Dear Baby, In exactly one week we will be going to the hospital (not the OB's office) for your first trimester screening, which includes a high-res ultrasound and bloodwork to test for the risk of common genetic defects such as down's syndrome. This is an optional test for most expectant mothers, but our OB highly recommended it for us. I recently found out that our hospital has a 3D and 4D ultrasound machine on premises, so there's a chance that we might see a very detailed picture of you! It's been two weeks since our last OB appointment so I am naturally anxious and excited for next Monday. Congratulations on reaching week 11! Each new week is a new milestone and I'm already...

Dear Baby, Congratulations on reaching week 10! I celebrate each new week with a prayer and renewed hope. You are truly a gift and I can not be thankful enough. You are now the size of a kumquat, or a small prune as pictured to the left. The best news? You have now passed the most critical stage of development! From now on your tissues and organs will only continue to grow and mature. All of your vital organs are in place and starting to function. Last week I mentioned that you have started to urinate...

I just returned from my second visit and everything went well! Praise God! We were able to see the baby moving around, and the heart was flickering like crazy. The baby looked like a gummi bear! I hate these ultrasound pictures because you can barely see anything. The doctor we had today didn't seem to be as interested in getting us a good ultrasound picture, as our last doctor had been. I also thought I would be getting a vaginal ultrasound again, but this was done abdominally. Hence the less details. Our next OB appointment isn't scheduled for another 4 weeks, but in-between I will be having my first trimester screening (more technically known as the nuchal translucency scan, or NT scan) at...