Kindergarten: Raise your hand if you're scared!

If you haven't noticed my eldest son, Everett, is starting kindergarten in 10 days, well, you probably have noticed. I'm terrified and excited and nervous and thrilled all at once. A friend a few neighborhoods over emailed, hoping to get together with some other prospective kindergarteners at Abernethy to quell her son's fears -- but Everett's going to Grout! I'd love to meet some to-be-newbies in my own neck of the woods. I wonder how many other mamas are equally nerve-wracked.

Is your oldest child starting kindergarten this fall? Or are you a recent transplant with a child entering a new school where you know next to no one? Or are you the parent of a transfer student? Please pipe up if you'd like to meet other like-minded fellow mamas and kiddos; where is your little one starting school this year?

Weekend Warriors: August 31-September 3

Oh lordy, the last weekend of summer! We have so many things to accomplish: my list from summer's beginning is still mostly without check-marks (rebuild fence, plant an herb garden, take the train to British Columbia, make jelly, go camping...). What will you be racing to finish this weekend?

Oregon State Fair. I don't go for the carnival part -- I love to look at livestock and photography and the "home arts."  I know lots of urbanMamas like to enter their own handiwork and it's fun to be inspired by the quiltmakers and drool over the cool chicken and rabbit breeds -- and maybe take one home!

OBT Exposed! My son takes classes at the school of OBT, but still, it's a thrill to see the grown-up dancers practicing on the stage in the Park Blocks. Rehearsals are held today from 2-5 p.m.; two performance will be held tomorrow, Sept. 1, at 3 and 4 p.m.

Big Screen on the Green. These movies are great fun, especially when they're in your own neighborhood and you can meet up with some like-minded community members. Bring a picnic and lots of blankets so the kids can fall asleep... or make it a date night! Tonight is Blades of Glory at Brooklyn Park.

Flicks on the Bricks. Don't like Blades of Glory? Check out Batman, also starting at dusk, at Iponeer Courthouse Square.

Harvesting Party! Bring buckets or boxes and your best harvesting clothes and pick plums for freezing, canning or just nibbling. At Zenger Farm, 117th and Foster; you can take the #71 bus to the farm's front door.

Summer Concert Series -- Misty Mamas at Lents Park. I don't know this American Roots band but I love the name! Sunday from 2-5 p.m.

Seasons changing, what's a mama to do in the dark?

Every year in late August I start looking at the sky fearfully each night, as the dark comes a few minutes earlier than the day before. There in the heat, I can feel the seasons changing, I can already sense the dark closing in around me, trapping me inside the way it will come November, December, January... ack! I am afraid of the dark. So is Debby, and she wonders just what she will do with her outdoor-loving two-year-old once the winter comes? And has anyone ever joined an evening playgroup for single mamas or those whose partners work at night? Last year we made a few suggestions for getting out in the dreary days: surely you have more!

I am not looking forward to the days getting shorter. My 2 year old daughter and I have spent almost every waking moment together at a park, zoo or other outside gathering place. She barely touches her toys anymore when we are home and is constantly running to the door and asking, "Outside now, Mommy?" I am worried sick about what will happen in the fall, when it is too dangerous to be walking home from the park in the dark, and then the winter, when it is dark before I even pick her up from day care.

Get to sleep! How do you change a child's bedtime?

My husband and I are confirmed night owls, always have been, always will struggle with it! I've read studies that a predisposition to early rising or staying up to all hours is hereditary, so you can imagine that our kids are just like us. Unfortunately, we're all night dwellers in a world designed for the early bird. And (what with Everett starting school at 8 a.m. in 11 days) I'm trying to change our ways.

Let's take yesterday as a case study: I woke the boys at 8 a.m., only 45 minutes past my goal time of 7:15. Truman (28 mos) took a nap, nearly three hours in the late afternoon. I tried to wake him up starting at around 90 minutes, but it didn't 'take' until 5:30 or so. All day I did admirably on what I call Project: Schedule; we ate meals at regular times, went largely without TV, tried to have a post-lunch settle down. Around 8:00, I started my recently-established routine: bath, maybe a glass of milk, brush teeth, books, good night! A few minutes before 11, I checked on them and they were quietly playing. 10 minutes later, Truman trundles down the stairs, and we do the carry-back-upstairs three or four times before finally, it's nighty-night.

Zoinks! What should I do? I just can't seem to get them to go to sleep at a "normal" time (I'd hope for something in the 9 p.m. range). I've been working on this for a couple of months now, some days assiduously, some days (I'll admit) a bit lackadaisical. I've tried some tricks that didn't work, like spiking the milk with Benadryl (I gave up after a week feeling guilty), aromatherapy bubble bath, even reading books that all have a bedtime theme. How can a mama get a couple of energetic boys to sleep already?

Obstetrician: Portland newbie needs recommendation

I'm always amazed at the chutzpah it must take to move while you're pregnant! Of course, if you're coming to Portland, it's for a good cause. Alecia is one such gutsy mama, and needs a recommendation for a good OB/GYN on the west side. You all gave us lots of raves and reviews of your fave obstetricians and gynecologists last winter; any new ideas or specific doctors in her neighborhood?

My husband and I are moving from Texas to Hillsboro, Oregon. I will be around 20 weeks when I arrive in November. We have researched Providence Saint Vincent and were wondering if you could recommend some OBGYNs. Obviously some who are reputable. We are also aware of the Women's Healthcare Associates right by this particular hospital. Any suggestions would be wonderful! We are very excited about this big move and want the best doctor for our first baby!

The car-free family: Getting to the beach on the Amtrak bus

As you may have read (or heard on KBOO), my family has given up our car, preferring to ride the TriMet bus, walk, or bike with the kids. We love how connected we are to the community, we love that we save money on gas & insurance & maintenance, we love that we're being good to the earth! But it's really hard to, say, go to the beach. Or come back from the beach during Hood-to-Coast -- Jonathan and I were both delivered at the finish line by our respective vans, and the boys were delivered by their grandma. Umm... now what?

Martin and Larissa were in the same boat, more or less, as their family car went kaput. So we all put our Google fingers to work and discovered the Amtrak bus. (Yes! Amtrak has a bus!) Every evening, the bus leaves Union Station in downtown Portland at 6:20 p.m. and travels down Hwy 26, arriving in Astoria at 8:50 p.m., including stops in Cannon Beach, Seaside, and Astoria. You can request stops at Elsie, Manning, Necanicum Junction, Gearhart, and Warrenton, as well. The bus turns around the next morning, leaving Astoria at 8:30 a.m. and arriving in Portland's Union Station at 11:00 a.m.

We picked the bus up at 9 a.m. at Del's Chevron in Seaside, quickly loaded our two families' considerable gear, and took our comfy seats aboard the bus. Though the legroom wasn't amazing and the other passengers didn't seem entirely pleased when I had to pry a screaming Truman's hands off the steering wheel, the boys soon quieted down and we enjoyed a lovely ride back to Portland -- arriving on time! -- and then hopped the #17 bus home. A one-way ticket for an adult is $16, while children ages 2-16 are $8. Other bus lines go all over Oregon, from Salem to Corvallis to Bend to Newport. If you, too, are car-free by choice or by necessity, it's a good option for travelling with your family. Best of all, children under two are free and, on this trip at least, there was plenty of room to seat them beside us. I'd love to hear other stories about getting outside of the metropolitan area without a car!

Grown Up-Friendly Dentist

We agree with Sarah! Opinions are wanted here.  Sarah's looking for a dentist for herself.  She writes:

I've become so dependent on urbanmamas that I can't make a decision without consulting the crowd. This time it's about me though. I need a really, really great dentist and I'm counting on the urbanmamas out there for some suggestions. I'm not fully trusting my current dentist and I definately need a second opinion. I'm having anxiety about a dental procedure for the first time in my life. N or NE preferred but I'll go anywhere for the right one.

HTC Recap: No Rest for the Weary

Just as I was preparing to upload a photoblog of our Hood to Coast progress during our rest stop, we got a call from Van 2.  Tracy's scheduled to arrive in 50 minutes.  Wait.  Say that again?  5-0 minutes.  Van 1 rushed around Shetha's in-laws house, gathered up most of our belongings and hit the road.  Darn.  No live updates!  Oh well.  I'm sure you're all tired of our HTC talk anyway.  But it would be a let down to not give you a peak of how it turned out.

At 12:15 pm on Friday afternoon, we are at Timberline, ready and anxious to start.  Here is half of our lovely, mama team:

We grooved to the music and cheered on the runners:

**Edited to add** Here is the mama behind the camera who also ran her patootie off, and did so in style:

Supporting our fellow mamas who pushed hard, and ran strong.  Olivia was especially fleet of foot averaging 7:15 on one of her legs.  She truly was inspirational:

We overcame odds.  Like running during the early stages of pregnancy:

Or recovering 6 weeks post-partum:

We ran in the most stunning terrain:

29 hours 56 minutes and 43 seconds later (with an average team pace of 9:07), we finished at Seaside:

We beat last year's time by over an hour.  We were ecstatic about exceeding our personal goals, and reveled in the experience.  Keep on running mamas, we cannot wait for next year!

What's your favorite PP&R Class?

Summer is screeching to an end as we catapult into fall.  Last week, we received Portland Parks & Recreation's Fall Class Schedule at our local community centers (we love Portland Parks & Rec!).  We'd love to hear from urbanMamas which classes you love (and for which age group) and which community centers you love.  What are you signing up for - either for yourself or for the kids - this fall?

Travel Suggestions: Astoria

The urbanMamas definitely seem like the travel-happy bunch.  Monica is seeking suggestions for a trip closer to home.  Any thoughts?

I'm looking for some insight on where to stay in Astoria.  I've got a history-obsessed daughter, and I'd like to take an overnight trip to the area to see Fort Clatsop, etcetera, but I need some recommendations on where to stay.  I'd love to stay in a B&B, but it seems most do not welcome children.  She's an incredibly well-behaved and mature 6-year-old, but, still, a child nonetheless.  Also, B&Bs seem to require a 2-night stay.  So, does anyone know of a great place to stay that is well-situated for walking around and experiencing Astoria and also close to Fort Clatsop?  Many Thanks!

Going to Seattle!

Thuan is seeking all your wisdom on visiting that larger Pacific Northwest city to the north of us:

We've lived here five years and I'm ashamed to admit we've only been to Seattle once since we moved here. But don't despair for us, because we're taking Amtrak to Seattle for Labor Day Weekend! I'm super excited, but I am realizing that I don't know have any idea where to stay, what to do, especially outings that are baby-friendly. Anyone feel fluent in all things Seattle?

Also has anyone taken Amtrak with babe in tow?  Should I bother bringing a carseat (we didn't purchase her a seat) or will we be fine walking around with her for FOUR hours??  Should I purchase Pippi a seat?

Starting time...12:15pm

It is 12:30pm and Van 1 has officially begun our HTC 2007 run. In typical Erica fashion, I'm trying to get in as much stuff as possible at the very last minute (which is also why I tend to be writing my papers at 2am the night before they are due). I'm still burning some CD's for our van, finishing up laundry, and just purchased a hat for the run; this was all after heading downtown to purchase some Ben Harper tickets. Having just finished up my double americano for the day, I'm also revved up and getting ready to run. I've been resting the legs for the last couple of days and even skipped biking Jackson so school this morning, despite his protests. My legs are itching to run. Am I prepared? Did those hills in Forest Park do the trick, my leg is supposed to be a doozy. Those cowbells better work some magic. With the urbanMamas split between the two vans, we should be able to get some pics up mid route. Check in again later (if you're not completely over the HTC coverage).

I Could Use A Little More Cowbell

We gathered last night, both the Run Mama Run and urbanPapas teams to feast, divvy up our sponsored-goods and get out our pre-race jitters.  We were absolutely enthused about the Oregon Live bells that will be dinging as we cheer all of the runners on.  We could use a little more time for training, but heck, a little more cowbell to get us through will have to suffice.  We will try to blog our progress along the way so you can share in the journey with us.  We've got our iPods loaded up with inspirational running tunes, and the van loaded with food and fuel to replenish us along the way. Lastly, since all five of the urbanMamas will be running this year, you can see that we are indeed a bit preoccupied by all things Hood to Coast. 

Run MAMA Run - We're OFF!

We've been pounding the pavement hard for the past few months, and - in earnest - over the past few weeks.  We've written some of our training secrets, mama-style.  We've reminisced about how scary-but-fun it was last year.  With all that and a little bit of hype, we're off again!

Wish the Run Mama Run team lots of luck and fresh-feeling legs as they kiss their babes goodbye for over a day, as they run-mam-run the 197.2 miles from Timberline Lodge all the way down to the beach at Seaside.  We should be cruising through Portland around 10:30-11PM on Friday night, so if anyone is up past their bedtime, come cheer us on at the Hawthorne Bridge!

We'll try to check in with some pics mid-way....  in true urbanMama fashion, never far from a wifi connection!

Getaway to Cannon Beach

One thing we absolutely love about Portland is how close we are to so many easy getaways: down to southern Oregon, in search of sun, camping, resorts in Columbia Gorge, central Oregon, and so many other amazing family outings.  Sadie Rose is thinking about a Cannon Beach getaway:

I have another question on a totally unrelated topic. My mom, grandma, and brother are all coming to visit in late september, and I'd love to do a weekend getaway to Cannon Beach. If anyone knows of any good rentals and such I'd love to hear some recommendations, rather than just wing it.

Blood - is it thicker than water?

Our family is bi-coastal.  My husband's family in New York, my own family in San Francisco.  When we lived back east, my inlaws were 3 hours away and my parents were across the country.  When they would visit, we were torn between exploiting the free babysitting and spending quality time.

When I grew up, it definitely took a village.  I was surrounded by cousins, aunties, uncles, and three grandparents.  My mother would drop me off, my aunt would pick me up and leave me at my grandmother's until my father picked me up later.  I would hang out and play with cousins.  Aunts and uncles would float in and out of my grandmother's house, picking up my cousins and often staying for dinner.  The place always smelled of vats of my lola's home-cooked Filipino food.

Fast foward to my girls and their growing-up experience.  Daily interaction with extended family is nil.  We have created our own "family" here in Portland, but there is still something to be said of family, of whom you could ask almost anything.  At 4 o'clock one afternoon, when you are held up somewhere, could you ask a relative to please, please see if s/he can drop everything to pick up your child from school?  Could you ask your brother to babysit the kids while you run Hood-to-Coast, perhaps?  Or could you ask your sister to watch the kids so you could steal away for some much needed adult time?  Or leave the kids with your parents for an even longer weekend for an adult mini-getaway?

We've been parents for almost seven years, and - for the most part - we haven't had family close enough for those last-minute regular requests for assistances with the crazy juggle of parenthood.  Two years ago, though, my two brothers moved to Portland.  Single, in their 20s, and very bachelor-minded, it's been hard to pin them down and make these special familial requests.  They're in the SE and we rarely see them.  But, they're all we have here in Portland when it comes to family, in the strictest sense.

Now that my parents and my parents-in-law are approaching retirement, we get to thinking about other families we know here in Portland whose parents have moved to Portland to be closer to their grandchildren.  So, I'm curious: do you have extended family nearby or here in Portland?  Is it helpful for you and your kids?  Do they share in childcare?  Is it more of a nuisance?  Do you see them often or hardly at all?

Weekend Warriors: August 23-26

Here we are, a late-August weekend.  What do you have in store?

Thursday Concert at Krugers Farm.  If you haven't been  yet this summer, it's definitely worth it.  This week, it's Pete Peterson and the Porkpie Septet.  Food, beer, wine available for purchase at Krugers, and it's $5 a car.  Head out, it's bound to be a jazzy time.

Dive-In Movies.  Combine swimming and cinema at your neighborhood pool!  It's a fun opportunity to watch a favorite flick from the comfort of your neighborhood pool.  Now showing: the animated comedy "Cars," on a large screen visible from the warm pool water. Viewers can watch the film from either inside the pool or up on the deck. Floating filmgoers may bring their own inner tubes or air mattresses.  Playing each night through Sunday at a pool near you.

Concert / CD Release Party, Portland Children’s Museum. Suzi Shelton is riding the crest of the “kindie rock” phenomenon with her catchy tunes and her hip pop-rock sensibilities.  With awards from Parents’ Choice, the Children’s Music Web and iParenting Media, she is gaining national critical acclaim as well as a loyal following in her home base of New York City. This peppy mother of two brings families to their feet to join in singing and dancing along to her original tunes.  Concert & CD release happens on Friday at 1pm at the museum.  Concert is free with museum admission.  Rock on!

Clean up Portland Public Schools. PPS and SOLV are enlisting volunteers to do grounds work at 65 schools across the city as part of Community Care Day on Saturday, Aug. 25, from 9 a.m. to noon.  The volunteers will weed, prune, mow and spread bark chips to prepare for students’ return to school Sept. 5.  Following the cleanup, all volunteers are invited to Roseway Heights School, 7334 N.E. Siskiyou St., for a barbecue, music and the dedication of a new playground structure.

Seaport Celebration.  Things we use everyday – from clothes to cars to computers – arrive through Portland's seaport. Get a first hand look at how that all happens at a special free party at the Port of Portland. With activities for all ages including guided tours of the marine terminal, face painting, a ship simulation room and more, it will be an event that everyone can enjoy! Food will be provided by the International Longshore Workers Union, while supplies last.  There will be seafaring music performed by Portland favorites Captain Bogg & Salty at 11 am and 2 pm, a bounce ship, face painting, games, exhibits and more.  Saturday 10 am to 3 pm .

3rd Annual Dishman Community Street Fair.  It's a fun block party that includes BBQ burgers & hot dogs, refreshments, dunk tank, music, arts & crafts, vendors, raffle, free swim, some local businesses with informantion & give-a-ways, & a whole lot more! Bring the family....It's all FREE!   Saturday, 12 N to 3 PM.

Oregon Symphony in the Neighborhoods - Arbor Lodge Park.  It begins with an afternoon festival, celebrating the Arbor Lodge neighborhood, featuring performances by community groups, instrument petting zoos, arts displays, hands-on family friendly activities, and booths highlighting local social service organizations.  At 7 PM, enjoy a FREE, outdoor Oregon Symphony concert played by the entire orchestra and led by Resident Conductor Gregory Vajda featuring music from the worlds of opera, ballet, television, film and Broadway.

Heading South

The fleeting days of summer are upon us.  Many of us will be out on our last trips of the summer: road trips, coastal trips, camping, and more.  Rae Ann is driving down to Southern Oregon and is looking for kid-happy suggestions of diversions along the way:

My in-laws live in Ashland (I know, lucky us!), so we find ourselves trekking south rather frequently - we're headed there on vacation next week.  Now that our kids are 2 1/2 and 15 months, we find ourselves having to stop a little more frequently to accommodate their short, restless legs.  Instead of hitting up every other rest stop, I'm wondering if anyone out there has some favorite hole in the wall restaurants, coffee shops, or parks that are right off the 5, kid-friendly, and provide a break from the cramped confines of the car.

"Name That Train"!

Fresh off the TriMet website:

Get on board now! Create a nickname for the new commuter rail in Washington County that opens fall 2008 and runs 14.7 miles between Beaverton and Wilsonville.

Enter TriMet's train-naming contest and you could win an annual TriMet transit pass valued at $836 and a preview ride next year on a commuter rail train, along with the everlasting glow of seeing your winning name on the rail vehicles and marketing materials for years to come. Remember, the winning name will be simple, fun and memorable.

Don't forget to read all the contest fine print!

Surfing urbanPapas

Are there any urbanPapas out there who fit this bill?

My husband has been a dedicated surfer since his college years at Black's Beach in San Diego. Since we had kids, what used to be a vital part of his life has turned into a very occasional activity. However, now that the youngest is 4 and we've emerged from that period of crazed intensity, my husband is looking to get back in the ocean on a more regular basis. He's wondering if there are any UrbanPapa surfers out there who'd like to share gas and driving (and good conversation!) on a once-a-month daytrip to the coast. As a parent, he understands the contstraints of family life, but he's looking for a guy(s) who are committed and won't flake out on him.  Please call Bruce at 503-872-9943.

Tantrums & Meltdowns

Other urbanMamas have discussed before, could it be that three is more terrible that two?  It very well could be the case.  How has the number 3 fared for you?  Mary emails:

My son turned 3 this past week, and while I know that it is completely normal for kids this age to throw tantrums when they don't get their way (we here 'I want', 'I want' a LOT), my husband and I are having much frustration with the complete crying screaming meltdowns that have been happening lately.  I have been diligent about getting him snacks and meals at the appropriate times to ward off low blood sugar, but the tantrums continue to happen.  We have made the rule that he cannot have his milk until after he eats his meal (whatever time of day, breakfast, lunch, or dinner) because he fills up on milk and then refuses to eat anything.  Today before his normal lunch time, about 11am, he started in on the whining and crying asking for his milk (he had just had a snack of cheese at 10:15) so I fixed him his lunch early and told him that I would be happy to give him his milk after he ate his lunch.  Complete sobbing meltdown.  He wouldn't even sit on my lap and take a bite at all.  Finally he asked for a nap, so I took he and his sippy of water up to bed.  I feel awful about putting him down hungry, but I don't want to back down from our milk-after-eating rule because I know that is a slippery slope with the rules.  He cried for a bit after I put him down but did go to sleep (his usual nap time is 12:30, give or take a bit).  My typical mantra is 'this too shall pass' but I am quite frustrated!!  Any advice??

Activistas Happy Hour

Hope you can all make today's Activistas Happy Hour.  (Click over for more info!)

Lonely Mama in Portland

We all know that mamahood can be tough, especially solo.  Jennifer is looking for ideas on how to keep spirits up as she juggles mamahood on her own most of the time:

Hi there!  After reading the recent post Do You Yahoo, I tried to find the perfect mamas group for me, but came up short.  My husband travels frequently for business, which leaves me at home alone with our 15-month old, sometimes for four consecutive nights.  Maybe I should consider myself lucky that it's only 4 consecutive nights instead of four weeks at a time.  I know I must not be the only stay at home mom who ends up feeling like a single mom because their husband travels.  Lately I just feel like my other mom friends don't get how difficult it is to manage day to day without the other partner.  All of our family live East of the Mississippi River, so I can't just drop the kiddo off at grandma's and go to my doctor's appointment, get my hair cut or just grocery shop alone.  I certainly don't fit into a single-mom's group even though I have tremendous insight into how hard it must be.   I just need support, positive feedback, inspiration, and playtime with other moms who feel just as lonely and stressed out when their husband is away.  Any ideas?  Thanks in advance!

Other urbanMamas, do you have suggestions on how to build a community of mamas and papas around you to help when the going gets tough?  Who do you rely on when you need a helping hand?

How do you find a pediatrician?

LeeAnn is having her first baby and she hasn't chosen a pediatrian yet.  Does she need to? 

I'm due November 7th and just had my 28 week check up with my doc at OHSU this morning.  On top of taking the icky Glucose test, and questioning my overall well being, she asked if I've looked into any pediatricians yet.  No I have not.  I have Blue Cross Blue Shield and being my little man will be born there at OHSU, I've just been assuming I'd pick one up there at Doernbechers - but I'd love to hear of other BC/BS pediatricians.  We live in the SW (near Multnomah Village) and like the location of OHSU, but are there others out there I should consider that are also close in proximity?  Also, is it customary to 'interview' the pediatrician before birth?  What do I ask?  What am I looking for?  What's typically accomplished in an 'interview/meet-n-greet' with a new pediatrician?

Best school shoes for a wide-footed boy?

I'm in denial that my five-year-old is starting kindergarten in three weeks -- eeek! Yesterday I was thinking about how wonderful it is that Everett can walk to school and suddenly thought: uh-oh. Shoes. In April, we bought him two pairs of lovely shoes at Clogs-N-More Kids on Hawthorne (following the uMamas shoe buy guide of course) and his sandals are perfect -- he can put them on himself, they're sporty and cute, he can run fast in them. But the other pair we purchased, I've realized, aren't.

I let him pick them out, and they're certainly cute. But they're extremely hard for him to get on his feet, and I'd like to encourage the do-it-yourself-ing as much as possible. Can anyone recommend a good looking, all-purpose shoe for wide feet that a child can get on all by himself?

Take a bite out of the Big Apple

Maria is so lucky, traveling to New York City as a family for the first time!  We are sure that some urbanMamas can offer some great suggestions on family activities in the city.

My husband, one year old baby and myself are adventuring to the east coast f or the firt time as family.  We are in a very short budget and are staying with friends in " the village" and Brooklyn for the next couple of weeks.  We ... are ready to walk ourselves and our son all over town.   Any hot tips in cool things to do? They have to be cheap/free/cool.  No shopping please!

Run Mama Run: Hood to Coast 2007

With just a week to go, 12 urbanMamas rest their legs and ready themselves for Hood-to-Coast.  Run Mama Run is our team, and it's not our first appearance in the largest relay in the U.S.  197 miles, 12 mamas, 20 kids (though they're not coming for the ride!), 2 vans, 30 or so hours.  Is it fun?  Heck, we've birthed kids, so what's 197 miles, just a few hours of sleep, and 30 hours of on and off running?  If you like momraderie, then - YES - it is most definitely fun.  Expect chatting, laughing, butterflies in stomachs.  Start on Mt. Hood and miraculously end at Seaside.  It's the moment we've all been training for.

This year, Run Mama Run is being supported by some great folks at OregonLive, so check us out over at RunOregon and read all about some of our mama running secrets.  Run Mama Run also send e-shout-outs to Lara for fueling us with Larabars and to Virginia for juicing us up with VitaminWater.

We aren't the only mamas running this thing.  Last year, we counted several other mama teams: "37 kids and still counting", "I want my mommy", "Moms on the Run", "Running from our kids", "Hoochie Mamas", "Dolly Mamas".  Anyone else running Hood to Coast this year??

Weekend Warriors: August 17-19

We're at mid-August now, the final stretch of the summer.  Enjoy it while it lasts!  Check the urbanMamas calendar, of course.  There are many more events than we are able to list here.

Galliump! Concert.  Galliump! is award-winning children's music by mother-daughter song team, Patricia Lou Harris and Terri Thurman Finck.  "The songs have multi-age appeal and represent a wide variety of music styles.  Several songs won "Best Children's Song" for four years in Portland Songwriters' National Song Contest.  The first three CDs, "Galliump!", "Galliump Folk Songs and New Favorites", and "Galliump Lullabies", were named winners of the 2003 Parents Guide Media Awards."  Hear them on Friday, at Pottery Barn Kids at Washington Square at 10AM and 11AM.

Fiesta Italiana.  Enjoy a five-day celebration of all things Italiana at Pioneer Courthouse Square.  Opening ceremonies are at Friday noon followed by a grape stomp competition and pizza toss. An array off Italian entertainment from the United States, Canada and sometimes Italy perform non-stop for the final three days. Providing Italian food at modest prices are several fine Portland Italian restaurants along with a wine garden featuring Italian wines, beer and San Pellegrino Waters.  Admission is free and event runs all weekend at Pioneer Courthouse Square.  See their website for a full schedule.

Car Seat Check.  It's always a good idea.  Education for new parents, grandparents and caregivers on the proper installation of children's restraint device. Please read your vehicle owners manual and car seat instructions prior to attending check-up event. Trained personnel will check child safety seats for correct use/installation, recall information will be checked. Each seat checked takes about 25 minutes.  The event is at Legacy Emanuel Hospital & Health Center, Parking Structure 3, 2801 N. Gantenbein Avenue from 10AM to 2PM.

The Mom Shop.  "Making Business Fun: Get Hip to Local Goods and Services at The Mom Shop"  The event features 40 mom-owned businesses, a kids’ area, workshops, live entertainment and more!
For hundreds of local moms, owning and operating their own company is serious business, and Portland Mamas Inc. is proud to showcase their high quality products and professional services at The Mom Shop: a modern marketplace of local goods and services for the whole family. This family-friendly event takes place on Saturday, August 18, 2007, from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm, at the Portland State University Smith Memorial Ballroom, 1825 SW Broadway, third floor.  Admission is $3 per adult/child over 12.

Tour de Fat.  Love cool bikes?  Check out some crazily re-engineered bikes you can try and ride, a pre-event parade at 11 am, a kids' helmet decorating table, and great live music from March Fourth Marching Band, the Yard Dogs Road Show, the Sprockettes, and others.  The festival and fun is at Tom McCall Park on Saturday from 12 Noon to 6PM.

Naturopathic First Aid Class.  Want to learn more about preventing and treating ailments for your little ones?  Come to Blue Sky Wellness Studios, 3944 N Mississippi Ave on August 18th from 4:00-5:00 for a free lecture.  Naturopath, acupuncturist and mother of two, Dr. Michelle Sturm will guide you through Naturopathic and Chinese therapies that will make the bumps and bruises of childhood easier for everyone to handle.  First aid kits available for purchase, but class itself is free.

Portland Symphony Series - Laurelhurst Park.  Let the busy weekend come to a sweet sounding end on Sunday evening at 6pm when the Portland Symphony will plan Rossini, Mozart, Handel, and Haydn.

Getting ready for Red-Eyes

urbanMamas are a traveling bunch!  Doe emails and requests your tips and tricks on flying red-eye:

I'm packing up to bring our 8.5 month old back to Vermont for a visit. Looking forward to the green mountains, but I'm nervous about the red eye to get there.  We've done well on shorter flights, but never done the overnight thing. Our girl Hanna is a good sleeper and typically goes down at 7-8 pm with a bath and breastfeeding.  She'll wake up once or twice to eat during the night.  Thanks for any advice.

Kid's Sick - Who Stays Home?

Just as the Activistas were discussing: Papas & The FMLS - Is anyone using it?  A University of Cincinnati study recently released and looked at dual-working parent families: Who puts family first when a child is sick?  Their data "finds a large gender disparity in providing urgent child care, with 77.7 percent of women taking time off from work and 26.5 percent of men reporting that they attend to child-care needs".

If you and your partner both work, how do you decide who stays home with a sick child?  How does your workplace treat you're child's sickness & your need to stay home?  As a single parent, have you found emergency back-up care that works?  What do you do as a working parent when your child is sick?

Summer Sun Seeking

The weather this summer has been, well...a little disappointing. There have been many more cloudy days than we have been used to. Normally our summer trips include excursions to the mountains and the coast to escape the hot days of Portland - including occasional triple digit temp days. This year we have been escaping TO the sun.

Here is what we have discovered within a couple hours of Portland. Beyond escaping dreary summer days these will be potential sun escape options for fall and spring:

Kah Nee Ta Resort

This resort/casino on the Warm Springs Reservation is pretty family friendly. We stayed in the lodge and although there is a casino, the entrance is separate from other accommodations so you don't even need to know the casino exists - unless you WANT to know...

Pluses: 20 miles from ANYTHING with sweeping desert views from every lodge room. The lodge has a sauna, steam room, work out room and pool for guests and wifi access by the dramatic fireplace. The Village area of the resort has an enormous pool that is spring-fed and great for kids. Other amenities include a spa, kayak rentals/outings, horseback excursions, golfing (and mini-golf for kids), and nearby hiking trails.

Minuses: 20 miles from ANYTHING which limits your food options to what is on-site.  The food is fine and reasonably priced (breakfast was included as part of the High Desert Escape Package that we booked) BUT there are limited options for vegetarians - vegans may be completely out of luck. The Chinook Room has a kid's menu.

Tips: Bring a cooler with items for lunches and snacks. Do NOT forget the sunscreen and use it liberally. For a little vegetarian variety when dining in The Chinook Room, ask to have the Longhouse Salad which is on the menu for The Juniper Room next door (they share a kitchen). At breakfast ask to substitute fry bread for toast. Rooms are 50 percent off August 26 - 30 and September 3 - 6!

A few family camping options east of the mountains we have visited - within a couple hours of Portland:

Columbia Hills State Park

Pluses: Swim. kayak, and fish in Horsethief Lake, enjoy boat access to the Columbia, hike and climb at Horsethief Butte, and see the petroglyphs and pictographs saved from Petroglyph Canyon (which disappeared under water when The Dalles Dam was built). Few day-use folks and small, comfortable campground makes for a relaxed time. Very close to The Dalles if you forgot something.

Minuses: Camping is first come, first serve but the campground is small - less than 20 sites, the only restrooms are porta-potties (they are building a new bath/shower house), you need to drive to trail heads, and like all camping in the Gorge itself train noise is a nightly occurrence and it can get VERY windy.

Tips: Try to get there around "check-out" (noon-1 pm) to secure a camping spot. Bring earplugs for sleeping (although I recommend this for ALL campgrounds). Stretch your legs in Hood River on the way there or back.

Maryhill State Park

Pluses: Sites may be reserved in advance, you can enjoy the bizarre juxtaposition of enjoying a view of Mt. Hood and of Stonehenge, easy access to the Maryhill Art Museum, swimming and fishing on the Columbia, tour farms and vineyards in the area, showers and restrooms on site (bring quarters for the showers!).

Minuses: The swimming area is small and not that appealing, the wind protection is limited, and there is no real hiking to speak of on site. As noted, all camping in the Gorge itself means train noise at night and possible high winds. Same Tips as Columbia Hills.

Cove Palisades State Park

Pluses: Sites - including cabins - may be reserved in advance, great swimming, boating and fishing on Lake Billy Chinook, 10 miles of hiking trails in the area and plenty of boulders to climb on.

Minuses: Very popular day use area so the number of people and level of boat traffic on the weekends can be significant, weekdays are more subdued. Longer drive from PDX than the above options.

Tips: Take a break on the banks of the Deschutes River on the way there (there is access near Warm Springs). If you want a significant break, spend a couple of hours at The Museum at Warm Springs and learn about the cultural, traditional and artistic heritage of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs.

Let us know your local sun-seeking suggestions as well!

Ideal Insurance

Typically we try to not inundate readers with the same question, but Melissa's is specific and nuanced enough that we thought it would benefit others.  Where can Melissa find the right insurance plan?

I'm in the midst of changing the health insurance plan for my daughter and myself. I'm self-employed and my husband's plan is pathetic, not to mention insanely expensive, so the kiddo and I currently have the highest level individual coverage plan through Kaiser which we barely ever use. This is such a waste of our money. My ideal plan would look something like this...

• western medical emergency insurance plus coverage of dermatology
• natural healthcare coverage for naturopaths, acupuncture, etc.
• dental

Am I dreaming? Do any of you have experience navigating individual plans? I can't imagine I'm alone in looking for this. Maybe what I need to do is get just emergency insurance and then pay out of pocket for the rest. (?) Ugh. It's overwhelming and I keep putting it off. Then we get our bill and I freak out thinking what we could have done with all that money. The insurance industry is disgusting. But that 's not my point... Folks, we need your help here. Thank you very kindly!

Where to get School Supplies

Many of us are gearing up for the start of school in a few weeks.  A question came in from Jess about where families can get affordable school supplies:

I just registered my five year-old for kindergarten.  Wow!  Who knew the list of school supplies...for KINDERGARTEN would be so extensive?  It seems the school wants multiple packs of everything from sharpies to kleenex to dry erase markers to glue stix to additional money for a canvas bag students will be decorating (sans a backpack).

Now, I teach in a public school and am very PRO public school, but my wonder-hubby recently quit his job to attend nursing school full-time.  To say we do not have two pennies to rub together after mortgage is paid and food is purchased is not much of an understatement.  We want to provide the teacher with all of the (multiple packs) of items on the list.

Does anyone know the cheapest place for said school supplies?

Need Childbirth Class ASAP

Camellia is in quite a predicament.  She's expecting her first child, but her childbirth class has dissipated.  Any help or suggestions?

I just found out that the childbirth ed class we registered for months ago has been canceled. Help! I'm already in my last trimester and am anxious about finding space in a class that's right for us before the baby comes! This is our first baby so learning the ropes is very important to us. We're having a home birth with midwives and a doula so we're looking for something appropriate to a non-hospital birth--but at the same time, if there is a lot of cheesy poetry-reading and birth-art making, my husband is liable to chew is own leg off. It seems like the main options for traditional, mainstream classes are Bradley or Lamaze and that the main alternatives available are Birthing From Within or Hypnobirthing style classes--we're more inclined to select one of the latter two options but aren't sure which would be a better fit. The approaches seem very different since Birthing From Within seems to emphasize acknowledging that birth is painful and hard work but learning how to cope with/use/overcome the pain, while Hypnobirthing seems to claim that birth doesn't need to be painful at all with the right mental preparation (am I understanding these philosophies correctly??) I would love to hear feedback on parents' experiences with different types of childbirth ed classes, recommendations of good instructors, what worked/didn't work, etc.

Just a few weeks left - counting down to school

Portland Public Schools kicks off the 2007-2008 school year in just three short weeks.  Will your child be going to school for the first time?  What sorts of things have you been doing to get ready for school?  Stocking up on the back-to-school suppply list that the school sent you?

We caught wind of a new product by Portland-company Blue Lake Children's Publishing.  It's called the Kindergarten Countdown Toolkit, and it comes with a DVD, a stack of Tessy & Tab magazines, and a kindergarten checklist.  The checklist has great tips for building up to the first day and week of school: visit the school, prepare for riding the bus or commuting to school, routinize the sleeping schedule, make a list for things to bring to school, and -- my personal favorite tip -- plan a special "first day" family dinner.

Another great idea is to start to get to know new families at your new school.  We've already been invited to our daughter's new school's end-of-summer picnic, and we already have our older daughter's back-to-school picnic on our calendars.  Sarah C recently posted that she belongs to a google group for her daughter's school, Beach Elementary.  We are figuring that there are many school  yahoo/google groups out there -- like Alameda Elementary, Creston School, Arthur Academy -- are there more?

Kindergarten is truly one of those first milestones you will definitely not forget.  Megan's daughter will be starting this fall, she asks:

Stella is starting Kindergarten (too soon!) at Vernon, and I'd love to find some other families to have some playdates so she might have a familiar face or two on her first day of school.  Do you guys know of anyone?

Are you in the same situation as Megan and would like to meet others from your school?  Start posting in the comments and let's see if we can help any of you connect! Any other ideas on how to prepare for the next school year, especially for those who are just starting their first days?  Three weeks will be gone before we know it!

About Poop: Holding it In

Sadie Rose posted this question on one of our favorite previous posts, About Poop.  However, we definitely think it needs special billing.  Read on:

I have a new poop situation to investigate. My son is just shy of 3 years old. As far as potty training goes, he isn't that into it. He sometimes sits on the potty, but then wants to get up and put a diaper back on. Anyway, the main issue I am having, is that he only poops every few days. Further, when he finally does poop, I really have to talk him into it. I swear, he's not constipated. It's not like he's trying and can't, it's that he needs to, and won't. I can tell when he needs to, because he does this little "i need to poop dance," and, sometimes he will run into the bedroom to lay down! Laying down, I gather, makes him not need to poop as badly. It really has become an odd battle of wills. I make sure to feed him all the poop-enabling stuff, but what it really takes is a few minutes of me telling him it's time to poop and that we can't do anything else until he poops. Sometimes i have to tell him he can be alone in mommy's room until he poops, and then i leave him and he's pretty happy to do it by himself. HAS THIS HAPPENED TO ANYONE ELSE? I am baffled. I think he should poop everyday, don't you? Again, I am nearly positive that it is a psychological situation moreso than a food/constipation issue. I would love to hear anyone's info or ideas. If anyone wants to email me, it's sadiedeluxe@gmail.com. p.s. He used to do a similar thing when he was a bit younger, and then he started pooping a lot again, and now he's back to selective pooping. Thanks!

Depression in Children

Sara's concerned about her families history of depression and wonders if her toddler is exhibiting the signs.  Can it start that young?

I am a Portland mom looking for advice on preventing depression and anxiety in a child with a strong family history of mood disorders. My daughter is 2 and a half, and shows signs of anxiety, withdrawal, fearfulness, and perfectionism. Her behavior is not at all out of the range of "normal", in my opinion, and I know that 2.5-year-olds are not generally known as paragons of emotional stability anyway, but I am watching her with some concern because of her genetic risk. I would very much like to hear from other parents who have experience with this issue, and get suggestions on simple parenting tips that may be effective in reducing anxiety and depressive cognitive patterns in a kid. I know I can't make everything rosy for my girl, but I can't bear the thought of her having to struggle with the kind of self-loathing depressive spirals I've seen my husband suffer through. I believe that helping her develop healthy emotional habits now can't hurt, and might protect her from the sadder side of her inheritance. I would love any advice! Thanks!

This Week on the urbanMamas Forums

urbanMamas Event
Join us for a working mamas lunch on Wednesday, August 15th.  We try to rotate types of events, time of day, and day of the week in order to accommodate mamas of all different schedules and lifestyles.  Have an idea for a fun urbanMamas event?  Email us and let's make it happen!

urbanMamas Activistas
Paid Family Leave, the current Family Medical Leave Act, lead found in toys...  there are so many issues out there that affect our families.  We want to hear your thoughts in the Activistas forum.

• M/Paternity Leave Benefits: How it is & how it could be
• Tell 'Em to Clean Up Those Toys!
• Activista 'Happy' Hour - 08.21.07
• Measure 50: Health Care for Uninsured Oregon Children
• Papas & the FMLA: Is anyone using it?
• One Woman's Inspiration for Moving Ideas Into Action
• One Incredible Piece of Legislation

urbanMamas Childcare Referral Forum
Please don't forget to leave your contact information when you submit a post!

• Childcare in North, close-in NE or Downtown
• Part Time Nanny Care NE portland
• Looking for nanny-share in St. John's in early '08
• Looking for a pre-K program for my 5 y.o. son
• part time nanny needed in sellwood
• Nanny Share or Swap
• Looking for a nanny in SE Portland
• Loving care for toddlers and infants in beaverton area
• Food Allergy Aware Preschools in SW Portland?
• Wanted: 8 hrs baby care/wk in North PDX (Mississippi neighborhood)
• Spindlewood Preschool
• Looking for 1xweek after school care in SE Milwaukie
• Holistic Infant Care
• Infant Spot available

urbanMamas Exchange

• Chinook Book call for local columnists
• For Sale: Graco Swing/Bassinet Combo $40
• Seeking Stylist for Kid's Salon
• WANTED : Outdoor (sports) toys
• NEEDED: Volunteer for Hood to Coast

urbanMamas Calendar
The urbanMamas calendar continues to grow, thanks to all your ideas and emails, featuring events at libraries, parks, local businesses, art studios, community centers, or city agencies.  Check back often for the latest and greatest.  Each day has several suggestions on events for you and or your urbanKidlet.  Have an event you think should be listed on the calendar?  Send details to us (preferably as a Google/Outlook calendar invite) at urbanmamas@gmail.com.

Dutch Speaking Playgroup

Let's hear it for the foreign speaking playgroups!  First there was Spanish, now how about about Dutch?  Barbara writes:

A bunch of us in the local Dutch community (yes, there is such a thing!) have decided we'd like to have regular gatherings (perhaps a couple of different ones, split by ages) where our kids can speak Dutch together, read Dutch children's books, sing songs, etc. We are thinking of a semi formal arrangement where folks would commit to coming twice a month, pay a fee, etc. We are even thinking of hiring a "teacher". For this purpose we are looking for an affordable, kid-friendly space we could use/rent twice a month, preferably on Saturday mornings, possibly on Fridays. Ideally we would like to be able to leave some things there (a small library, CDs, DVDs), but that is not absolutely necessary. Since we come from all over the Portland area and beyond, we are looking for a fairly centrally located space. For now we are thinking that the group size would be around 15 kids or fewer and a few adults for each gathering. If you have any suggestions, I would love to hear them. Oh, and if you are a Dutch mama or papa and are interested in joining us, also feel free to contact me!

Sewing with kids: when do you start?

When I was visiting my sister a few days ago, her 13-year-old step-daughter was busy working on her first sewing project (after a lesson from her grandma). Even though she's clearly old enough, I was surprised at how well her little bib had turned out. The next day Everett and I were busy choosing projects from Amy Karol's fabulous beginner's book,