Oh What a Year!

A few weeks ago,  we gathered sans babes except for a single nursling to celebrate our urbanMama community.  It was an intimate gathering of mamas and their partners (my dining-living room can only hold so many) donned in their best finery (aka, bridesmaids dresses dusted off from previous celebrations because let's face it, who has an evening gown lying around).  We drank wine, played parlor games, and indulged on some amazing dishes that Sarah created.  Even though it was parenthood and the urbanMama's blog that brought our group together, it was nice to share stories of our past (pre-kid!) and present.  It's been another great year, despite many struggles that we've shared and encountered as parents.  We are hopeful and grateful that we will have another great year to look forward to with you - our incredibly supportive, non-judgmental community of parents in Portland (we are so lucky).  Thank you for reading, sharing, and commenting.  Here's to another year, and more exciting adventures in 2008!

Happy New Year, Activistas!

It's hard to believe that Activistas isn't even 1 yet.  So while we can't exactly have a birthday party for ourselves, the New Year presents the perfect opportunity to reflect and, natch, dream for 2008.  Curious where we Activistas were in 2007?  Where we're headed for '08?  Read more & tell us what you'd like Activistas to do/be/cover in '08 - we'd love to hear what you think. 

And... don't forget to grab the January issue of Metro Parent - Activistas is making its debut in this issue, the first of a monthly column.  Yahoo!  A great way to kick off a new year, expanding our voice to make community and political involvement easier for busy parents in the Portland area.  I'll raise a glass to that (even if it is sparkling cider)!! 

What front-loader do you use?

Do you have experience washing your cloth diapers at home?  Jillian is taking recommendations for a new front-loader:

We have a front load washer (Maytag Neptune) that's been having mold problems.  We want to buy a new washing machine, preferably front load.  Does anyone out there use cloth diapers and have a front load washer they'd recommend?

A non-party Birthday Celebration?

The urbanMamas community has been a great resource for birthday party ideas.  One mama emailed recently and is taking recommendations for a non-party birthday celebration:

My son will be turning 6 in January, and the thought inviting his entire Kindergarten class to a party is daunting and fraught with danger (What if they all show up?! My house is too small! What if nobody shows up? He will be crushed! Plus his birthday is the first week school is back in session, not giving people very much notice for a party. Clearly I needed to plan a lot farther ahead).

I’m in search of non-party ideas for birthdays…something we can do as a family or with one friend that is a special event. What can we do in the winter? I’m looking for something more than a simple trip to OMSI…  Help!

Book group update

As expected, we had a very (very) small get-together at our first book group meeting last Thursday. At our next two meetings, this Sunday, December 30, and Sunday, January 13, we'll continue to discuss Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. Between conversation here on the blog and our meetings, we'll decide upon a book for the next month.

Meeting places and times:

• Dec. 30, 1 p.m., Pix Patisserie Division (3402 SE Division)
• Jan. 13, 1 p.m., Tea Chai Te NE (2223 NE Alberta)
• Jan. 17, 7 p.m., TBD

She Doesn't Play with her Toys...Oy!

The art of playing.  Is there a trick for kid's to self entertain?  Monica has a question she'd like to ask of the mamas out there.  She writes:

On the eve of Christmas eve, with a bunch of toys under the tree...  I am reminded of something that troubles me about my kids.  4 yo girl and 2 yo boy most of the time don't actually play with their toys!  It's crazy.  I try to very carefully purchase toys that will inspire them to play creatively and have fun.  Ella's bday is in early December and she received a bunch of fun toys... Equestrian Barbie ( I know... I know.. blond, perky, not able to walk with her proportions, etc., But, she had been talking about having to have it for several weeks) among some other fun things.  Her play method is not to creatively play, but to bang the toys on other toys, make screeching animal noises and so on.  Having her sit quietly playing with Barbie and her horsie is not happening.  And, yes, we do art a lot and play dough.. all for limited amounts of time.  It seems that we get one thing out and in a flash we need to play with or bang on something else.

Returning to Work: Babe Won't Bottle-feed

Megan is returning to work (anxiety enough), but on top of the normal stresses, her son has been having problems feeding off the bottle.  Can you offer any help?

I am hoping that you can help me by either gaining information from other moms about how to handle this issue OR at the very least some comfort that things will work out okay.  My 3 mo old son was taking a bottle w/out too much fuss up until about 2 weeks ago.  He has now decided he will have nothing to do with a bottle and I have to go back to work in 2 weeks...AHHH!!!  I am pumping breast milk and plan to continue to do this while I work, but he still will not take it from me, my husband or anyone else.  We have tried Advent and Gerber nipples so far.  I would love to hear from other working mamas about how they handled this situation.  My pediatrician has assured me that no infant has perished because their mother went back to work and that he will eventually take milk if he is hungry enough, but I am still so anxious about this!  Any helpful hints, success stories or reassurance would be very appreciated.

Is anyone traveling?

Have you noticed that many of us here at urbanMamas have been busy?  A few of us are busy getting the families ready for travels to see family over the winter break.  We know quite a few families who are packing up their things, getting ready to go.  We also know quite a few families who are staying local, or perhaps renting a cabin up in the snow for a night or two.

We thought it'd be a good time to highlight a few travel posts that could be handy for the traveling folk:

• Traveling with Tots
• Car Rentals & Car Seats
• Have Car Seat, Will it Fly?
• A car seat in a cab?

For those who are staying closer to home, perhaps we can share some snowy fun ideas?

• Playing in the snow
• Fun on the mountains
• Snowshoeing away the winter blues
• Ski Bunny: Her First Time

So, will your family be stay close to Portland for the winter break?  Are you heading out of town to visit with family and friends, or have you already gone?  Do share!  We'd love to hear what you are up to....

Weekend Warriors: December 21-23

Sitting here typing away while the rain pours down, it's hard to believe they are forecasting sun and clear skies for the weekend.  You better believe it!  Time to plan for fun.  And, as always, we love to hear what you're up to, so please do share...

Concerts at the Square. Thursday, check out Buckman Elementary Arts Magnet Chorus at Noon and Dance Fusion NW at 5:30.  Also a great time to check out the market at the square for crafts & gifts.

urbanMamas book club. Several of us got together a few weeks ago and agreed that a book group was a great idea! Naturally, life took its holiday twists and turns and I've missed the organization I promised. So here it is: we are starting a book group.  Our first book will be Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver; as I understand, the copies available at the library are in high demand, so you may have to order from Amazon.com or share. I'm not sure where to meet, partly as I don't know how many will attend; please let me know if you're coming, and leave ideas in the comments about where to meet. Our first evening meeting will be this Thursday night, December 20th....

Penny's Puppets at Kenton Firehouse.  Penny wraps up her month-long series with "The Puppet Christmas Pageant" on Friday.  Show times are 10 a.m. with a repeat performance at 11:15. Admission is $3 each or four guests for $10. Children under one year old are free.

Portland Farmer's Market presents WINTER SOLSTICE.  The last market of the season offers the perfect opportunity to stock up on winter keepers like squash, potatoes and beets while shopping for unusual and delicious holiday gifts. Gift giving ideas abound and the market makes your work easy by providing a gift box. Carolers and hot chocolate add to the fun.

Last Minute Crafty Mamas Bazaar!  It's always crafty and always mamalicious.  Grab some gifts and go!  Get some snacks and hang!  The next Crafty Mamas Bazaar at Milagros is Saturday December 22, 11 am - 3 pm. Join Milagros & their crafty mamas for complimentary snacks AND some great stuff made by local moms.  Are you a Crafty Mama - or just look like one - and want to show your stuff? Send an email: milagros@milagrosboutique.com

Kwanzaa Marketplace.  Find great gifts and art finds by African American artists as well as supplies, decor, and ideas for creating your personal Kwanzaa celebration.  Marketplace is held at the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center at N. Interstate and N. Killingsworth.  Saturday and Sunday from 11AM to 4PM.

"Bedtime is time to fall asleep..."

Sleep.  It's not really the gift that keeps on giving, it's the issue that keeps on issuing.  For many mamas and papas out there, sleep issues are top on their lists for frustrations and challenges.  Some kids sleep like they've been knocked out every night promptly at 7pm.  Other kids fight their sleep until double-digit hours, night after night.  We once thought we had champion sleepers.  Now, however, we don't question that we don't.

Ellen recently emailed about her 3-year old, who has just discovered an ability to protest bedtime:

My 3 year old, who has been cheerfully (for the most part) and consistently going to sleep easily since he was 5 months old, is now protesting bedtime and has started getting out of his room.  He ends up exhausted and we are exasperated with trying to coax and convince him to settle into sleep.  I am wondering if anyone has advice on this one.  We are looking for a loving, but firm, way to communicate that bedtime is time to fall asleep.  We have not been co-sleeping or staying with him until he falls asleep and are not planning on starting either of these approaches.  I have been fantasizing about a bed tent that would frustrate his wandering tendencies but would also be safe and kid-friendly in look and design.

Ideas?

The Season of Giving: Adopt-A-Family Update

We did it!  We collected a LOT of food and gifts from 13 uM families on Sunday at Urban Grind NE and delivered it to the Salvation Army on the 18th. They, in turn, will pass it along to 'our family' on the 20th.  This was a true collective effort, bringing together uM families from all over Portland to give this mama and her three kids a little lift for the holidays.  Read more about it over on Activistas.  If you missed us this year, no worries - we aim to make this an annual Activistas tradition.

Support Group for Tween/Teen Parents

Several times, I have thought to myself, "My daughter is seven going on thirteen."  Her responses to me, her verbal chills, her extra-occular movement, her recounting how in Ramona's World the big sister babysat to earn money to have her ears pierced without telling her parents... it's all too much.  It feels like it's happened too fast, too soon.  Alas, this is life, and I can still distinctly recall going through very similar scenarios with my own mother.  It was just yesterday.  While I am sure we can still employ beloved techniques of Love and Logic to get through those tough moments, I know we will need all the support we can get.

How timely was Rebecca's email as I had all these thoughts on the brain:

I wanted to let you know I have just started a new meetup group for moms with big kids (about ages 10 and up) with a focus on NVC/compassionate communication, positive parenting discipline, attachment parenting etc.  I am just learning about these parenting styles/philosophies, and would love to recruit some new members -- especially those who are more skilled or experienced and interested in imparting some of their knowledge to others. The group website is located here http://momsofteens.meetup.com/22 and I would really appreciate your help getting the word out.

Have other mamas & papas gone worked through these issues yet?  Can you offer your best technique on dealing with the challenges of our maturing youth?

Book group: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle

Several of us got together a few weeks ago and agreed that a book group was a great idea! Naturally, life took its holiday twists and turns and I've missed the organization I promised. So here it is: we are starting a book group. We'll meet every other Sunday afternoon around 12:30 p.m. and one weekday a month at around 7 (attendance at all meetings definitely not required for participation!). Our first book will be Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver; as I understand, the copies available at the library are in high demand, so you may have to order from Amazon.com or share.

I'm not sure where to meet, partly as I don't know how many will attend; please let me know if you're coming, and leave ideas in the comments about where to meet. Our first evening meeting will be this Thursday night, December 20th; our first Sunday meeting, Dec. 30. Thursday at 7 we'll meet at the Press Club, 2621 SE Clinton. We'll discuss whether we'll read one book each month, or one every two months, when we're face-to-face.

(The support mama meetings will continue starting Dec. 23 on alternate Sundays; I'll update the urbanMamas calendar to reflect that.)

Wish lists: for our mama community

Things have not been (how shall I say?) "easy" for me this year, and talking with other mamas, I find that several of us have had an unfortunate Year: 2007. The Golden Pig may be auspicious, but it hasn't been working out great for us.

While we all hope that our fates will re-align come 2008, I find myself often both asking and (not) answering the question, "what can I do to help?" and finding that it's a difficult topic. What can we do? Often, the thing we need is harder than the reason for needing it. If I could get a wish this holiday season, it might be something like this:

• If it's late at night, and you're scared about pregnancy/labor/a strange rash, don't be afraid to call and ask me to give advice/get medicine/make you feel not so alone.
  
• Come over and watch the boys for a half-hour so I can get out of the house.
• Appear at my door with fresh-baked treats.
• If you see me headed to the store/coffee shop, ask me to pick something up for you. I won't mind.
• When I ask how you are, be honest. Let me help.
• Never mind the state of my bathroom.
• Take my children to your house to play, sometimes. Be patient with them, even if I can't.
• Know that I thank you, that I feel your gratitude too, that there is no need for cards, unless sending them makes you happy.

What's your wish for your community?

Your gifting strategy this season?

We're in full swing now in our assorted holiday seasons.  However we celebrate, gifts around this time are common and abundant.  What are some ideas to put more meaning into the stuff we give?  Make it local!  Make it green!

Eco-Mama does a nice little run-down on gifting green and features some great (new) local merchants that now takes Chinook Book coupons.  Serena posted some great ideas last year in "A tightwad shops local."  Or, maybe make a donation to the Environmental Working Group of at least $135 and get a great gift bag that includes a shopping bag, a cast-iron pan, a Klean Kanteen water bottle, recycled paper note pad, organic chocoate and more....

One of our personal favorite spots for getting gifts, year after year, is at Our Children's Store.  Formerly at the Galleria Mall downton and now at the Lloyd Center, "100% of the profits from sales are distributed to over 40 local children's organizations."  Its a great concept and we always find plenty of unique gifts there.

We'd love to hear more about gifting strategy this season.  Are you baking or knitting or making?  Are you shopping online?  Visiting local shops on some of our favorite retail strips like NW 23rd, Hawthorne, NE Alberta, or N Mississippi?

urbanMamas poster gals for Portland blogging culture

Horn-tootin' time! A few weeks ago, Steve Woodward from the Oregonian emailed asking about just why Portland is such a great town for blogging? Turns out we've been ranked the second best blogging city in the nation (behind Austin, Texas: ironically, the originator of the 'keep Portland weird' campaign. Austin has to be first in everything, waaah!). Today the article was published on the front page of the 'Living' section and I was pleased to see both me and betsywhim (who contributes to, like, 30 blogs) representing the Portland blognoscenti. You can find the article here online but it's lots easier to read in print.

We know why we think Portland is such a good blogging town (and I'll quote myself): because Portland is so rainy and, more often than not, you're stuck inside and can't interact at the playground or the beach -- blogging is a way of connecting. It's also because you all are so non-judgmental and supportive, contrary to what we hear in the news and see on Other Cities' Communities. I think another aspect is that writers are drawn to Portland for its literary scene and bunches of us are spilling out our literary guts in blogs. What do you think?

All-Day Kindergarten in PPS: Good, Bad, Illegal?

My, my.  And I thought the debate about all-day kindergarten in PPS was about issues like equity, learning opportunities, and working parents' schedules.  Turns out it might just be illegal!  Yikes.  And while that seems, at first glance, like a bad thing, maybe it's not.  Maybe the silver lining is that this issue will finally get a good, hard, realistic look here in Oregon.  Read more over on Activistas and, of course, chime in!  How has the full-day kindergarten option affected your family?  Got any ideas about solving this conundrum?   Stories from the trenches?

Underpants for kids with slim legs?

We know Sarah is not the only one with this issue:

I have a little guy with skinny legs and we are venturing into training pants territory. I want to get cloth but have found the few I've gotten my hands on to be loosey-goosey even in the smallest size. Any recomendations?

Weekend Warriors: December 13-16

Wednesday is here, and it's time for this week's Weekend Warriors.  The first event we want to highlight happens to be at the END of the weekend, but we want to make sure that you all know and that you all have it on your calendars.

Adopt-a-Family with Activistas.  Join us and the rest of the Activistas for a gathering.  We'll come together and please bring items to contribute to the family we've adopted through the Salvation Army Adopt-a-Family Program.  There are plenty of items that people have already committed to, but there are plenty of items that still remain.  Feel free to duplicate items, as we can also contribute to another famiy as well!  Join us on Sunday, 3-5PM, at Urban Grind East.

The Sprockets Family Circus.  (not to be confused with our local Sprockettes!)  Scott, Isabelle, and their 11 year-old son, Theo have been touring the world in their giant, 1962 green double-decker bus they call home for over 10 years. Their entertaining circus show amazes kids and adults alike with juggling, comedy, acrobatics (on a 21-foot long silk) and so much more.  See first-hand the fantastic circus show that has entertained audiences in Turkey, Bangladesh, Greece and Mexico and all over the world- and see their incredible bus! Their show is at 6:30pm on Friday, at Oregon Timberworks (N. Cook bn N. Albina and N. Borthwick).  Minimum donation $5 per person and $10 per family.  Bring cocoa, seats, and blankies!

Concerts at the Square!  Head to Portland's living room and enjoy a Brass Ensemble on Thursday at noon, the Clarendon-Portsmouth Choir on Thursday at 6PM, the Whitford Middle School Advanced Band on Friday at noon, a Brass Ensemble on Friday at 5:30PM, a Tuba Christmas on Saturday at 1:30PM, and Dance Fusion NW on Sunday at 12:45PM.

Penny's Puppets.  Penny's Puppet Shows at the Kenton Firehouse, featuring "Where did the Stockings Go?" on December 14th. Show times are 10 a.m. with a repeat performance at 11:15. Admission is $3 each or four guests for $10. Children under one year old are free.

Car Safety Clinic.   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.  On Saturday from 10AM to 2PM, Portland Fire SE 13th Pl and SE Powell.

Kwanzaa Marketplace.  Find great gifts and art finds by African American artists as well as supplies, decor, and ideas for creating your personal Kwanzaa celebration.  Marketplace is held at the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center at N. Interstate and N. Killingsworth.

Las Posadas.   A family-friendly fiesta, blending North and Latin American holiday traditions. A procession of nearly 40 costumed children sing Spanish and English holiday songs as they parade through the community of St. Johns "looking for shelter." Families, friends and visitors are welcome to join the parade and partake of holiday treats. At the end of the procession is a party for all, including traditional Mexican foods, music, a pinata and other holiday fun. St. Johns Plaza, North Burlington and Lombard streets. Saturday at 4:00 PM at St Johns Plaza (N Burlington & Lombard).

Crafty Wonderland.  Doing holiday shopping?  Hit up Portland's monthly art & craft extravaganza.  It features over 40 independent artists and crafters selling their work. Wonderland Super Colossal Holiday Sale! We will be holding one HUGE Holiday event on December 16th (the THIRD Sunday) at the historic Norse Hall in Portland! It will feature over 100 vendors, a full bar, a special DIY table and loads of cool extras!  Sunday from 11AM to 4PM.

Is the Santa secret safe?

We're all about chatting about the holidays of late, and this household has been wondering: (for those of us whose children believe in Santa) how long does the magic of Santa last?  When does the secret get spoiled?

We have made up all sorts of stories about how there's only one Santa, and how all the other ones are just elves dressed up as the jolly old fellow so they can spread the cheer more efficiently.  We have also told tales of a helipad on top of the downtown Nordstrom where the sleigh parks with all the raindeer waiting.  We write letters and Santa is always sure to leave a note back along with a couple of treats.  We are sure to only use special Santa wrapping paper (and never the same paper we wrap our other gifts with!).

Do you play out the Santa fantasy in your household?  Is the Santa secret still safe?

Seeking Oral Surgeon Recommendations

Fonda has a question for the rest of the urbanMamas community, seeking a specific dental provider:

I need to find a good oral surgeon as well as a good orthodontist (for multiple wisdom teeth removal and following orthodontic work).  We need someone who will be competent, patient, helpful in answering questions in a no-pressure way, and most of all *honest* in telling us whether the teeth really need to come out now versus wait-and-see. Have any of you had good experiences, either with yourselves or with your teenagers?  I live in Beaverton, so west side would be best.

Toys: What to (and not to) buy from mamas who've been there

Everett's developmental pediatrician has recommended, among other things, that we organize his toys better; and part of that has been purging lots of the precious whats-its and doo-dads garnered from the Bins, or from a random assortment of relatives and friends. We've been talking a lot about the concept of "quality" here at chez cafemama. And all last week while I had my nose to the corporate grindstone, launching a new personal finance blog called WalletPop, I was thinking about what things I wish I hadn't bought -- instead putting the money into college savings, or a therapy fund.

Today I couldn't help but fall in love with this post about toys you shouldn't -- and should -- buy your kids for Christmas. It's written by the mother of one of the lead bloggers at WalletPop (a financially-savvy 19-year-old). And to her list I'd add:

• Don't buy: Anything remote-controlled
• Do buy: Die-cast trains
• Don't buy: So-called "educational" toys, which nearly always have batteries and only teach your kids how to push buttons.
• Do buy: Books in quantity
• Don't buy: Toys linked to Disney movie / Cartoon Network show / video game; why further that vicious cycle of feeding your children to the marketing machine?
• Do buy: An easel, quality crayons and colored pencils, a big roll of paper.
• Don't buy: Excessive stuffed toys, especially those with voice boxes; they'll take over your playroom.
• Do buy: Dress-up clothes (or make them!)

What's on your list?

Holiday Cards: What's Your Tradition?

In previous years, I would coerce my husband into making the hike out to some spot up in the mountains to snap a picture of our family.  As the family photographer and videographer, we've got plenty of pictures of the kids, solo, with each other, with each parent, with other families and friends.  However, in the mix of the hundreds of pictures we take over the year, we can never get it together to take a picture of our family.  And if we do, inevitably, somebody is caught not looking, with their eyes closed, or not smiling.  The first year, when my son was about 9 months old, we spent Thanksgiving in the Wallowa Mountains.  We trekked our way on snowshoes into some remote area of "Little Switzerland" and somehow as our digital camera teetered precariously on some rock, we managed to capture this fantastic photo.  This year, we decided to go the route to get some professional help from Dimples Photography.  Though the pictures turned out fantastic, we have probably missed our deadline to send out holiday cards by the end of the year! Oh well, but as I reminisce on our little adventure to Eastern Oregon, I am inspired to DIY a good family picture in the new year for the next holiday season.  Do you partake in the holiday card sending / giving tradition? Do you do-it-yourself, or do use the services of a professional photographer?  I'm also curious if anyone sends out electronic holiday cards, or is that too impersonal?

Holiday Cookies: Share Some of Your Favorites

The other day, my husband gently nudged me to host a cookie exchange so he could dust off his rolling pin.  When we would spend the holidays with our families in the Midwest, we would indulge in the once-a-year favorites such as Baklava and Banket. I'm not sure of the tradition of baklava, but Banket is one of those tasty Dutch pastries that my mother-in-law loves to bake.  His grandparents were Dutch immigrants.  It was also that time of the year to make Peanut Butter Kisses, Sugar Cookies, and of course the Gingerbread People. 

Since I'm right on schedule (sent out the email invite four days ago, and the exchange is tomorrow) I need some ideas on some great holiday cookies.  I got the ix-nay on the Pecan Sandies - they didn't quite meet holiday muster according to the resident cookie authority. Biscotti was also met with a lukewarm response.  Do you have suggestions for terrific holiday cookies that would pass the scrutiny of our family cookie-snob?  Do you have any family favorites and ethnic cookie recipes?  Lastly, as I'm always looking for ways to streamline the cookie exchange, how do you go about hosting yours?

Entertaining the Foodie Visitors

In recent weeks (months, years), we've had the pleasure of hosting friends and family who hail from our hometowns of San Francisco and New York.  We've always been fond of eating out, and I find that there is no shortage of deliciousness to be had here in Portland.  Even when we can't always manage to eat out, we still stay on top of the Portland gastronomy via our favorite Portland food blogs.

Of course, when we're entertaining out-of-towners, part of the purpose is to have them spend time with our girls.  And, we are often inclined to eat out, even though we rarely now eat out with the girls since it's just that much more fun to make a big home-cooked meal and entertain at home.  (Plus, the cost!)

So, where to go?  There's "kid-friendly" with ample high chair stock and kid menus, but there's also "kid-welcoming" with staff who go out of their way to make the kids comfortable, quickly fed, and happy. For us, the key to enjoying dining out with the girls is to pick a spot where there is: 1) room to wiggle and spread out tons of paper for drawing, 2) attentive staff who understand that the kids' patience runs a bit shorter than the adults', 3) food and drink choices to make both the kids and adults happy, 4) an ambiance that allows for kids to make the noises that they make at the volume that they do, and 5) as little wait as possible.

Some of our great successes have been:

Gino's.  Seeing as we live in Overlook and Gino's is in Sellwood, we find Gino's to be a bit further of an excursion.  Still, it's great Italian food, and what kid doesn't love Italian?  My girls could certainly eat the stuff day in, day out.  The best thing about Gino's is that they immediately bring the kids individual platters of apples, cheese, and crackers.  That is quick attention.

Nostrana. They don't take reservations unless your party is 6 or more, so try to score a reservation with a larger group. Waiting with hungry kids is not often a good idea. It appears that Nostrana knows that hungry kids are not happy kids because, like Gino's, they whisk out individual plates for the kids with cheese, apples, raisins, and this lovely, lovely nutella-esque dallop for dipping. The atmosphere is bustling and busy, so I don't mind if our kids are equally bustly or busy. They blend. A table near the front door on a nice days allows bigger kids to go play out on the patio once they're done nibbling.

Pause. This one is a new neighborhood joint, and the only link I could find to it was in BarFly. It should be noted, however, that it's not just a bar, it's really a full restaurant, something like a kid-friendly tavern or pub. What I loved about Pause and why I include it here, is that they immediately asked "what can I bring the kids?", like seriously at the moment we sat down. They offered butter noodles on-the-house. Sometimes, free butter noodles are the antidote for the hungry kids at 6pm.

We know lots of families who love Laurelwood (who wouldn't?), but the wait is often unbearable. Plus, we sometimes want something different than pub grub.

Mamabee just emailed:

Okay, so my foodie family is coming to town and usually that means big dinners at Portland's finest dining establishments.  Now I have a beautiful little two month old, I am rather clueless as to where to go.  What nice restaurants in town are cool with a quiet 2 month old?  What about breastfeeding?  Is it totally uncouth to nurse my little one under a shawl?  Any suggestions?

Where have you had success with a nice dinner that pleased the adults AND the kids?  Any establishments that you would avoid?

Weekend Warriors: December 6-9

Technically, it's still Wednesday.  We're going to really try to put out our weekly Weekend Warriors on Wednesday, but life sometimes just gets so crazy in urbanMamaville.  Without further ado, get out there and enjoy some holiday spirit in full effect!

First Thursday.  It's First Thursday this week and all points in NW Portland will be teeming with stuff for the whole family.  Check out the Green Frog open house to enjoy games, cider, and free ornaments with purchases.  Or maybe enjoy the rare occassion of free admission to the Chinese Classical Garden and enjoy a special art event and demonstration.  Or maybe hit up the Baby Boot Camp Extravaganza for treats and goodies, all for a good cause.  Even if you don't hit one of these events, First Thursday in December is always a festive time with plenty of cheer (and wine).

Penny's Puppet Show.  The first three Fridays in December bring three new productions by Penny's Puppets.  All shows are at 10AM or 11:15AM at the Kenton Firehouse.  This week: "The Mitten".

Holiday Bazaar at Leach Botanical Garden.  On Friday and Saturday, check out Portland's only public botanical garden & their 21th annual Holiday Bazaar. A wide variety of fresh greens will be available in bulk, along with wreaths, swags & centerpieces, cones and dried flowers, handcrafted items and baked goods. As always our gift shop will be open and our nursery plants for sale. Get into the spirit of the season, stroll the winter garden and sip hot cider in the historic Leach Garden Manor. Free admission to boot.

Family Night at Peninsula Community Center.  Families that play together, stay together.  Join us for a low-cost solution to a night out with the family.  Our drop in program offers a variety of activities that vary each visit.  An adult must accompany children; a child must accompany adults.  Call the center for more info at 823 3620.

Fantastic Friday at Buckman Pool.  Or maybe a family swim sounds appealing?  Enjoy swim at 2 for the price of 1!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.....  Folks, there's just too much to bear.  Please check out the urbanMamas calendar for all the details, but here's the quick and dirty of all the hot holiday haps -- Breakfast with Santa at Peanut Butter & Ellies, Holiday Happenings Bazaar at St. Johns Community Center, Gingerbread House Workshop at Peninsula Community Center, kids card-making class at the DIY Lounge, Santa at the Historic Overlook House, a Penguin Party at Green Frog Toys, a Kwanzaa marketplace at the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center, the SCRAP Holiday Bazaar, a reading of The Gingerbread Man,  the Nutcracker by the Pacific Festival Ballet, the Milwaukie Umbrella Parade and Tree lighting, and a Holiday Guitar Concert at Sydney's.  *whew!*

urbanMamas Support.  After all that activity on Saturday, you may just need a moment to unwind and connect with other mamas.  Join Sarah and others for some good QT meeting other mamas and supporting each other through the holidays and the other trials and tribulations that come along with mamahood.  Please check the calendar for full details on where we're meeting this week.

Bottles & Formula: Just What is Safe?

One of our fave organizations, the Environmental Working Group (EWG), just released a report on the safety of baby bottles and formula.  Back to that exhausting topic of living the Plan B life in a Plan A world.  Not surprisingly, they found that both bottles and formula leach a potentially dangerous chemical, Bisphenol-A. Yeah, right on into your baby.  How nice.

And this one touches us all, mamas, except those who nursed 100% of the time.  And these days, whatever your gig (working, staying at home, dating, traveling), it's pretty hard to never use a bottle.  And even then, there's all those toxins in our milk.  Arrgghhh, you just can't win!  Find out what the research shows and what you can do about it over on Activistas.

Giving up the car

With the rain and winds and cold here, we have converted from a biking/mass transit family to a driving family.  Obsessed with how much direct and other social costs we were now incurring, I found the website The True Cost of Driving, which estimates that it costs about $1.19 per mile in a whole host of direct driver expenses as well as societal costs, such as costs of infrastructure or accidents.  For our 3.5 mile commute, this cost equates to just a little over two 2-zone TriMet tickets.  And, with our daughter now at 7 years of age, she also has to pay her bus fare, therefore making it cheaper to all drive together.  I suppose I am trying to rationalize that driving, in some cases, could cost about the same as taking mass transit?

Mardi is a mama who is not deterred by the thought of going car-free this winter.  She recently emailed:

I am currently obsessed about selling our two cars and am extremely interested in other families that have done so.

My husband wants to keep one car - just in case. I'm pregnant with my second child and I'd love to hear how families manage to go carless with kids. What do they do if they need a car, say if a child gets sick. Renting a car isn't really all that cheap, neither is Flexcar at $10 an hour.  Is bicycling around really practical in Portland when it rains so much?

Children and their religion

There are many things that have got me thinking about this subject of late, and I know we have had short chats about it in the past -- "Why does Eleanor celebrate Annika?" and Religion after Kids.  Recently, our family been dealing with the loss of two loved ones, and our faith is surfacing.  We have also decided to prepare our oldest daughter for some of her first Catholic sacraments.  And, of course, with Hannukah and Christmas and many more holidays on their way, it's gotten me thinking.

Do you consider yourself religious?  What do you choose to pass on to your children?  What do you choose to NOT pass on?

Adopt-A-Family with Activistas ~ 12.16.07

We are really excited about this!  I, for one, have wanted to "adopt" a family at the holidays for years, and finally just decided that 2007 was the year.  I have always participated in a holiday "store" through work, but this is different.  For me, this is a more personal connection to a very real local mama who needs a little help making the holidays great for her three kids.  Get the details & RSVP over on Activistas.  It'll be fun to connect, let the kids play, and  - most importantly - share any extra that we might have.   See you there!

Parenting philosophies: Is *anyone* right?

I've been thinking, studying, and discussing a lot lately about one very important topic: parenting. Not just parenting in general, but how to parent, and how to parent right. But even more troubling than the realization that I haven't been parenting entirely perfectly is the growing conviction that no one knows what they're doing. And I'm not judging you guys, the parents: no, I'm judging the experts, the parenting authors, the pediatricians, the teachers.

Everett's temporarily in a special education program and we're finding that the teachers, "coaches," and other great staff are -- despite their commendable patience and amazing energy -- frequently guilty of inconsistence. Are they right when they ignore bad behavior, or right when they provide consequences? I was all ready to embrace Love & Logic without question when I discovered some of the more punitive examples proffered by its creators. I love my children's pediatrician unreservedly, but occasionally her behavioral advice seems half-cooked. Another mama was raving about Alfie Kohn's speech, but admitted she had trouble putting much of his advice into practice after she got home.

While it's somewhat comforting to conclude that no one knows what they're doing, it's also terrifying -- how can I get it right if I can't even decide what right, is? I wonder -- has anyone come across a philosophy you embrace whole-heartedly? And why is this parenting gig so darned hard?

Breastfeeding Friendly: Say It Out Loud!

This excellent picture is the official breastfeeding friendly symbol.  Makes me smile just looking at it.  I'm thinking that we ought to get Portland businesses using this thing.  Seen any around town?  Mothering magazine has made it very easy to download the image and spread it 'round, and the fabulous artist signed it over to the Public Domain.  Stickers and t-shirts are available, too.  They developed it through a contest, and you can check out the 12 semi-finalists.  You won't regret it. 

Enjoy and hey, let's get this symbol up in Pdx.  I can think of about 10 retail places that would be a great start - you?  If we can't show it off in Portland, mamas, who can???  I mean really.

To see my fave that didn't win - read on over at Activistas...

Can you think of any fave public breastfeeding-friendly places?

Soccer Moms: Getting Started Early

Some mamas are happy to wait until the little ones are older to get them involved in organized activities.  Melissa's interested in finding a soccer class for her toddler.  Are there really any out there?  She asks:

I keep hearing of all of these Moms getting their 2-year olds into soccer classes/teams.  I can’t seem to find a class anywhere and am curious if you might know of some?