Growth Stage: Apple

15 weeks in, and just like a pea vine breaks through the crust of earth and transforms from an obscured seed into a visibly emergent and photosynthesizing plant, our baby too has busted a jeans button via a definite and growing bump! I should note that the bump is not all baby. In month four we’ve exchanged nausea with a voracious capability to consume entire cantaloupes and watermelon halves without squinting or pause. The farmer is hungry. The baby is certainly digging fresh fruit and still wants bacon – a vegetarian’s nightmare! Why can’t this baby want broccoli? Adam and I had another appointment at Swedish, where we recorded my first weight gain so far, and listened to one speedy and healthy heartbeat. What a comforting sound that heartbeat is! We got the thumbs up; everything is coming along swimmingly, perfect, normal, A-Ok. I love that Adam has been able to attend the last two appointments with me, not only is it supplementary nursing education, but it feels like our first outings as a family, especially now that we are starting to talk to her, I mean him, I mean…(?) Bets anyone?

What’s New with the Crop:

Besides sprouting, Baby Kestler is growing thin and fairly opaque skin. She is starting to grow lanugo- the downy fir that will completely cover her in a couple of weeks. Bone marrow is developing as well as, muscles, and eyebrows. Our little fetus can frown, grimace, make voluntary movements, and perhaps even suck a thumb. Baby Kestler is about the size of a Fuji Apple.

Recent Baby Highlights:

I spent the weekend in the San Juan Islands, with my sister, niece, dad and Susi, for some much needed family and relaxin’ time. I mentioned that the name Geronimo has grown on me (Adams' hopeful for a boy), which was met with laughter from all except my niece who seemed to love the name and repeated it over and over again with the enthusiasm of doing cannon balls into the deep end of a pool. GERONIMO!!!!!!!!!!! I have to admit, this made me like the name even more. Please, someone talk me out of it. I must add that I came home to one shiny, clean apartment – My husband rocks!

Today, the first hands of non-husband descent made there way to my belly. I can liken the experience to what certain craniologists must have performed during the 19^th century – some sort of eugenic skull analysis, except this was sweeter, has no concern with the cranium, and thankfully wasn’t seeking attributions with the size of my belly to intelligence, race, etc…thankfully. They were just the curious hands of a friend, but the act certainly surprised me.