PRESCHOOL REVIEWS

Recently I started to think about where we are going to send Milo to preschool, and over the weeks and months I've become more obsessed about it. When I hear about cost, interviews, and wait lists, it kind of makes my head spin. I don't want this preschool process to drive me to drink during the day. Instead, I'd like it to be a fun, challenging learning experience. 

So, I've started to do some homework. I've pored through posts on DC Urban Mom's (DCUM) listserv, I've tapped our local U Street, Dupont Circle, and Kalorama Yahoo groups, and have even scoured the well known suburban blog: A Parent in Silver Spring (APISS). The best thing I've found so far was a post written by Jessica McFadden of APISS. It's called Paen to Parents with Preschool Paranoia, you should read it, learn from it, and know this process too shall pass. 

In combing through the web, I have yet to find a comprehensive website for DC parents of toddlers going through this process. It appears to be a free for all--with so many different choices. When I think of DC preschools, a few choice schools come to mind. You know, the ones that everybody's talking about. If you live in the U Street area like we do, chances are these schools are all the way across town.

I want my child to go to a great preschool, but I don't think I should have to buy a car to get him to this prized place of early learning five zip codes away. I am determined to find a school close by that fits the needs of our family. Will I succeed? At this point, I have no idea. What I do know, though, is that there will be no preschool I have not visited. I am going everywhere within walking, biking, and a couple of metro stops distance, and will get the scoop. I'll meet with the directors, I'll peek in classrooms, ask the tough questions, and I'll share my experience with you. 

Check back in the coming weeks and months as I review our U Street area preschools. This will include Shaw, Columbia Heights, Dupont Circle, and some other neighborhoods easily accessed by public transportation, foot, or bike. I'm coming up with a standard format for the reviews so you can expect to find the most important details. 

Wish me luck!

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HELLO CUPCAKE

Hello Cupcake celebrated its first birthday Tuesday with free cupcakes. We love birthdays, cupcakes, and balloons, so we had to go. The line was not all that long (maybe 10 minutes), and the wait was definitely worth it. 

After shouting "happy birthday" to the staff, I got my favorite: Peanut Butter Blossom. It's a lovely moist chocolate cupcake with a swirl of peanut butter buttercream, topped with a chocolate kiss. Milo also got his own cupcake (that I helped him eat once we got home), a vanilla cupcake and buttercream with pastel sprinkles. 

According to the owner, Penny Karas, they gave out 2500 cupcakes Tuesday. After they ran out, the people still waiting in line (including the very first customer when they opened their doors one year ago) received vouchers for a free cupcake another day. The most requested were Peanut Butter Blossom, Heart of Darkness, and 24 Carrot.  

I'll mark my calendar for August 25, 2010 when they have their 2nd. birthday bash. In the meantime, I'll look forward to strolling over when I'm in the neighborhood to try their many other flavors. Since I've started going there, I only get the Peanut Butter Blossom; it's my standard. I'm totally addicted, so when I'm ready to order that's all I think about. Do you have a favorite you think I should try? If so, shout it out!

WATERMELON: GOOD FOR PARENTS AND KIDS

Milo is in the throes of teething (cutting two uppers as I write this) and what could be more soothing than cold watermelon chunks or, for parental soothing, a watermelon martini? He doesn't like any of the traditional teethers, frozen wash cloths, or my finger rubbing his gums. On occasion we've used teething tablets, but we've found that any kind of really cold produce does the trick. 

I start by picking up a fresh local watermelon from the farmer's market. I cut it in half lengthwise and use a melon baller to ball it into bite sized portions. You're in luck if it's a seedless watermelon, but if not, take the seeds out before giving it to your child. Pay close attention to the next step because of choking. After I ball it up, I put a piece into a mesh fresh food feeder. This allows Milo to feel the cold on his mouth, and chew on the fruit without choking on it. The alternative to balling it would be just cutting it into small kid sized chunks.

For the martinis, we juiced about a cup and a half of balled melon in the blender. Make sure the top is securely fastened to the blender or you'll be cleaning a sticky mess instead of enjoying your cocktail. In a martini shaker we added ice, vodka, and the watermelon juice. Shake, shake, shake, and then pour into a glass of your choice. Adding a little mint garnish gives the martini an extra fresh flavor. We thought it was plenty sweet, but a little simple syrup would do the trick if you don't think so. Cheers!

AN OPEN LETTER TO SMOKERS

Dear Smoker,

My fellow citizen, my neighbor, my friend--I love you! I realize our city has taken away your ability to smoke in bars and in restaurants and now you must go outside. Rain or shine you smoke, crowding doorways and awnings, and some of you even do it riding up the metro escalator. 

Perhaps you don't realize what a big whiff of smoke smells like to the non-smoker, maybe you don't care? Most of you are polite not to smoke near my young son, but others are oblivious. I find the smell of smoke mostly annoying, but don't get upset because it soon fades away. While the smoke doesn't stay behind, your butts do.

It's your butts that I am angry about. Go, and take a look around the Dupont Circle fountain and you will know exactly what I mean. The whole perimeter of the fountain has been littered by butts. Don't you know that it is littering when you throw your butts on the ground? If I wouldn't have been in the circle with my son, this never would've come up. I've turned a blind eye for many years, but now your butts are affecting my kid.

I spent the better part of an hour today chasing my son around the fountain. Every few minutes he would bend down and pick up a butt. Disgusting, right? This is the first time that he's ever encountered butts on the ground, so immediately he wants to put them in his mouth. Yuck! You know how kids like to explore by putting things in their mouths? Don't you see that it is disgusting enough that he picks it up, but even more so that he puts what has been in your mouth in his?

So, please, dispose of your butts properly. They are not meant to be flicked on the pavement, in flower boxes, or in my front yard. Don't do it for me, or my kid, do it for yourself. Tell all of your friends too. If you need to be convinced to pick up your butts, check out cigarettelitter.org.

Sincerely,

U Street Mom

B IS FOR BALL AND OTHER BABY BABBLE

Our son's first word was dada. It was his word for everything, and it seemed to go on for months until one day he said mama. After mama, he started to say babo (Italian name for daddy) and now he can't stop with the B's. Over the last few months he's been able to identify a few of his favorite things. For example I can say, "Milo, go and get a book" and sure enough he brings back a book while repeating the sound boo several times.

Never in my pre-baby days did I realize how many simple words begin with the letter B. Ball, book, bottle, block, balloon, baby, bunny, bear, bed, bike, bagel, boat, belly, blue, bathtub, bubble, bus, bird, bee that goes buzzzzzz. Everyday I can count on Milo running around our second floor shouting boo, boo, boo. It could mean any number of things, and unless he is carrying the object or pointing at it, I am usually clueless.

It's been interesting to watch how language development and object identification go hand and hand. I remember thinking he was so smart when he was able to pick out a ball in a room full of toys. (I thought the same thing about my husband when he was able to bring me the Lanasoh instead of the diaper rash cream.) It's amazing how much they change from 9-12 months, and from 13-18 months. Judging from the value of the Scrabble tile, B is not a particularly common letter. Why, then, do some many of Milo's favorite things begin with B?

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE WHOLE PLAYGROUP GETS SICK?

Our playgroup met at my house on Tuesday. We ate cupcakes and had fun watching our children interact. My husband had been having muscle aches since Saturday, but it was pain that he and his doctor attributed to food poisoning. Tuesday morning before the group met, hubby went to the Dr. to do some testing because he was still feeling bad. Up until I got sick in the wee hours of Thursday morning we didn't suspect that was anything other than food poisoning. 

I felt fluish the whole day on Thursday, spending most of it in bed. I napped when Milo did, and took it easy the rest of the day, watching him play from the couch. While I never had a fever, my symptoms felt like the flu: achy muscles, headache, soar throat, nausea (no vomiting) and general fatigue. I was hoping that nobody we were with throughout the week would come down with the same thing.

Yesterday I got an email from one of the other moms that said she and her daughter were quite ill. The mom had the same symptoms as me, and the daughter had been vomiting through the night. I felt so guilty that I had gotten them sick, and I felt bad knowing how they were physically feeling because I had gone through it just a day earlier. 

I contacted the other two mothers who came over on Tuesday. As it turns out, one other toddler vomited in the night, and one mother had some nausea. I feel incredibly guilty, and hope they will forgive me. If we had thought hubby had some virus that would infect all of us, we would've cancelled Tuesday's playgroup. 

We have subsequently talked, and there are no hard feelings or blame. This was a learning experience for all of us, and we're hopeful it has left us with extra immunities to fight this winter's flu season. Consult the CDC website for up to date information on both H1N1 and seasonal flu, and be extra vigilant about hand washing.

WHERE TO FIND A FAX MACHINE

I don't understand how fax machines have not become obsolete. After all, we're in the internet age where anything that can be faxed can be scanned and sent via email. Am I wrong? And if I am, please speak up! 

One day while walking down 9th St. NW on our way to Westminster park, I discovered Convention Floral. It's a flower shop that also doubles as an internet cafe/faxing location. The fax rates are good, the people are friendly, and if you go with your child, you can buy him a balloon! The only problem with this location is that it is in the English basement part of a rowhouse, the stairs are narrow and not so stroller friendly. I leave my stroller on the sidewalk in front and have never had a problem. 

After posting on Facebook about having to go out to fax, my cousin alerted me myfax.com. They provide a service for $10/mo that lets you send and receive faxes through your email. Brilliant! If ever I can't make the short walk to the flower shop, I'll try this. 

MOM'S NIGHT OUT: DRINKS ON THE ROOFTOP OF THE W HOTEL

Last Saturday night I celebrated a friend's birthday atop the new W Hotel's rooftop terrace called P.O.V. (Point of View). With its incredible monument views, $15 dollar cocktails, and a sexily clad staff, this place was a scene. Before going there, I knew nothing about it, or its history of being the old Hotel Washington on the corner of 15 and E St. NW. 

When my cab pulled up I saw the growing line between the velvet ropes. With dark suited, earpiece wearing bouncers, I thought this is not the place for me. Having never been the club going type, or the type to stand in a line outside of an establishment, only to have to stand in a line inside at the bar to get a drink I had my misgivings about P.O.V.. I immediately went to the bouncer and gave him the reservation name and viola, I was led into the hotel lobby to meet my friends. 

After a round of drinks in the lobby, we were taken to wait in a small elevator line. Once shuttled to the top, I realized what all of the fuss and wait was for... the view! There are two spaces on the roof to enjoy: the covered outdoor terrace, and an indoor lounge. The outdoor space provides a panorama to the west, including looking onto the White House, and the National Mall. While sipping my mojito, I spotted 21 American flags flying atop office buildings, and thought about what a different place our Nation's capital is at night.

The indoor lounge has a grand view of the Washington Monument. The bar here is 20 foot of backlit marble that almost glows in the otherwise dark room. This is where they juice fresh pineapples, oranges, and ginger, and cut 800-1000 limes each weekend night. It is also where they mold four different shapes of ice to accompany their unique cocktails. A couple of nights a week they have live jazz here, but last Saturday there was a DJ spinning tracks to a sexy crowd. 

During the morning hours they serve brunch on weekends, and weekdays there is a large lunch crowd. Guess what? They even have high chairs! Although P.O.V. is not kid friendly at night, I think it would be a wonderful place to treat the kiddos to brunch and a history lesson, an I spy game of how many flags can you count, and perhaps even an ice making lesson if the bartender is willing. If you're not interested in bringing the kids, it's perfect for date night, or to catch up with friends. Just remember reservations are recommended to avoid the wait! Also, see this great review from the Washington Post.

NATIONAL CUPCAKE DAY: TODAY OR IN DECEMBER?

There seems to be some major confusion as to when National Cupcake Day is. Some are suggesting that it is today, Tuesday, August 18, others say that in years past it has been celebrated on December 15th. I decided to check in with some of our local cupcake shops and this is what I found...

Cake Love, our local here on U Street will be celebrating today, and you're in luck if you stop at any of their locations. They're having a buy 3 get one free promotion! They have expanded in both Maryland and Virginia and now have a total of six locations. Check out the website for Warren's blog and upcoming events from the store that I think started the whole DC cupcake craze.

Hello Cupcake (Dupont Circle) is sweet as can be. While they won't be doing anything special today, in one week they will be celebrating their first birthday with free cupcakes all day long. That's right, Tuesday, August 25, is free cupcake day. Mark your calendar, and bring your kids!

Red Velvet (Penn Quarter) and Georgetown Cupcake are both open for business as usual today, and welcome you if you're in the neighborhood.

I am celebrating today (and in December) by baking some mini chocolate cupcakes with raspberry Italian meringue buttercream and sharing them with Milo's playgroup. Get out and support your local cupcakery today, or every day. I'll hope to see some of you next week to celebrate Hello Cupcake's first birthday!

DIAPERS.COM: WHY I LOVE THEM

I have a kid, you have a kid, or at least know somebody who does. Well, we all know that kids use diapers! I think they say the average is 10 diapers a day. Let's do some math... 10 diapers a day for 2 years is around 7,000--yikes! While I was pregnant, my cousin sent me a link to diapers.com I had seen their ads here and there on the web, but had never really investigated it. This simple email referral completely changed the way I buy products for my son Milo.

Diapers, formula, car seats, even shoes.. you can get it all on one website that boasts the internet's lowest prices. Not only do they guarantee the lowest prices, they will ship to you fast (2 days) with any order of $49 or more. Incredible!  There is no need to make a special trip out to the store when you can have a UPS driver deliver right to your front door. That was an unintentional rhyme! 

Here are the reasons why I love them. 

1. I can get my purchase fast so I don't have to worry about running out of the necessities.

2. The referral program rocks. You refer a friend. They get $10 off the first order, and you get $1 every time they re-order. 

3. They take coupons! 

4. I don't have to make a trip to the store or worry about how I am going to overload the stroller to get the stuff home.

5. The boxes the products come in are sturdy and are a great size to store all of the clothes Milo is growing out of at an alarming pace. 

If you need a referral email, or additional reasons you should stop going to the store and start clicking let me know! You can use the link on the left side to start shopping! I love them so much, and they're not even paying me to say it!

I WANT A MADSEN BIKE

I have a serious case of bike envy like I've never had it before. I found this fantastic Madsen bike while flipping through the pages of the current Martha Stewart Living magazine. I love, love, love it! I am already fantasizing about cycling around town running errands with helmet wearing Milo belted in the bucket.

The bucket has the capacity for two bench seats with a total of four safety belts, be sure to look on the Madsen website for detailed pictures of this. While I can't imagine hauling four children through the streets of DC, I would really enjoy having Milo and a couple bags of groceries in the bucket. If green is the new black, then this bike is definitely the new car!

LATE NIGHT FLOUR MISSION

Yesterday morning we had friends over for brunch, and I made my standard quiche recipe. I made my crust, and the quiche was in the oven before I started to clean up. I noticed I wouldn't have enough flour to make a crust for this morning's quiche for a different set of friends coming over to show off their darling new baby. 

I looked around in the cabinets to be sure there wasn't flour hiding anywhere. I found some self-rising flour in my baking drawer, but my step-mother said it shouldn't be used in pastry. So, with that, I knew I needed to venture out at some point to get flour. First I tried the little corner market on Florida Ave. at Sherman Ave. across from my house. As it turns out, they only have small bags of the self-rising flour. 

Knowing I'd be going out to meet friends at the W Hotel downtown for drinks, I decided I would be able to pick some up on the way and disguise it in a trendy re-usable shopping bag! So off I went. First stop CVS at 10th and U, no flour. I walked in my tall wedge strappy sandals to Rite Aide on 13th and U, no flour. 

As I approached 14th St. I thought if a bus passes, I'll take it south to P St. and go to Whole Foods and take a cab from there. If there is no bus in sight, I'll go to the Best DC Supermarket between 15th & 16th on U. Sure enough, no bus. I think it's noteworthy that these were not exactly shoes meant for rushing on uneven sidewalks, although managed to keep myself upright. 

Success! The Best DC Supermarket had about 15 kinds of flour. I felt incredibly relieved, and knew I would be able to relax and enjoy my evening out knowing I had the flour for today's quiche. Check back in a couple of days for more on the rooftop terrace at the W Hotel.

BLOGGING FOR DUMMIES

Blogging is much harder than I thought. The act of creative writing, and coming up with new ideas is not at all hard for me, but understanding the inner workings of this blog site has become a little difficult. I am no computer genius, nor have I ever claimed to be. 

Yesterday morning I spent 4o minutes following complicated instructions to change my two column blog to the three column blog you see today. Having never done anything like this, and not even knowing what the heck HTML even means, I decided I needed help. 

The help came in this form, Blogging For Dummies. It details in simple terms anything you need to know about blogging. In one night, it helped me to understand widgets and gadgets, and HTML. 

HTML or HyperText Markup Language is specific code language that allows your blog, website etc., to communicate with your internet browser. By adding specific code language into your existing blog, you can do all kinds of nifty things. For example, you can do what I did yesterday, changing from two columns, to three. You can change font, spacing, and color, upload YouTube videos, and create links to other websites. 

Spending this time learning a new skill makes me feel like I'm back in school. I love the challenge blogging has presented me, but I can relax and enjoy it knowing that there is no date where it needs to be finished. There are many more things I'd like to do to enhance the look of U Street Mom, but don't I understand how to do them. If you have a suggestion, or know any experts who have tips, please let me know!

TUESDAY PLAYGROUP

Back in April, I responded to a post on the U Street Tot's online forum seeking first time moms of children who were crawling, but not yet walking to join a Shaw/U Street neighborhood playgroup. I joined, and now our group consists of six, thirty-something women, four darling little girls, and two sweet boys all born with in a month or so of each other. 

This group came at a perfect time for me. At that point Milo was around 9 months old, and I was beginning to think a regularly scheduled group or class would do us both some good. For Milo, it would allow him to meet and play with other kids his age. Up to this point, his interaction with more than one child at a time was limited. 

For me, the ladies in this group offer support, reassurance, and friendship. I've learned so much from them, but also have learned about my child by watching him play and interact with his new little friends. We often meet in each other's homes, but weather permitting we meet in Westminster Park and sometimes we like to switch things up a bit and go to a pool or museum.

If you're not in a playgroup, I highly recommend it. Post something on one of the local neighborhood parent forums to get one started for your child's age group. If you need links to these neighborhood forums, please let me know!

IS MY GYM MEMBERSHIP WORTH IT?

I am constantly asking myself if my gym membership is worth it. I keep telling myself that I get plenty of exercise, but am I getting the right kind of exercise just walking around town pushing a stroller? My husband keeps preaching cardio. Usually I respond by saying what about the 3 flights of stairs and the 20 pound child? 

I belong to the Washington Sports Club in Columbia Heights. The one and only reason I belong to this club is the babysitting service. I had been a long time member of the JCC until I had Milo. In May I joined WSC (during a promotion), and have gone maybe a dozen times. Shocking I know, twelve times in four months. I'd be curious to know how often all of you are using your gym memberships!

I have two options for going to the gym. Option one is putting Milo down for his morning nap, and riding my bike. This usually happens during the 10:30 yoga class. Option two is taking Milo with me on metro and dropping him in the childcare room. 

Option two has consistently failed. Sad but true, each time I drop Milo there, the caregiver pulls me out of my class because Milo is crying. This was the problem again last night during the 6:00 step aerobics class. Milo starts crying because another child is crying. I don't know whether he is being empathetic or is just scared. I have witnessed this in a variety of settings, not just the gym. I know this is something he'll grow out of, but when?  

I think I'll go back to option one, skip the yoga, and do cardio! With so many machines to choose from (most of which have televisions attached) I can't use the excuse that exercise is boring! Now that I have a plan in place, I am determined to get the most out of my membership.

MOM'S NIGHT OUT: A MOVIE AND DINNER IN GEORGETOWN

Late yesterday afternoon, I saw Julie & Julia, and went to dinner with a friend of mine in Georgetown. She is a mother of two year old twins, and like me, rarely gets away from her family for some quality time alone with friends. Since Milo was born, I can count on one hand how many times I've been out alone with friends without my husband. I don't think I'm alone with not leaving or making time for yourself. Ladies, speak up if this sounds like you!

Now that Milo is older and has a more predictable schedule, I am trying to go out at least one or two nights a month with friends. I will gladly put aside laundry, cooking, and cleaning, for a few nights of fun with my girlfriends. These gals, stay at home moms, or not, face the same work/husband/baby challenges that I do. For some reason, I've been reluctant in the past year to desert my duties as wife and mother for some much needed and well deserved me time. 

Last night was a good example of happy mommy, happy husband/baby/house. Having that time away allowed me to recharge my batteries, a kind of mini vacation, a pushing of the reset button. I felt great when I arrived home, and even this morning I am in a jolly good mood. 

The movie was sweet and uplifting. I think because of it, blogging will be hip again (as if it hasn't been hip all along!) as will cooking at home, and the domestic arts in general. It inspired me to continue this blog no matter what the outcome, and go to the Smithsonian to have a look into Julia's kitchen! On that note, Bon Appetit!

BUYING WEEKLY MENU ITEMS AT THE FARMER'S MARKET

Recently I started making a weekly menu. This helps me cut out extra trips to the store (more time for parks and play dates) and avoid wasting food. From the menu I make a list of what I need to buy at the farmer's market, and what I need to buy during my weekly Whole Foods trek. I say trek because it is over two miles round trip from our house to WF. That might not seem like a long distance, but I'm pushing a stroller (hauling a 22 pound child plus a week's worth of groceries), not a gas pedal. 

Since I was a child, my parents have had and enormous garden. This garden would supply us with beans, peas, lettuce, tomatoes, corn, peppers, rhubarb, zucchini, squash, cucumbers, and pumpkins during the growing season. My step-mother would spend the summer months freezing all vegetables that could be frozen, canning tomato juice, salsa, whole tomatoes, and she would even pickle cucumbers! My grandparents were farmers and they would supply us with eggs, meat, chicken, apples, apple sauce, and fresh berries. I try my best to create some version of this for my son Milo. 

To do this, each and every Saturday morning we head down to the 14th & U St Farmer's Market to buy what ever didn't get bought at Whole Foods. We walk south on 10th St to U Street where we we stroll west 4 blocks. Once we arrive at the market, we go to the last tent on U Street. From there we work our way around the market buying whatever we need for this week's menu list. Today we bought peaches, tomatoes, sausages, flowers, corn, squash, eggs, pasta and sauce, and chocolate croissants. 

The market is a hub of activity at the 9 o'clock hour. We find many people with children, lots of dogs and owners, and early birds who covet the first pick of this weeks crop. We always find people who we know to talk to. It seems as though dogs and babies are an easy way to meet people and a great place to witness this is at the market. I'll hope to bump into some of you at the market in the coming weeks!

AROUND TOWN

Just call me a metro mama! Milo took his first metro ride when he was only one week old, and we've been doing it ever since. It's always an adventure getting around town without a car. Follow us here as we metro, bus, bike, and stroll around DC and beyond.

KID FRIENDLY

Kid friendly can mean different things to different people. 

To me it means:

1. I can get my stroller through your door.

2. The staff don't stare at me like they've never seen a small human before.

3. There is a high chair.

4. If we're lucky, there is a changing table.

Check back here to see which places go all out, and where others fall short. 

CONTACT

Questions? Comments?

ustreetmom@yahoo.com

A NEW MOM ON THE BLOGGING BLOCK

Wow, I'm kind of nervous about this blogging thing!  Kind of like first date, jittery in your stomach nervous. Well, here goes...

I've lived in the U Street neighborhood of Washington, DC for all of 6 years. For the last year of that, I've been a stay at home mom. We are a car-free household so on most days we can be found walking on U Street and in the surrounding neighborhoods. 

I am equally interested in sharing with readers, as I am in learning from you. There has been a considerable baby boom in the U Street neighborhood and I'm looking forward to hearing from all of you urban moms, and dads too.