According to various sources, the third trimester either begins this week or next week. Monkey and Zoo Keeper don't particularly care which, but we seem to be entering the home stretch either way. This week Monkey's brain continues to work on hearing and taste. Right now he has more taste buds than he'll ever have again, and about 2 hours after Zoo Keeper eats he can taste the difference in his amniotic fluid. His heartbeat is very strong and occasionally can be heard through the naked ear on the belly. His lungs are nearly at maturation, and his chances of making it on the outside are very good right now - not that he needs to be in any hurry. He is practicing his breathing (which sometimes leads to hiccups), might be sucking his fingers, and is settling into periods of waking and sleeping like a newborn. At more than 2 pounds and 14.5 inches long, he has doubled his weight in the past month.
On a more serious note, Zoo Keeper belongs to a pregnancy message board for babies due in July. In the past few weeks two of the babies have been born: one survived and has a great prognosis, and the other was too early to have a chance. Please keep those families in your prayers and ask for continued success for baby Aybra (born at 26.5 weeks - same due date as Monkey) and healing for the family of baby Owen (born at 22.5 weeks, lived 12 minutes).
We are reminded once again how very, very grateful we are that Monkey and Zoo Keeper are both healthy and growing.
