Mothering Forum banner

Alaska Chat - March

6K views 116 replies 30 participants last post by  onyxravnos 
#1 ·
I'm starting this a day early because I've got a big question for you all:
In Fairbanks, how do I buy local, organic, grass fed, etc?

I'll go back and check the info for the grass fed beef from Delta - any other local secrets I should know about?

We're on a hell of a budget but I'm pretty good with numbers - I can figure out a way to pay for real, healthy food. Especially since I'm using it to grow my little lady!

JosieAK - Will you keep us updated on the carseat trials? We're about to move out of the bucket too and I'd love to piggyback off your research a bit.


For the record: I've been in Alaska 10 months now and my daughter is 6 months and one day old! Holy moly!
 
See less See more
1
#2 ·
Hi everyone-

About the car seats--we started off DS in the one that Josie linked to (First Years True Fit). It fit my 8 lb 1 oz baby great, and my tall 4.5 year old just hit the rear-facing weight limit (35 lbs) a month ago! I love it. Amazon sometimes has free shipping. Another great seat is the Graco MyRide which RFs to 40 lbs and is at Target & Babies R Us. Target also has the Safety 1st Complete Air, which also RFs to 40 lbs.
 
#4 ·
Last year a lot of people talked about their gardens - does anybody want to help a newbie get started? So far in my life I have killed nearly anything that couldn't demand what it wanted (so far the baby is in good shape
) but I'm hoping to murder a few less plants this year.

I want to grow as much food as possible, but I'm not sure when to start, what needs to be done inside, and what plants would be successful up here. Any tips?
 
#5 ·
ALASKA BIRTH NETWORK MEETING IS MARCH 12!

We will be discussing all the various childbirth education classes available in the Anchorage Area.

Some of our guest speakers are teachers from these classes.

Please come and attend! Meetings are always FREE! usually we have snacks and there is a place for young children to play safely. Lots of fun for all! Bring your girlfriends and or your husbands/boyfriends if you like. Everyone is welcome.

7pm

One Family Birthing Center

Anchorage.

siggy = linky
 
#6 ·
Subbing!

Sarah, I somehow wound up with an amazing garden last year with no real skills to speak of. We actually just used the last of the zucchini in some bread. Yum.

I bought a book on Alaskan gardening at a used bookstore, and just went for it. Started everything from seed the end of May - (this year I'll start earlier with plastic sheeting) I plan to grow more this year, with less variety - I went a bit overboard on the varieties and trials last year.
 
#7 ·
Subbing

Sarah
You might looking into what kind of soil you have. Once it thaws a little you can get one of those little test kit from the garden center or possibly take to the the extension service and they might test it for you. I ran into this last year. I didn't do it and at the end of the season I found out that my soil was pretty much deficient in all nutrients.
 
#9 ·
Well, I have access to Consumer Reports ratings for convertable carseats. They rate for crash protection, ease of use, rear facing fit, and forward facing fit. In the 40lb category, they rated the Britax Diplomat ($260) at 68, the Britax Roundabout ($180) at 66, and the Cosco Scenera ($60) at 66! Those were their top three. I've looked at the Scenera and it's pretty bare bones. I've read lots of Amazon reviews about the Scenera and people either love it or hate it. It seems like something livable, though. I'm just not totally sold on it. We do a lot of driving as a family and Clara has loved her carseat and taken lots of naps in it. Do I really want one with almost no padding? Or do I get the cheaper seat and buy some nice pillow wings or something? Still, I do need two of them, so cheaper might be nice.

Okay, on the up to 65lb range, CR rates Evenflo Triumph Advance LX/DLX (not to be confused with any others--they have poor ratings--$135) at 70, the Britax Boulevard ($310) at 64, Britax Advocate CS ($370) at 61, Graco MyRide 65 ($155) at 60, and The First Years True Fit ($190) at 60 (I just got a notice from Baby Best Buys that the FY True Fit is on sale for $99 at Bed, Bath, and Beyond, though you might have to order it in into the store). The Britax Marathon ($280) is rated at 58. The 60-70 ratings are considered to be very good (it is on a scale of 1-100). If you want me to break it down anymore than that I can. I think these size seats will probably be too big for my car (Subaru Legacy) and definitely for my husband's car (a compact Saturn). And I'm really not sure how a 7 year old would feel about using these seats.

I think a lot of it will come down to your child/ren. Are they chubby, skinny, tall? Thats where the reviews come in. The Marathon has less seat room than the Britax by a whole inch. Why? Who knows! Some people love/hate the various features. I do know a seat that can remain backwards facing is important to me. When I picked my bucket seat, I read reviews that the top rated seat had a lot of off-gassing of the fabric. Uh, no thanks!

So, I will update if I learn more and tell you what I choose!
 
#11 ·
My oldest daughter is going to Kindergarten this fall. I believe it will be Russian Jack Elementary. I called and left them a message that I plan to have her going. I didn't even know I was supposed to call until a friend pointed that out to me. This whole school thing is seriously stressing me out. I saved that philosophical exemption form someone posted a while back and plan to print it out and plan to make a wellness exam with her doctor so I can get him to sign it, although she hasn't been to see him in a couple years.

On the upside, I've been working on not doing that mindless praise thing my mom raised me on, good jobbing everything Abigail does. The past week, she's been showing an interest again in reading on her own. She still doesn't understand how some letter names and sounds are different, or hasn't memorized the sounds yet, and is still working on th sound and that l is sometimes 'invisible' or silent. So, we were reading Green Eggs and Ham, and she read through to page 20 and after a few nights, to page 30 before saying it was my turn to read. She still needed help with certain words. She has the most trouble with the words 'in', 'with' and 'here'. She makes me so proud. I made sure I simply said, 'I like how hard you're trying', especially when she kept stopping after every sentence fishing for a compliment. After praising her effort instead of the results as much, she was clearly more confident and less critical of herself.
 
#12 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by an_aurora View Post
Hi everyone-

About the car seats--we started off DS in the one that Josie linked to (First Years True Fit). It fit my 8 lb 1 oz baby great, and my tall 4.5 year old just hit the rear-facing weight limit (35 lbs) a month ago! I love it. Amazon sometimes has free shipping. Another great seat is the Graco MyRide which RFs to 40 lbs and is at Target & Babies R Us. Target also has the Safety 1st Complete Air, which also RFs to 40 lbs.
Graco MyRide is sold out at ToysRUs, and they told me they couldn't even give me a predicted arrival date for more since their distributorship was also sold out.. BedBathandBeyond sells it though, and if you order it in the store, you can use the 20% off coupons they send in the mail every couple of months. I was quoted $15 shipping to Alaska, which basically is paid for by the coupon..

My sister ended up ordering me the TrueFit- which is sold out on Amazon.. it is getting sent to her, and then she will turn around and send it to me.. it is slightly smaller (rearfacing) than the MyRide since the headrest is removable.. that was a big selling point for me. Target also sells the TrueFit, but only in "sporty blue" and that was the ONE THING dp didn't want- a boyish carseat.


My sister offered to buy me a Britax, but many reviews state that they don't really fit a newborn.. and my babies are NOT 10 lbers.
 
#13 ·
I just got an email from Spring Creek Farm saying that they still have CSA openings for this summer. They also have a few large pigs they are selling.

I have bought into this CSA for two summers now and have loved it. Each weekly share comes with a newsletter and recipes to use the fresh, organic, locally grown veggies. There are two pick up points--one in Palmer (at the farm) and one in Anchorage (at APU). The cost for a full share is $555, but both years my husband and I split a share with a friend, 50-50, and had to work hard to eat all the veggies. I have to say, it has challenged me as a cook, but just last week I pulled out my arugula pesto from the freezer that I made fresh last summer (their recipe) and made Chicken Pesto Pizza and I was thankful all over again for fresh summer bounty.

Their contact email is on that page. I hope the farm always sells out their shares! I am so thankful that we have something like that available in Alaska!
 
#14 ·
So... It snowed here on the peninsula. >.< And here I thought summer was soon. Thankfully, my roof is still dripping so at least it's not THAT cold, you know?

Anyways... Haven't checked in for a while... So... hmm... my life.

I'm in the two week wait (because of an oops) but I really think I'm pregnant. My son went from 12+ feedings a day to 1-3 a day within a matter of two weeks, so that drastic change is enough to make me think i might have ovulated even though I haven't had a period since having him. That and I felt it. lol So now... im going crazy waiting. lol
 
#15 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by Samanthavv View Post
So... It snowed here on the peninsula. >.< And here I thought summer was soon. Thankfully, my roof is still dripping so at least it's not THAT cold, you know?

Anyways... Haven't checked in for a while... So... hmm... my life.

I'm in the two week wait (because of an oops) but I really think I'm pregnant. My son went from 12+ feedings a day to 1-3 a day within a matter of two weeks, so that drastic change is enough to make me think i might have ovulated even though I haven't had a period since having him. That and I felt it. lol So now... im going crazy waiting. lol
Good Luck!!!
 
#16 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by Samanthavv View Post
So... It snowed here on the peninsula. >.< And here I thought summer was soon. Thankfully, my roof is still dripping so at least it's not THAT cold, you know?

Anyways... Haven't checked in for a while... So... hmm... my life.

I'm in the two week wait (because of an oops) but I really think I'm pregnant. My son went from 12+ feedings a day to 1-3 a day within a matter of two weeks, so that drastic change is enough to make me think i might have ovulated even though I haven't had a period since having him. That and I felt it. lol So now... im going crazy waiting. lol
Good Luck

I am in the TWW as well but it will be a while till I can start worrying about testing.
 
#19 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by liza-s View Post
Pinoikoi - Curious about your siggy. "Your daddy and brothers wait impatiently for you!" - So doesthat imply that you are waiting patiently??
Mainly it implies that there are no sisters waiting impatiently, but yes, I am FAR more patient than they are.
 
#21 ·
I've really got to check this more than once a week!


So I've been going to the gym 3 days per week with a neighbor, and I'm about to add 2 more days. The only way we can work it is for me to get up after Adelaide nurses and sneak off to the gym early in the morning. I am SO GLAD that it's warming up! Plus, I'm finishing that pesky last class for my bachelor's degree, working two days a week (two very full, very long days), and trying to keep up with baby laundry, diaper laundry, and the slob in me. FINALLY making some progress in the house. Finally. Nursing still hurts (yeah, well she's only six months old, maybe it will get better. :eyeroll
and I briefly thought I was preggo, I think I was more excited for an excuse to quit breastfeeding than for pregnancy. I didn't mind birth (I napped during transition - had to be woken up to push) but I really wasn't thrilled about being pregnant. Still, it would be a break from breastfeeding and a chance to try again, so some part of me is hoping I just happen to wind up pregnant. I was reading somewhere that Michelle Duggar (from 19 Kids and Counting) had pain breastfeeding for the first 15 children. I suppose if she can stick it out for 15 kids I can stick it out for another 6 months.

Thanks for all the advice/info on carseats and food!

akwifeandmomma - That is so promising. Maybe if you can do it, I can too!

akcowgirl - Good idea. If the soil's no good and I know about it beforehand I will probably be a lot less frustrated if it doesn't work out.

JosieAK - Thanks for all the info! I can't wait to see what you go with. Even though you're still a stranger on the internet, your review is much more valuable than those of the other strangers on the internet, lol. And thanks for the link, I'll check it out.

Purity - I'm glad your DD is responding so well and so quickly to your efforts. It's much easier to change those really ingrained habits when you can see quick results in the child, I think.

Samantha - Any news??

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samanthavv View Post
So... It snowed here on the peninsula. >.< And here I thought summer was soon. Thankfully, my roof is still dripping so at least it's not THAT cold, you know?

Anyways... Haven't checked in for a while... So... hmm... my life.

I'm in the two week wait (because of an oops) but I really think I'm pregnant. My son went from 12+ feedings a day to 1-3 a day within a matter of two weeks, so that drastic change is enough to make me think i might have ovulated even though I haven't had a period since having him. That and I felt it. lol So now... im going crazy waiting. lol
 
#22 ·
RE fairbanks food

this summer there are a bunch of CSA's i've used calypso the last few years and love them as for winter / meats & eggs we now have a local coopt market! it is slowly buch surely getting lots of local stuff in! its in the odd tan building behind the quiznos/sublime/hair um building on the corner of airport and university
 
#23 ·
car seat info http://www.car-seat.org/ you'll have to register, but the people there can tell you a TON about how various seats fit various sizes/shapes of kids. They were able to give me some really helpful info for my very long very skinny kiddos.


we woke up to over a foot of snow here in homer too. yikes! DH (a teacher) got a 6am call that school was delayed 2 hours (so why call us so darn early?!) and by 8:30 or so we had word that it was completely cancelled since the snow kept coming down...so with both DH and 9yo DS home, it's like two saturdays. This always messes with my head.


samantha
on the 2ww!!

nak
 
#24 ·
I saw something about carseats for free lately.. free carseat check, and then they are giving away booster seats and car seats to low in come families for $10 donation.. Anchorage Fire Dept Station 12 Sat, March 20 11-2. Child must be present (I guess to weigh/measure them?).

Quote:

Originally Posted by brightonwoman View Post
DH (a teacher) got a 6am call that school was delayed 2 hours (so why call us so darn early?!) and by 8:30 or so we had word that it was completely cancelled since the snow kept coming down...
They have to call by a certain hour contractually.. I know for ASD it is because some people commute, so if you have to be IN the building by 7:15, and it takes over an hour to drive in from the Valley some days... well, then they HAVE to call us by 5:00 am.. although last year, they called so darn early I told my dept chair that I loved her... well, I was half asleep.


In other news I made to Gymboree today! They had TONS of summer outfits on clearance for $2.99 a piece! They said they were "last year's line" and were trying to make room for this year.. last year's or not I found really cute flower and fruit prints! Plus I know with a June baby she will be needing summer outfits in the 0-3 range and 3-6 month ranges.. I bought a whole bag of outfits (including matching sunhats) for less than $30.

While I am on the topic.. looking back on my last summer baby (6 years ago- early July), I am pretty sure I over bundled him.. so here's the question.. right after birth, babies want to be warm and cuddly, so I think little sleepers or gowns, right? so when does their temp "stabilize" enough that that becomes TOO warm? I don't want to make this baby uncomfortable by over or under dressing her.. is it a question of weeks of age? or more weather dependent? Nearly everything I have for the baby so far is cotton so that should help both ways I would think, but I still am not sure about this..

Dp is of the mind that the minute she emerges from the birth canal, she needs to be in ruffles and dresses, but I am a bit more practical than that
 
#25 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by Pinoikoi View Post
While I am on the topic.. looking back on my last summer baby (6 years ago- early July), I am pretty sure I over bundled him.. so here's the question.. right after birth, babies want to be warm and cuddly, so I think little sleepers or gowns, right? so when does their temp "stabilize" enough that that becomes TOO warm? I don't want to make this baby uncomfortable by over or under dressing her.. is it a question of weeks of age? or more weather dependent? Nearly everything I have for the baby so far is cotton so that should help both ways I would think, but I still am not sure about this..

Dp is of the mind that the minute she emerges from the birth canal, she needs to be in ruffles and dresses, but I am a bit more practical than that

I've had 2 winter babies. I'm definitely bundling #2 less than #1. With #1 I used those fleece "baby bags" for sleeping, plus a light blanket - but we didn't bed-share with him until around 5 months. Wren gets way too warm in them. I noticed she was feeling too warm in more than a ls onesie/top and either pants or leg warmers while indoors at about 10 days.

(Incidentally, a ls onesie under a dress and leg warmers is my favorite way to dress her - so I get your DH's urge, but the combo is also very practical for warmth and easy diaper changes)
 
#26 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by liza-s View Post
(Incidentally, a ls onesie under a dress and leg warmers is my favorite way to dress her - so I get your DH's urge, but the combo is also very practical for warmth and easy diaper changes)
I don't mind long sleeve tshirts, but onesies seemed to mess with our cloth diapers too much..
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top