Before the Birth

Call me crazy but the reality that Christmas is coming and the greatest gift ever given will be celebrated on December 25th, here is a little glimpse of the leading up to the birth of Jesus Christ.

Mary responded, "Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.  How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!  For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed.  For the Mighty One is Holy, and he has done great things for me.  He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him.  His mighty arm has done tremendous things!  He has scattered the proud and haughty ones.  He has brought down princes from their thrones and exalted the humble.  He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands.  He has helped his servant Israel and remembered to be merciful.  For he made his promise to our ancestors, to Abraham and his children forever."

Luke 1:46-55

I am going by the date we celebrate Jesus's birth.  I know that there is controversy about the actual date and even month of Jesus birth, but I am aligning my dates with when we actually celebrate to help give a timeline.

Mary has just started her third trimester.

Week Twenty Nine: Movement is more forceful
 
You are 29 weeks pregnant. (fetal age 27 weeks)
Your baby now weighs about 2 and a half pounds (1150gm)
and is about 15 inches (38.5cm) long from head to heel.
Brain is busy developing billions of neurons.
Baby's muscles and lungs are continuing to mature.
The fetus can taste and respond to pain.
The milk teeth have developed under the gums.
The baby's head is growing bigger to accommodate the brain, which is busy developing billions of neurons. The eyes can move in their sockets. They may be able to follow a blinking light. As well as your baby's increasing sensitivity to changes in light, they may also be able to taste. Various studies show that your baby may indicate preferences or dislike for particular tastes at this stage.

Baby is also moving from side to side, but probably still is head up. In the next few weeks, they will move to the head down birthing position. At times you may feel as if baby is performing somersaults for an olympic gold medal. Baby may be performing fewer movements because living conditions in the womb are becoming more cramped. The baby is still doing a lot of kicking and stretching. Some of your baby's kicks and punches may even take your breath away.

Baby hears things better from the vibrations all around, and can now distinguish real sounds and voices. Do not forget to continue to 'teach' your baby in the womb by exposing them to music, literature, and simply talking to them. At this stage baby eyes are almost always blue and can distinguish bright sunlight or artificial light through the uterine wall.

At week twenty nine, your baby measures about 11 inches (28 cm) from crown to rump, or a total length of about 15 inches (38cm) from head to heel, and weighs about 2.5 pounds (1150gm).

Info taken from: http://www.baby2see.com/development/week29.html