Your baby will probably have his or her first photo taken this month or next, thanks to advanced technology that was unheard of just a generation ago. Routine ultrasounds are hardly routine for parents. Whether your baby mugs for the camera or sleeps through the whole experience, you will be entranced by this view of your baby's world.

Boy or girl? If you want to know, an ultrasound will usually reveal your baby's sex. Counting fingers and toes may be your next instinct. Guided by the technician, you should see four beating chambers in your baby's heart, plus his central nervous system, brain and spinal cord.

Your baby's eyes may appear as nothing more than dark spots on the ultrasound. But a lot is happening behind the scenes. The second trimester marks a period of major growth in the visual cortex, the part of the brain that controls vision. By about 16 weeks, your baby will be sensitive to light. Imagine his amazement at birth, to open his eyes and see a whole new world.