by Heather
Probably you know how to fiddle with baby’s toes to the classic old nursery rhyme, but I like to mix it up. My twist is that I like the middle piggy to eat something different each time. Not that I’m opposed to roast beef. For some reason, I always want to make it Kentucky Fried Chicken – maybe I like the melody of saying that.
Yesterday the middle piggy had a decaf latte.
My kid still knows to be excited at the “wheee whee whee” part, but I think he also likes to see the wheels turning in my head for the surprise entree. 
by Whitney
Hey L.A. parents, did you know that Homemade Baby on Jefferson has a “tasting room” open on weekdays from 9 am to 4 pm? You can have your baby try free samples of their food. They also have special events with chefs and nutritionists.
And Seattle/Bellvue folks, on Thursday, April 12th Whole Foods is offering a Motherhood Series class called First Foods, Infant Feeding from 6 – 10 months. It’s from 10-11:30 am and it’s FREE! (registration required)
In this first class we will discuss how to tell when your baby is ready for solids, find out what the best first foods are and why, and what foods should be avoided. We will make and sample pureed papaya, mashed squash, baby cereal and teething biscuits. Taught by certified nutritionist, Ami Karnosh.
If you’re not in LA or Seattle, you can still plan a get-together with some baby-toting friends and create your own tasting menu with each parent bringing one homemade dish. See if you can get your baby to embrace some different flavors.
by Whitney
Anyone lucky enough to live in Marin County, CA should check out this website. It has reviews of playgrounds, plus listings of rainy day activities such as library storytime and bookstores.
The rest of us will just have to count on each other.
What playground do you like to visit? Tell us about it.
If you’re a true newbie mom and haven’t hit the playground circuit yet, make a park your outing for today. It’s fun to see what older babies are up to. You’ll be there in just a few months.
I’m a fan of Totland in Berkeley. I first went there when I was about 41 weeks pregnant and thought the future looked like a lot of fun. Locals already know that it’s filled with toys that people have donated. New moms who live in small houses will soon realize the value of this. I also like Terrace Park in Albany and Cordonices Park (but we have to drive there) in the Berkeley Hills.
by Heather
Why are two spoons better than one?
Now that my baby grabs for the spoon when I’m feeding him, things can get a little messier and a lot slower. Of course I don’t want to discourage his learning process, and some day, I will surely want him to feed himself (exclusively).
So, I make sure to have an extra spoon on-hand so that he can take charge of his feeding with one spoon and I can also keep sneaking food into his mouth with the other. It makes the whole feeding-solids thing a little smoother and a little less messy.
