Alex and Beth version 4.0

We are thrilled to share with you that we are expecting another addition to our family in mid April. We have known for a few weeks but have been enjoying keeping the secret a little longer than we normally would. But now the kids now so it's out of the bag. We have gotten over the initial shock - and yes it was a shock - and now we are over the moon with happiness. So far things are going really well but we covet your prayers for this littlest one among us and for the rest of us as we prepare for this amazing blessing. Another little baby...*big happy sigh*. Here is a little glimpse into what is happening with our tiny wonder...

How your baby's growing:
Your baby still appears to have a small tail (actually, it's an extension of his tailbone), which will disappear in the next few weeks. But that's the only thing getting smaller. Now almost half an inch long — roughly the size of a raspberry — he has elbow joints and distinct, slightly webbed fingers and toes. In his over sized head, both hemispheres of his brain are developing. His teeth and the inside of his mouth are forming, and his ears continue to develop. Eyelid folds partially cover his tiny peepers, which already have some color, and the tip of that nose you'll be tweaking someday is emerging. His skin is paper-thin and his veins are clearly visible.

Your little one also has an appendix and a pancreas, which will eventually produce the hormone insulin to aid in digestion. His liver is busy producing red blood cells, and a loop of your baby's growing intestines is bulging into his umbilical cord, which now has distinct blood vessels to carry oxygen and nutrients to and from his tiny body. You can't feel his gyrations yet, but your baby is like a little jumping bean, moving in fits and starts around his watery home.