Jareth's Birthday

In honor of Jareth's favorite baseball player, Ken Griffey Jr., who retired in early June, I gave him a Griffey jersey and a signed photo of his rookie year to celebrate his birthday.  We had a fun day of relaxing, hanging out with friends, a delicious dinner, and topped it off with German chocolate cake.

A gift from the Great Grandparents

Minka just received a fun gift from her Great Grandma and Grandpa Zinck!  This is a chair that can be stationary or rock. It has the options for vibrating, music, and toys to play with overhead.  I am very excited about this chair and I hope she loves it.  Thank you Great G & G!!

33 Weeks

• Amniotic fluid is at its highest level during your pregnancy
  
  .
• Your baby's head size has increased 3/8ths of an inch due to rapid brain growth.
• Neurons and synapses are developing in huge numbers -- forming connections in your baby's brain will give him the skills he needs to thrive as a newborn. This week, he may be able to coordinate sucking and swallowing with breathing.
• While most of his bones are hardening, his skull is quite pliable and not completely joined. The bones will be able to move slightly to make birthing easier.
• You baby takes intermittent deep breaths -- of water! That's okay, though since she gets oxygen from the placenta. This breathing exercises muscles and encourages her lung cells to produce more surfactant (a protein essential for healthy lung development).
• If your baby is a boy, his testicles will be descending from his abdomen into his scrotum. Sometimes one or both testicles won't move into position until after birth.
• Your infant
  
  is now 17.2 inches (43.7cm) long and weighs 4.23 pounds (1918gm). 

Source: www.pregnancy.org

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Wishing Jareth the best 23rd birthday ever!!  Love you babe!

Reasons why...

• Surprising me with nachos and popcorn while I am hard at work
• Noticing my uncomfortable stool I work on everyday and going out to pick out a perfect office chair with extra lumbar support and putting it all together for me
• Making delicious eggs-in-a-basket breakfast for me
• Volunteering more backrubs than I can count while I have been pregnant
• Helps me wash Minka's clothes and allows me to fold and organize it all as many times as I want without judging me
• Proudly serves his country in many ways, but currently assisting families honor their fallen soldiers

These and so many more reasons are why I love my husband!

Honors Detail

Jareth has successfullly completed the first part of flight school.  While he waits to get slotted in the next 'chunk' he is given a few jobs to pass the time until he can start academics on July 23rd.  He still needs to report for PT every morning and he is the designated PT leader.  He has also been selected for Honors Detail.  This job is tough but honorable.  For the next few weeks Jareth may be called to funeral duty to help assist in the 21 gun salute, pall bearing, folding the flag and/or presenting the flag. 

He has already been called for one funeral last Wednesday near Huntsville for an active duty soldier.  He was on a seven man team conducting the 21 gun salute.  We will just have to wait and see how many more will come his way.

When I first heard the news he had to work funerals, I immediately thought of how hard it will be for Jareth to watch and be a part of.  At the same time he instantly thought about how he is proud to be a part of helping families honor their families and their soldiers in the way they intend.  This is what I love about my husband and soldier.

Fundamentals of Breastfeeding

Another baby class.  Fundamentals of Breastfeeding was a quick, informative class explaining the benefits of breastfeeding, confronting some myths and discussing the assistance the hospital provides for breastfed babies. 

When confronting this issue, I am choosing to try out breastfeeding and hopefully our baby girl will reap some of the benefits.  Some of the benefits discussed tonight were:

-breastfed babies usually have less allergies, lower severity of allergies and can prevent them from showing up until later in life
-breastfed babies have been shown to have higher IQ's
-skin to skin contact enhances the sense of security and increases bonding
-breastfed babies usually have fewer illnesses and may have shorter episodes when they get sick
-breastmilk is easily digested
-breastfed babies experience fewer ear infections
-breastfed babies have a decereased incidence of SIDS
-breastfeeding may decrease the chance of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and osteoporsis in mom
-breastfeeding can help shed the extra pregnancy pounds
-breastfeeding can help develop a stronger bond with mom and baby
-breastfeeding hormones can also calm and relax mom (lucky for dad!)

Clarification

I must clarify all the pictures posted with the weekly updates are just samples of what the baby may look like.  All images are taken from the pregnancy.org website for examples.

Breathing & Relaxation Techniques

Jareth was able to attend his first baby class with me on Tuesday.  It was breathing and relaxation techniques and we learned a number of ways to breathe during different parts of labor, different techniques to relax, and a handful of other tips we can use during labor and enduring pain.  She also went through different pain management methods the hospital utilizes and we did some practicing of breathing and relaxing with our partners.  I am glad Jareth was there to learn it all with me since I know I will forget it all once Minka decides she wants to join this world!

32 weeks

• Your baby is up to 3.75 pounds (1702gm) now and is 16.7 inches (42.4cm) long.
• You might notice she's not moving around as much now. Don't worry! She is fine -- just running short on room. She still has plenty of growing to do though, believe it or not!
• All five senses are working. Your little one is fascinated and practicing testing these out as much as possible!
• Toenails are completely formed even though she may not be quite ready for a French manicure.
• Hair on your infant's head continues to grow in. Will he have dad's black hair or your red hair?
• Brain scans have shown that babies have periods of dream sleep (REM) starting around the eight month. What do you suppose your son is dreaming about? 

Source: www.pregnancy.org

Update on our little M&M

I had another routine doctor appointment and we got to see Minka squirming around and her heartbeat is at a strong 138.  It is always refreshing to see and hear her and know she is happy just swimming around.  Our doctor was surprised at how clear the images were and how easily we could see each finger, elbow, lips, nose and everything else.  She said we would be good candidates for a 4D ultrasound because the amount of amniotic fluid I have will allow very clear pictures to be taken.

I also got the results back from some blood work done in the last two appointments.   Every expecting mother does a one hour glucose test around 28 weeks to see if they have gestational diabetes and make sure the mother can process sugar efficiently.  I have never been overweight and diabetes does not run in my family so I had no worries for this test, however, it came back abnormal and I was informed I would need to do another, more extensive glucose test.  I went back at 30 weeks to do a three hour glucose test.  I fasted for 12 hours before the test and had to chug 100 grams of sugar when I arrived.  This did not sit well in my empty stomach.  I was nervous for the test, to draw blood four times, and the drink did not help me feel any better.  They took blood samples before I drank the sugar and then every hour for the next three hours to measure how well my body reacts to the sugar content.  It was a long day in the waiting room and Minka was so amped up on sugar I swore she was trying to crawl out through my belly button!

If two or more of the blood samples were to come back elevated I would be diagnosed with gestational diabetes, they informed me a few days after the test that I had passed and there was no need to worry about diabetes.  This calmed me down and at my last appointment I got to see the actual results and all four blood samples were in the green- good to go!  I am so relieved that I do not have to follow any strict diet or perhaps even do insulin shots.  I am also glad that Minka was never effected by anything that gestational diabetes could do to her- she probably enjoyed all the sugar!

So we continue on our journey as a happy baby Minka, healthy mom and very excited dad!

Swing Away

I researched a few baby swings that I thought I would like for Minka.  I wanted something neutral in case we decide to have more kids and I wanted a gently used one as each swing can be anywhere from 60-200 bucks.  I found a killer deal on craigslist for a boppy swing.  I purchased this for only 35 dollars!!  The lady who was getting rid of it was cleaning out a few other things and threw in a mobile for free!  It was a great deal since both items together retailed for $190.00! I hope Minka enjoys it as much I do right now!

Baby Bump -31.5 weeks

Here is an updated belly picture.  As I am getting bigger, these are becoming less fun so there may only be a handful more until she arrives.  Now that she is growing quickly, I have found that I will probably not have a protruding belly button ever.  I guess we will just have to wait and see though!

SERE- completed!

On Sunday I was able to join all the army wives, girlfriends, and children awaiting their missed soldiers while they were at SERE training.  The kids were dressed in red, white, and blue and "Daddy is my Hero" t-shirts.  Welcome homes are always great days.  Jareth completed the entire training and was awarded a coin as seen above and a certificate of completion.  With these, the only other souvenirs he brought back were the memories that will forever embed his mind and a horrible case of chiggers. 

What are Chiggers?
Chiggers are juvenile Harvest Mites. They are tiny — measuring about 1/100th of an inch — six legged, and red. Chiggers are related to ticks, and belong to the arachnid family. In the United States, they are primarily found in the South, Midwest and Southeast during the warm summer months. 

The reason why this mite’s bite is so legendary is that the red, itchy welts they inflict on their unsuspecting prey seems an impossibility for such tiny creatures. For anyone who has suffered a full scale chigger attack, they can attest to the power of its bite. One common myth about the chigger is that they feed on human blood. Actually, the chigger’s diet consists of liquefied human skin cells. Only the juveniles of this particular type of mite feed on humans and animals, and once they have gorged themselves (and survived the attack), they drop to the ground and continue their cycle of life as vegetarians.

 This is just an example picture but don't be fooled- Jareths were very similar from knee to ankle!

source: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-chiggers.htm & http://images.rxlist.com/images/SlideShow/bad_bugs_s17.jpg

Welcome Home

Jareth comes home tomorrow from SERE and I am so excited to pick him up and get him back home!  Every time he has to leave it is hard and a new adjustment in life without Jareth but the homecoming is always such a great day.  I am relieved Jareth went through the whole course without any major issues and he will get a good nights rest tomorrow night in a comfy bed!  Now that he is finished with the course and all the worrying is over, I love the anticipation of the countdown to being able to see him!  Congrats to him for making it through a very grueling and intense training! 

31 weeks

• The rate of physical growth slows down just a bit, but even though she doesn't get much longer, she will gain a lot of weight the rest of the pregnancy.
• Fat continues accumulating. This layer of fat turns her skin from red to the rosy pink she will have as a newborn.
• Calcium, phosphorus and iron are being stored and his bones are growing and hardening.
• Your baby is 16.2 inches (41.1cm) long and weighs 3.3 pounds (1502gm)
• His brain enters another period of rapid growth, producing hundreds of billions of new nerve cells! Amazing!
• She may move to the rhythm of music. Studies with heart rates show that she also prefers some types of music to others -- already!
• Lungs are the only major organ left to complete development. Remember, that while you may be anxious to meet your little one that these last few weeks can be vital - with each day increasing your baby's ability to breathe on her own. 

Source: www.pregnancy.org

Zzzzzz's

Since I have had the house to myself, I haven't done much of anything too exciting.  I went to garage sales on post which was a successful outing.  Nearly every family has children and they know they will be moving again so it is a great time for them to clean out the old toys and clothes and for me to purchase some items at a great price!  I have also finally put up all of Jareths beautiful art, caught up on some cleaning and much needed pool time!  Other than that, it appears we have all gotten our fair share of naps too.

Blog Changes

Well I got to playing with my old template and oops!  I lost it.  This one is just so much easier to work with and hopefully a little easier to read. 

I have also added boxes below the posts so you can let me know if you think the post is cute, fun, or love it!  Anyone can leave comments too- just click on the comments link below the post and it will bring up another page where you can put in anything you want and sign it with your name, anonymous or google account. 

Hope you enjoy reading the blog!  Our due date is getting closer and we are anxiously awaiting her arrival!  Less than 10 weeks left!

30 Weeks

• Did you know your baby is nearly three pounds now?
• His head is getting larger to accommodate a period of rapid brain growth. Don't forget to continue to "teach" your baby in the womb by exposing to music, literature, and simply talking to him.
• A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds him. As he grows and fills your uterus, the amount of amniotic fluid will decrease. Funny, you certainly won't feel any lighter!
• She spends more and more time practicing opening and closing eyelids. Her eyes can move from side to side, following a light source. She may even reach out to touch the light.
• Early lanugo is beginning to disappear that served to protect your baby's skin from the water in the womb. Your little one's own hair may begin to appear.
• Toenails are entering their final growth stage.
• Bone marrow is now in charge of red blood cell production. These red blood cells will continue to service your child's body by transporting oxygen and removing the wastes (carbon monoxide and other gases).
• Your baby has the capability now to produce tears -- yes, within the womb.
• By the end of this week, your baby is now 15.7 inches (39.9cm) long and weighs 2.91 pounds (1319gm). 

Source: www.pregnancy.org

Baby Classes

There really is not a whole lot new going on around here.  Jareth is still at SERE and I have been working.  Other than playing with the dogs, swimming in the pool, and watching chick flicks there is only one other thing on my calendar...baby classes!  I have now completed the Introduction to Childbirth and Parent Preparation class.

The first class provided a plethora of information about the hospital, when I should check in once in labor, where to go, discussion of the LDR (labor, delivery & recovery) rooms, viewing of the nursery and rooms we will be staying in once we deliver.  It was a great class to take first since they answered many questions about pain medication, how labor should go and how the hospital works.  Many of the women are first time moms and many of us have never been admitted to a hospital. 

The second class was given by a Pediatrician and she answered many questions about when to choose a pediatrician and tips on how to find one to match our personalities, what the main things are we should know for right after the baby is born, the tests the hospital will do while we stay there, breastfeeding tips and tricks, what happens to the babies if they need special attention, ways to avoid SIDS, and what types of things we will want while we stay at the hospital with our newborn.

Both classes were very informative and pretty fun.  As most of you know, I am very nervous for an epidural but after going into in depth discussion about how it is done and "playing" with some of the instruments they use while in labor, I feel much better!  I am surprised at how calming the nurses and hospital staff can be.  The labor and nursery floor are painted fun colors and the rooms have a homey feel to them.  I am very pleased with the hospital we chose and can't wait for Jareth to see it too.

Next on the agenda is breathing & relaxation techniques- thankfully Jareth will be back for that one so he can be more prepared for helping me through labor!

Still, all is well with us.  I just had another regular appointment and Minka was kicking all over the ultrasound which was fun to see and her heartbeat is strong.  I can tell she is growing quite a bit now, my belly button is just about flat!!

Minka Kicking 29.5 weeks 6.1.10