Goodbye Bodie

We found a good home for Bodacious recently.  He will have a black pug to play with and a sassy 3 year old girl to tell him how it is.  The husband has wanted a bulldog for 7 years so he was very excited to find Bodacious.  We will miss having him around but it is great that we found a home that will love him!

Appointment Update

We are now almost 38 weeks and had another appointment on Wednesday to check for any progress towards labor.  No signs yet.

Minka has decided to test her squirming skills inside the increasingly small space in which she has called home.  Within the last week she has decided to flip over.  For the majority of the pregnancy she has been curled up with her head down and legs kicking my ribs on the right side.  Now, she is still presenting head down but has flipped to have her legs kicking my left ribs.  I am not sure how she pulled off those acrobatics but we are happy she is still moving well and head down.  Maybe this is a sign she is getting as anxious as I am to make her debut!

Nickel Ride

Jareth is experiencing an exciting part of his training.  On Monday he got to fly a helicopter for the first time ever.

This experience for all flight students is called their Nickel Ride.  When Vietnam pilots came back from war, they were unable to find jobs and started giving civilians helicopter rides for a nickel, thus the term Nickel Ride. 

Jareth was instructed to bring a nickel from the year he was born for his instructor in exchange for his expertise and assistance with his first attempt at flying.  After 4 rolls of nickels and 20 minutes getting to know the ladies working at the bank, we had his nickel.

After a sleepless night Jareth went to the flight line with no idea on what to expect.  When it was Jareths turn he had time to try to hover and then fly around learning each of the controls, gaining some time to familiarize where all the gauges were, and try to handle watching all directions while answering questions and tackling small obstacles along the way.

Hovering is more difficult than actual flying but after about 8 hours they say almost everyone will find the right touch and will be able to hover well. To learn, the instructor starts them off and then hands over controls.  First, the pedals (side to side movement) Secondly, the collective (up and down) Lastly, the cyclic (forward and backward) and the student must try to stay in the exact same spot accomplishing a successful hover.

Here is a link to watch a student try to hover for the first time.  As I hear it, this is a very similar experience for all first attempts at hovering. 

Baby Shower

On Saturday Jareth's mom threw us a Baby Shower.  Jareth's side of the family all mailed gifts throughout the week and I opened them up over Skype so we could all be together.  It was a lot of fun and we got so many cute and useful gifts!  I have also gotten other gifts from my Aunt Julie and Deb from my sisters baby shower.  Minka is so loved already and we are very grateful for all the love and support from our families and friends!!

Decorations!

Rice Krispie baby rattles and a baby carriage fruit bowl! (Yes these were made just for Jareth and I)

Boxes I have been waiting to open!

All of our wonderful gifts!

Baby Guessing Game

Jareth and I are copying my sisters game of guessing when Baby Minka will make her debut.  Anyone can participate- the more guessers, the more fun!  Visit the site below to begin playing!

Changing Table

Thanks to all of our friends who pitched in to get us this awesome changing table!  We love it and I am sure it will get a lot of use!!  You are the best!

37 weeks

• This week, the average size is about 6.3 pounds (2859gm) now and 19.1 inches (48.6cm) length.
• She is official full term now but can still benefit from extra days in the womb.
• Your baby continues to practice breathing movements. Isn't it amazing how she can breathe "under water?"
• Grasp is firm now. It won't be long until you'll feel that strong little fist confidently grasping your finger (or tightly clenching your hair)!
• A few weeks ago, your baby would move her eyes toward light. Now she turns towards light outside the uterus.
• As the uterine wall stretches and thins allowing more light to permeate, he develops definite daily activity cycles. You will want to be sure to establish good patterns yourself at this time, thus encouraging them in your child. Ever heard of a baby getting his days/nights mixed up? Now's the time to try to avoid that!

Appointment

Yesterday Jareth and I went to our first of the last routine baby appointments.  Every week we will be seen now and our doctor will be checking for signs of progression toward labor.  Yesterday we got to see Minka and hear her strong heartbeat, all looked and sounded well.  Minka must be pretty comfy in there since we have not made any big strides towards delivering her.  I guess we will not be greeting her anytime soon!

Just the two of us

As we get closer to our due date, August 14th, we are becoming very aware that our lives will be forever changed.  We have spent the last few weekends really enjoying the last days of just the two of us.  Jareth took me out for a delicious dinner, we have gone to a few movies in the theater, been shopping, swimming as much as we can, and we've been bowling.  It has been fun preparing to be parents and enjoying some time as just the two of us lately!

Daddy's Shoulder

A quick story:

On the weekends we have started a routine where right before bed Jareth will read from our baby book to let us all know what to expect for the next week or two.  This has been fun for Jareth as Minka is usually squirming around and he can bond with her little arms and legs flailing away.  I am also excited that Minka gets to hear Jareths voice more so hopefully she will recognize it as well as mine when she is born. 

Last night Minka was pretty quiet when we laid down.  Jareth started reading and all of a sudden out comes an arm or a leg- farther than ever before- to rest right on Jareths shoulder.  She tucked it back in after a little tickle and then did it twice more as if she were saying "Hi Dad! Look at me!!"  When Jareth was done reading, she went back to being quiet so we could all get a good nights rest.

36 weeks

• Your baby is almost ready and most likely, so are you! The only organ still to mature is the lungs. While certainly you are both growing anxious to meet, remember that each day (up to 42 weeks), that your little one stays within your womb will multiply his chances to breathe on his own.
• If he hasn't already, this week your baby may drop into the birth canal. While breathing for mom becomes easier, walking may be the exact opposite! If he's not your first baby, this "lightening" may not occur until right before labor.
• Fat is dimpling your baby's elbows and knees, and forming creases in the neck and wrists.
• His skin is growing smooth and, shall we say it, "baby" soft.
• His gums are very rigid. It won't be many months before you'll see his teeth.
• She has a fully developed pair of kidneys and her liver has begun processing some waste products.
• Your child's average size is now 18.66 inches (47.4cm) and 5.78 pounds (2622 g). Between now and birth she will gain about an ounce a day!

Saying Good bye

In an effort to prepare for our baby and transition our lives into parenthood we have had to make a hard decision.  Jareth and I both envision attempting to give Minka the most opportunities we can.  We want to take her to the beach and have fun spontaneous weekends with her. 

We have decided, to enable and encourage those camping trips and long family visits, to give up our dogs.  So far we have a few interested families in Bodacious but nothing finalized. 

Ludo is another story.  We found him a great family already and we gave him away on Monday evening.  I am sad to see him go as he loved to cuddle with me and he definitely was a Mommas Boy but I know he made a couple little girls really happy and he will be very loved.  He went to a family here in Enterprise that live on a large piece of land with two little girls and a chihuahua.   We will miss you Ludo and all the high fives, dances, and shakes you always loved to give us!

Baby Bump 35 weeks

Here we are at 35 weeks and counting!  We are making some progress towards gearing up for delivery.  Minka dropped a few days ago and we are just waiting for our next appointment to see what position she is in.  At the next appointment, July 21st, we will be almost full term and we will find out if any other progress has been made towards meeting our little girl!

We are just finishing up some details such as finding a pediatrician, rearranging some furniture, making sure we have enough essentials on hand for her arrival and learning how to install a carseat!

35 weeks

• The average baby weighs almost five and a half pounds now.
• Most babies born now will survive and without many long-term problems.
• Fat accumulations plumps up the arms and legs this week. These layers of fat will help him regulate his body temperature. They also provide those cute little dimples on elbows and knees!
• Her hearing is fully developed, so be sure to talk to your daughter. Do you find yourself speaking in a high-pitched tone? That's okay since some studies show babies respond better to higher pitches.
• It's getting crowded! Your baby is now taking up most of the uterus and you may even feel like your chest has run out of room! Soon enough though, baby will move down and you'll be able to breathe easily again (just not walk so easily! Ha!).
• Your baby is 18.2 inches (46.2cm) long and weighs 5.3 pounds (2383gm).
• The testes have completed their descent in males.

Update

Well there has not been much to blog about lately.

I have just been working and trying to solidify some plans post baby.  I may be able to come back to work for Cargill so I have been working on researching day care options and how this will impact Jareth and I.

Jareth has had his academic dates moved up to this Friday, July 9th so he has been studying and preparing for that while maintaining his other duties.  Yesterday he had an especially tough task.  He was on his third funeral and as the team leader he was in charge of presenting the flag to the next of kin.  I know this is the hardest task to manage at the funeral and I am proud of him to be able to uphold even the less exciting jobs the army provides him with. He could be an invaluable part of this fallen soldiers life.

Our pool has been used quite a bit lately as the temperatures are in the 90's every day and we now know what is required of us to maintain the pool.

The garden is now spitting up bell peppers and cayenne peppers and the rest seem to be growing strong!

We have missed the last two baby classes one for Jareth being on funeral detail and one for my forgetfulness...oops.

I continue to grow and Minka looks cuter on every ultrasound!  Our next baby appointment is scheduled for July 21st, we will be nearly full term!

That is about it!

Independence Day

Jareth and I got to hang out with a bunch of friends to celebrate Independence Day.  Fort Rucker hosts the fireworks for the surrounding area so there were a lot of people on post to enjoy kids games, vendors, music, helicopter viewings and fireworks.  It was the most beautiful day since we have been in Alabama.  There was a very rare slight breeze and the rain stayed away.  Once the temperature dropped into the 80's I put a blanket on my legs- I can't say I have ever done that before!

Jareth will start flying the basic model of helicopters very shortly.  It is a TH-67 model as seen in the picture below.

Stella Caroline

Jareth and I became an Aunt and Uncle again on July 2nd.  My sister had her baby girl, Stella Caroline, at 3:28 am.  She was 6 lbs 10 oz and was 19.5 inches.

For more updates and pictures of Stella, check out Jackies blog by clicking here.

34 weeks

(All of the 4D photos are taken from the pregnancy.org website, these are not actual pictures of Minka)

• Your baby
  
  
  acts completely like a newborn, with her eyes opened when awake and closed when sleeping. You may also find her settling into more of a routine for sleeping & awake times.
• She has learned to blink. She can also see more clearly when there is a bright light on your stomach and probably has the outline of all your organs memorized!
• Antibodies from your blood are being transferred to him. These immunities continue to build until birth. Then breast milk will add even more protection against disease.
• Your baby may have already turned to a head-down position in preparation for birth. If he is your first baby, he may be settling into the pelvis with his head pressing against your cervix.
• Fingernails have reached the end of the fingertips now. She may scratch her face even before she is born!
• Your little one's length is 17.7 inches (45cm) and weight is 4.7 pounds (2146 g).

Baby Bump 34 weeks

These days I am decked out in maternity clothes from head to toe and I have never been so comfy in clothes that are "huge".

Update: Garden

The garden has had a learning curve but it has been more successful than I was expecting!  We have had many jalapeno peppers, a few banana peppers, a couple tomatoes & cucumbers!  We used most of the jalapeno peppers for pico de gallo and jalapeno poppers so far.  I am excited to be able to pick fresh vegetables from our yard!