New Things

If you'll notice, there have been some changes to my right side bar. I'm now the proud hostess to BlogHer Ads. Some of you will be thrilled to know that this means I must keep blogging (frequently) in order to keep these on my site. If you see something over there that interests you, don't hesitate to click on it and check it out!

Not much new in our world . . . since my post yesterday, that is. Andrew has another orientation session tonight for his professorship (ok, the place where he will be an instructor), so I'm on my own for supper and bedtime. I don't mind. This means I will get to make myself something with Tuna and I can head to bed/computer time early after cleaning up the house.

I'm still working on our packing lists for Hawaii. I actually think I might post them on here (at least the baby's list) to see if anyone has any other suggestions of things to bring. I only have a few more calls to make to set things up and we'll be good to go. Here is my to-do list.

1) Call Hawaii hotel where we'll be staying 3 nights to get a portable crib!
2) Call Super Ferry to check on whether a copy of Abigail's birth certificate will suffice or if I need to bring the actual thing.
3) Reserve Dewey's spot in the kennel. Poor boy, he will think we've left for good!
4) Call airline to check on gate checking seat/stroller combo and also birth certificate.

Hmm, I think that's it.

--------Abigail update----------
Of course I can't post without writing about the darling, right?! She seems to be doing better all around with sleep. She only woke once, again, last night and she actually just fell asleep for an afternoon nap (hopefully a long one) without ANY crying. I'm doing my best not to consider this action or lack of action "normal" incase she starts waking 2+ times at night or being fussy for naps again. I'm so much better off if I have low expectations! :)

All for now . . .

Travel Advice Needed

Thanks for all the book advice! I think a trip to the Library is in order . . . even though that means paying my $13 fine! :) I only got that fine because I had a DVD checked out when I went into labor. Needless to say I didn't get it back to the Library (and then my mother-in-law took it back for me) until the week after Abigail was born.

Ok, I am starting to think ahead to our trip to Hawaii. Does anyone have baby travel advice? We have flown with her before and she did great. This, of course, is not going to be a one hour flight like last time. It will be more like 7 hours, and she is bigger. Anyway, I am really looking for any tips on flying with an infant (yes we know about the sucking during take off and landing) and how to successfully change time zones with your baby. I would like to enjoy Hawaii during the day and not have Abigail's clock mixed up the whole time we're there, if possible.

Originally, we weren't going to bring her car seat and stroller into the airport (but check it as baggage) but I think we've changed our minds and will check it at the gate. It will be a little more hassle to get through security but once we have our long layover at LAX it will give her a comfortable and familiar place to nap, also giving our arms and backs a break from carrying her around. I was also planning on just putting in our luggage a little baby travel bed but that will no longer work. She moves around a lot at night and could easily knock the side of this bed down and just roll out onto the floor. So we'll have to rent a travel bed but that's ok.

Any advice is welcome! I want to have as enjoyable a trip as possible!

**I want to say thanks to my wonderful in-laws who came over and mowed our WHOLE yard last night (2 acres and it took 2 mowers). It is so nice that we have all weekend to just do whatever and we don't have to worry about mowing!!**

I need book advice!

I'm sure you are all relieved that this post won't be a long drawn out explaination of Abigail's sleep. I will include an update at the end however. I am writing this post because I need some suggestions of good books to read. I need a good long book to take with me to Hawaii. I only want to bring one book because we're already going to be cramped for space in our luggage. Any ideas? I also just want titles of good books in general. Thanks!

** Sleep Update: Abigail's rash seems to be so much better. She did wake up twice last night however, but didn't seem to be irritated and fell back asleep, after nursing, in her crib very easily. She didn't eat much at 7 pm when I fed her, so I wasn't surprised when she woke at 11:45 to eat again. She woke again at 4:45 am. Really, it doesn't seem bad to live with that, especially after Sunday night!**

-----Updated-----
I just got done reading The Chamber by John Grisham. Very thought provoking! I am currently reading Tramp for the Lord by Corrie Ten Boom. I am also going through "For this Child I Prayed" (thanks Mom and Dad!) but it's not really a book you just read straight through.