Flying with an infant under 12 months

So we just booked a trip to fly to San Diego from Minneapolis with three adults and my daughter who will be just under 12 months at the time.  The flight is 3 hours and 45 minutes.  I’m very nervous about flying with her as I don’t want her crying the whole trip and disturbing everyone on the flight… Any advice as to what to take, what to know what to plan for?  My husband has already asked the question about what we do if we need to change her diaper… but any advice I would greatly appreciate!

Hyundai Car dealerships-Like Car not the dealer

So after much searching around several years ago to determine what brand new car I wanted to buy I bought a 2002 Hyundai Sonata.  I have like the car allot.  It had all the features at the time I was looking for and it was a reasonable price.  I have to say though I have decided I will never buy another Hyundai again.  The reason behind it is not due to the car again its due to the service centers.  After buying my car and moving I realized there are not alot of Hyundai service areas around.  Mind you I can get the oil changes and what not done whereever but whenever I needed something fixed by a the dealer it was a pain trying to get my car there.  Every service center I have taken it too has treated me because I’m a woman like I don’t know anything.  They have also had horrible service hours which are most car dealerships not just hyundai and that is more because we have to drive 45 mintues to get to the dealer.

The final straw though came on Saturday, we scheduled an appointment online to deal with a recall situation on my car.  We had tried the phone but always got put on hold forever.  In our online scheduling we asked how long the service would take.  My husband was told the oil change would take 40 minutes and the recall would take a couple of hours to a few days.  Mind you they got back to him about this the night before we were scheduled to take it in and at that point we had already waited several weeks to be able to get in.

My husband took my car in an they told him as he dropped it off there was no way it would be done until at least Monday.  Why they didn’t tell us that right away I don’t know.  So my husband asked if they had a loaner or even a rental vehicle.  They said that we had to schedule that out 3 weeks in advance.  They offered to let us reschedule but that would have meant waiting several weeks again.  Since this wasn’t the first bad experience but like the 5 or 6th I have to say even though I’m thinking of looking for a new car it won’t be a Hyundai!!!

Baby Clothes Sizes

We had a baby in August that was 6 pounds 13 ounces and had bought a variety of clothes for her.  Some we bought in newborn size, some in 0-3 months.  Newborn sizes state they fit babies 5-8 pounds and 0-3 month fit 8-12 pounds.  Some of the newborn outfits fit perfectly on her and some she drowned in.  I don’t understand how they can be so different but I suppose its like adult clothes.  She is now 6 weeks old and almost 9 pounds.  She fits in most newborn clothes now (a few are still too big) but definitely doesn’t fit into 0-3 month clothes.

I never know what size to buy her and its not like you are going to take her into a dressing room and try clothes on her.  I’m lucky to get into a store and out without her screaming.  The other thing I have noticed is that certain brands run bigger then others but yet I can’t even rely on that as certain outfits in a brand will fit and others won’t.  Its just amazing the differences.

Pregnancy and old broken ankle equal very swollen ankle

So I broke my ankle now about four years ago and chose to left the metal in as my doctor stated that it would make it stronger.  I don’t regret that as I haven’t had any issues with it.  Every summer though my ankle swells a bit and I wonder if it has something to do with the metal (foreign objects) in my ankle.  This year on top of it being summer I’m pregnant, nine months as of now and for the past several weeks (since about July) my ankle that I broke several years ago gets so swollen I wish I could stick a pin in it to let the liquid/air out of it:).  I now wear compression socks at night to try and keep it down during the day.  My doctor says that its normal as my other ankle somewhat swells up also.  Its just part of the fun of pregnancy in combination with old injuries I guess but let me tell you I don’t care for my cankle look too much!

Breech Baby-How does one get it to turn?

So I’m 34 weeks pregnant and my doctor informed me yesterday that my child is laying in breech position.  She informed us that if by next Wednesday the baby hasn’t turned into the correct position then she is going to recommend that we try and have the baby manipulated into position.  With this then there is the chance that I will go into early labor, my water will break, or my child will go into distress and I will be having an emergency c-section.  She did recommend that up until next Wednesday I try the exercise of getting on my hands and knees to give the baby more room to move.  Any other advice on how to get the baby to move or advice on whether or not to have the doctor try and manipulate the baby into moving?

Baby coming soon August 2009

Well I thought I would write and ask for any and all advice.  We are going to be having our first child in August.  Currently I’m five months along.  So far I have been lucky no sickness, not much weight gain (yet), everything has been going smoothly.  We had our ultrasound on Friday and so far as we know everything looks good but we will have to see after we meet with the doctor on Monday.  What I’m looking for is advice, advice on where to find good maternity clothes, where to find good kids deals, how to be a working mom and balance life and work, etc.  I’m looking for any and all advice you have to give.  Thanks for the help!

Additional Books to read now that I’m done with the Twilight Series

I am totally addicted to the Twilight series but now that I have read all of them I’m looking for new books to read.  I have found one series that I got addicted to but I’m almost done with that series also.  That was Charlaine Harris’s Sookie Stackhouse Vampire series.  I read Blood and Chocolate which I wasn’t too impressed with as it was a very easy read but also very naughty.  I don’t mind some naughty but it was a little overboard.  I read The Mediator by Megan Cabot which was ok but it was written for a much younger audience I think. I have read Vampire Diaries, Vampire Kisses.  Neither which intrigued me quite like Twilight and Charlaine Harris.

I can’t put my finger on what I liked so much about these but they were just very well written and they sucked me in within a chapter or two.  I’m looking for suggestions and as I find more I will let you know what I think especially if I find any good books or series.

Peanut Butter Sandwich Creations-What have you tried?

So my husband and I were discussing how he used to eat peanut butter and dorito sandwiches when he was in school.  I hadn’t tried them until I met him but I actually thought they were pretty good.  We mentioned something to my parents and they thought we were crazy.  This then started us down the path of what kind of peanut butter sandwiches we have eaten and liked:

Peanut Butter and Banana: One of my favorites

Peanut Butter and Jelly: Standard

Peanut Butter Jelly and Bologna

Peanut Butter and Doritoes

Peanut Butter and Mayonaise: My brothers loved I didn’t try as it sounds a bit strange

Peanut butter and Pickles

Peanut Butter and Cheese

So what do you think any that you have made that are worth trying, that I have forgotten on the list?

Mountainair Animal Shelter: Can you help?

I received the below email today from a close friend of mine and I know I care deeply about all animals and therefore I thought I would post the email and a link to the pictures.  I know there are alot of people out there who care about animals and its sad that places like this exist.  The animals don’t stand a chance!  I know there are probably more out there but this one I’m aware of and so I thought I would post about it.  If you can help please do….

http://mountainairarts.blogspot.com/2008/10/deer-canyon-dog-walk.html

Construction of a new Animal Shelter for the Town of Mountainair -a community project initiated and coordinated by Deer Canyon Preserve homeowners.

The idea for this project arose when members of the Deer Canyon Community realized the inadequacy of the present Animal shelter and the fact that there is no money in the current or proposed Town budget earmarked to address this need. The existing facility, on town land beside the Rodeo Grounds, consists of 5 small unheated pens with minimal runs. The lack of fencing makes vandalism and harassment of the animals persistent problems. Our local animals in need deserve better treatment.

After discussions with the mayor and town animal control officer, a committee of Deer Canyon homeowners was formed. A quote for a 28×52 steel building with 12 dog pens, a cattery, quarantine room, food storage room, and office space came in at just under $16,000. Even with some donated materials and extensive volunteer labor, costs for site preparation (including bringing electricity to the building), the cement pad, inside finish work, and exterior fencing will probably bring the total cost of the project to $30,000. The Walkathon scheduled for Sunday, October 18 at 9:00 am to begin at the Preserve Center just inside the north gate to Deer Canyon Preserve will kick off fundraising efforts for the project. The entry fee for walkers is $20.00 and we hope all who sign up for the 5-mile walk on Deer Canyon Preserve roads will solicit donations from among their family and friends so that their efforts will pay off far beyond the entry fee.

Mountainair is a small town, the town closest to the Preserve, which the Preserve residents will frequent for their supplies. No McMansions. Families have lived there for a very long time, and there are several artists to add some wonderful interest, but little money. In other words, limited support for the needs of 4-legged residents. I walked the 5 miles this morning – YIKES – not Florida flatland. However, it was so beautiful. After the walk, the town “dogcatcher” opened the “dogpound” and it is so sad. The animal control officer for the town is a young gal who says she is only supposed to spend 1 hour a day cleaning-up after the dogs, feeding and exercising them. She says she gets many strays and abused animals that there is no room to take care of cats with the dogs, and she has no time to try to work with the animals to get them to be able to socialize. There is no electricity, the animals are at the mercy of the weather. Walmart is donating food.

All the TAX-DEDUCTIBLE donations to this fundraising event will be used for construction costs. There are many local neglected animals that desperately need our help but cannot ask for themselves. Please be generous.

Make checks payable to the Town of Mountainair and indicate Animal Shelter Fund on the memo line. Mail your donation to Mountainair Animal Shelter Fund, PO Box 496, Mountainair, NM 87036 – or hand deliver the form and your donation to the Deer Canyon Preserve Office (105 E. Broadway) or to any Deer Canyon homeowner. For more information about this project, contact Dee Melaragno, 505-847-0402, [email protected].

I have to add, unless you look, you don’t realize everywhere is not as good as your own neighborhood. Remember, the critters just want to be friends, but need some basic food, shelter and respect for their needs.