Guelph Bike Reuse Program!

I have not personally had the opportunity to use this program myself, but I think that the Guelph Bike Reuse Program is an awesome idea!  Not only does it divert waste, it saves you money.

Bicycles are available to residents all year round, free of charge.

You can get up to 2 bicycles a year.

Here is the link:

http://guelph.ca/living/garbage-and-recycling/waste-reduction/bike-reuse-program/

Hours of operation:

Tuesday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Closed Sunday, Monday and holidays

Waste Resource Innovation Centre
110 Dunlop Drive, Gate 2
T 519-767-0598.

If anyone has any feedback about this program, I would love to hear it.  I'll be sure to check it out when it comes time for me to look into a bicycle (might be a while though).

Where can you get passport photos for babies in Guelph?

You're excited about a big trip you're going to take with your new little one!  Oh wait...she needs a passport!  It's one thing to find a place that does passport photos, but it's another to find a place that does passport photos for infants!

Passport photos get rejected when they don't follow the required criteria (such as looking straight at the camera, no teeth showing, no shadows, etc).

LOCATIONS THAT DO INFANT PASSPORT PHOTOS (as of fall 2015)
- Zehrs (Imperial and Paisley location)
- Walmart (on Woodlawn)
- Ponds (located downtown)
* Costco and Shoppers Drug Mart have sent some parents away when their babies were really young (some 3 months and younger).  Others have said that they were able to get photos done at these two places
* try calling any of these places before you go to save yourselves from having to find another store to take your photos

NOTES:
You need the long form birth certificate when you go to apply for the passport.
You can print an application online, or get one from the post office to fill out.
$55 an application
You can pay extra to get them faster but can generally get your passports in 2 weeks.
The closest passport office to drop off your application is in Kitchener.
The post office in Downtown Guelph (on Wyndham) also processes passport applications for an additional fee ($20 - $30) which might be worthwhile so you don't have to spend the time and gas going to the Kitchener office.

Quest for FREE Parking at Guelph General Hospital

Okay, who doesn't hate paying loads of money for parking at the hospital.  It always seems to cost so much, and really when you are sick do you really want to park far far away?

So I looked around for free, or cheaper alternatives to parking in the hospital parking lot (by the way, I am not opposed to paying for parking at the hospital since it is one stream of income...it's just difficult to always have to fork out for hospital parking especially if you have to come back many times)

The cheap and / or free alternatives I found (as of Fall 2015) were:

1) FREE option - park down the street and walk.  If you turn onto Delhi Street from Speedvale, there is free parking along the street.  Then you will see the parking meters pop up.  I parked the closest you could possibly get to the hospital before having to pay for parking.  This resulted in an 8 minute walk to the hospital (pregnant woman waddle pace).  Now, this may not be a practical option if you can't walk that far or that long.
PRO: Free, get in some exercise
CON: walk is 8 minutes at the very least

2) Another FREE option - parking along Havelock Street.  The disadvantage is that you cannot park there Monday to Friday, 8AM - 6PM
PRO: Free, close to hospital emergency entrance
CON: only free at certain times / days (like free on weekends, and not allowed to park most of the weekdays during day)

3) Free option after 9PM - right across from emergency entrance on Delhi Street, subject to overnight parking bylaws
PRO: Free, close to entrance
CON: time is restricted to 9pm - 8am

Note that parking on the street means that you are subject to Guelph parking bylaws (time duration, etc)

PAY options:

1) right across the street from the emergency room entrance, there is metered street parking.  There is 2 hour maximum and the cost is $2 / hour, I believe.

2) Hospital parking: price ranges from $2.50 per half hour, to $12 for a full day ($14 for full day with multiple entry / exit).  More information is found on the Guelph General Hospital website (http://www.gghorg.ca/index.php/patient-visitor, parking section)

Guelph General Hospital's packing list!

And low and behold...after compiling my list, I have stumbled upon Guelph General Hospital's list of what to pack for labour and deliver.  The quantity of some items seems excessive (8-10 blankets? 4 hats?) ...but perhaps it's if you lose some or get them dirty?

http://www.gghorg.ca/images/GGH_PDFs/What%20to%20bring%20to%20the%20hospital%202012.pdf

What to bring when having your baby at Guelph General Hospital

For mom:
• Ontario Health Card and other insurance information
• Medications you take regularly in labeled pharmacy containers
• Large sanitary pads; enough for three days and nights
• Clothing for self (i.e. slippers, socks, nightgowns, pyjamas, underwear and bra)
• Nursing pads for breastfeeding mom (optional)
• Personal care items (i.e. toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, soap, shampoo, conditioner, lip balm etc.)
• Pens to fill out forms
• If you bring food to place in the pantry located across the nursing station, please label with your name
• Anyone who has already delivered at the Guelph General Hospital will tell you about the wonderful pair of underwear we give to you after you have your baby; unfortunately we are able to only give you one pair

For baby:
• Newborn size diapers (approx. 25)
• Wipes
• Vaseline
• 8-12 receiving blankets
• Several pairs of sleepers
• 2-4 hats
• Safety approved infant car seat (please familiarize yourself with the car seat prior to discharge; your nurse is unable to help because every car seat is so different)

Other:
• Extra pillows (there is never enough!)
• Pyjamas, extra blanket and/or sleeping bag for partner
• Breastfeeding pillow (optional)
• Pen for keeping track of when baby feeds
• Kleenex
• Camera, personal mp3/iPod
• Snacks for partner
• Please DO NOT bring perfumes, latex and lilies as some people have severe sensitivities or allergies

What to pack in your hospital bag

So I had better start gathering stuff for my hospital bag.  Here are some things on my to pack list:

• chapstick
• nipple cream (like Lansinoh)
• pads / Depends or Always underwear
• Clothes for mom:
• socks
• underwear
• clothes to wear home
• birthing clothes
• toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, hand lotion, vaseline, shampoo, soap, etc)
• flip flops / crocs
• hair ties
• Clothes for newborn baby:
• sleeper / onesie
• socks
• hat
• mittens
• receiving blanket
• a few diapers and wipes
• snacks
• water bottle / liquids
• cell phone / cell phone charger
• camera
• light entertainment (e.g. book, magazines, iphone)

I have heard that Guelph General Hospital sometimes provides the following, but to be on the safe side I might bring a few of my own:

• diapers
• wash clothes instead of wipes
• receiving blanket
• pads / mesh underwear
• formula if you are not breastfeeding (I won't be bringing any formula with me, in case I don't need it)

Items I would strongly consider but might not pack if there is no room

• robe
• nursing pillow
• own pillow
• toilet paper (stuff that is softer than the kind at the hospital!)

One recommendation is to also pack it all in a rolling suitcase so that you can roll it out as opposed to having to carry the bag when you leave the hospital.

Also make sure to have that car seat installed!

Free Fun in Guelph - August 22, 2015

I think my little one is still a bit young to watch movies...but this is an awesome opportunity to do something fun and free with the family!  Someone please check it out and tell me how good (and hopefully not bad) it is.

It says you need to go to the box office for tickets, which I presume means you cannot order them online ahead of time.  If someone goes, please feel free to tell me how exactly it works!

The movie that has a free screening is "Maya the Bee Movie"
Details:

Galaxy Cinemas Guelph

485 Woodlawn Road West, Guelph, ON, N1K 1E9

Saturday August 22, 2015

11AM

(519) 763-3935

http://www.cineplex.com/Showtimes/any-movie/galaxy-cinemas-guelph?Date=8/22/2015
http://www.cineplex.com/Movie/maya-the-bee-movie-a-family-favourites-presentation

What are some stores I can purchase an infant car seat from in Canada?

If you buy a car seat to be used in Canada, it must be approved for Canadian Safety Standards.  The easiest way to achieve this is to buy from a vendor that sells car seats specifically for the Canadian market.  These include:

BRICKS AND MORTAR STORES - for those that like to go into a store and talk to someone and see a product

Ontario Wide (stores and online):
- Toys R Us
- Walmart (walmart.ca)
- Sears
- Canadian Tire

Guelph (physical store)
- Diaper Dayz

Toronto (physical stores and online)
- Dear Born Baby
- Canabee Baby

ONLINE:
Amazon.ca
Shop.ca
Costco.ca
Bestbuy.ca