22 Weeks

I'm playing catch up tonight so Brody's 16 month update is below this one!

Jaxson is growing and becoming very active! I'm still feeling good, having contractions randomly but nothing to worry about. I usually can just go to the bathroom or drink water or put my feet up and they will go away. It is starting to get uncomfortable to have Brody rolling around on my belly or when he sits with me. And bending over or picking him up often can be tiresome but I'm sure that's only going to get worse as I get bigger.
Here are the ultrasound pictures from Monday that I keep promising.
Jaxson at 22 weeks:

Looking at us(face)

Giving us another clear shot that he's a BOY! Never saw this with Brody but Jax is definitely letting us know

Side profile of head

Barbara made this adorable pillow. I have some more pics I need to take but my flash battery died so I have to get it charged before taking more pics. Brody loved this pillow because it had "balls" all around the edges.

Jaxson's development at 22 weeks:
At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash or a papaya) and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. 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.
The organ systems in your baby's body are becoming specialized for their particular functions. The fetal liver produces different enzymes than it will produce after delivery. The liver is responsible for breaking down billirubin, which is produced by the breaking down of blood cells. Because the life span of a fetal red blood cell is shorter than that of an adult, a fetus produces more billirubin than adults do. Billirubin passes from fetal blood to the placenta and then into your blood. Your liver helps get rid of fetal billirubin. A newborn baby that has high levels of billirubin may show signs of jaundice. Jaundiced babies have a yellowish tint to their eyes and skin and are often treated with phototherapy. Your baby's senses are developing daily. The fetus now has a full complement of neurons in the brain and is learning about her body and surroundings through touch. Touch is one of the first senses to mature and your baby may stroke its face or feel her arms and legs. Your blood volume has increased more to meet the demands of your pregnancy. Most of the increase is in the form of plasma, the liquid part of your blood. This has the ability to dilute your blood and give you physiological anemia, which occurs during pregnancy. The measure of blood dilution is called Hematocrit and the levels reach their lowest points this week. You should check with your doctor to make sure you are not developing more serious forms of anemia. Your baby now shows an extremely rapid brain growth (which lasts until five years after birth).