Week 17!

This week, the baby is about the size of a palm, weighs about five ounces, and is developing some body fat.  My only problem with the size "equation" is, do they mean Justin's palm or my palm!?  Another website said about the size of a turnip, so I think that's more helpful.  The heart is now regulated by the brain (no more random beats) to beat 140 to 150 times per minute.  She’s practicing the survival skills she’ll need at birth — like sucking and swallowing.
The baby is almost certainly listening up by now. In fact, loud noises — the dog barking, the doorbell ringing — will actually startle your baby (and also get him or her used to such noises; for instance, fetuses who regularly hear a dog barking will become babies who sleep right through Fido's outbursts).  Most of the survival reflexes that your baby will have at birth are being perfected in utero right now.

Within the next week or so, the pads on the baby's fingertips and toes will become adorned with completely individual swirls and creases (aka fingerprints).

I'm glad the baby is getting used to noises because I am having a hard time training Brinkley to not bark when she is playing.  Every night after dinner, she waits for Justin to be done and then starts in on him until he gets down to play with her.  He of course teases her, taunts her and messes with her which makes her very excited and in turn BARK loudly!  I don't know who I need to train more, Justin or Brinkley!  I've started to say to "Shhhh, the baby is sleeping", but she doesn't get it!

Here's the 17 week picture...

I'm feeling great at the moment!  I'm still pretty tired at the end of a day, but overall I feel really good.  The only thing that seems to bother me is my back if I am in a certain position too long.  If this happens, I just get a nice backrub from Justin and usually that helps...I even had a nice back rub from Shelly today! 
I've been having the most bizarre dreams lately...I think some of these "bad" dreams will go away once we have the ultrasound done and get to see that the baby is healthy.  We originally had the ultrasound scheduled for Friday May 6th, but I received a call last week saying the technician would be having foot surgery that day could we come in earlier on Wednesday May 4th.....Uhhhh, YES!  So we have our appointment scheduled for Wednesday at 2pm.  We can't wait!!

And last but not least.....

BRINKLEY!