Week 29: This Week You are The Size of...

...Butternut squash! Olivia now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds and is about 15 inches from head to heel. Muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and her head is growing bigger to make room for her developing brain.

I have to make sure I'm eating plenty of protein, vitamin C, folic acid, iron, cheese, yogurt, and OJ. Good thing I like to eat. I'm pretty sure I grew over the weekend. I'm feeling the strain on my back and feet of the baby's weight so far, but it's worth it for her.

We have 70-ish days to go!

Ali, Austin and Nana - 29 Weeks

Week 28: This Week You are The Size of...

...Chinese cabbage! This week marks the beginning of the 3rd trimester.

Baby weighs two and a quarter pounds and measures about 14.8 inches from head to heels.

She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through the womb.

She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

Week 27: This Week You are The Size of...

...a head of cauliflower! Olivia now weighs almost 2 pounds 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. With more brain tissue developing, her 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 to be born now. Tiny rhythmic movements are likely a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother her.

Week 26: This Week You are The Size of...

...an English hothouse cucumber! The network of nerves in her ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. She may now be able to hear both Austin's and my voice as we chat with each other. She's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of her lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when she's born and takes that first gulp of air. And she's continuing to put on baby fat. She now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches from head to heel. Less than 100 days to go!

Mom at 26 Weeks

Ali on August 1, 2010:

Mom and Friend at 25 Weeks

Olivia Kate: Here's a picture of mom at Bryan and Lauren't engagement dinner. She is standing with Lauren's sister, Jess, who is due with a boy (her first also) in October. Jess's husband, Howie, said "Oh, look--it's his FIRST DATE!"

Week 25: This Week You are The Size of...

...a rutabaga! Head to heels, Olivia now measures about 13 1/2 inches and weighs about a pound and a half. She's beginning to exchange her long, lean look for some baby fat. As she does, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and she'll start to look more and more like a newborn. She's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.

Most days, she is very active in mommy's belly, which the doctor says is a good sign of a healthy baby. She mostly moves at night when I lay down but will move other random times during the day. Honi Gram and Gigi have now both felt her little kicks!