27th week

Today Marks the last day of my second trimester. Which indeed means that it is the last day of being 27weeks. Thanks to some lovely preggo acne I decided to skip a pic or two..LOL But here is a picture of me at Doheny beach with (from left to right) Brianna , Shawna , Michelle , Brianna, and Myself at 27 weeks. Enjoy it!

Now for an update. I went in to Sweet Beginnings today after my week of dieting and exercise for my gestational diabetes. She said that my sugar levels are looking good and I am doing well. All with the exception of my morning time fasting readings. So realizing that I have been skipping a few snacks at night or eating them rather early.... may be the cause of my high blood sugar readings in the morning. We decided to move my snacks to a later time and see if that works. If it does not , then I will be taking insulin at night to control my sugars whiles I am sleeping. I am hoping that I don't have to do this ...because it would suck royally. Not to mention I wouldn't be able to give the shots to myself and would have to ask Jason to do it for me. Having someone who likes needles and has been clean for 3 years giving me shots. Makes me a little nervous. Oh well ... life goes on. Wish me luck

Ah Crap!

Last week marked my 26th week of pregnancy. So guess what that means? Time to screen for gestational diabetes. Where you go in and they make you drink this God awful sugar water. Then you wait in a waiting room full of people ( for an hour) who just cant seem to get a handle on their children. That or they just really don't care. And then at the end of the rainbow comes a needle where they draw your blood. Well I got my results back from that screening and they decided that my sugar level was a little too high for them. So guess what that means. I actually have to go in and be tested for gestational diabetes. So they have me come in the next morning after a night of fasting. No water or food what so ever from midnight. Now we all know how cranky I get when I don't get to eat. Let alone me being pregnant. Come on now! But I go in and first things first. They draw blood before I drink the oh so lovely double dose of sugar ( instead of the 50ML its 100ML) water. The chick kinda hurt me on this draw. Then I drink the shit within the allotted 5 minutes , which makes you want to puke , and then its back out to the waiting room again. Now let me tell you something about this waiting room. It is a tiny room stuffed with 11 chairs. Their is people coming in and out constantly. Then you have a preggo chick getting the same test as me done. Only she brought her husband and two kids. GET A FUCKING CLUE! Send your hubby off with the kids , he is a dad he will do just fine. I can understand bringing your kids if you have no one to watch them ... but it's a three and a half hour process. Why the fuck would you bring your whole family. OK anyway ... So I drink this crap and wait ... long story short... I had to have my blood drawn 4 times that day and on top of that, it was all out of the same arm because being pregnant you get all kinds of skin crap. I got a fungus on my other inner elbow so they couldn't use that arm. So needless to say I looked like a junky for about a week after. My arm was so bruised from the 5 needles( one from the original screening a couple days prior) that were in it. So now it is sit and wait for the results. And would you imagine. I have gestational diabetes. So now I get to prick myself in the finger 4 times a day to test my blood sugar. I am on a stink ass diet which so far leaves me feeling hungry constantly. I am sure that my body will adapt to not eating the three normal meals I was used to having to the 6 meals (or shall we say snacks) that it is now getting. But so far I have kept my blood sugar in the normal range. Lets hope I can continue to do so because I don't want to have to go on insulin.

Rock On

Yesterday Michaela was moving around quite a bit. Normally she makes little movements at least once every ten minutes. Some I can barely feel...and others seems strong. But yesterday she seemed to be moving around more frequently and stronger. Every time I feel her moving it makes me feel excited. But last night I noticed something. My belly was rocking around pretty good. Normally she kicks and you can see my belly move a tad. Well last night she would kick and then drag all over. It was like she was seeing tracers off her leg or something so she was waving them around , it wasn't just little bumps. It looked like there was a mosh pit going on in my womb....lol Anyway, It made me overly excited and I thought I would just share that with ya.

Human Pin Cushion

I went to the Dr. last Thursday to do my Glucose screening. Well I received a call yesterday saying that my glucose levels were a tad bit high and that they needed me to come in today to get the glucose tolerance test. So I can't eat from midnight till the test is finished. And the test last three hours.

I come home in the morning to shower and get dressed. Oh wow I can't go in my room because Randy is asleep in my bed. So I end up wearing my dirty cloths from yesterday. I'm hungry and thirsty and I can't have anything. How suck ass! So I get to the Dr's at 8am just in time to sit for a half hour before they draw blood.

Finally they call me back and stick me with the needle. Then they hand me a bottle similar to the one I drank a few days prior only it was double the glucose. It was like drinking melted down sugar. It was disgusting. So I go in the waiting room and start to read. And just in time for me to start dozing off, they call me back for the second draw.

All together today I had my blood drawn 4 times in a 3 hour period. Mind you they could only draw from one arm because I have a fungus on my other arm. So now I have this nasty looking fungus on one arm... and my other arm looks like that of a druggies. It's quite attractive. So now for the time being... my name is now Human Pin Cushion.

24 weeks

I'm laying in bed last night and decide to switch to my right side instead of laying on the left. All the sudden I get this monster kick. I quickly grabbed Jason's hand and stuck it on my belly. He got to feel her kick :-) All this time I was the only one who got to feel her. But as I sit here and watch my belly at the moment and see her going off like a bag-o-popcorn , I realize that now everyone will get to feel her now.

We went to our Dr. appointment yesterday and the Dr. says her heart beat is great and she is the right size for where I am at in my preggers. So thus far she is a healthy little girl. Lets pray that it stays that way. Either way I still love her! But I went for my glucose tolerance screening yesterday. That is always pleasant isn't it? LOL I haven't yet received a call ... so that means they haven't run my blood work yet.... that or everything is fine. I will however keep ya posted.

23 weeks

My little kick boxer is getting stronger and stronger. She likes to kick in the cervix area. It doesn't hurt but it does make me jump when I am not expecting it. Her little kicks are getting more and more frequent. She moves around a lot when I am playing music or when the dogs are barking. I think that Jacks ( The mastiff ) barks scare her. Besides that, there really hasn't been any changes. Everything looks and feels well. I am getting more and more excited as the end nears. I still have a ways to go and I know that the end isn't all roses. But I welcome it! I love my little one tons already!

It's a GIRL

Michaela McMenomy it is! A little girl , I am so excited!

We went in today to do the ultrasound. My sister Reesa came along. I was very nervous that they were going to tell me something was wrong. I am so used to hearing bad news! But guess what. There was only good news. It's a girl! Jason and I had to give each other a high five because we were both hoping for a little girl. Michaela is a very active little one. She wouldn't sit still. So far both ultrasounds that I have had... she has been moving around like it was the thing to do. Very active and a strong heartbeat. Which always makes you feel better :-)

21 weeks

I know the picture isn't all that great! But what can you expect from someone who takes there own pictures? No it isn't because Jason wont take them for me. It's just when I am taking the pictures he is at work. Anyway... As you can see , my belly is showing more. People can actually tell that I am pregnant right away. I no longer just look fat. Actually my sister and a few other people have been saying that I look like I am loosing weight. That the rest of my body looks to be getting slimmer. I think it is just that the belly takes away from my rolls...lol

20 weeks

What can I say? I'm halfway through my pregnancy at this point. I still am not showing all that much haha despite what this picture shows. I was wearing a maternity belt because I was having some pains in my side. Well when you have fat and you lift it. It can make you seem like you are a lot fatter or more pregnant! LOL

Up till this point I have been stressing about the baby. I haven't felt much in the movement department. At least I haven't thought that I have been feeling much. I could be wrong. I go into the Dr's for an ultrasound next week. That should make me rest a bit easier. Not to mention I get to find out the sex :-)

First Dr. Visit

I was so nervous going to the Doctors today. It was my first actual visit and I hadnt heard the babys heart beat since 10 weeks ago at my 10 week mark. I woke up this morning and it hit me like a ton of bricks. I had a panic attack. My whole body went numb and I got dizzy. I was freaking out. What if I go and they tell me that the babys heart stopped like it had in my previous pregnancy?

I get into the doctors and I do my pee test ,the blood pressure , etc.... Then the nurse throws the fetal scope think up on my belly and I hear the heart. Instantly I am relieved. 160 beats per minute. That puts the heart rate consistent with the first measurement they did 10 weeks prior. I honestly got so excited that I got teary eyed. I felt bad that Jason didn't get to be in the room to hear it.

Anyway we were set on seeing the baby on the ultrasound today and finding out the sex. But guess what? They don't do theirs in the office. They send you into St. Josephs to get it done. So I have to wait till Mon-Weds (they are making the appointment and then they are going to call me) to actually see the baby.

We are still hoping for a girl but if we have a boy we will be just as happy. As my brother put it. All I can really ask for is 10 fingers , ten toes , and no helmet.

PHEW!

For the past week I have been playing a cat and mouse game with this guy from the Health Department. Why he was calling be I wasn't sure. And to tell you the truth I thought nothing of it until I talked to my mom about it.

I went out shopping with mom and received a message on my phone once again from Marty, the guy at the HD. I told my mom I wasn't sure what was going on but he had been trying to contact me like crazy. She got concerned and informed me that the Health Department usually doesn't contact you unless you have come in contact with some kind of something IE: AIDS , Hep , TB etc... So I started freaking out thinking the worst.

Well I finally got a hold of him today. I wasn't aware of it , but the health department makes calls to woman on medi-cal to make sure that everything is going well with the whole situation. Now this is where it gets interesting. He asked me if I was taking advantage of WIC. I told him that the woman at the welfare office had in fact informed me that I was not eligible for WIC until I was 6 months pregnant. Marty couldn't believe what I was telling him. But I kid you not, that is in fact what they told me. I had someone else there with me when they told me that. Anyway I couldn't believe it when they had informed me of it and I probably should have questioned a supervisor at that time. But I didn't. I could have been getting much needed WIC for the past 10 weeks. Do you have to be Mexican or Black in order to get adequate information through welfare? I really don't understand it. Oh well! I will have to go wait forever to receive that now. Oh Joy!

19 Weeks

So I must say that 19 weeks has been about the shittiest thus far! The baby isn't what is making me feel this way. It may be the cause though. Memorial day I was walking through the park trying to catch the ice cream guy. Well I started feeling a cramping. It wasn't like the
"Oh shit I'm gonna miscarry again" type cramp, but none the less it didn't feel good. Well from that point on I started feeling a really sharp pain in my abdominal area. I'm not bleeding and it isn't crampy so I am not too worried. I think I may have a hernia. Needless to say.... what ever this shit is...it fucking hurts like hell! If I decide to stand or walk around is when it hurts the worse. I lay on my sides and it takes some of the pressure off but it still spikes. Laying on my back feels best. It doesn't flare up as much. But guess what, coming up on fine months , I am not supposed to lay on my back anymore. I just can't fucking win! Anyway I have an appointment on the 7th with the OB/GYN and we will see what is going on. I was going to go to the emergency room because it was keeping me up at night crying. But because I only have insurance that covers the pregnancy, I wasn't sure if medi-cal would cover it had it been what I though it was (hernia).

So until the 7th I will just have to stay in bed as much as possible and worryingly await my Dr. appointment. If I can stand long enough to get ready and take pictures, you will see a belly shot this week. Otherwise it is out of the guestion.

18 Weeks

I am 18 weeks pregnant YAY! There hasn't been much that changed. I have however finally received my actual Medi-cal card. It took me over two months to get this little sucker in my hands but now that I have it, I can go see a Dr.

I scheduled an appointment with Dr. Feldman today. I wont get to see him until the 7th of June. I swear this crap with waiting sucks ass! But I guess the closer I am to 20 weeks , the more chance I have of finding out the accurate sex no? Anyway I am hoping I will like Dr. Feldman. Apparently he delivered my friend Melissa and she has been to see him. She said that he is a sweet old man and she likes him. So if she likes him, I am sure I will too.

So I guess I will have to wait till week 20 to see a Dr. for the first time and to find out the sex. I was hoping I could do it this week.... but I guess that was wishful thinking. Damn Medi-cal for taking two and a half months!

17 Weeks

17 weeks... that's where I am. And finally I was approved for Medi-cal! It freaking took long enough! Seven weeks ago I had received a letter telling me whom my case worker was and attached was a paper that said I do not need to contact my case worker. I would receive something in the mail when I was approved. This was a procedure that I was told would take around 45 days. 45 days!?!?! WTF!?!?! A lot can happen in 45 days. That's a month and a half and not to mention I was already 10 weeks pregnant when I was finally able to apply for Medical.

So yesterday I still had not received anything in the mail. I called the medi-cal office as soon as I got home and then another time later in the afternoon. To my surprise at the end of the day, I received a phone call. My case worker called and told me that she just went over my case work and that I am approved. I should receive my card within a week. So finally one I hit 18 weeks I will be able to see a Dr.

Man 18 weeks pregnant and finally able to see a Dr. I'm going to be a pin cushion and a piss test pro all in one Dr. visit seeing that I haven't yet seen a Dr. I do have to say I am nervous! I'm showing some but not as much as others. I haven't had my blood tests and all that. Is the baby OK? What will the Dr. tell me. And what the hell Dr. am I going to go see? These are the questions going through my mind right now. I know that a lot of moms to be fear something wrong with their babies. Therefor it is normal for me to feel this way. But not having been following the development of our baby.... it's just made me all that much more nervous. I shouldn't fear anything. What happens is gonna happen and I can't change any of that. So I shouldn't even question it.

Anyway here is my 17 weeks pregnant belly shot. Nothing much has changed. I show a little bit through my already fat body. I haven't been feeling the baby moving. So everything is where it was last week.

16 weeks

Today marks 16 weeks and 3 days. The baby is around 4 ½ inches long (from head to bottom) and weights in at around 3 ½ ounces. S/he is about the size of an avocado. I am showing a little bit but not to the point where people who didn’t know me would recognize that I am pregnant. Thanks to the layers of fat that I originally had around my gut , I don’t look like a normal pregnant woman.

For the last couple weeks I have felt some stretching going on. My stomach began to itch and it keeps getting more and more itchy as the days go on. So in the next couple of weeks here it should become more evident to strangers passing by that I’m not just fat… I am pregnant. I have been feeling different things going on inside my belly. Not exactly sure of what it all is because this pregnancy thing is all new to me. I have always been able to feel things that are going on with my woman parts. Sometimes I could even feel my self ovulating. So I believe I am a little more in tune with my body and it’s functions then most first time moms. I have felt movement here and there but nothing significant. Two days ago I was standing in line at the Albertsons getting my mom some cottage cheese when I felt it. For sure this was the baby moving. It felt kind of like butterflies fluttering around. It’s exciting when you finally feel it and are sure of what it is. I can’t wait till it is more frequent!

Medi-cal

I am really starting to get pissed off! I had to apply for medi-cal because I have not been able to get a job. I understand that it takes some time for Medi-cal to get all the paperwork together to approve or deny you. But it has been 5 weeks since I had applied and still nothing.

I am 16 weeks pregnant as of today and I have yet to see a Dr. In the first trimester you are supposed to get your initial blood test which tests for diseases and other factors that can potentially harm your baby if not treated. This test is supposed to be ran at your first visit at around 7 weeks. I should have seen a Dr. already at least 4 times seeing I am ending my 4th month here. It is complete bullshit!

Whiles I was in the welfare office waiting to talk to my case worker about getting on Medi-cal, I was reading a lot of papers. In those papers they stressed the issue of being seen by a Dr. immediately upon finding out that you are pregnant. So why the hell does it take so long to get on Medi-cal?

All I have to say is this. If you are applying for medi-cal , make sure you apply for the emergency medical. They ask you if you have an emergency and need to see a dr. right away. Make something up! Otherwise you will be waiting approximitly 45 days from the date you apply to see a Dr. By the time I see a Dr. I will be 4 ½ months pregnant or more. That means I will be halfway through my pregnancy. BULLSHIT I tell you!

YAY FOR FOOD!

Soup, salad, and bread sticks! Olive Garden was becoming my best friend! In my first trimester there wasn't very many foods that would sit well with me! Foods that I was able to keep down would make me feel sick and some foods all together I couldn't get near. Peanut butter would almost instantly make me yack! Red meat, don't even have it in the same room as me! To be on the safe side I could eat the soup, salad, bread sticks, and sandwiches. I honestly think that I threw more food up exorcist style then what I kept in my system those 3 months.

I was starting to think that the strong smells that were accompanied by food and such would never go away. As soon as I became pregnant it was like my nose because "Super Nose"! I could smell things from miles away. And it wasn't a good thing. Smells that are very powerful tend to have bad affects. Especially when you can't stand the smells to begin with. Someone could take their shoes off in the next room and I would instantly smell it and throw up. Man was it horrible!

So far in my second trimester, this affliction seems to steadily be subsiding! The other night , for the first time since I had gotten pregnant, I was able to eat a cheeseburger without getting sick. On any normal day .. I love cheeseburgers! I can't seem to get enough of them. But since I found out I was pregnant, just the word hamburger made me feel sick. And the smell of cooking meat all together. Oh man it turned my stomach! Yesterday I had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and not only did it taste delicious, it didn't make me feel sick. So I ripped into a peanut butter and honey sandwich next! YES! I am finally getting to eat the things I love once again!

Whiles I love Olive Garden, it tends to get old when that is all you can eat. I am excited that my list of foods I can eat are steadily growing. It gets frustrating when you are hungry and can't keep your food down! Not to mention your body isn't getting all the nutrition it needs to keep baby healthy when everything you eat comes right back up. I'm telling you, if someone were to invent something that could make a pregger momma not so sensative to smells ....S/he would make a killing!

Telling Mom

So as you all know, I was stressing on the whole bit about telling my mom that I am pregnant. I was afraid that she wouldn't take the news all that lightly. Only for the simple fact that Jason and I haven't known each other all that long and with his past and all. That and I wanted to make sure that my body wasn't going to reject this pregnancy as it did my last. So with me having entered my second trimester last week, I figured it was time to let my mom in on our joyous news.

I was thinking about going to Babies R Us and grabbing this pillow I had seen there. It was a little yellow pillow that said "I LOVE GRANDMA" on it and had a see through pocket that you place a picture of your child in. Well I thought about sticking the ultrasound picture in that and giving it to my mom. I was having such a hard time figuring out what to do, so my sister said she would help me out. So She came down this past Saturday( April 28th ) to help me.

The plan to tell mom is this. We would ( we being my sister and I ) take mom out to breakfast and tell her that we have an early mothers day present for her. The bag is handed over. The contents of this bag would be: 1) A card addressed from baby Phillips/McMenomy to Grandma. 2) An I love Grandma picture frame containing a copy of my ultrasound.

So we decide to go out for Mexican food. Randy, my moms ex-boyfriend whom is family to us, came along not knowing what really was going on. So we all sit down and immediately my sister orders Mom , Randy , and herself a Bloody Mary whiles I have an iced tea. We all ordered our food and conversation began. After we finish eating, my sister pipes in with " Oh I almost forgot , we have an early mothers day present for you". The bag gets handed over and I instantly start chewing my thumb and tears welled up in my eyes. After mom reads the card she looks at my sister and tells her that she thought it was hers at first and then looks at me and says " I thought he couldn't have kids". I told her " That is what he was told". Then the conversation turned into she wished I would have just told her sooner. And that she knew something was going on when I wouldn't have a glass of wine with her the other day.

So from this point Reesa ( my sister ) and my mom decide they want to go buy me some maternity clothing. This was to the tune of like $500. Way to much for them to have been spending on me, but I do appreciate it! We spent a few hours at Mimi's and JC Pennys. I would try on one outfit as my sister would hand me three more. I thought it would never end. Finally my mom and sister made their purchases and off we were. Poor Randy had to dragged along. I bet he will think twice before going out with all the girls from now on.

So the day went surprisingly well. Jason wanted to be there when I told my mom that we were pregnant, but my sister and I decided that it would be better if he wasn't there when I broke the news. Seeing that he is the father of this child it would only be fare for him to take part in every aspect of his child's life. So from this point on, anything that has to do with this child, he will be involved in. I kind of feel bad for not including him in on the breaking of the news to my mother. But I thought it would be better that he not be there in case my moms reaction wasn't all that great. All and all I would have to say the day went pretty well.

Recap of the First Trimester

Finding Out



On the 28th of February 2007, (just two days after his motorcycle accident) Jason and I found out that we were pregnant. I had felt that I was pregnant since the end of January. I felt really hungry, tired, and just not myself. I kept the feeling to myself for the most part, only discussing it with a couple of people. I was in denial, not because I don't want a baby, but because it was so early on into the relationship and Jason was told he was sterile.

On the 28th I had decided I was going to take a pregnancy test. I already knew I was pregnant I just needed conformation before I said anything else. So I head to the bathroom and pee on the stick. 2 lines..... WOW!! We are pregnant. I come out of the bathroom (filled with excitement yet scared at the same time) and say," Babe, your doctor was wrong, your swimmers do work." I was afraid that Jason wouldn't be pleased with the news but he was happy about it.



The Living Well Clinic

While talking to my friend Tracey the night I found out, she said she would look up information for me because I was a tad bit overwhelmed. She found The Living Well Clinic for me and said she would go with me. They do pregnancy tests and first ultrasound at no cost to you. So first things first. Pregnancy test!

I come into this place nervous as hell! I don't do well in situations with new people. So Jason, Tracey and I are sitting in this tiny room waiting to take a piss test to confirm the two I had taken at home. I finally get in and to no surprise PREGNANT. The woman in the clinic sits me down and talks to me about my options. Of course I am going to have this baby so it wasn't much of a talk. So the woman sets up an appointment for me to have an ultrasound on the 27th of March because we aren't positive how far along I am.



Ultrasound


Back to Living Well Clinic for me. I sit nervously with Jason whiles I wait in line for the ultrasound. Last time I had one of these I miscarried. So I was scared and had all kinds of thoughts floating through my mind. I really had to pee like crazy and I knew they were going to ask me for urine so I sat for an hour holding it back. The time came for me to pee and guess who couldn't go. Even after drinking an ass load of fluids.

The woman takes me to the back and asks me about my family history. Then I hear the woman's babies heart beat coming from the ultrasound room. I got so excited to hear that sound. It was a sound I had never heard before. She takes my blood pressure and all that good stuff and then sticks me in a tiny room about half the size of a handicap bathroom stall. In comes the Dr. She tells me that she is going to listen for the baby's heart beat using a Fetoscope. Instantly I became very nervous. Last time I never got to hear the heart because it didn't fully develop. My fear came out and I just wanted to hold my breath until I heard that heart. Of course she couldn't find the heart beat. I wanted to cry! I kept telling myself that it was ok and the Dr. just couldn't find it. Not to jump to conclusions until you have the ultrasound. So she sticks me in another tiny room where the machine is.

I'm sitting in this room with my vagine facing the door which leads into a room full of people. It was a tad bit uncomfortable. The nurse comes in followed by another nurse who is in training at this clinic. They start probing my vagine and finally allow Jason to come in. The baby was bending back and forth moving around like crazy. Then she showed us the beating heart and allowed us to listen ( 160 BPM) in on it. A single tear went down my cheek. I was relieved and excited! I looked over at Jason. He was fixed on the screen looking excited yet somewhat freaked out. Like now the reality sets in.



Baby McMenomy at 10 weeks




Medi-cal


So seeing as I don't have insurance, we head to medi-cal. The place was packed and we had to park in the parking lot of another business and walk over. That's how it is when you live in a city where 90% of the population is Hispanic. Wait in line....fill this out... wait in line... sign here... blah blah blah. After a long process they bring us into a room. They go over my application with me and then tell me that it will be 10 days before I hear anything. 10 days pass and I get a letter telling me who the person is handling my case. No approved or denial, nothing. So I look through the original paperwork on the process of getting medi-cal. I read that it takes 45 days to get an approval or denial. I was like what the fuck! I will be in my second trimester by then. So here I am 14 weeks pregnant and still have yet to see a doctor. No blood tests, nothing.



Reactions



I know that you are supposed to wait till you are around three months pregnant before sounding the bells. Many pregnancy's end in miscarriage and chances of miscarriage greatly decrease as you hit your second trimester. But keeping this a secret is too hard. Jason instantly starts telling his friends and family that I am pregnant. And I tell a select few of my friends and of course my brother and sister. I decided after talking to my sister that it would be better if I not tell my mom until I hit my second trimester because of the outcome of my last pregnancy and the effects that it had. That and I don't think my mom is going to be too happy about it.

So far, for the most part, everyone has been supportive. Just about everyone knows. The two people that don't know are my mother and my dad. I am telling my mom this coming Friday. I am freaked out about telling her and am glad that my sister is coming down to support me on that one. As soon as my mom knows I will let my dad in on it.



Bodily Changes


So far there haven't been much changes. My breast are sensitive as hell and waist has gone up two belt sizes. It isn't obvious to someone who doesn't see me naked everyday that I am pregnant. That should be changing here in the next couple of weeks as the uterus is just now a bit over my pelvic bone. The baby is only about the size of a lemon at this point. Give it two weeks and S/he should be about the size of an avocado. I am constantly online looking at information about the baby. It is so exciting!