18 weeks

The baby is now around 5 1/2 inches long, the size of a baked potato. Blood vessels are visible through the skin and its ears are in their final place. The baby can also now hear through the amniotic fluid, although it is still extremely muffled. If the baby is a girl, the uterus and fallopian tubes are all developed. If it is a boy, his genitals are now there for the viewing.

Our biggest charge right now, as we're almost half way, is to find a pediatrician. We have to be accepted into a practice before giving birth, and just to be safe we'd like to have one by month seven. We've been asking around for suggestions of doctors who are attachment parenting friendly, but their practices are generally filled up. We're keeping our fingers crossed about a pediatrician/homeopath in Danvers.

We want to find someone who approves of co-sleeping, or if we have a son isn't going to try to retract his foreskin, and we don't want a doctor who is ever going to say to us, "Are you still breastfeeding?"

We've also signed up for Hypnobirthing/ natural childbirth classes from August to September, about which we're very excited. And, for your viewing pleasure, pictures of Mabel and Maxwell (Mabel is the black and white 2 yr. old, Maxwell is the black 1 yr. old.) trying out the newest baby gear.