by Heather
This past Thursday, when Alec had his Dad’s Night Out, I decided to really roll the dice and take both boys out to a restaurant by myself. It was pretty fun.
I tried to call it our Big Adventure, but Holden said we shouldn’t call it a ‘venture. So I asked, “what should we call it then, mom and boys dinner date?” and he said, “we should call it a family”. Cute, but that wasn’t really what I was going for.
Didn’t Holden understand what a big freaking deal it was for me to bring both of them out in public to a restaurant to eat an actual meal with no adult back up? What if there was a poo’splosion (like last time), or a cup being thrown (like last time), or if I just needed to cry? I guess when you’re three, your job is not to worry about that stuff, so he didn’t.
We arrived at Picante (super duper child friendly, for those of you not in Berkeley) with perfect rock star parking — right in front of the door on the correct side of the street! I let Holden out first and asked him to please wait on the sidewalk and be my big helper; he agreed. I loaded Milo into the Hip Hammock, handed Holden the diaper bag, and grabbed my purse and extra baby food right as it started pouring. Buckets! We ran inside. Holden thought that was really fun.
Because we arrived around 5:30, it wasn’t too crowded. Holden darted around the line area, not exactly standing where I asked… and I tried to play it cool. We ordered well and got a table. Holden waited near our table while I struggled to set up two high chairs while still wearing my curious one-year-old. I probably could have asked for some help at that point. Next time.
Fast forward, everyone ate pretty well, Milo tried to teach himself to use a spoon, and they probably hosed down the area after we left… but that’s standard procedure for Picante. I think we’ll be back. 
Yay me!
by Heather
I started “no buying new things” month on Friday. And it’s going pretty well. Except for I’m not exactly saving money since things like “expensive exercise class” are not *things* and are allowable.
Some highlights:
- I found a never-worn skirt in my closet for my fancy dinner date with Alec. I even wore it with the tags on in case it didn’t work out so I could make it look more desirable at the clothing swap (but that was weird of me).
- Talked two co-workers into joining me on my mission and we celebrated by eating lunch out at a restaurant. At least it wasn’t take-out but maybe we should have walked to the cafe if we’re really trying to reduce our global footprint. Hmmm.
- My sister-in-law birthed a brand new (VBAC, you go girl!) niece for me on Friday and I’ve assembled a nice gift box of a home-made baby wrap, baby necessities (like infant tylenol and zinc), and a gift certificate for food.
- No other shopping. Yet.
I also found a great list for fresh inspiration on making toys out of ordinary objects Unclutterer.com; Milo’s first birthday is this month, so he may be cashing in on this find.This site has so many good ideas to clean up my life. If I get around to it. Maybe while I’m lying around the house not buying new stuff this month, I’ll make time? Nah.
Ok, now that I think of it, we have a bunch of related RM activities:
Activity #221: Play choo choo in a laundry basket
Activity #222: Have a (yoga) ball
Activity #80: Fake em out
Activity #123: Introduce the Tupperware
And then there’s the whole free/cheap ideas category for outings and non-toy fun.
by Whitney
At postnatal yoga today, Scarlett and I sat between moms with baby girls named Sage and Hazel.
Are we a trend? Are people going to think we Berkeley mamas pick our children’s names out of the J.Crew catalog? Should I have considered Amber? Mauve? Ebony?
by Whitney
This morning I found myself walking up the street, wearing my baby, when she woke up. She, being five weeks old, was going to need to eat ASAP, and I was still two blocks from home. I noticed that the way she was positioned in the fauxby wrap I was wearing placed her face right against my breast. So I did what any flipping awesome second-time mom living in Berkeley would do: I nursed her while I walked. When I approached my door and entered the house with a key in one hand and a coffee cup in the other, diaper bag over my shoulder and baby’s mouth on my breast, I thought, “Damn, I’m good.”
Of course the last five weeks have had some crazy ups and downs. The downs are mostly during the screaming hours. The ups are mainly during the sleeping hours. But there are other ups to brag about, too. I have accomplished quite a few Rookie Mom outings and activities.
Let’s review my list:
Activity #455: Wrap your baby and stay warm - See picture.
Activity #38: Learn baby massage - I took a free class at Elephant Pharm this week. Next one is Aug 28.
Activity #494: Build a better Kleenex box - I sent a personalized Kleenex box with a picture of my baby to all three grandmothers.
Activity #17: Soothe that baby - Validating that a swaddled baby naps longer.
Activity #92: Go to the theater where crying is allowed - Scarlett’s first movie was Hairspray!
Activity #122: Say “Yes, thank you.” - I am pleased with myself because when my seven months pregnant friend Lisa asked how she could help, I told her to come over and hold Scarlett for 20 minutes while I go drive Julian to school. I’m proud of myself for saying “yes” to the help.
Activity #100: Get a pedicure - Heather and Milo came, too, and we sat in spa chairs while the babies sat in their carseats.
Activity #205: Meet a monkey at the zoo - Ok, this was really for Julian’s benefit, but the result of being #2 is that you get to go to the zoo when you are just a few weeks old.
Activity #361: Make some easy kids pants - I made a pair of tiny tiny pants for my tiny tiny girl out of a cute pink tshirt. It took about twenty minutes. Super fun to tell people I made them myself (when they comment).
So can I possibly keep this up next month?
by Heather
You may already be an activist.
What do you do when you can only finish half your sandwich? If you’re among the many that put it gently back in its paper bag and place it on top of a garbage can hoping that the someone hungry and needy will know to pick it up before it blows away or gets trashed… then this replate movement is for you.
From the site, you can download logos to make something groovy.
Or you can get free stickers to place on said paper bag.
Send a SASE to:
Replate.org
513 Valencia St. Suite 11
San Francisco, CA 94110
Neat idea? Or nasty one?
[As seen on Daily Candy]
by Heather
I just ran across this most excellent roundup of rockin’ kid and parent venues in San Francisco in the Chronicle: Rockin’ with Kids.
Forgive me if some of the info is outdated, I was in the midst of my newborn-haze when it originally ran.
by Heather
Local families, Nest is hosting a shopping event for baby gear at Studio Grow.
Shop the latest baby and childrens collections from over 20 local designers while your little ones romp through the play rooms at Studio Grow.
I’m a fan of Studio Grow on a good day already, so if I just had some extra money for cute stuff, this event would be perfect.
by Heather
As the four of us walked casually to the Farmer’s Market yesterday, I began to dread that we were already at 90 minutes on the “baby clock” and I was very likely to have to nurse on one of the skeevy benches in downtown Berkeley.
Last time, when faced with the same decision, I opted to sprint home with the double stroller (enduring two blocks of newborn screaming and several more of toddler whining) in order to avoid that same ordeal.
Ahh, but I was in luck yesterday.
Yesterday was not only the Saturday Farmer’s Market, it was also Berkeley’s Earth Day Celebration Extravaganza.
So, we were treated not only to a four-story climbing wall, free strawberries, product giveaways, live dancing, and advice on further greening our lives but also Mom’s Breastaurant (get it?!), a very comfy tent specifically for nursing moms.
Nonie Veccia founded Mom’s Breastaurant so that nursing moms would be able to better enjoy summer festivals and streetfairs without being relegated to hot cars or enduring the sideways glances that we often get. Very cool.
In addition to the comfy chairs for the moms, there is a wee toddler play area and all the free diapers and supplies you could want. Such a great service — if only her tents were set up everywhere I want to be!
by Heather
Ahhh yes, another “free” (with paid membership) place to hang out with my feisty toddler on rainy day.
Holden can find all the squashed balls in the ball pit before climbing in and around the train structure, then meander over to the bouncy house, and finally contemplate the climbing wall.
My three complaints:
- Lock your stuff up; some nasty person stole my cash out of a poorly locked backpack
- Purell dispenser is always empty; sometimes I feel like I need to bathe in it if I’ve been in the ball pit with a runny-nosed kid
- Leave the big kids at home: I’m not sure what twos and threes look like (yet) so I’m always wondering about some of the taller, more aggressive kids that wander into baby gym. Saturday mornings should be safe for babies.
We have made a tradition out of going to the baby gym (supposedly only for kids under-three) at 9:15 on Saturday mornings now that Holden has kicked his morning nap. Followed up by the Berkeley Farmer’s Market, we feel very productive indeed. If we were really feeling ambitious, we could head across the street to Habitot, but I think at this point, we’ve earned brunch.
Bottom line: a great Saturday morning activity; just bring your own Purell and leave your $$ in the car.
by Heather
UPDATED: 2008, OUR LITTLE PRIPRI IS OUT OF BUSINESS
I want to love PriPri Cafe on Solano in Berkeley. I really do. It’s owned and run by nice, family-friendly people. There is no admission charge at all. Food and drinks are tasty (but service can be on the slow side) and Holden definitely has fun there.
BUT (the big BUT), it feels so unclean and chaotic all the time (whether there are dozens of people there or just me, Whit and the boys) that I can’t fully get on board.
PriPri Cafe has regularly-scheduled multi-cultural activities, but the big draw for Holden is the long pebbly hallway leading right onto Solano Street. Lately, he and Julian have taken to racing baby strollers just to the door and then turning back around. Whitney and I wait patiently at the far end to give them their taste of independence and to discourage the “you run, I’ll chase” mentality, but it’s a little scary that they’re running full board toward the open road.
Play cafes are not day-care centers. They do not have the obligation to put up a baby gate at the front door because I’m supposed to be carefully watching my own son… I get it. That being said, here are my few suggestions to make PriPri my favorite place to bring baby and have a cup of cocoa all winter long:
- Toss out some of the broken-down/dirty toys, have a “wet box” for the stuff that has been mouthed
- Put up a baby gate at the front door
- Tidy up and make periodic checks for loose pebbles so my baby doesn’t choke
Bottom line: A great weekly activity when I’m out of $$ and/or I’ve already been to Tumble & Tea once
