Mommy FTW

We live near the Whole Foods Friendship Heights in Chevy Chase and shop there all the time, and often eat lunch as well (FYI, it’s a great place to eat with the whole family because everyone can pick something that they want).  I just found out that this particular Whole Foods is about to roll out a delivery service, and for those who give it a try during the soft launch (5/29-6/12,) you can get a 10$ gift card, and a free delivery!

Free delivery and 10$ of free food? Yes please.

Here’s the details about the Friendship Heights delivery service: Customers will come to the store and shop as usual, at check out they can opt for delivery. Whole Foods will hold on to the groceries and deliver within a 4hour window from the point of purchase. The idea is that customers who take great pride in picking out their own groceries will still get that experience but won’t have to hustle home to drop off their items when they may have other plans.  So now you can still get your shopping done and then run straight off to the kids soccer practice, karate, art class, or all of the above.

Violet at Whole Foods last Sunday getting some shopping done

Whole Foods is using a completely green electric truck, and they hope to extend the delivery area and that eventually the Tenley and Bethesda store will implement the service to serve their neighborhoods.

The delivery fee is a flat $5 and any deliveries of groceries totaling $200 or more will be free.  Check out the map to see if you are in the delivery area, and stop in and talk to the friendly folks at Customer Service to learn more about getting your 10$ gift card.

FYI, you can ‘Like’ Whole Foods Market Friendship Heights on Facebook and find out more about weekly specials (Lobster tails are on sale this Friday!!) and classes.

Unfortunately Violet and I have been really sick lately – and what is better when you are sick than chicken soup?  The other morning we found ourselves at Whole Foods in Tenleytown and I got some soup for Violet and I.  I remembered that Cameron used to eat chicken soup without the soup – and that it was an easy, protein and veggie filled meal that we could share.

Yummy yummy in my tummy!

So get yourself some chicken soup, and fish out all the chunks – the veggies are usually really nice and soft and easy for baby to handle (Violet still only has 2 teeth!) and the chicken bits and noodles are easily made into little pieces.  Violet even let me feed her little spoonfuls of broth.  Just make sure it’s not too hot!

I am always on the look out for new snack options for Cameron.  I know he likes pretzels, and at his 2 year check up his pediatrician mentioned I should try and get him to eat more yogurt.  I’m not sure if yogurt covered pretzels really count in that department, but when I saw them at Trader Joe’s I thought I’d pick some up and see if Cameron liked them.  Indeed – he did!

Ready for snacking!

Overall I think they are a pretty hearty snack for him, plus they transport well.  If you’d like more information on the nutrition aspects of Trader Joe’s Yogurt Pretzels, check out this link.  FYI, I know Whole Foods also has yogurt covered pretzels in the bulk isles – and I’m sure you can find them elsewhere as well.  Give them a try – your toddler might love snacking on them!

These Earth’s Best Organic Letter of the Day Cookies make a great snack or post meal treat.  I was first introduced to them by a mom friend while we were having lunch at the tots with Whole Foods after a swim at the Wilson Aquatic Center.  She had bought some for her daughter Lily and was kind enough to share with Cameron who gobbled them up.

C is for Cookie, that's good enough for Cameron!

I was pleased when I looked at the nutrition information to see that they are a great source of iron (9 cookies gives them 20% of their daily requirement!) zinc, and 6 B vitamins.  So if you are looking for a reasonably healthy snack or treat, try these cookies.  And, don’t forget that Earth’s Best website has printable coupons – they’ve currently got one for $1 off two Sesame Street products.

A few months ago I posted about giving Cameron Ronnybrook Drinkable Yogurt.  Well we’ve since been out of New York and I haven’t been able to find it!  But I have stumbled upon YoBaby Whole Milk Drinkable Yogurt – and Cameron loves it (more than the Ronnybrook, it seems).  I love the small size (4 oz containers), and the easily resealable top (screw on instead of the snap on Ronnybrook has).  I know that the flavor Cam likes has sugar in it (he enjoys Peach) but, like traditional YoBaby, it also comes in Plain if you are concerned about the sugar levels.  Other flavors include banana, blueberry, and vanilla.

A Peachy Lifesaver

Cameron has been working on his 2 year molars and hasn’t been wanting to eat much, so these drinkable yogurts have been a lifesaver.  If you can’t find Ronnybrook in your area, or just want an alternative, check your grocer’s dairy section for YoBaby organic drinkable yogurt!  FYI, for the New York fans out there, this product is available at Fresh Direct.

Cameron and I braved the snow and made a recent trip back to Washington, DC.  Of course, while we were there we went to the Wilson Aquatic Center (3 times!)  I learned a few new things I wanted to share.

Let's get this show on the road!

1)Babies are now required to wear swimsuits and swim diapers.  We found this out the first day from one of the lifeguards.  He allowed us to stay, but said we should get one for next time.  We were able to find an ugly, but affordable swimsuit at Feline’s Basement in Mazza Gallerie.  Problem solved!

2)The Women’s locker room – which has warmer showers than the family locker room, and is much bigger, and has a swim suit dryer – also has a diaper changing station.  So if you feel more comfortable in there (I like it better, personally) try taking your little one to that locker room instead.

3)Be sure to bring lots of Quarters for the meters outside.  If you don’t have any, you can park at the lot that services Whole Foods.  If you get your ticket stamped it saves you a few bucks.

4)While getting my ticket stamped in Whole Foods (due to all the snow we couldn’t park on the street at a meter) I also got Cameron some lunch.  They have a great salad bar, hot food bar, and soups.  Cameron ate some squash soup, fresh mozzarella balls, peas, white beans, and pesto chicken salad.  Yum!  Upstairs they have a place you can sit and eat, which has 2 high chairs.  Unfortunately I didn’t have my phone with me – so no pics – but believe me when I say, there are lots of choices for mom and baby, and plenty of seating too!

Before Cameron was born my husband and I took an extensive birthing class at Real Birth.  We learned all about the hormones that bond baby and mother, and about how important it is to breast feed.  In fact, now a days everyone says “breast is best” and there is a lot of pressure for new moms to nurse, and not use formula or bottles at all.  I was sold, and when Cameron arrived, I knew I was ready to bond with my baby, and go breast milk all the way.

At the hospital I was dead tired, and after much fretting, I allowed Cameron to be taken to the nursery, where he was given bottles with formula.  I was sure that was the end, and he would never take the breast after that!  Of course, this wasn’t the case.  Once I got over my fear of “nipple confusion” I decided I wanted Cameron to get a bottle once a day from his dad (preferably at bed time) because this is one thing my sleep book had suggested – of course, my plan had been to pump this with my Medela “hospital grade” pump that a friend had lent me.  Unfortunately, things didn’t work out the way I had thought they would.

At first, I was in a LOT of pain – like scream out in pain when Cameron latched on – pain.  I had a lactation consultant come to my home, and she certainly helped getting a good latch, but I still was having trouble producing enough milk.  I wanted to pump to alleviate my pain, but hardly anything came out – maybe an ounce or two, if I was really lucky.

One day I went over to my neighbor’s house – she also had a son who was 3 days younger than Cameron.  She showed me her freezer full of pumped milk and I felt so jealous.  Those bags I had bought for milk storage were mocking me – and I was getting frustrated.  My neigbor had a baby nurse who suggested I try drinking Guinness, as well as taking some pricey herbs which I found at Whole Foods.  Both of them helped some (maybe I got 2, or 3 ounces after a day of pumping – several times)… but I still wasn’t getting any real volume – and certainly not enough to store away.   So finally, I started giving Cameron some formula along with his breast milk.  It began as a “cocktail bottle” – whatever I could pump, plus a little formula, and then it grew from there.

I got a lot of flak from other moms and people in general.  Someone told me it was “such a shame” that Cameron was getting formula.  I was angry, and frustrated, but eventually I got over it.  In my mind, Cameron and I were getting the best of both worlds.  All the benefit of breast milk, plus the ease of formula.  Cameron weened himself around 9 months, and has been on just formula and solids ever since.  I wish he had kept nursing a little, both because of my owns selfishness (I miss it a little) as well as I think it would have helped him fend off some colds this winter.  But you can’t fight progress!  My pediatrician said this is common, and it’s a sign of independence.

Anyways – to sum up – moms out there, don’t feel terrible if you are supplementing with formula.  I’m sure you have your reasons, and I’m sure you are a great mom!