Saturday, July 26, 2008

Flying with Children

A question came in from a friend of mine. Let her know what you all think. Has anyone had to experience this?


"In your opinion, how early would you fly with a baby? Would you buy another ticket for the baby to be safer? What suggestions do you have for flying with an infant?

I am going to be in my friend's wedding. Her wedding is March 29, 2009. My baby is due December 12, so the baby would be around 3 months old to fly with. My husband will be at school, so I wouldn't be able to leave the baby plus I plan on breast feeding.

Any tips would be greatly appreciated! 

Maryanne Nelson"

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If you have a product review you would like posted or a topic you would like to have discussed please email me at momblogclub@gmail.com. I will be updating the blog every week with new topics. Please email me so we can start talking about things that are important to you!!!

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

What to Wear

As I mentioned in response to a previous post, I've really gotten into wearing my new baby. I loved carrying my older son in a sling or Bjorn when he was a baby, but didn't do it very often because it quickly got uncomfortable. My second son, born in February, has been much more of a challenge. He was very colicky, has acid reflux, and loves to cuddle (which is not a challenge, but does take lots of time!). I found that the only thing that made him happy was being carried or worn. He, like his brother was, is a heavy baby (5 months, 19 lbs.) so the Bjorn and sling I had were not going to work. I also battle carpel tunnel in my wrists while I'm nursing, so just carrying him is very painful. I headed off to the Internet to see what else was out there and oh my goodness, there are a lot of options. I decided to get an ergo baby carrier, and a solarveil sling. I also had my mom make me a sling using some directions I found online. So for I'm very happy with all the carriers I have. The ergo is great for long walks and chores around the house. It can also be worn on my back if I'm willing to let the baby spit up all over my back. I love my solarveil sling for hot days. It keeps both of us cool and protects the baby from the sun. Now that the fabric in my homemade sling is starting to soften I really like it. It is a pretty color and works great at church.

I guess I'm sharing all this because I've found what started as a challenge with my son, has led me to some very enjoyable moments with him. I love that he so close I can kiss his little head all the time. I love that I can quickly get him to sleep if nothing else is working. I love how easy the 3 hour block at church has become when the baby can sleep in the sling and I don't have to wake him up to go to the next class. Mostly I love that I can still get out and do the things my toddler wants to do, even if his brother needs to be held.

If you would like more information on different ways to wear your baby, check out The Baby Wearer website. While I'm pretty new to babywearing, I can try to answer any questions you have as well.

Also I recently came across a contest to win a "stash" of 5 baby carriers. Maybe you'll win, but I'm secretly hoping I will. I'd love to try something new, like a pouch, mei tai or wrap!
Win the Essential Babywearing Stash from Along for the Ride (one Beco Butterfly, one Hotsling baby pouch, one BabyHawk Mei Tai, one Zolowear Ring Sling, and one Gypsy Mama Wrap)
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If you have a product review you would like posted or a topic you would like to have discussed please email me at momblogclub@gmail.com. I will be updating the blog every week with new topics. Please email me so we can start talking about things that are important to you!!!

Monday, July 7, 2008

Not sure if I'm over exaggerating...

Sorry for the delay in posts. I took advantage of the long weekend and got some much needed rest!!! I hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July. It's totally a new experience sharing it with a little one. I feel so blessed to have my family with me!!!

I have another question for you guys. I've noticed over the last little bit that my little girl has started pulling on her ears. I'm slightly worried because my experience says that when a baby toughs on their ears there's usually something going on with them (i.e. ear infections) however, she doesn't fuss anymore than usual (needing to eat, getting tired, or wanting a diaper change). Is she just at that age where she's realized she's got something growing out of the side of her head and she's curious about them or should I make a point to ask the doctor about them when we go in this month? I'm thinking we're not at a ear infection just yet because there's no fever or fussy nature but growing up my little brother never got fevers with his ear infections and it's just making me wonder.

Am I over anxious because she's my first and I'm looking for something to be wrong or should I just be excited that my little baby has discovered a new body part and is excited to explore it through the miracle of touch?

Do any of you expert mothers have any advice? Is this something you've all noticed before?

Thank you for your help!!! I'm really grateful you're all so willing to openly share advice with me.

- Cheris Vreeken
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If you have a product review you would like posted or a topic you would like to have discussed please email me at momblogclub@gmail.com. I will be updating the blog every week with new topics. Please email me so we can start talking about things that are important to you!!!

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Thoughts on reading

The last few weeks I've been thinking a lot about starting a "library" for my daughter who is only 4 months old. I've been slowly getting books from my mother who gets them from a program through the school that she teaches at and each time I get a new one we sit together and read it. I know that she can't yet comprehend what I'm saying or possibly even make you the pictures but it's fun to just sit together and hope that she's getting something out of it.

I'm wondering what other mom's think about reading to children, like when you started and what you looked for in a book. The books we have now are simple but they are probably more fit for a child that is a little older because it's all paper. I really want to get a few board books but I don't know exactly what to start looking for.

What do you guys think about reading to a baby? Is it too soon to start? Should I start in a specific place? Do any of your know of any good publishers for books in our age groups?

Thank you!!!

Cheris Vreeken


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If you have a product review you would like posted or a topic you would like to have discussed please email me at momblogclub@gmail.com. I will be updating the blog every week with new topics. Please email me so we can start talking about things that are important to you!!!

Friday, June 27, 2008

Those Hazy, Lazy, Crazy Days of Summer

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courtesy of sxc.hu.com

It's just barely the official start of summer, yet here in Phoenix we have been in triple digits for quite a while.  Too many consecutive days hitting above 110 degrees.  It is physically impossible to enjoy the outdoors.  We are dangerously close to getting too stir crazy at my house.  I smell a mutiny looming in the too near future.  So today I thought it would be fun if we shared fun activities for kids during the summer.  I know I need as many as I get get, before there is an uprising in my house.  You can only play indoor basketball for so long.  Anyway, I'm sure many of you have great ideas.  So don't be shy and leave fun, cool activities that work for you and your kids in the comments.  Or leave ones that don't, maybe they will for someone else.

Happy Summer!

*Using colored tape, make a hopscotch court in your house.  This is lots of fun, even for my boys.

*Make a fort.  This is hours of fun.  Can lead to a big mess, but I'd rather have something to do than listen to, "I'm bored.  I'm bored.  I'm bored.  I'm bored."  

*Visit the library.  Find out when they have storytelling time and take the kids.

*Find a children's water park nearby.  Not only will your kids have fun while cooling down, you cool down a smidge just by being by the water.

*Go in on a zoo membership with a friend.  Then you pay a little more than one trip to the zoo once, and the rest of your visits are free.  Most zoos have children areas, which even include water features.  This is a great place to go to cool off and learn.
Ymonica
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If you have a product review you would like posted or a topic you would like to have discussed please email me at momblogclub@gmail.com. I will be updating the blog every Monday, Wednesday and Fridays with new topics. Please email me so we can start talking about things that are important to you!!!

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Questions

I have a friend from work who is pregnant with her first baby and is looking for some advice from the group. She writes:

"So I have some questions for the mommy blog since I'm 15 weeks pregnant and starting have some trouble with some things.

1. What things helped you stay asleep on your side during pregnancy? I was doing well sleeping on my side and now that past week, it's been so hard plus going to the bathroom constantly...I have not been sleeping well. I wake up and find myself sleeping on my back which I know is not good especially later on. I'd appreciate any ideas. I know about those big body pillows, but I don't want to buy one if they're way expensive.

2. Eating for me is difficult, especially trying to eat every 2 hours foods that are healthy. So if anyone could share maybe a whole day's worth of meal ideas that worked and tasted especially well when you were pregnant and that doesn't use a lot of dishes. I'm really interested in more natural foods, not prepackaged meals that are easy too.

- Maryanne Nelson"
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If you have a product review you would like posted or a topic you would like to have discussed please email me at momblogclub@gmail.com. I will be updating the blog every Monday, Wednesday and Fridays with new topics. Please email me so we can start talking about things that are important to you!!!

Monday, June 23, 2008

Green is more than just a color...

   Something I have always been passionate about is making sure I leave this world better than I found it.  At a young age I knew how important recycling and not being wasteful was.  I have always had a love of the outdoors and wildlife.  I considered many times what it meant to be green.  So often we hear how important it is for us to live "green."  Once upon a time, I thought to live green meant one lived a hippie lifestyle out of their VW van and lived off of a diet consisting only of tofu.  More recently than this, I simply thought it was just too expensive and even at at times an inconvenient way of life.  You'd have to buy solar panels, a new car, all new appliances for your house, and convert from gas to vegetable oil which you would have to buy from restaurants all over town, just to name a few expenses and inconveniences you would incur.  While all these things are great, they are not necessary necessities.  
   As a mother with a home of my own, I want to make sure I teach my children to keep this planet beautiful.  So I have done a lot of research and tried a lot of different things out.  I am by no means an expert, but I consider this a hobby of mine.  No matter how you feel about global warming, one thing is for sure, we must take care of this planet.  She is our home, and more importantly, the home of our children.  It is our responsibility to teach our children how to care for the earth.  And there is no better way to do this than by example.
   So for the next few weeks I am going to share some easy and cheap ways you can make your homes "green."  The first one is using white vinegar.  That's right, vinegar.  It's great, and super cheap, too.  The benefits of using vinegar are endless.  Straight 5% vinegar, which you can buy at any grocery store, kills 99% of bacteria, 82% of mold, and 80% of germs.  And it isn't harmful to breathe in.  What's better than that?  You might be wondering if my house reeks of smelly feet, and I can honestly tell you that it doesn't.  The odor goes away within a few hours, and sometimes does not stick around at all.  So here is a list of all the wonderful things you can use vinegar for;

1.  It actually eliminates odors.  Half a cup of vinegar added to a toilet bowl and left over night will remove odor.  

2.  For cleaning your dishwasher, vinegar frozen into ice cubes, add to the bottom of the dishwasher just prior to a cycle.

3.  Save money on washing pre-spray by spraying neat vinegar on deodorant and other stains on clothes just prior to washing.  (Vinegar even gets out chocolate milk)

4.  Vinegar can be used as a fabric softener by adding half the amount of vinegar as you would have with your usual softening agent.  I just pour it into one of those downey balls and toss it on top of the clothes as the cycle starts.

5.  Use as a glass cleaner.  You can use full strength or mix with water.  I use full strength and I love it.  It makes my mirrors so clear, and doesn't leave behind a filmy residue.

6.  Use full strength vinegar to polish chrome or stainless steel.  I use it on my appliances.  It works better than any stainless steel polish I have tried.

7.  Spray around doorways and other areas to repel ants.  They hate vinegar.

8.  Use a 50/50 mix of vinegar and water to clean your iron.  Add the mixture to your iron  and let it steam itself clean.

9.  Revive old paintbrushes by dipping them into heated vinegar for a couple of hours.  Then rinse with soapy water.

10.  If you use cloth diapers, I secretly admire you, simply add half a cup of vinegar to the water
in the cleaning bucket.  

   So there you have it, cheap and easy ways to save the planet, 1/2 cup of white vinegar at a time.

-monica
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If you have a product review you would like posted or a topic you would like to have discussed please email me at momblogclub@gmail.com. I will be updating the blog every Monday, Wednesday and Fridays with new topics. Please email me so we can start talking about things that are important to you!!!