Gyeongbokgung palace in Seoul

South Korea although  mainly known for the armistice with North Korea post war in the 1950's was actually ruled by Japan for some hundred of years. Japanese culture had a heavy influence on the county.  This can be seen the the many palaces through the country which are so ornately painted and decorated with golden dragons. Gyeonbokgung palace is one of the larger and more spectacular of those palaces to visit. Not only because it is centrally located in the countries capital and bustling metro-center, but also because the grounds of the palace are expansive and make for at least a half day of sightseeing. Outside the main gates you should stick around to catch a changing of the guard, which i'll be honest, is much more exchanging and lively than the change at Buckingham palace.

There are scenic lakes that provide a beautiful backdrop for family photos.  Several cafes are also inside the palace gates to grab a traditional meal. It is a lot of walking so you can work off those calories. Most of Korea is a lot of walking and Koreans answer by being avid exercisers.

If you're going to be in Seoul to see the palace there are so many things to do, a trip to the Coex aquarium perhaps,  or a hike up Seoul tower.  If you're visiting in April you have to see the Cherry blossoms and enjoy the festival foods.

COEX plaza Aquarium

I love Aquariums.  I can't say this enough, I have been to an inordinate amount of aquariums on different continents, in every state we've lived, and many many times I'll frequent the one nearest our home. I think it's something about the water and the sea life that reminds me of home.  Growing up on Floridas west coast I spent much time at the beach, wether it be with my mom playing in the ocean and getting a tan or with my dad and uncle fishing.

For a long time nothing could top the aquarium in Maui.  Thomas and I had vacationed to the remote Hawaiian island mid-tour deployment May 2011.  We stayed in a beautiful five star resort on the water and barely left the hotel.  We did however, make a trip for me to see the aquarium. It was full of pacific native fish, urchins, octopus, and sea urchins.  It resides right on the coast so you can even take a boat tour out to look for chance encounters with dolphins. 

The aquarium is plenty for a half days exploring with sharks, rays, turtles, and colorful tropical fish. 

"Named “Top 10 Aquariums in the World” by TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards, Maui Ocean Center is the premier destination to encounter and learn about Hawaii’s marine life. Home to one of the world’s largest displays of live Pacific corals, the Aquarium exhibits only marine life found in Hawaiian waters including tropical fish, sea turtles, sharks, stingrays, octopuses, sea jellies, and more. The Aquarium highlights the beauty of Hawaii’s undersea world while perpetuating the deep connection between the Hawaiian people and the sea. The Aquarium’s mission is to foster understanding, wonder, and respect for Hawaii’s marine life."  https://mauioceancenter.com

Hyeonchungsa Shrine

Hyeonchungsa Shrine, say that three times fast, is also a short drive from Camp Humphreys.  It was on of the places Jaxon and I visited many times.  It is expansive and lush with bright green grass so kids can run freely without bumping into other patrons.  There are multiple destination "sights" to see including the high stairs leading up to the shrine itself.

There is an archery range to try your luck at the ancient Soldiers weapon of choice on certain days and times. An instructor is present to make are you don't accidentally shoot your battle buddy, or someone else's. The "smaller representation" of a turtle ship is pretty cool.  It is so named for the hard shell covering the deck to protect Soldiers from arrows, and prevent being boarded. It is a lot of steps walking this great place, and a lot of stairs if you choose.  Since its pretty hilly and vast its more of a day trip.



http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=264127

Korean folk village-Asan

I like the Korean folk village better than Gyeonbokgung palace because of its closer proximity to Camp Humphreys. After I got the hang of navigating in Korea and felt more comfortable driving Jaxon and I drove everywhere. We visited the folk village often.  I could rave about the Octopus pizza, many soups for which I have no name, and the just plain good traditional food you can get in the village. It is sort of a blend of modern and ancient civilizations with old hut style houses and the owners newer modern cars parked out front. At different times the women can be seen wearing a traditional Hanbok, while the men might be demonstrating weapons skills. If you aren't chasing or toting toddlers around, grab a bottle of Soju and test out your Korean.

 http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_1_1_1.jsp?cid=264121

Moby (wrap), ergo infant (carrier), Kinderpack Toddler soft structured carrier (SSC)

I didn't have a wrap or career for the first six weeks or so of my sons life, and so I didn't really leave my house.  More accurately I didn't leave the nursing chair in the living room because my tiny six pound human was in my arms nearly all times.  Having family and friends visit was wonderful because they all had open arms for the baby boy that joined our family. After the visitors I was on my own to figure out how to cook, clean, care for the dogs, exercise, and exist with a tiny helpless human depending on me. It was at that six weeks that a friend came to visit. Ligaya had three kids at the time and was a total pro.  She realized pretty instantly that I was going stir crazy with the baby in my arms all day.  She gifted me a Moby wrap, which is essentially a long fabric piece that you wrap in a figure eight around your body and tie around your waist creating two equal pockets in the front.  These pockets are the perfect size for little babies lacking head control. I regifted that wrap and hope it has carried a dozen more babies since. 

My ergo infant carrier was the next step as Jaxon began holding his head up.  A soft-structured carrier it offered more support both for him and for my back.  They are so simple to put on its like throwing your parachute on when you're about to jump and with that you relax your baby right to sleep. "hopefully". Jaxon loved carriers! He would instantly be calmed and would shortly after fall asleep. 

When he was about two years old he was mostly uninterested in being carried, and quite heavy at that, but there were definitely times my Toddler carrier came in handy.  For airport travel it was always a necessity, and even Thomas got into baby wearing.  His larger frame was much more easily able to carry Jaxons 25+ pounds. Any sightseeing we did where we didn't want to move at a snails pace the carrier also kept Jaxon going with the flow. 

Nursing covers weighted, loop, heavy duty review

Most women choose to use a nursing cover.  Breastfeeding is very intimate, but at the same time you may need to feed your baby at the grocery store, the mall, the doctor and if you prefer to to cover there are tons of options for you out there.

Nursing covers typically wrap around your neck and create a tent. You can get ones that are weighted, and that really helps it from flying up and exposing you. You will want a really light weight one for hot summer months and a heavy duty one for cover months. You can just throw the babies blanket over your shoulder and forgo the nursing cover all together.

You can choose to use NO COVER AT ALL.  Your boobs were made for nursing, and that is a beautiful thing. They may be portrayed as objects of sexual desire, but they are what you want them to be.

Nursing

See if theres a lactation consultant that you can meet with before the baby is born to prepare yourself, and then coordinate with her to come see you in the hospital to work on your latch and good nursing.

Hospitals have lactation nurses that they'll send around to your room to help you and the baby. It's kind of weird to have someone handle your breasts, but if they are as good as my lactation consultant they'll get that baby on a good latch and nursing right away. Despite how awesome it feels to provide your baby with the sustenance to live there are some very real complications.  Nursing is painful, wether you and the baby get it from "the golden hour" or if you have issues getting a latch or producing enough colostrum/milk. You need lanolin, and ice packs, and Tylenol because you will almost definitely get cracked sore nipples.  If you aren't producing enough milk there are herbs and teas, lactation cookies and even dark beer recommended to up production.  Some women have to consider bottle feeding to supplement, and you shouldn't feel guilty about that. Some women choose not to nurse for personal reasons and thank God we live in a time where there are lots of options to nourish your baby if you choose not to nurse.

Nursing Jaxon was the most natural wonderful part of motherhood for me. We've spent hours staring into each others eyes as I fed him. The connection as so powerful for both of us we didn't stop nursing until he turned three, and it was really hard to give it up even though we were down to nap and bedtime nursing. I thank God he didn't get his first tooth until 13 months and they were slow coming, because I hardly ever got bit. The first time it happened I screamed and he thought that was so funny he tried it a few more times to get the same reaction:)

So be prepared, but be flexible!

Boppy & My Brest friend

Get a nursing pillow!

Boppy is ok, and I started with a Boppy because I didn't know any better and put it on my registry. It is overstuffed though and he would always slide too close or too far away from me.

My lactation consultant (a free service through Tricare/Insurance or ACS) brought me a my breast friend for free. It is flat and wrap around your waist with a velcro. You can literally walk around hands free when you're baby is little, but I'm sure they wouldn't recommend it, lol.  Just check it out and you will see the major difference in design. Call around/ask around and see if you can get one for free.

Disposable Diapers & Potty Training

Coupons r a must!!!!
NB pampers-worked great up to 10lbs, especially for chicken legs. (The hospital gave them to us because we brought size 1)
Huggies sz 1 little snugglers-fit his frame (very skinny) after he reached 10lbs and got snug at 14lbs so we switched to cloth (see cloth diapers).
Luvs sz 2 & 3 work just as well as the more expensive brands and are a good deal cheaper.
*Huggies snug and dry smell gross when they get wet, and gave jaxon bumps from the chemicals.

I tried to potty train Jaxon at 18months. I thought he was ready because he pooped on the potty for about a week. He was still peeing his pants, but it was short lived and premature.

I tried again when he was two years old, maybe a little past, and he just refused to go on the potty.  Again I was trying to make him do it when I was ready, but he was not.

Finally we stopped using diapers when Jaxon turned three-years-old. I wanted to enroll him in preschool and they required that he be potty trained. So I did lots of research and asked other moms including my own. I decided on the three-day potty training method. I let him run around naked for three days; we didn't leave the house. I put a jar of peanut M&Ms in the bathroom and for a kid who didn't get hardly any refined processed sugars this was a huge motivator in getting him to go in the potty. When he would eliminate I would do a potty dance and give praise.  When he didn't I would just clean it up and not punish or chastise him.

I took the recommendations of my mom and chose to get up at night to put him on the potty instead of letting him sleep in diapers. I thought it would be confusing to use let him go in diapers sometimes and not all the time. So at first I set an alarm for 2x a night and got him up and on the potty, then 1x per night for a whole year now.  I don't use an alarm anymore, and he doesn't always get put on the potty. In fact for a month now I don't put him on the potty unless I know he drank a lot of fluids close to bedtime. One year and one month after potty training him he wets the bed maybe 2/7 days a week and doesn't get put on the potty during the night anymore.

Baby Clothes

NB/0-3 months clothes *your ideas about cute over comfort and accessibility need to go out the window. Get the white onesies with footies and sewn on hand mittens! You can spot treat and baking soda/vinegar whiten them very easily.

Wipes

I didn't noticed much of a difference between pampers and huggies. I also didn't care which of the 3-5 variations each brand offered. I just went for sale +/or coupon.
The simply right brand sold by Sams club had no durability, unfortunately I bought a 700 pack since it was less per wipe and I didn't know any better. I'd have returned them if our membership to Sams didn't expire b4 I opened them.

If you're going to cloth diaper you should go ahead and use cloth wipes.  They actually work the best for cleaning up a mess, and you can rinse them and just sanitize them in the washer with your cloth diapers. Plus its eco-friendly and ver low cost.

Crib Bedding sets

You shouldn't use a quilt & bumper in the crib with baby so these and the more cost effective bed in a bag are pretty useless! You're better off buying cute sheets and a breathable mesh bumper separately.

Co sleeping vs bassinet

Real life sinks in about 3-5 dys after your baby is home. In the hospital your NB might sleep blissfully in the bassinet, your arms, or the arms of loved ones.  Eventually the loved ones leave and through the night if your breastfeeding there isn't really anything that can help you if you have a baby that won't sleep in the bassinet or crib and are intent you won't co-sleep because of the warnings about SIDS.

If your baby sleeps in a bassinet right away, or you crib train early good for you. I would put the baby in that thing everyday for the first week home and he would wakeup 15mins later no matter how tired we both were. I beat myself up every time I fell asleep nursing next to him until one day I threw my hands up and let him sleep next to me.  He started sleeping for  3-4 hrs at a time, and it just got better fro there. By the time he was two months old he slept though the night next to me.

When he was six months old we began the process of sleep training him in his crib.  It was hard to let him cry, and at first he cried for a long time.  Day-by-day he cried less and less until eventually he'd fall asleep peacefully in his crib after 5 mins or less of protest.

Jaxons 4 years old now and we've gone back and forth over the years co-sleeping on vacations, or nights that he's sick. For the longest time we've let him fall asleep in bed with us and moved him to his own bed, because he kicks and elbows in his sleep, but were trying to read to him in his own bed so he just stays put and we can turn in.

Napping

Napping with a new baby. This is one of those things I kept being told to do from delivery on, but for weeks I didn't nap. I would hold him and watch a show, make phone calls, or try to lay him down and cook/clean/etc. I got frustrated with my husband and broke down resentfully telling him "I just can't get any of the things done I need to". Well two wonderful things happened, first he told me the ONLY thing I needed to do was care for our son. If the house needed cleaning or we needed meals I needed to let him do it and focus my attention on Jaxon.  I learned to listen to my body and nap when I was tired. Then a friend gave me a Moby wrap and my son embraced it; now at 5.5 months I've been using it for our travel from FL to S. Korea and I'm getting 3-4 hr naps out of this kid on the airplane and layovers still. Starting at about 4-6 weeks when paternity leave ended, family & friends visits slowed down, and life as a family of three with me as the primary care taker got into a rhythm. With Jaxon wrapped to me I was able to cook (nice meals), clean (majorly), and even do crafts and DIY projects. I started going out to play dates and bible study and the prospect of toting an infant around wasn't so scary because he would sleep wrapped to me for 3hrs at a time.  I even learned how to nurse him in a carrier so I dint really need a cover unless I wanted more privacy.  Update: Jaxon turned four two weeks ago and he still naps 3 hours a few times a week. He only falls asleep in the car, but I'm almost always able to transfer him into bed. I don't usually nap during this time, but I watch a show or surf the internet and take some me time. I don't clean or cook, because I need time to refresh to be my best for when he wakes up full of energy.

WARNING if your a first time expectant mom or thinking of getting pregnant; I didnt hold anything back.

My birth story

Tuesday, November 12 at 1530 in the afternoon I felt the baby shift down low into my pelvis at that time I started having a lot of back pain, and by 1730 I was having contractions down in my back and then over the top of my uterus and through my pelvis. The pain was pretty severe so I called Thomas and left a voicemail asking him to come home as soon as possible. Thomas got home at 1830 and I was having severe contractions 20 minutes apart he stayed up with me until 2030 timing them and helping me to breath through. At 2300 I called my mom because the contractions were five minutes apart lasting upwards of 60 seconds for over an hour she stayed on face time with me and watched me have contractions. At midnight she told me to wake Thomas up and go to the hospital. So we packed our bags and left at about 0100. We arrived at the hospital at 1:30 AM. I was in-processed and taken to evaluation where I was told that I was 3 cm dilated and 100% effaced. We met the OB/GYN and were admitted back into the delivery ward.  Within an hour of being in our room I wanted to get in the labor tub. The nurse told me I wouldn't be able to since the doctor ordered constant fetal monitoring but I wasn't accepting no for an answer. I got frustrated waiting for the waterproof equipment to be set up since they had to locate it and then figure out how to use it so after about 2 1/2 hours of waiting I just went and got in the tub. I laid in the tub for an hour and a half being monitored and this really helped me push through the contractions. I got back in bed and waited for the doctor to check my cervix again for an hour and a half. When he checked me at 0615 I was only 5 cm dilated so to help things progress more quickly the doctor broke my water. This really sped things up for me, but it tripled the intensity and the pain of the contractions and I dilated to 7 cm in 90 minutes. The pain of the contractions was so unbearable I started hyperventilating and getting dizzy I was having a hard time controlling my breathing and thrashing my head around. I was unable to focus on Thomas anymore so after debating for another hour I finally asked the nurse for an epidural. She set me up with a saline bag, it took about 20 minutes to drain then she got the anesthesiologist who placed the epidural within five minutes and I started feeling relief from the contractions within 15. This was sometime in the morning around 0800.  I labored with the epidural from 0800 to 1200, and was able to really focus on my breathing and even get a little sleep. Hard labor started around noon; the pain from the pressure of the baby going through the birth canal became very severe so the doctor came and checked my cervix. He said I was 10 cm dilated but not yet ready to deliver.  I pushed the baby out and from noon until 1330 I continued to push with Thomas holding my feet and guiding me as I breathed through the contractions. The epidural did not numb the pressure of pushing him out, but exhaustion was my real enemy after nearly 20 hours of labor. At 1330 the OB/GYN came in and told me that the baby had been in the birth canal too long and we needed to get him out, he suggested that we do the vacuum suction to assist since the babie's head was unable to get past my pelvis bone. Six contractions with vacuum suction and I was able to push the baby out at 1345 on 11/13/13. I endured a second degree tear to the internal muscles and the outer perineum which the doctor began stitching up. Thomas cut the umbilical cord. Immediately after his birth Jaxon was placed on my chest where he stayed for the better part of two hours. He took to the breast very well and ate a healthy first meal within "the golden hour". His father held him and then he was given to the nurse to get his stats 6 lbs. 10 oz. 19 1/2 inches and a nine out of nine on the Apgar.