Mommy FTW

This week I’m heading back to DC with Cameron (for more pool time at the Wilson Aquatic Center!) so I decided to do a little research on the local Library (the Chevy Chase branch located at 5625 Connecticut Avenue) to see what sorts of baby friendly reading programs they have in case we’ve got some spare time.  Here’s what I found listed on the Friends of the Chevy Chase Library web site.  Looks like they’ve got some good offerings!

Chevy Chase Library (via flickr)

Baby Time!
Thursdays at 9:30 am
Books, Lullabies, and Bonding
A program intended for babies and their caregivers

Story Time!
Thursdays at 10 am
Stories, Songs, and So Much More
A program intended for children ages 2-5 and their caregivers

Family Time!
Wednesdays at 7 pm
Stories, Arts & Crafts, and FUN
A program intended for children and their family members

I don’t think we will make Baby Time on this visit, but we will try to in the future!  I think this just goes to show that you should check with your local library to see what kinds of things they have to offer you and your little one.

Gowalla is a really interesting App for the iPhone that can help you meet up with other moms (or friends!) and it’s free.  Often used in conjunction with facebook, or twitter, but great just on it’s own, Gowalla encourages you to “Check in” places that you visit.  When you do this, it lets your friends who also have the Gowalla App know.  A message gets sent to their phone (like a text message – but not counting as one, for those of you who don’t have unlimited texting, like me!).  I think this has some pretty cool possibilities!

Tell your friends where you are...

...have an inpromptu lunch!

If you were at the Library the Playground, or out for a bite, you could check in at that location (create the location if it’s not already listed).  You can even add a description of what you are doing.  Your message would go out to your friends, and if they were near by, they could stop in.  It’s fun – and free, and might get you some unexpected playdates.  Gowalla works on the iPhone, Android, and Blackberry.  FYI, if you have heard of foursquare – this is pretty similar, but I think it has a few features that make it better.

Cameron and I visited the Clinton Hill Library last Tuesday in the hopes of catching Story Time – but the program was on break.  We still had a great time though!  Anyways, the Babies for Books Story Time is starting up again today, March 2nd.  There are two times : 10:45, and 11:30.  Maybe we will see you there!

The Clinton Hill branch is located at 380 Washington Ave. at Lafayette Ave, right around the corner from Underwood Park.

Cameron has always had quite a head of hair, and it grows like a weed.  I think we’ve cut it at least 6 times since his birth in November 08.  And, as much as getting a nice professional hair cut sounds appealing, frankly, I don’t see the point in spending the money.

Cam gets his hair cut

This past weekend my hubby and I gave Cam his most recent hair cut, and we developed a new strategy to contain the hair – and wash him off quickly afterward.  We cut his hair in the bath – pre bath time – then cleaned up as much as we could and put it in the trash, washed the tub out with the shower attachment, and then ran the bath so we could wash Cameron off.
It worked out pretty well – and the cut wasn’t half bad either.  I think the more times we do the cut, the better we get at it.  So don’t be afraid to try it at home and save yourself a few bucks!  After all, it grows back!

On Tuesday Cameron and I headed out to Clinton Hill Library (380 Washington Ave) for Reading with Babies, and a break from the rain. When I got to the library I saw a sign posted that there wouldn’t be any story time until March 2nd, and that they were showing a Sesame Street movie instead. I was a little disappointed, but I wanted to check out the Children’s section of the library anyways because I had heard it was a nice place for kids to play – story time, or no. Indeed, I was not let down.

Cameron plays with the bead maze

There was plenty of space for Cameron to roam around, and a few other babies there. So many books were at his level, and I didn’t feel bad about him taking them off the shelves himself and taking a peek at them (I just followed him around and put them back). There were also a few toys for the kids.

So many books to choose from

Overall, it was a nice place to take Cameron when the weather is bad, so we will certainly be back!

I am so fortunate to know a lot of moms who share with me their ideas and advice.  This post is based in their experiences, as well as information gained from the Fort Greene Babies Yahoo Group and Parents Around the Hill (PATH).  I haven’t checked out all these places myself – so I can’t speak to every one of them personally – but my mom friends haven’t steered me wrong yet.  The reason I have decided to post about them before being able to check them all out is I am guessing that a lot of you are starting to feel a little desperate with all this snow and cold weather – I know I am!  So here are some ideas of places to take your baby in the Fort Greene / Clinton Hill area:

The Booklyn Flea – The Flea has moved indoors for the winter months.  It’s new home is at One Hanson Place on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 5pm.  The Flea is on the main floor and lower level.  According to one mom, the lower level has food options, and the upper level is where the sales go on.  She said the lower level is a great place to take kids and let them roam around, and that there is space for strollers.  So if you are looking for a weekend activity – check out the indoor Flea!

Story time at Greenlight Bookstore – Greenlight Bookstore is located at 686 Fulton Street and has a free story time on Saturday mornings at 10:30 AM.  Check it out for more weekend fun.

Playgroup at Brooklyn Junior – Every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon there is a free playgroup at Brooklyn Junior (150 Clinton Ave – corner of Myrtle) from 3:15-6.  Please email info@brooklynjunior.com if you would like to go.  Children of all ages are welcome.

The Clinton Hill Library – Not only does Clinton Hill Library (380 Washington Ave) have a great and free Reading for Babies program on Tuesdays at 10:45 and 11:30, but I’ve also been told it’s a great place to take your kid to let them roam around even when no scheduled activities are going on.

Chuck E Cheese – Now this one, I never would have thought of!  Last Thursday a few of us were hanging out at Der Schwarze Kölner and one of the moms said that she had just been at Chuck E Cheese with her baby (he is an early walker).  She said that it was her nanny who had originally suggested it, and although she was skeptical – it turned out to be a great place for him to roam around, and it was free (since they aren’t playing any games).  Chuck E. Cheese is located in the Atlantic Terminal Mall.

Der Schwarze Kölner aka the Beer Garden – As I mentioned above I’ve been going to the Beer Garden (710 Fulton Street) with Cameron and some other moms + babies.  It is a great winter option – and they are so welcoming and nice!  Read more about Der Schwarze Kölner at this other post I wrote a few days ago.

If you have other ideas to share, please leave a comment!

I consider myself a frugal person – I had no problem shelling out for Cameron’s Patagonia baby puff rider jacket because I knew he would wear it every day.  But buying an entire snow suit seemed excessive.  Afterall, would he really need it?  Well, yesterday I was wishing I had some waterproof bottoms for him after our first sledding trip in Fort Greene Park.  I mulled it over while Cam was taking his nap, and came up with a solution for our afternoon outing : I put him in a garbage bag from the waist down.  Not the most attractive solution – but it worked!  His jacket and mittens kept him dry up top, and the bag covered the rest!

FYI – the Patagonia winter sale is back on – with discounts of up to 50% off.  This includes baby stuff.  Cameron has both the Puff Rider Jacket and the Baby Capilene which I am thinking about buying again for next year!

I was over at another mom’s house recently and she was telling me about a great website that her daughter loves, which is also educational.  It’s called Starfall.com – I checked it out with Cameron, and he really enjoys it.  The site has different levels of reading and phonics help for different aged children – we stuck with the A B C’s for now!

Pick a letter, any letter!

All the letters of the alphabet are laid out, clicking on each one brings up a small interactive display about each letter – what it sounds like, what it looks like (upper and lower case,) some words starting with and containing each letter, with some pictures or animation, and in some cases a small game.  There is also a section on sign language.

A is for....

B is for... GRR!

C is for... Cameron's favorite. He loves Cats!

The displays are easy to navigate, and although Cameron isn’t using the mouse yet, I think given his expertise with the iPhone, it won’t be long before he won’t need my help at all.  So check out Starfall.com with your little learner!

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!