This week I weigh about 6.8 pounds and am over 19 1/2 inches long. I have a firm grasp, which you’ll soon be able to test when I hold your hand for the first time! My organs have matured and are ready for life outside of Mommy. Wondering what color my eyes will be? If I’m born with brown eyes, they’ll likely stay brown. If I’m born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time I’m 9 months old.

I am now considered “full term,” even though my due date is three weeks away. If Mommy went into labor now, my lungs will likely be mature enough to fully adjust to life outside the womb. I now weigh about 6 1/3 pounds and measure a bit over 19 inches, head to heel.

I am still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. I now weigh almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and I am about 19 inches  long. I am shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered my body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected my skin during my nine-month amniotic bath. I swallow both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, which will form the contents of my first bowel movement.

Today we found out that little Miss Ashlyn is still breech. Apparently she has made herself at home with her head in my ribs and has no intentions of flipping. Since she hasn’t turned in the last 2 weeks, we will be meeting with our OB on the 30^th to schedule our c-section. We thought we would leave the doctors today with a date, but our midwife could not schedule the c-section for us since she will not be the one performing the surgery. Hopefully on the 30^th we will know when Ashlyn’s birthday will be. There is still always the chance that she could come on her own before that, but once at the hospital they would prep us for surgery. Our baby is coming in to this world via c-section, unless for some crazy miracle she flips. Until then, keep growing strong little lady. As much as Daddy and I want to meet you, we want you to be strong and healthy!! We love you!

I don’t have much room to maneuver now that I am over 18 inches long and tip the scales at about 5 1/4 pounds (the size of a honeydew melon). Because it’s so snug in Mommy’s tummy, I’m not as likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times I kick should remain about the same. My kidneys are fully developed now, and my liver can process some waste products. Most of my basic physical development is now complete — I’m just going to be spending the next few weeks putting on weight.