Rookie Moms

Becky sent us this activity: Find all the lady bugs…or all the elephants, trains, babies, or clouds. Using your child’s puzzles, toys and books, find all the examples you have of a single subject matter.

“It’s interesting to compare the ways different illustrators depict the same thing,” wrote Becky, “and I think it helps children to learn to see various examples of trains in all the different contexts.”

I pointed out to Julian that three of his different stuffed animals are all frogs and lined them up sitting next to each other. He seemed both intrigued and amused.

I believe this is the third driving suggestion we’ve made, so I must apologize to my friend Nikki if she’s reading this, because baby Lennox does nothing but scream in his car seat, so I don’t think she’d ever see this as a good suggestion. Who knows though– in a couple months, he could change.

Becky suggested that new parents might want to drive by their hospital. “Find out where your pediatrician has admitting rights,” she advises. “In an emergency you don’t want to be trying to figure out directions!”

If your kid goes to Berkeley Pediatrics, your hospital is Oakland Children’s Hospital. If you are driving your kid into a napping state, head that way and check it out.

I’ve made the first-birthday-party circuit this year and I have some news. Babies are not like us… babies like to:

• reach for the lit candle and burn their fingers (mine did!)
• smear frosting all over their faces and hair, often creating a nasty facial rash (I saw this 3 times!)
• freak out on their first sugary treat
• eat the ribbons

I can’t help you with most of that stuff. I can offer a suggestion if you’re concerned about the ingredients in baby’s first taste of party cake, consider a Babycake (allergen-free and gorgeous).

Created with the delicate nature of toddlers young tummies in mind, Babycakes are free of wheat, gluten, dairy, casein, eggs, soy, nuts and refined sugar. But they taste good and kids love ‘em!

Treat your tender-tummied toddler like the special guest of honor. Order a babycake or try to make your own healthy fruit-cake-like-brick alternative (ick, even Holden didn’t want a second bite). Orders are accepted by phone and can be shipped all over the US and maybe beyond.

Also, blow out the candle before junior grabs it.

This goes out to all the urban mamas who need a scavenger hunt for the day.

Take a picture of your baby in front of graffiti - as explained by the dad who writes on Sweet Juniper. He has an awesome set of Flickr photos that makes me want to do this. Next project on my list is find the best graffiti in Berkeley and pack up Julian and my camera.

If you have any tips on getting your kid to stay put while you take the pictures, let’s hear them.