Mommy FTW

The Hurricane is coming!  It’s time to batten down the hatches, and figure out what the heck to do with your kids!  Here’s a round up of my favorite rainy day activities in Washington DC if you need to get the little ones out of the house, most of them FREE!

Some ideas to beat the rainy day blues. Of course, there's always puddle stompin'!

Wilson Aquatic Center – The Aquatic Center is currently closed for it’s yearly “deep clean” but will re open Sunday, August 28th all refreshed.  Given that Sunday is supposed to be one of the more rainy days, this seems like great timing to me!  Check out my earlier post on the Wilson Aquatic Center to learn more about this fabulous, free spot.  It’s the perfect place to take your kiddos and really tire them out!

Rock Creek Park Nature Center – While not the most glamorous spot, it’s a great little gem for a rainy day.  There’s lots of things for your little explorer to look at and touch, and plenty of free parking.  Check out my earlier post on the Rock Creek Park Nature Center for more information.

The National Museum of Natural History – This museum has Dinosaurs, bugs, a huge Elephant, gems, and so much more.  Both my son and daughter loved being able to hold the bugs, and were amazed by the butterfly exhibit.  Check out the National Museum of Natural History website for more information on the current exhibits and hours.

National Museum of American History – If your little one loves trains, trucks, machines, and hands on activities don’t miss the Spark Lab!), then you definitely want to check out this Museum.  Check out the website for more information on exhibits and hours of operation.

National Air and Space Museum – There is something amazing about giant planes hanging indoors just a few feet away from you – even to an adult!  Air and Space is a guaranteed winner for kids.  Be sure to check out the How Flight Works exhibit which has lots of fun hands on activities.  Check the Air and Space website for more info.

Wisconsin Place Rec Center – This isn’t the most exciting outing, but if you are desperate to get your little on out of the house, this is a decent option.  Check out my previous post on the Rec Center to learn more.

Metro Train Ride – If your toddler loves trains as much as mine does, they might enjoy just a train ride on the Metro.  I know I’ve done this before!  Cameron really loves the “underground train.”  Seems silly…. but you never know what is exciting to a little one.  Kids under 4 ride free.

National Zoo – Yes, much of the Zoo is outside, but there are lots of indoor exhibits too.  Cameron’s favorites are the Bird House and Amazonia.  Check the Zoo website for more info on exhibits and hours.

Palisades Library – Did you know the Palisades library has a train table, and a whole floor devoted to the kids section?  It’s the best kids library I’ve ever encountered.  The library isn’t open Sunday, but it’s a good option for this Saturday (or any other rainy day!)  Check out the Palisades Library page on the DC Public Library website for more info.

Those of you who read Mommy For The Win regularly know that Cameron loves to read, and I try to encourage this by always getting him new books.  I’ve become a huge fan of the D.C. Public Library because really, who has the money to buy all these books!

When I first started going to the Library I would aimlessly search the shelves and pull out what seemed like it would interest Cameron.  Occasionally I would find something good, but it was hard to really get in there to look for specific things while wrangling a toddler and a newborn.  So, with the encouragement of the DCPL on twitter (@dcpl) I checked out the D.C. Public Library website, and learned how to place books on hold for pick up at whatever library I wanted.  It’s really easy – Here’s a step by step guide:

1)Figure out what book you want to check out – this can be the hardest part.  If you are short on inspiration, use Amazon.com to help you.  Today I started by typing in “Truck Book” to the search box.  One of the suggestions that came up was “Little Blue Truck” by Alice Schertle.  The reviews seemed good, so I thought I’d see if the Library had it.  (Honestly, I would say 8 out of 10 times they do have the book I am looking for!)  FYI, another great resource is the “Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought” suggestions box.  It’s full of other great ideas for similar books.  If your toddler has a favorite book, search for it and see what Amazon suggests in this area.  It’s really helpful!

Use this suggestions box to come up with ideas

2)Go to the D.C. Public Library website and search their online catalog.  The website is catalog.dclibrary.org – just type the title of the book (or if you have an author you like, you can try that as well) to find your book.

Search the online catalog

3)Place the book on hold.  Click on the book – when looking at the book information page you will see there is an option to “Place Hold” – this means that they will fetch the book for you (from any DC Library branch) and bring it to whichever Library branch you ask.  Yes.  THEY DELIVER IT!! If the book is checked out, they will get it for you once it is returned.  Usually it takes a few days if the book is not checked out.  They will email you when the book has arrived at your requested library.

Place your book on Hold - you can choose your pick up branch

4)Pick up your book.  Once you get your email, go and pick up your book – it will be there waiting for you under your name.  It’s so easy.  You will never aimlessly browse the Library again!

You can manage your holds and see what the status is as well.  If you decide you don’t want a book after all, you can cancel the hold.

Manage your Holds using the "My Requested Holds" button

Of course to do all this you need a library account.  If you don’t have one of those, sign up.  It’s quick, easy, and FREE!

Not in D.C.?  Don’t worry – I know other Libraries have a similar system.  Stop in to your local branch and ask them how to place a hold for a book and if they have an online catalog.  You will be so happy you did!

My husband and I are big fans of Chipotle, so I was super excited when I learned they had a kid’s menu…. and that Cameron loved eating their food!

Cameron is ready to dig in!

The kids meal comes on a super cute tray – you can get tacos or a quesadilla, it comes with beans, rice, a little bag of chips, and a drink (apple juice or milk).  Cameron likes the quesadilla – I get it with Carnitas (the shredded pork) because the chicken is a bit spicy for his taste.  It is extremely affordable (around 3$) and a heck of a lot more healthy than most fast food kid’s options.  So next time you go to Chipotle give the kid’s meal a try for the little one….  It’s a great option!

With these super hot summer days heat rash is common in little ones.  Cameron has had a few bouts of it, and I always use the same tried and true remedy that my pediatrician told me when he was just a little guy:  a bath with Corn Starch or Baking Soda. Of course, for good measure I usually add both Corn Starch and Baking Soda.  By the way, if you are not sure if your little one heat rash call your pediatrician! Fair warning, the google image search for baby heat rash is a little scary.

Here’s a picture of what Cameron’s rash looked like:

Cameron's rash

Baking Soda and Corn Starch Bath - all better!

By the way, this bath remedy is also great when your little one has diaper rash too.

I’d like to start this post by saying I am still in the middle of Cameron’s potty training (my 2.5 year old boy,) so I am by no means an expert!  But obviously it’s a hot topic in our house, so I thought I would post what I’ve learned so far, and some of the advice I’ve gotten from other moms.

Potty training is tricky.  Lots of people say you don’t want to miss your chance otherwise your child will be in diapers forever.  Other people say it’s important not to push them too hard.  So apparently there’s some fine line in there we’re supposed to walk to get our sassy, opinionated, toddlers to reach this milestone.  I think our experience has been complicated by Violet’s arrival which happened right about when you are “supposed” to potty train a boy.  We definitely suffered some setbacks when the baby arrived at the house.  But now, I think we are back on track.

I could have used a picture of Cameron working on his potty training, but I didn't want to embarass him *too* much.

I started off by purchasing the book Potty Training Boys the Easy Way from Amazon.  I found it pretty useful – it’s not a very dense read, and I got through it quickly.  Basically the book promotes using “sessions” to help your son realize when he has to go to the bathroom.  For an hour or so at a time, you put underpants on your son, or let him go naked.  If he pees and has an accident, you clean it up and don’t make a big deal about it.  Eventually they will come to realize that they don’t like getting wet and will start to tell you when they have to pee.  This basically worked for Cameron.  He can hold his pee for hours and for the most part is pretty good and getting to the potty in time.  I will tell you we have to react fast – so far we only have about 30 seconds warning ’till the pee comes out.  I’m guessing this will improve with time.  We also have 2 potties (both exactly the same).  One near Cam’s playroom and the living room, and one up in his bedroom.  The book suggested this (multiple potties so they are near by, and the same so that your toddler doesn’t only want to go in the “red potty” for example).  Cam helped me pick the potty out – we went with the Baby Bjorn Potty.

I have also been bribing Cameron with stickers when he goes pee in the potty.  He seems to enjoy getting them and it was working well – for pee.  We had made zero progress in the poop on the potty department.  I reached out to my mom friends for some advice in this area, and basically it seemed that I needed to up my bribery game.  We promised Cameron a Thomas Train if he would poop on the potty.  Lo and behold, it worked!  Yes, that makes it an expensive poop – but if he makes it out of diapers, then it’s worth it.  We will downgrade to matchbox cars I’m sure, and then maybe back to stickers, but for now I’m fine with the trains!

I wanted to post some other advice and suggestions I got from other moms in case they seem like they might work for you:

No diapers in the house – cold turkey! (Except nap time and bed time, and eventually take them away when your little one seems to wake up dry more often than not).  This seems similar to the “sessions” approach that I used but more intense.

Get underpants that your toddler is really excited about – and shop for them together.  Cameron loves his Thomas undies, and he doesn’t want to get Thomas wet or dirty. Tell your son or daughter that they can wear them if they want to use the potty.

Put underwear under the pullups for overnight – this makes peeing really soggy and uncomfortable, while keeping the laundry situation under control.  Personally, I think this idea is genius and when we  start to tackle the night time issue, I may give it a try.

Bribery, bribery, bribery – Many moms suggested this in many forms.  M and M’s, stickers, matchbox cars, and one mom who gave her child a skateboard at 50 dry nights!  I think you just need to find that sweet spot of something your kid really wants and bribe them with it.  In a toddler’s world, it seems to go a long way.

Good luck everyone!  And please feel free to comment with your own ideas and suggestions.

This week Cameron, Violet, and I, went to check out the sprinklers at Friendship Park (Turtle Park).  He had a blast, so I wanted to find out where we could find more “Spraygrounds.”  I contacted the DC Department of Parks and Recreation on twitter (@DCDPR) and they pointed me to a list of all the Sprinkler parks in the District. Here’s the list:

Cam cools off in the Turtle Park sprinklers

14th and Girard Street Spray Park - 14th and Girard Street, NW
14th and Park Road Spray Park - 14th Street and Park Road, NW
Benning Stoddert Spray Park - 100 Stoddert Place, SE
Columbia Heights Spray Park -  1480 Girard Street, NW
Friendship Spray Park - 4500 Van Ness St., NW
Lafayette Spray Park - 5900 33rd Street, NW
Palisades Spray Park - 5200 Sherrier Place, NW
Petworth Spray Park - 801 Taylor Street, NW
Riggs LaSalle Spray Park - 501 Riggs Road, NE

UPDATE – As of Today, 8/2/11 the sprinkler park at Chevy Chase Playground is OPEN.  For more info: http://mommyftw.com/the-sprinklers-are-on-at-chevy-chase-livingston-playground/

For more information on hours of operation and contact phone numbers for the sprinkler parks, check out the Washington DC Department of Parks and Recreation website.

By the way, if your toddler is a little water shy, check out an earlier post I wrote about helping your toddler warm up to going in the sprinklers.

UPDATE – Yesterday we went to check out the Palisades Spray Park and the water was NOT on. I talked to some people at the park and they said it is usually NOT on – so if you are looking for some sprinkler fun, I wouldn’t bother heading over there!  Check out Friendship Park instead.

It seemed like the last half of May was a monsoon here in DC, and then it got terribly hot – so I was desperate for some indoor fun for Cameron that was easy for me to navigate having Violet in tow. My mom mentioned to me that when I was a kid she used to take my brother and I to the Rock Creek Park Nature Center. The Nature Center is located Just off Military Road near St. Johns College High School (5200 Glover Road, NW DC to be exact). It’s a small building with it’s own parking lot…. and it’s free!

There’s an area with flora and fauna on display that you’d find in the park (some of the animals are stuffed, others live – Cameron loves the Turtles). On Friday afternoons at 4pm kids can meet the live animals and help feed them. Check out the Nature Center website for more about the Ranger Led Programs.

Then there’s a children’s playroom with all kinds of fun things the kids can touch and interact with to help them learn more about life in the park. I completely missed this the first time I went! Cameron wanted to spend a lot of time here exploring, coloring, reading the books, and playing with the puzzles.

Finally, there’s  a planetarium which I’ve yet to check out because I think Cam might be a bit young still. The planetarium holds regular shows on Saturdays and Sundays at 1 p.m. for children five and older (5-7 year olds must be accompanied by an adult) and at 4 p.m. for children seven and older. Also, on Wednesday afternoons year-round there is an after- school show at 4:00 p.m.  Free tickets for the planetarium shows can be picked up at the information desk in the Nature Center.

The Rock Creek Park Nature Center and Planetarium is located at 5200 Glover Road, NW DC. It’s open from 9:00 am. – 5.00 pm Wednesday-Sunday. And closed on New Years Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Go check it out and have some fun!

Cameron has always loved swimming.  When we were still living in Brooklyn Cameron and I spent many an afternoon at Clermont Pool at PS 20 cooling off.  Now that we are in D.C. we get swim at Cam’s grandparents house.  The most shallow area of the pool is 4 feet deep (unlike the indoor pool at the Wilson Aquatic Center which has a beach pool that starts at zero depth).  So, I knew I needed to get Cam something to help him swim on his own since I was going to have my hands full with our newborn.  I asked around to my mom friends to see if anyone had a floatie (life jacket, flotation device, etc) they could recommend.  I heard great things about the Sterns Kids Puddle Jumper – and the price seemed right so I went ahead and ordered it from Amazon.

The first time Cam wore the Puddle Jumper in the pool he was a little nervous, still clinging to me.  But as the time went one he became more and more secure in it.  By the end of our hour in the pool he was swimming on his own and jumping in the water.  The next day we went swimming again and he quickly was up to speed and making his way all around the pool.

I love the Puddle Jumper because it’s comfortable for Cameron.  Because of the way it fits around him, it can’t ride up.  It’s very easy for him to move around on his own and work on his kicking and paddling.  I feel confident that he is safe in the water.  It’s easy for me to guide him around with one hand holding the clip at the back to help him work on his swimming.  Overall, I couldn’t be happier – and I think Cam feels the same way!

It seems like every time we get new books from the Library Cameron learns new words and his vocabulary grows.  Pretty cool!  And now to make finding the books I want super easy I just request them online at the DC Library website and get an email when they are ready to pick up.  If I’m short on inspiration of what to look for in the online catalog I just browse Amazon and see what other books people buy when I look up Cameron’s favorites.  Anyways, these are his current favorites – soon to be returned for something new!

Alphabeep!  Cameron learned so many words from this book, which highlights a transportation related word for each letter of the alphabet.  Now everywhere we drive he points out stop signs, yield signs, red lights, firetrucks, cement mixers… the list goes on!  It’s perfect for any vehicle obsessed toddler.

Cameron has loved many Byron Barton books, and Dinosaurs, Dinosaurs is no exception.  A lot of the dinosaur names are pretty hard for him, but he did learn “T Rex” and also now seems to understand what “scary” and “scared” means.

In the book My Big Rig a young boy drives cross country in his truck via his imagination.  Since Cameron likes anything to do with trucks, this one is a no brainer!

Cameron seems to love every Spot book that we bring home.  In Spot Goes to the Park, Spot and his friends play ball and swing at the park.  These are things that Cameron and I do a lot together, so reading this book is a fun way for me to ask him questions about what we did at the park too.  Of course, this book has all the lift-the-flap fun that Spot books are known for.

Be sure to check for these books at your local Library – and DC friends, try out the online library catalog.  It’s a really convenient way to get all the books you want.  If you’re not in DC, check to see if your library system has a similar feature.  I know the one in Brooklyn did as well!

A few days after Violet was born I started feeling a little itchy, and saw some small red blotches appearing on my chest.  I didn’t think too much of it – figuring maybe she had clawed me a little while I was holding her and my skin was just a bit irritated.  I laid down for a nap.  When I woke up there was a rash covering my chest and my torso and it itched like CRAZY.  I started googling.

After searching for some time I came upon something called PUPPS – Pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy.  The thing is, PUPPS usually happens during pregnancy, generally during first pregnancies, 70% of the time the mothers are carrying boys, and usually the mothers are carrying multiples.  As you know, none of these things applied to me.  But, the symptoms themselves and the pictures I was looking at seemed like an exact match.  I started looking for something, anything, to give me relief from the unbearable itching.

I was incredibly disheartened to read that there was no “cure” for PUPPS (they don’t even really know the cause) and that sometimes women find the itching so bad they have their doctors induce them because most of the time PUPPS goes away once your baby is born.  For me, this wasn’t even on the table.  I was frantic.

I sent my husband to Whole Foods to buy up any holistic remedy I found on the internet (which I will post about below).  I was all about the shotgun approach since I was so desperate.  While he was gone I called my OB to make an appointment, and spoke to my daughter’s pediatrician to make sure all the things I were about to try were ok for the baby.  I got my OB appointment for the next day (which seemed like an eternity away) and got the all clear from the pediatrician.  My husband came back and I began my home-remedy assault.  Here’s what I tried:

Grandpa’s Pine Tar Soap – This stuff will make you smell a bit like you spent too much time next to the camp fire, but I didn’t care.  I took a warm shower with it and left the lather on me for a few minutes before rinsing it off. I did this a few times that day. This soap is written about all over the internet as a PUPPS helper.  It did seem to give me some relief from the itching.

Natures Gate Skin Therapy Colloidal Oatmeal Lotion – I put this on after each shower, and sometimes in between. This lotion is supposed to help with itching. I’m not sure how much it really did for me, but I didn’t care.

Dandelion root capsules – The bottle said take 3 pills, 3 times a day. Dandelion Root is said to help improve liver function. I figured it couldn’t hurt.  I can’t really say if this helped, but improved liver function sounds good!

Benadryl Itch Stopping Gel - the Nurse Practitioner I spoke to at my OB’s office recommended trying this since I wasn’t going to see my OB until the next day and get something stronger. We had some on hand for mosquito bites in the summer so I was all for it. It helped some to relieve the itching – for about 5 minutes.

Claritin – I think in the end this was my savior. Maybe 10 minutes after I took the first pill I started feeling better, and within an hour the itching was bearable again. I took a 24 hour pill, but within 12 hours the rash was back with a vengeance and I had to take another pill (this was at 4am). Be sure to NOT take Claritin D if you are nursing, the “D” kind will decrease your milk supply.

The next day I saw my OB and she gave me a topical steroid cream as well as a steroid pack.  She also told me to keep taking the Claritin, and try Benadryl at night.  She said that the two medicines work different ways so it was kind of like hitting the problem on two fronts.  Mercifully, within a few days the PUPPS rash seemed like it was all gone.

Besides the prescriptions, you can get all these remedies over the counter at a health foods store (or Whole Foods) and a drug store like CVS or Walgreens.  Be sure to check with your OB and your child’s pediatrician before trying any remedies to be sure they think they are safe for you and your baby.

So, if you have PUPPS, first I would like to say I am terribly sorry because I know how awful it is.  Second, I hope some of these remedies help you get at least a little relief.  And also, for the very very few of you out there who might get PUPPS after delivery I just wanted to let you know that yes, it can happen, even though it is rare.  My OB said she had only heard of it happening once before.  Either way, hang in there – and GOOD LUCK!