeks. It really doesn't bother me all that much. I have wanted this for so long, who cares!) And if people are telling you that you look smaller or bigger than you should at this point, remember that each woman grows — and shows — at her own rate. ( Um, does that mean when people tell me I'm ready to pop any day I should tell them to MYOB? Although, it IS funny when I tell them I'm only half-way there!) What's important is that you see your practitioner for regular visits so she can make sure your baby's growth is on track.You may start to notice stretch marks on your abdomen as it expands to accommodate your growing baby. (Woohoo! None yet. I have been slathering on Mustela since 12 weeks now - ppllleeeaase stay away stretch marks!)At least half of all pregnant women will develop stretch marks by the time they give birth. These small streaks of differently textured skin can range from pink to dark brown (depending on your skin color). Although they most commonly appear on your tummy, stretch marks may also show up on your buttocks, thighs, hips, and breasts. There's no proof that lotion helps prevent stretch marks, but keeping your skin moisturized may help with any itching.