Rockwell - Hello Baby!

THIS IS A BORZOI BOOK PUBLISHED BY ALFRED A. KNOPF

Copyright 1999 by Lizzy Rockwell

All rights reserved. Published in the United States by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Childrens Books, a division of Random House LLC, a Penguin Random House Company, New York. Originally published in hardcover in the United States by Alfred A. Knopf, an imprint of Random House Childrens Books, New York, in 1999.

Knopf, Borzoi Books, and the colophon are registered trademarks of Random House LLC.

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The Library of Congress has cataloged the hardcover edition of this work as follows:
Rockwell, Lizzy
Hello baby! / Lizzy Rockwell.
p. cm.
Summary: A young boy describes how a new baby is growing inside his mommy and tells what it is like when his new sister comes home from the hospital.
ISBN 978-0-517-80011-9 (trade) ISBN 978-0-517-80012-6 (lib. bdg.)
ISBN 978-0-517-80074-4 (pbk.) ISBN 978-0-307-79299-0 (ebook)
[I. BabiesFiction. 2. Brothers and sistersFiction.] I. Title.
PZ7.R59486He 1999
98007339 [E]dc21

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v3.1

for Nicholas Harlow Alcorn
April 18, 1989
9 pounds 3 ounces
and
Nigel John Alcorn
May 13, 1992
7 pounds 3 ounces

With special thanks to Melanie Marin, M.D.,
for her expert advice and to the Marsh family, especially Max.
Lizzy Rockwell

I sit very still. I wait, and I waitthen I feel it! Kind of like a swoosh and kind of like a thump, its almost nothing at all. But I know that funny feeling. Its our baby! Hello, baby!

In Mommys body, in a place called the womb, a baby is growing. It floats in a dark, warm sac of water. It hears Mommys heartbeat, voices, and sounds from the world outside.

An umbilical cord brings everything a baby needs to grow. Our baby doesnt use its mouth to eat or breathe, but it practices. It sucks its tiny thumb and fills and empties its lungs with water to make them strong.

In the examining room, Mommy gets measured and weighed. Dr. Marins careful hands show us where our babys head and feet are. We listen to the heartbeat. Pah-pum, pah-pum, pah-pum. Its loud and steady and faster than mine.

On a chart, we see how a baby grows. At first its so small you cant see it without a microscope.

(Left) A tiny egg cell from the mother is fertilized by a tiny sperm cell from the father.

(Right) After a day, the fertilized cell splits in half, forming two cells.

(Left) These two cells each splitnow there are four cells.

(Right) After a few days, a cluster of cells has formed.

In about a week, this cluster of cells attaches to the side of the mothers womb.

(Left) 8 weeks: Cells have begun to take a human form. Head, eyes, and spine can be seen. Arms and legs are tiny bumps.

(Right) 12 weeks: All body parts are now formed, including toes, fingers, and eyelids.

(Left) 16 weeks: Fetus begins to exercise lungs. Can hear and grasp. Eyes are shut.

(Right) 24 weeks: Fat begins to form under the skin. With room to move, fetus is very active.