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While we were in Washington, DC recently Cameron and I (and Grandma) went back to the Wilson Aquatic Center for some winter time swimming. This time the water was much warmer and it was almost empty! Here’s a few more tips that I picked up on my recent visit, as well as a few pictures of the family locker room (hey, it’s no spa, but it’s clean with plenty of space).
Let's go swimming already!
1) All the times I’ve gone the water for the shower in the family locker rooms was cold. You are required to shower before going into the pool, so Cameron and I braved the cold for a few seconds out of necessity. This time my mom was with me in the family locker room and she said that the showers in the women’s locker rooms was much warmer. So if you go to the family locker room and the shower is freezing, duck into the other locker room with your baby. It’s much more comfortable!
If this shower is cold, try the other locker rooms.
2)The men’s and women’s locker rooms also have swim suit dryers. The family locker room doesn’t have one. But, there are diaper changing tables in the family room, which is really helpful.
I've got my swim diaper on and I am ready to go!
3)The lockers in the locker rooms don’t have locks on them. If you are really worried about this you can bring your own lock to use.
Plenty of lockers, but bring your own lock.
4)If you a not a resident of Washington DC you have to pay a small fee to get in. They don’t take Cash – so bring some plastic! Also, bring your ID. They will check it!
5)I’ve never had a problem parking on the street, even though the Wilson Aquatic Center is right by the Tenlytown metro station. Just be sure you bring lots of quarters for the parking meters! There is a clock prominently displayed on the wall in the pool area, so it’s easy to tell how long you’ve been there so you don’t run out of meter time.
Need more info on the Wilson Aquatic Center? Check out their official website. Here you can find info about hours or operation, admission requirements, amenities, and costs.
Have fun swimming! You can bet Cameron and I will be back next time we are in DC!
Today Only – if you become a fan of Babies R Us on Facebook you get a $5 eCard. Sounds like a good deal to me!
Now through January 31st you can get 15% off a single item at Diapers.com with the coupon code 15PCTTY ! Get your shop on! Remember, Diapers.com has free overnight shipping (even on Saturdays here in Fort Greene!)
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Support Mommy For the Win and click through my Diapers.com link when you shop. Thanks!!
My daily Diaper Rash cream for Cameron is Kiehls Diaper Rash Ointment, but when he has a little “situation” going on “down there” I get out the big guns – Triple Paste. One of the things that makes Triple Paste so good is that it is really thick and stays in place…. but this also makes it hard to apply.
Triple Paste - Pasty, But Good!
A trick I use to loose it up and make it easier on myself (and baby’s butt) is to put the jar in a sink filled with hot water for a few minutes. This makes the Triple Paste a little easier to smooth on, and, obviously, warm…. which Cameron seems to like better. Remember when they put that cold goop on your tummy for the ultrasound? Yeah, no one likes that feeling! Give it a try – it works wonders!
As I have mentioned, Cameron and I were in DC this week visiting the grandparents, going swimming, and having a great time! I had decided that instead of driving we would try taking Amtrak from Penn Station.
I did some research both on Parents Around the Hill and via the Fort Greene Babies yahoo group before the trip. The neighborhood moms left me fairly assured that it wouldn’t be too bad when I got to the station. I was still nervous! I took the Q from Dekalb Ave to 34th Street Herald Square for the sake of elevators, and then made my way towards Penn Station on foot above ground.
The entrance to Penn Station that has the down escalator is at 31st St and 8th Ave. I thought the diagram of the building posted on the wall said there was an elevator here, but I didn’t see it, so I went down they short escalator with Cam. (Yes, I know, you’re not supposed to do this).
Once we got down to the main area I started looking around for a red cap, who I had been told would be able to help me out. I didn’t see anyone, so I walked over to the Amtrak Customer Service desk (not the ticket counters) and a friendly man told me what track my train would be leaving from and that there was an elevator over by the police desk. Indeed there was.
I got in – the choices were a little confusing. I went down to “TL” – Track Level, I figured. When when the doors opened I found that I was stuck in between the tracks, and not at the right number. Apparently I was supposed to go to “LL” where you can move to any of the tracks and then take a different elevator down. I went back up to “LL,” found my track, then took another elevator down to “TL.”
Cameron relaxes in his PJ's
Since I had gotten to the train early there were plenty of places to sit. I found Cameron and I a section of 4 seats (2 and 2 facing each other). It was perfect – there was lots of room for him, and for all our stuff. Overall, getting to the train was pretty easy! Stay tuned for more updates on the trip to DC, and the train trip back to New York.
Cameron loves to swing. So yesterday while we were out and about in the afternoon we stopped at Camel Park (at the corner of Carlton and Dekalb in Fort Greene) for an impromptu ride on the swings – but they were all wet from the morning’s rain storms. Usually I have a cloth with me for dealing with such occasions, but I hadn’t planned ahead this time. I thought to myself… what do I have with me that is absorbent? Duh, a diaper!
Mom Genius At Work!
Swinging Happily
So next time you are out and you need something to dry off a wet swing, try using a diaper. It worked like a charm!
Over the winter months I do a lot of cooking in the oven. It’s so much easier and less messy than on the stove, and I don’t mind that it makes my apartment nice and toasty either! I recently discovered that Cameron enjoyed the roast chicken breast I was making. It’s so easy I thought I would share the method. For those less inclined cooks out there – don’t worry, it’s super easy! This uses chicken breast on the bone, with the skin on. I don’t give Cameron the skin, but it helps keep the chicken moist during cooking.
Set your oven to 400
Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray (or you can use a dutch oven or casserole type dish)
Place the chicken bone side down / skin side up on the baking sheet
When the oven is up to temperature, bake for 45 minutes, or until the internal temperature is 165.
That’s it! If you want to make this for yourself – I would add some salt and pepper to the chicken before baking it.
Of course Cameron can’t eat all this at once, so I take off a few bits at meal time and leave the rest wrapped up in the fridge.
Earth’s Best certainly isn’t the cheapest baby food on the block, but the quality is good, and their food is organic, so I try and buy it for Cameron when I can. I found that on their website they have several coupons you can print to save yourself a few bucks. Here’s a few of the offers:
Check the Earth’s Best site for more coupons and offers!
Cameron and I had such a great time in DC over Christmas that we are going back down today. We’re taking the train together – so I will be sure to report on how that goes once we return!
I’ll try to post while I’m gone, but in case I don’t – have a great week everyone!
Check out some great posts you might have missed to keep yourself busy:
Free Infant CPR at the Brooklyn Hospital
Reading for Babies at the Clinton Hill Library – a great winter activity
My Pediatrician’s remedy for pesky Diaper Rash
My sleep training bible – Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Baby
Dealing with a leaky diaper? Maybe it’s time to go up a size
And check out my posts about What Cameron is Eating
