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November 30, 2005

Shoppers with a Cause

Oo la la, it's time to shop. And if you don't feel like fighting the crowds and mass-produced commercialism of the mall, I have two suggestions to make.

Both of these shopping opportunities benefit DC-area children, and both feature unique specialty items that you will NEVER find at the mall.

TONIGHT, drop by the Fundraiser Holiday Bazaar for Faith Lutheran Preschool, to be held from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Lyon Park Community House in Arlington, 414 N. Fillmore (at the corner of Pershing). Each exhibitor is donating at least 20 percent of sales from the evening to meet some of the preschool's current needs -- And to help expand their scholarship fund. They would like to provide a deserving preschool child the opportunity to attend Faith Lutheran on a full-time, fully funded basis. While you're there, say hello to me! (I'll be selling books, donating 25 percent of proceeds to the preschool, and giving one copy away in the raffle.) And don't forget to visit with exhibitors Amy Miller of Our Kids and Amie Garcia of Livie & Luca.

THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY, make time to visit one of the DC area's most fabulous holiday bazaars in Old Town Alexandria. The Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend Marketplace will be open Thursday from noon to 5 p.m., Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at The Campagna Center, 418 S. Washington St. This annual event benefits the many Campagna Center programs for Alexandria children and families in need -- including Alexandria Head Start. It also features some of the most beautiful and unique gift items you'll find this year, many made by local artisans. While you're there, stop at local mama Susanne Seidman's booth! Lilly's Pad is an exhibitor, showcasing Susanne's fun, hand-crafted specialty items for babies and young children. Susanne is also carrying my book at this event!

Enjoy!

Posted by Sarah at 10:18 AM

November 29, 2005

Sleep, Perchance to Dream

We slept through the night! We slept through the night!

Have I mentioned that we slept through the night, for the first time in about a week?

I know, I know, I'm spoiled by having a toddler who, when healthy and well, loves her bed and sleeps 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. But she wasn't always this way. For the first four months of her life, Ava rarely slept. Life was hard then. And having a little sickie girl these past several days brings it all back.

It also reminds me that the number one struggle plaguing most parents of toddlers and preschoolers is the dreaded bedtime. If you are among the walking dead, you should check out Kim West's website and book. Kim, a.k.a. The Sleep Lady, has worked wonders as a consultant to many DC and Baltimore-area families. If you want sleep, she can help you get some. Kim has a free newsletter, does phone consultations, and is available as a guest speaker for parenting groups. She appeared on the Today Show earlier this year and has been featured in all the local press.

If you like your parenting memoirs a little edgy, a bit left-leaning, there's plenty of good dish on sleepless nights in Anne Lamott's book Operating Instructions: A Journal of My Son's First Year (which my husband and I are taking turns reading). Lamott might not offer any sage advice, but she'll make you laugh a lot harder than Dr. Sears. And she sure will remind you that in this - as in all parenting trials - you are not alone. And that in the end, we just have to enjoy the ride.

Posted by Sarah at 5:02 PM

November 28, 2005

Local Support Groups for PPD

If you're a regular DC-BABY.com reader or have bought my book, you know that I'm dedicated to spreading the word about where women experiencing postpartum depression can turn for help and compassionate support.

Thanks to some wonderful local contacts in this field, I continually learn about new groups and resources. If you or someone you know may be suffering from PPD, please consider reaching out sooner rather than later. It can make a world of difference.

Here are a few of the local groups available to women:

Bonnie Hershberg facilitates a PPD Peer Support Group in the District, near Sibley Hospital in NW. It meets for 90 minutes every other Wednesday evening. Prospective members can contact Bonnie for more info at 703.282.5896.

Another group, facilitated by Adrienne Griffin, meets in Arlington on Wednesday mornings. For more details or to join the group, send email to Adrienne at: griffens at comcast dot net or call her at 703.243.2904.

Yet another PPD support group meets in Fairfax on Saturday mornings. For more info or to join, contact the facilitator, Benta Sims, at 703.536.9469 or at: j-bsims at comcast dot net. Also, if you have a local club or network for new moms and would like to have a guest speaker discuss postpartum depression, Benta Sims is said to be the best source for hooking you up! Just drop her a line or give her a ring.

The Family Mental Health Foundation is a respected Washington-based organization offering great support and information to mothers and families. Find out more about them at their website.

Also online, check out the PPD Hope Information Center. They sponsor a hotline, available day and night: 1.877.PPD.HOPE.

Contrary to what you may have heard Tom Cruise (not an expert, not a woman) spouting on Entertainment Tonight and Access Hollywood, postpartum depression is relatively common and too often goes untreated, which can be harmful not only to the mother but to the baby and to the family as a whole. PPD is curable, it does NOT reflect on your love for your child or your parenting skill, it does NOT mean you're "crazy," and no new mama needs to suffer alone!

Posted by Sarah at 9:50 PM

Ear Infection Blues, a Sale, Goodwill, & "What's Your Sign?"

It's official. We've got another ear infection on our hands! And it was another sleepless night at our house with a baby who just wanted to be held and rocked.

But with a successful nap now underway (Ava, not Mama, unfortunately), I have a moment to dazzle you with new info:

SPECIAL DISCOUNT UNTIL DECEMBER 1:
As you may have noticed from the button image on this site, I have affiliate status with the neat little company called Earth Mama/Angel Baby, which makes all-natural, organic products for pregnant women and babies. (Love, love, love their stuff, have used it myself, and recently sent some items to my sister Carrie as a new-mama gift. She just gave birth to my first niece, Charlotte Faye!) Anyhew, I digress. If you want to purchase something from Earth Mama/Angel Baby and receive a 10 percent holiday discount on your order, click here for access. At checkout, you must enter this coupon code to get the discount: 112051500. The sale ends this Thursday, December 1. From time to time they offer these special perks to affiliates like DC-BABY.com, so be sure to take advantage!

SPEAKING OF THANKS-GIVING:
For those of you who read my recent entry - or the Washington Post article - about new mama Jennell Dickens and family in Baltimore (who are struggling to take care of new quintuplets just home from the hospital, and a daddy who has been laid off from his job) - a quick update. I got a sweet note from Jennell today, in response to a message I'd sent her offering baby clothes. Don't know HOW on earth she found time to write me back, but she tells me they've received tons of donated clothes and baby gear, and are doing well on that front. Reading between the lines, it's obvious that this young family still needs financial support for covering things like their overwhelming daily supply of diapers, etc. If you would like to share a little something with the family this holiday season, please drop me a line and I'll send you the address for the fund that has been set up in their name at a Baltimore bank. Your donations can be completely anonymous! The last line of Jennell's note to me reads: "Just knowing that others care reassures me that I'm not alone."

NEW SIGN LANGUAGE CLASS FOR TOTS:
Local, mama-owned Signing Family has announced new sign language classes for parents and children. One class will meet Tuesday mornings from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. (November 29, December 6, 13, 20) at Adas Israel Congregation, 2850 Quebec St. NW. Also offered: A Tuesday class from 11 a.m. to 12 noon at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, Maryland (December 2, 9). An evening class is set for Tuesdays from 7 to 9 p.m. at Holy Cross Hospital (November 29, December 6). Cost is $60. For more information or to register, email Judi Rockhill: judi at signingfamily dot com or call 301.754.8800.

Posted by Sarah at 2:23 PM

November 27, 2005

Groups for Parents in NW DC, Kensington, & Arlington

A few more events of interest this week -- one in NW DC and the others in Kensington and Arlington:

The Parents' Simplicity Circle discussion group meets Tuesday, November 29 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. (and again on Tuesday, December 6 at the same time) at the Washington Ethical Society, 16th St. and Kalmia NW. Participation is FREE, though the discussion guide costs $25. For more about the discussion series, click this link. In a nutshell, the group is made up of parents who are concerned about raising healthy, happy children in an increasingly fast-paced, consumer-crazy culture. Group members focus on nurturing children to value nature, relationships, and creativity in a commercialized society. For more info or to RSVP, contact Julie Drizin at 301.589.5652.

Also this week, the MOMS Club of Chevy Chase/Kensington holds its monthly meeting on Wednesday, November 30 at 10:30 a.m. at the Kensington Park Community Library, 4201 Knowles Ave., and the Arlington-South MOMS Club hosts its Mom's Night Out on Wednesday evening at 7:30 p.m. These groups are just two of many local chapters of the national support organization for mothers who stay at home with their children either part-time or full-time. Activities include outings, lunch and coffee get-togethers, playgroups, and more. For more info about the Chevy Chase/Kensington group, call 301.656.2723. If you live outside this neighborhood but want to locate the MOMS chapter in your neck of the woods, call 301.527.8723 - Or click here for Maryland chapters, click here for the DC chapter, or click here for Virginia chapters.

Posted by Sarah at 7:25 PM

Post-Thanksgiving Recovery

As fate would have it, our Thanksgiving has been, um... memorable... with all three of us -- Ava, Noah, and myself --getting sick with a nasty respiratory bug while on "vacation" in New York. Hope all of you fared better!

I also came home to 300+ emails in my in-box. Time to play catch-up on announcements and events:

DC BABY will take part in the Faith Lutheran Preschool Holiday Fundraiser this week in Alexandria. Stop by on Wednesday evening, November 30 between 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. at the Lyon Park Community House, 414 N. Fillmore (at the corner of Pershing Ln.). I will be selling books and donating 25 percent of sales to benefit the preschool program. One copy of the book will also be given away as a raffle. Many fabulous folks will be on hand to help you do your holiday shopping for a good cause. Light refreshments and wine will be served, and all are welcome. Please join us!

Also on DC BABY's calendar: A book signing at A Likely Story children's bookstore in Old Town Alexandria on Saturday, December 10. At 11:30 a.m. - immediately following the morning storytime (which will feature Polar Express) - I'll be on hand with my daughter and husband to chat, sign books, and share some casual eats. Come on by!

The book is now on Amazon.com and MomSoup.com, in addition to right here on our own website and through fabulous local vendors, including our favorite baby and children's boutiques and independent bookstores.

In other news:

Laura Rozier, founder of The Mom's Network in Springfield, Virginia, has announced a New Moms Support Group to begin January 4 and run eight weeks. For more info or to register, visit the website.

The Takoma Park Birthing Circle's December Birth Salon is set for Sunday, December 4 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Sangha, 7014 Westmoreland Ave. in Takoma Park, Maryland. This month's meeting features a Childbirth Education Panel to address the myriad challenges of choosing the right childbirth preparation class for you. Do you know the differences between different childbirth education philosophies? Do you know what a hospital-based class teaches? Do second time mamas really need a class? What skills and strengths do different childbirth ed approaches offer? The panel will feature teachers from Bradley, Lamaze, Birthing from Within, Hypnobirthing, and more. The group welcomes DC-area women in all stages of fertility - pre-conception, pregnancy and postpartum - their partners, birth professionals, and community members. For more info, send email to larissa at northstarbirth dot com.

The fabulous Lullaby Baby in suburban Maryland has a nice, free email newsletter that alerts you to special events, subscriber-only sales and promotional prices, and new product lines. The store is featured in DC BABY: A Handbook for Parenting In (& Around) the Capitol City as one of the best retailers for infant and children's furniture and accessories! To register for the newsletter or get directions to the store, visit their website or send email to info at lullay-baby dot com.

Last but not least, wanted to let you know that my favorite Music Together instructor, Angie Moran, has announced her winter schedule, which includes a new Wednesday class at 9:15 a.m. Infants six months and under attend for free with a registerd sibling, and there's a discount available for sibs over six months. Classes take place at the Lee Center and the Ramsay Rec Center in Alexandria. No prior music experience or special musical ability required! For more info, contact Angie at oldtownmusictogether at hotmail dot com. For those of you who aren't lucky enough to be in Alexandria for Angie's classes but are interested in Music Together, check out the national website to locate a great instructor in your neighborhood.

Posted by Sarah at 11:54 AM

November 22, 2005

Gobble Gobble

Before DC BABY heads of to New Yawk City for the holiday (which promises to be even colder and wetter than Washington), let's review the Thanksgiving fun happening right here in DC:

Local mama Amy Miller's Our Kids website has a nice list of Turkey Day happenings in the District and suburbs. Visit the "special events" section of the site to check it out!

Clearly the best way to give thanks with (and for) your kids this year is by taking part in the fourth annual Thanksgiving Day Trot for Hunger, which kicks off Thursday at 8:30 a.m. in DC. Starting point is Ohio Dr. (between Independence Ave. and W. Basin Dr. in West Potomac Park). Just bundle up!

Another way to make a difference for those in need this Thanksgiving: Volunteer with your family at the "Everything... But the Turkey" event on Wednesday from 4:30 to 9 p.m. at the DC Jewish Community Center. Over 300 volunteers are needed to help make a special TG meal for more than 4,000 homeless individuals in the DC metro area. You don't even need to know how to cook, and nope, you don't have to be Jewish. (Duh.) A $10 fee for each participating adult covers the cost of ingredients. For more info or to register as a volunteer, call 202.518.9400, ext. 581 or visit the website. It's an evening of music, food, new friends, family togetherness, community service, and good feelings.

The Post has published a cool little Guide to TG Week, which includes the best places to get take-out turkey, the best restaurants if you want to skip the prep and cleanup, volunteer opportunities, and the party/live music/bar scene if Grandma & Gramps are in town and willing to babysit! (Be sure to read their handy FAQ piece on turkey troubleshooting, lest you find yourself with a half-baked bird.)

If you get a bit stir-crazy at the family gathering on Thursday or need to walk off that big meal, remember that the museums of the Smithsonian Institution stay open on Thanksgiving! (Count your blessings.)

Happy Thanksgiving, from my little turkey and me to you and yours.

Posted by Sarah at 10:52 AM

November 21, 2005

Birthday News

I have a hodge-podge of news and events to share today, as I mark my 35th anniversary on this planet, try to get some work done, and frantically prepare my family for a holiday trip to NYC. If this post feels scattered - or otherwise nutty - blame it on my tragic overdose of Chai Latte and Diet Coke!

FREE, QUALITY PRESCHOOL IN THE DISTRICT?
No joke. I swear. I just learned about this program from a contact on the DC Urban Moms List. Openings are now available at the Bridges Public Charter School , an inclusive preschool program for children ages three to five. Small class size, well-trained staff, and thematic- and project-based curriculum. They are located at 1250 Taylor St. NW, and the school is free and open to all District of Columbia residents. Non-residents pay tuition. Their school day is 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., with extended care available from 3 to 6 p.m. They serve daily breakfast, lunch, and a snack. To register or find out more, contact the school at 202.545.0515 or visit their website.

CHANGE OF VENUE
Remember that benefit Toy Sale sponsored by the MOMS Club of South Alexandria? The location has changed. And they're accepting donations. Here's the new scoop: It will be held Saturday, December 10 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at St. Louis' school cafeteria. St. Louis is located right off Route 1 at 2907 Popkins Ln., near the Beacon Hill Shopping Center. The MOMS Club is accepting donations of gently used toys, DVDs/videos, books, baby gear, and other appropriate items (NO clothes, please). Contact Virginia Walthour at walthours at starpower dot net to donate items. They can accept your goods until Saturday, December 3.

MORE DETAILS ON COMMUNIKIDS
A few days ago, in a post about bilingual resources, I mentioned the new CommuniKids language school. Thanks to their own Jeannine Piacenza, I have additional details to share. To jog your memory, CommuniKids is located in the Wisconsin Ave. Baptist Church at Tenley Circle, NW DC. Jeannine tells me they currently have about 45 children enrolled in Spanish immersion classes in the fall session, and they are now enrolling for the winter session. Classes are one hour long and are organized by age groups: 12-24 months, two- and three-year-olds, and three- to five-year olds. Groups are 100 percent immersion and include age-appropriate activities like circle time, songs, movement, and art projects. CommuniKids currently only offers Spanish, but they hope to add Chinese and other languages in the future. CommuniKids also administers and provides the teachers for a free Adult ESL program at the church. For more info, call 202.363.0133 or send email to info at communikids dot com.

SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES EXPERIENCING A LOSS
Did you know that SIDS Mid-Atlantic sponsors a support group for parents and families who have lost a child? The group meets the first Thursday evening of every month from 7 to 9 p.m. at McLean Presbyterian Church, 1020 Balls Hill Rd., McLean, Virginia. Their next meeting is Thursday, December 1. Newcomers are very welcome! This group is free and open to anyone affected by the loss of a baby due to any cause (not exclusively SIDS). A professional grief counselor facilitates the group. For more information on SIDS, or on coping with the death of a baby, please reach out by calling SIDS Mid-Atlantic at 703.933.9100, sending an email to sidsma27 at aol dot com, or visiting their website: www.sidsma.org

FOR ALL EXPECTANT MAMAS
Some shocking data about the skyrocketing rate of c-sections in America has been coming out over the past few months from the CDC and other big-name research centers. VBAC deliveries have also been a hot topic in the local news, with some suburban Maryland mamas and caregivers drawing media attention. In my humble opinion, the Maternity Center Association's materials are the most user-friendly and clear resources for expectant parents who have questions or concerns about birth and related medical care. Check out this quick-and-to-the-point page. The Maternity Center Association, based in NYC, has an ongoing national program that communicates research-based information to pregnant women and health care providers. They are an excellent source for the latest knowledge on birth care options and interventions. And it's the straight dope.

Posted by Sarah at 2:13 PM

November 20, 2005

Big Fun Was Had

We had a fabulous turnout for the DC BABY Book Launch Party today! Thank you, thank you, thank you to all the families who joined us.

Click here to view a few party pics.

It was great to see the kids have so much fun singing, dancing, and playing together -- I can't think of a more appropriate way to celebrate the launch of a book about babies and young children.

A special thanks to Vicki Gersten and her staff at Jonah's Treehouse for hosting us in their beautiful space, and to Oh Susannah! for entertaining us with fun, kid-friendly music.

Kudos to my fabulous husband/friend/colleague/business partner Noah for his help with the book sales and other logistics, to Noah's cousin Michael and his wife Amy for keeping tabs on my child during the raucus party, and to little Ava herself, who was such a good sport throughout Mama's busy day.

I'm pleased to say that Jonah's Treehouse is now stocking the book! You can purchase a copy at their front desk. We're also now on the shelves of Candida's World of Books on 14th St. NW.

Click here for the updated list of where to buy the book in and around Washington (in addition to right here on the website).

Posted by Sarah at 8:57 PM

Odds & Ends

Last reminder! Today's the day for our free family party from 2:30 to 4 p.m. at Jonah's Treehouse, with play for the kids, children's music by Oh Susannah! , and catered light refreshments. Come celebrate the book launch with me and my family -- All are welcome, and I'm so looking forward to getting together with some of the folks featured in the book, our illustrator Jen Glimcher, DC BABY readers and friends! (Books will also be available for purchase at the party, at a discounted cost.)

More misc. tidbits to share this morning:

SHOPPING FOR A GOOD CAUSE:
The MOMS Club of South Alexandria is having a Toy Sale to benefit an adoption program in China on Saturday, December 10 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at Bush Hill Elementary School (near Rose Hill).

BABYSTYLE SALE:
If you're shopping for Christmas gifts, baby/toddler preschooler clothes and toys, or maternity clothes, you should know that Babystyle currently has a 20 percent off special for affiliate customers, which applies to virtually every product they sell. Since DC BABY is a Babystyle affiliate, my readers can take advantage of the sale. Click this link and do your shopping. At checkout, enter the coupon code HOLIDAZE to get your 20 percent off. The offer is valid until Sunday, December 11th, 2005 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time.

DC BABY BUZZ:
The story of how the DC BABY book and website came to be is currently featured on MomSoup. Click here and check it out!

Posted by Sarah at 8:33 AM

November 19, 2005

Bilingual, Baby: Part 2

Thanks for all the feedback on my "bilingual resources for young children" post! There seems to be a great interest in this topic and a lot of demand for bilingual services and products!

Here are a few more programs I've discovered, and a bookstore you must explore:

Kensington mama Elizabeth Zifcak teaches a Spanish class for two- to six-year-olds in her home, covering the basics of language use: numbers, colors, greetings, animals, shapes, food, body parts, clothing, etc. Elizabeth's class is Montessori-style, in that it heavily uses hands-on materials and interaction from all participants. She teaches four six-week sessions a year, and classes are 45 minutes long -- usually with a weekday afternoon class and a weekend morning class to choose from. Elizabeth, who has a master's degree in education and is an AMI-trained Montessori teacher, has been offering this bilingual class for over three years. Want more info, or interested in joining Elizabeth's mailing list? Email her directly at zifcamb at erols dot com.

I was also thrilled to hear about the Toddler Tiempo class at the Chevy Chase Community Center in NW DC, geared toward toddlers and preschoolers age 18 months to three years. Classes are 45 minutes of English and Spanish music, movement, stories, and playdoh time. Local mama Louisa Shepard created Toddler Tiempo and teaches four classes a week, Tuesday or Wednesday at 9:15 or 10:15 a.m. Registration for the winter session (January 9, eight weeks) starts November 28, and the classes fill up quickly! For more info, contact Lesley Stracks, director of the Chevy Chase Community Center (5601 Connecticut Ave. NW) at 202.282.2204.

I also want to let you know about Candida's World of Books, featured in my book as one of Washington's best bookstores for children. This international and travel bookstore located on 14th St. in NW DC carries a wide selection of multilingual children's books and language learning resources for kids - in Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Arabic, and Swedish. They also host a Wee Travelers Reading Group for toddlers to age five every Sunday at 4 p.m. Led by a retired elementary school teacher at the Candida's store, the group reads stories, plays, and sings multilingual songs for about an hour. For more info, you can reach Candida's at 202.667.4811. Or stop by the store: 1541 14th St. NW. They are open 10 to 10 Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 8 p.m. on Sunday, and closed Mondays. While you're there, look for DC BABY: A Handbook for Parenting In (& Around) the Capitol City. Candida's World of Books is now stocking the book -- We welcome them to our growing group of local vendors!

Do you know of more Washington, DC-area classes, stores, or support groups for bilingual families with young children? Please drop me a line: sarah at dc-baby dot com.

Just for kicks, here's a fun challenge for you and your kids: The first family who emails me and correctly identifies the language of each of the following "farewells" -- in the correct order, of course -- wins a free DC BABY cotton onesie or children's t-shirt of your choice. You can specify the size, and the shipping's on me, too:

Arrivederci!

Adios!

Au revoir!

Namaste!

Sayonara!

Farvel!

Do widzenia!

Do svidanja!

Cheerio!

Later!

Adjo!

Tam biet!

Sholem!

Sala kahle!

Posted by Sarah at 12:49 PM

November 18, 2005

Weekend Watch

It's time to celebrate! Don't forget to bring your DC babies (and kids, and spouses) to our Book Launch Party on Sunday, 2:30 to 4 p.m. at Jonah's Treehouse in Glover Park, NW DC. There will be plenty of parking along Wisconsin Ave. and the cross-streets, so no worries on that count. Oh Susannah! will be entertaining the kids, and we've got tasty refreshments lined up -- in addition to the book available for only $17 (tax included, cash or check only, please)! All are welcome! Please join us!

Also this weekend, it's time for the Montgomery County Thanksgiving Parade in Silver Spring and the family-friendly Help the Homeless Walkathon at the National Mall in DC -- both tomorrow, Saturday morning the 19th.

If you plan to take part in the Walkathon (a great cause), today is your last day to register online. On-site registration starts Saturday morning bright and early at 7 a.m., between Seventh and 14th Sts. NW. Festivities kick off at 8:30 and the walk at 9 a.m. I can't think of a better way to model for our kids the true meaning of "thanksgiving."

The Thanksgiving Parade begins at 9:30 a.m. in Silver Spring, at the intersection of Georgia Ave. and Sligo, and ends at the Silver Plaza downtown. (If you prefer to catch the parade in your PJs over coffee, tune in to local affiliate Channel 8.)

Wherever you are this weekend, stay warm and have fun!

Posted by Sarah at 9:57 AM

November 17, 2005

Free Community Yoga for New Mamas & Babies

Recently had a baby? Live or work in proximity of Georgetown? Then you should know about Georgetown Yoga's FREE postnatal class for mamas and babies.

This community class with instructors Margaret, Devon and their new babies is a forum for discussion about new motherhood topics and will include some yoga postures (depending on babies' moods, of course!) and baby massage. A nice chance to get out and about, chat with others who can relate to you, enjoy bonding with your baby. There NO charge for this class. Recommended age of the babies is two to six months. Call 202.342.7779 to sign up of more more info.

For older kids, a fun upcoming event, also at Georgetown Yoga:

Holiday Yoga Workshop for Kids
Sunday, December 4
Ages 2-5: 1:30 to 2:15 p.m.
Ages 6-9: 2:30 to 3:15 p.m.

A holiday-inspired kids' yoga class. Yoga designed for kids provides a unique approach to helping them de-stress and relax, while engaging them in creative physical activity. Animal imagery, visualizations, and music are used to recreate traditional yoga techniques and poses in a way that promotes cooperation and imagination.The benefits of yoga for children include increased attention span, higher self-esteem, improved sleep patterns, and a sense of awareness and respect for themselves and the world around them. No prior experience required; all mini-yogis are welcome. Cost is $15 per child. Email tara at georgetownyoga dot com to reserve a space.

Know of more free or low-cost events for pregnant women or new mamas in the DC area? Please let me know, so I can share the details: sarah at dc-baby dot com.

Posted by Sarah at 2:35 PM

We're In Stores!

Check out the shelves at A Likely Story (Old Town Alexandria) and Barstons Child's Play (Connecticut Ave., NW DC) -- DC BABY is stocked!

By the weekend books will also be delivered to The Purple Goose (Del Ray, Alexandria) and Dawn Price Baby (Capitol Hill/Eastern Market).

Of course, you can still order direct here at the website, and we'll also be selling books at a discounted price at our Book Launch Party this Sunday, November 20 from 2:30 to 4 p.m.! Please join us at Jonah's Treehouse in Glover Park, NW DC for an all-ages party. Children's music by Oh Susannah! , light refreshments, and plenty of play are on the agenda -- and you're all invited!

We'll also soon be available online through the fabulous MomSoup!

Posted by Sarah at 8:17 AM

November 15, 2005

It's a Party, & You're Invited!

Please join us, and bring the little ones for music and play. I'm looking forward to the prospect of meeting our supporters and saying "thank you for reading" - in person - while the kids have a blast at the fabulous Jonah's Treehouse!

DC BABY & Jonah's Treehouse Team Up for Book Release Party

THIS SUNDAY, November 20, 2:30-4 p.m.

FREE & Open to the Public

Music by Oh Susannah!

Food!

Play!

Fun for all ages!

What: Book-release party for DC BABY, featuring children's entertainment by Oh Susannah! and light refreshments.

When: THIS SUNDAY, November 20, 2:30-4 p.m.

Where: Jonah's Treehouse, 2121 Wisconsin Ave. NW, C-1 Level, Glover Park, Washington, DC.

Admission: Free!

Jonah's Treehouse will host a free extravaganza with music, food, and play this Sunday, November 20.

The event celebrates the release of DC BABY: A Handbook For Parenting In (& Around) the Capitol City by Sarah Masterson and allows families to experience the fun of Jonah's Treehouse custom play studio firsthand.

The new book is a 352-page encyclopedia of information and recommendations for parents and parents-to-be in the District, Northern Virginia, and suburban Maryland, covering everything from pregnancy to preschool, playgrounds and playgroups, storytimes, outings, health care, shopping, babyproofing, enrichment classes, parenting support groups, and much more.

Entertainment will be provided by award-winning local children's musician Oh Susannah! (a.k.a. Susan Berg McNelis), who is featured in the book as one of DC's best kids' entertainers.

Tasty treats will also be served.

Jonah's Treehouse, the Glover Park setting for this kid-friendly extravaganza, offers an innovative play and movement curriculum that is the talk of the town. Featured in The Washington Business Journal and spotlighted live on the Channel 5 Morning Show, Jonah's Treehouse offers a custom studio where crawlers, toddlers, and preschoolers are free to move and climb in a safe, challenging environment. The studio boasts bridges and slides, cylinders and tunnels, soft mat shapes, ropes ladders and trapezes, bouncy balls and more! Jonah's Treehouse is also the DC BABY favorite for early childhood enrichment classes.

Kids of all ages, along with their parents and caregivers, are invited to the free event. The author will be on hand - along with her own DC baby, Ava Louise - to greet families and sign copies of the book, which will be available at a discounted rate to all attendees.

CONTACTS:
Author Sarah Masterson: 703.535.1020 or sarah at dc-baby dot com
Jonah's Treehouse Founder: Vicki Gersten, 202.298.6805 or vicki at jonahstreehouse dot com.

Posted by Sarah at 10:54 AM

November 14, 2005

Bilingual, Baby

Last week I promised a post covering DC-area resources for bilingual (and bilingual-curious) families. And it's time to deliver the goods! Here's what I've turned up:

BILINGUAL CHILDREN'S BOOKS & STORYTIME:
My favorite children's bookstore, A Likely Story in Old Town, carries some great Spanish-language books for babies+. They stock Spanish versions of many of my daughter's favorite boardbooks! A Likely Story also hosts a wonderful Spanish-language storytime once a week. Check the calendar on the website to confirm days and times.

The Hyattsville Public Library in PG County, Maryland hosts a Spanish-English storytime on Saturday mornings, appropriate for ages three to six.

Central Library in Arlington hosts a bilingual storytime -- typically on Monday evenings, but, as always, check the calendar before you go.

Local mama Michelle Kluesner has started a business offering bilingual children's books in several languages, and her website just launched: www.bilingos.com. Congrats, Michelle!

BILINGUAL ENRICHMENT CLASSES FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD:
Last fall, Mariana Tarre founded a Spanish language school for children age one to five in the Tenleytown neighborhood of NW DC. CommuniKids is a total immersion program, and they're hosting an open house event next week. The public is invited: Wednesday, November 16 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon and from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Wisconsin Ave. Baptist Church, 3920 Alton Place NW. You'll have a chance to meet the teachers and learn more about language acquisition in young children. For more info or to RSVP, send email to jeannine at communikids dot com or call 202.363.0133.

There's also the new Hola Baby program, founded by fabulous Arlington mama Maria Elena Greene. As you know from my previous posts in which I sing Hola Baby's praises, I'm absolutely thrilled with this program! My daughter has had a blast attending Hola Baby's playgroup-style classes with her daddy this fall, and we will be registering again for the next session, which begins in January. Groups are scheduled for both weekdays and weekends, accommodating busy schedules. I love that "Tia Maria," as she's known to the kids, sends home lyrics to songs sung in class and new words introduced, makes suggestions for fun CDs we might want to have at home, and shares with parents lots of reading and resource materials on bilingualism and language in babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. To find out more or register for the next session of Hola Baby, send email to Maria at mggreene26 at hotmail dot com.

I've also heard good things about the early childhood programs at Parlez Vous in Old Town Alexandria, located just a block from the King St. metro stop. Parlez Vous hosts Saturday language and culture programs for ages three months to 10 years, offering German, Chinese, Spanish, and Italian. Various summer language camps for early walkers to age 15 in French, Spanish, and Italian. They also host the Parlez Vous Cafe the first Sunday morning of every month. You'll be treated to a croissant and beverage, followed by a children's storytime in French and Spanish -- a great way for children to hear the languages and become familiar with their sounds and vocab.

BILINGUAL PLAYGROUPS:
Amigas Vecinas is a Spanish-language playgroup and parent resource group with members from DC and throughout the metro area. They meet in Arlington on the fourth Wednesday of each month for a combination of free play and circle time with stories and songs in Spanish. New playgroups are also forming all the time to serve members who live in different areas! Adult-only enrichment evenings cover topics related to bilingualism and parenting. Their website's events calendar keeps you up to speed on events of interest throughout greater Washington. And the online discussion list lets you connect with other parents to get your questions answered and your concerns addressed. Lots of good support and friendship with these fine folks!

Also check out these playgroups:

Arlington County Spanish Playgroup
Arlington Mill Community Center: 703.228.7791

DC International Families (Bicultural) Playgroup

Japanese Playgroup
DC & metro area
Naoko Masaya, coordinator: naokomasaya at hotmail dot com

Swedish-Speaking Playgroup
DC & metro area

BILINGUAL PRESCHOOL/DAYCARE:

Rosemount Center in Mt. Pleasant, DC
(Warning: There's word of a long waiting list, but that's a good sign of quality!)

Spanish Education Development Center
2630 Adams Mill Rd. NW, 202.462.6886

Spring Bilingual Montessori School
3514 Plyers Mill Rd., Kensington, 301.587.3511

Latin American Montessori Bilingual-PCS (Public Charter School)
7130 9th St. NE, DC
202.545.8968

Kids Corner Bilingual Daycare (Spanish/English)
California St. NW, DC
202.797.1555
(Warning: Also heard of a long waiting list here, and recs of excellent child care staff of native Spanish speakers.)

Little Flower Montessori (bilingual preschool program)
16th St. NW
202.667.6803

Calvary Bilingual Multicultural Learning Center
14th St. & Columbia Rd. NW, DC
202.332.4200

Washington International School
(lower school is in Georgetown)
202.243.1700

BILINGUAL HOTLINES FOR SPANISH-SPEAKING PARENTS & CHILD CAREGIVERS:

National Hispanic Family Health Helpline: (866) SU.FAMILIA
National Hispanic Prenatal Helpline: (800) 504.7081

Know of more bilingual resources that would be helpful to pregnant women or the parents of babies, toddlers, and preschoolers? Please let me know, and I'd be glad to share the information with readers: sarah at dc-baby dot com.

Posted by Sarah at 1:57 PM

November 13, 2005

DC BABY Book Update

I need a weekend to recover from this weekend! Don't you hate when that happens? With the book hitting the market, my husband and I have been eating, drinking, and sleeping DC BABY -- in addition to holding down real jobs and parenting Miss A. In the meantime, I'm a bit behind on my emails and returning phone calls, so bear with me!

'Tis the season to buy DC BABY! On Saturday the book shipped to everyone who pre-ordered copies, and we continue to sell direct through this website. It makes a great holiday or baby shower gift!

Though the crowd was light at the NoVa WAHMfest on Saturday, thanks to those of you who bought the book! It was nice making new contacts and customers.

Retailers we personally visited this weekend include Barstons Child's Play (NW DC), K Baby (Georgetown), Dawn Price Baby (Capitol Hill), A Likely Story (Old Town Alexandria), Why Not? (Old Town Alexandria), The Purple Goose (Alexandria) and Piccolo Piggies (Bethesda). The book will be available through Amazon.com by the end of the month. We're also talking with a few other potential vendors, including the corporate offices of Buy Buy Baby, Barnes & Noble, and Borders; Lullaby Baby in Columbia; Georgetown Yoga in DC; and, in the web-based realm, Safe Start Babyproofing and MomSoup.

We'll be finalizing arrangements with our vendors in the coming days, so look for DC BABY on shelves soon. And kudos to those of you who have asked management at your favorite stores when they plan to stock it!

I'll leave you with a challenge, for a good cause:
I read a story in today's Washington Post about a young working-class couple in the DC/Baltimore area who recently became the parents of quints. You can read the piece at this URL: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/12/AR2005111201159.html. I am so grateful to have a healthy baby of my own, and plenty of resources to take care of her -- I would like to contribute something to this couple to help them do the same. If you buy a copy of DC BABY through this website any time this week -- until midnight on Sunday, November 20 -- I will donate 10 percent to the fund set up to help this family get on their feet.

Posted by Sarah at 5:51 PM

November 11, 2005

WAHMfest Reminder & Junior League Joy

Just a quick reminder that DC BABY will be at the Northern Virginia WAHMfest 2005 tomorrow -- Saturday, November 12 -- from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Executive Conference and Training Center on Rt. 28 in Dulles.

The event is FREE and open to all mothers and mothers-to-be in the DC area. It's especially geared toward those of you who are exploring options for working from home. DC BABY will have a booth with information about this website and will be selling copies of the book. Among the door prizes: a free copy of DC BABY: A Handbook for Parenting In (& Around) the Capitol City.

While you're out and about, don't forget the Junior League of Washington's Capitol Collection of Holiday Shops, Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Ronald Reagan Building, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW. Tickets are $10 per person. Be sure to stop by the booths of DC-area mompreneurs selling fabulous things for babies and children, including Lilly's Pad, Lisa Duckworth's Discovery Toys, and VSP Books. Don't forget to say hello to mompreneur Allison Priebe Brooks' Queen Bee Designs (and pick up a little somethin-somethin just for yourself).

Posted by Sarah at 10:15 PM

Weekend Watch

Thanks to all of you who have bought the new book! In its first week on the market, DC BABY: A Handbook for Parenting In (& Around) the Capitol City has received such an enthusiastic response. Tomorrow morning, all the orders we have received to-date will be shipping out, so you'll have a copy in your hands before you know it! And if you like what you read, please tell a friend.

Now, on to my favorites this weekend:

The Puppet Co. Playhouse at Glen Echo Park in Maryland is performing "The Three Billy Goats Gruff" through next weekend, November 18. Performances on Saturday and Sunday are 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Appropriate for preschoolers and young school-age kids, this marionnette show runs about 40 minutes. The Puppet Co. Playhouse recently got a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, allowing them to construct an innovative, round stage for their productions. Under-twos get in free, and all other tickets are $7 each. Calling ahead to reserve your tickets is a good idea. Contact the box office at 301.320.6668.

If you feel like a daytrip to Baltimore on Saturday, it'll be worth your while. Port Discovery, a wonderful children's museum near the waterfront, will host the Kangaroo Kids Precision Jump Rope Team at 1 and 2 p.m. These kids ROCK! To coincide with the show, Port Discovery has also scheduled kids' entertainer Uncle Pete at 1:45 and 2:45 p.m. Parking at Port Discovery is surprisingly easy. There's a public garage next door, but we've had an easy time parking at a meter on the street, too. The museum itself is super cool, especially for the two- to six-year-old set. Check the website for admission prices.

Sunday afternoon, watch some fancy dancers at 1 p.m. at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in the District. The Quetzales Mexican Dance Ensemble performs folk dances -- with a little audience participation, as well. Best for kids age 5+.

Also this weekend: The monthly African American Breastfeeding Alliance (AABA) meeting is Saturday in Mitchellville, Maryland from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The facilitator is an IBCLC and it's a really nice crowd of friendly women. Bring the baby. Bring a friend! For more details, contact DC-area mama Nikia Sankofa at fuller_n at yahoo dot com or call 301.324.9643. (Nikia also has the scoop on the DC chapter of AABA, which meets on the first Saturday of each month at the Healthy Babies Project in NE DC and also has a free breastfeeding drop-inclinic at the same location. Hours vary, so email Nikia if you want more info)

Posted by Sarah at 10:40 AM

November 10, 2005

Massage for Labor & Delivery

On Wednesday, November 30 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Maternity Center in Bethesda, DC's Mary Beth Hastings can prepare you for an easier, happier, less stressful labor and delivery.

Intrigued yet?

She's offering a class, "Facilitating Birth through Massage: Bodywork & Relaxation Tools for Labor Partners" for pregnant women and their partners, friends or family members who will form their labor support team. Focused on methods proven to facilitate labor, the class will empower birth partners to give appropriate relief, support, and comfort to women in labor.

Mary Beth shares that stress and anxiety during labor have been shown to decrease the effectiveness of contractions and prolong the birth process. Massage is believed to reduce anxiety, improve blood flow to the uterus, and decrease the level of stress hormones that can extend labor.

Birth doulas use massage techniques because it's tried and true. As labor partners, we want to do all we can to aid relaxation, ease discomfort and help the laboring mom conserve her energy for the
important work of delivery. This class will provide important tools
anyone can learn to actively support the labor process.

It will cover:
* Relaxation and visualization techniques
* Use of sensitive touch
* Dos & don'ts of labor massage
* Contraction distraction techniques
* Specific techniques for back labor
* Reflexive approaches to labor facilitation

About the instructor: Mary Beth Hastings is a nationally-certified massage therapist practicing in Takoma Park. She is also certified in Bodywork for the Childbearing Year, a comprehensive course on prenatal, labor and postpartum massage. In 2005, she helped teach the course to other massage therapists. Mary Beth credits labor massage as an essential part of her own successful, drug-free childbirth.

Registration fee is $50 per couple/pair. Contact Mary Beth at 202.276.3661 or mbhmassage at yahoo dot com.

Posted by Sarah at 1:47 PM

November 9, 2005

NoVa WAHMfest 2005

DC BABY will have a booth at this weekend's Northern Virginia WAHMfest 2005, which takes place Saturday, November 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Executive Conference and Training Center at Dulles, 22685 Holiday Park Dr., Suite 60 (behind the Holiday Inn Dulles and Hampton Inn Dulles on Rt. 28).

The event is FREE and open to all mothers and mothers-to-be in the DC area, and is especially geared toward those of you who are exploring options for working from home (thus the WAHM -- Work-at-Home-Mom). Many of the exhibitors will be offering business opportunities and independent business-related resources.

There are also a number of door prizes to be given away -- including a free copy of DC BABY: A Handbook for Parenting In (& Around) the Capitol City.

DC BABY will have a booth with information about this website and will be selling copies of the book. I'll be accepting cash and local checks for $19 plus tax (total of $19.95) per copy.

Though this event is FREE, organizers are asking attendees to bring a donation of canned food or a new, unused toy for local adopted families.

For more details about this event and the WAHMfest national organization, visit their website.

See you there!

Posted by Sarah at 7:22 PM

November 8, 2005

Six O'Clock Scramble

Many thanks to my friend and neighbor Laura (a.k.a. mama of Sam) for turning me on to The Six O'Clock Scramble, brainchild of Chevy Chase mother of two, cook, author, and entrepreneur Aviva Goldfarb.

What a sanity saver! The Six O'Clock Scramble weekly email newsletter is filled with menus, recipes, and even a grocery list for low-stress family dinners.

Goldfarb, co-author of Peanut Butter Stew & Couscous, Too: Quick, Healthy, Delicious Meals the Grown-Ups & Kids Love, is equal parts practical and creative, with an understanding of what parents are up against in trying to put a decent dinner on the table every night. She has been featured in O (the Oprah Winfrey magazine), the New York Times Magazine, Working Mother, Woman's Day, the Baltimore Sun, Washington Families, and the Washington Post.

A visit to the website alone will probably win you over -- You can take a peek at sample menus, read several of Aviva's published articles on everything from feeding picky eaters to fostering table manners, and learn more about her forthcoming cookbook, due out in 2006. A thorough FAQ section answers everything you could ever want to know about the newsletter and how to subscribe. (Want to know if vegetarian or Kosher families are in the loop? She'll tell you.)

Subscribing is quite reasonable, considering the time, energy, and headaches the newsletter can save you -- Just $4.95 a month, $26.50 for six months, or $47.50 for a full year.

High-five to the other Washington-area mamas who make up Goldfarb's support team at The Six O'Clock Scramble: Stephanie Lowet, Kathryn Spindel, and Sherry Ettleson -- former Discovery Channel exec, preschool teacher, and lawyer, respectively. Well done!

Posted by Sarah at 7:05 PM

November 7, 2005

Saving & Investing for College

Just learned about a free seminar covering all the different options for college education savings. (Which can, by the way, get really overwhelming.)

The financial advisor leading the seminar isn't compensated from the sale of any financial products, and the organizers promise objective, practical information.

Here are the details:

Saturday, November 12
10:30 a.m. to 12 noon
Gwendolyn Coffield Community Center
2450 Lyttonsville Rd
Silver Spring, MD

Wednesday, November 16
7:30 to 9 p.m.
Leland Community Center
4301 Willow Ln.
Chevy Chase, MD

To reserve a space or find out more, send email to seminar at moneycraft dot net or call 240.350.1226. The Maryland company sponsoring the workshops is online at www.moneycraft.net.

Posted by Sarah at 3:33 PM

November 6, 2005

Odds & Ends

Several things to let you know about as this weekend winds down:

Congrats to Amy Miller on a fabulous re-design of the Our Kids website! Check it out -- and if you're not already a newsletter subscriber, now's the perfect time to become one.

Two new sessions of Itsy Bitsy Yoga begin this month, appropriate for newborns through 24 months with a parent or caregiver. One class will meet at The Maternity Center in Bethesda, while the other meets in downtown DC, at 12th and U St. No yoga experience required! For more info or to register, visit the Yoga Chai website.

Parenting Playgroups in Alexandria will host several parenting workshops before the end of the year. Here's the lineup:
One-Day Workshop: Pre-Academic IssuesSaturday, December 3, 9 a.m. to 12 noon
One-Day Workshop: Positive DisciplineSaturday, December 10, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Four-Week Workshop: Positive Discipline (4-week/2-hour class)
Monday, November 14, 21, 28 and December 5, 7 to 9 p.m.
For more info or to register, visit the website or contact Dr. Rene Hackney at rene at parentingplaygroups dot com.

SIDS Mid-Atlantic will host the annual Celebration of Remembrance on Saturday, November 19 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, 4444 Arlington Blvd. (Arlington Blvd. at George Mason Dr.) Family and friends of babies who have died from any cause are welcome to attend. Children are especially welcomed, and there will be child care and activities for the little ones provided by SIDS Mid-Atlantic. Attendees should bring a dish to share. Something new this year: Bring photographs or other mementos of your baby and participate in a scrapbooking or memory box creation session for your babies or pregnancies. The family dinner and get-together will be followed by a brief memorial service in the chapel. RSVP to Betty Connal at 703.933.9100 or sidsma27 at aol dot com.

In the works for later this week: A blog post on some of the best bilingual playgroups, parent support groups, and preschools in and around DC! If you have a resource or suggestion people should know about, please drop me a line: sarah at dc-baby dot com.

Posted by Sarah at 1:02 PM

November 5, 2005

DC BABY Update

You'll notice that we've made some cool updates to the site this week! Not only is the book available for purchase online, but we've also added fun merchandise for your DC baby and you. Check out the hip onesies, tees, and bibs for infants through preschoolers. I just ordered a onesie for Ava, so you'll soon be subjected to a photo of my little cutie in her DC BABY gear.

We've also added some new links to businesses and nonprofit organizations serving Washington's pregnant women and parents with young children. In the mix are links to the BellaOnline pregnancy website (for which I recently became the volunteer editor in my "free time") and educational materials on Rotavirus for parents of infants and toddlers from the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition, for whom I'm a consultant. More local links are coming next week! Among them, DC's best baby nurse and postpartum consultant, Meredith Ball of Babiease.

We're still in talks with vendors in and around DC who will be selling the book. I know that the eternally chic Dawn Price Baby (Capitol Hill, near Eastern Market) plans to carry it. Stay tuned for more spots where you can pick it up around town.

If you are a retailer or someone who provides services to pregnant women and parents in the Washington area and you'd be interested in offering the book to your clients, drop me a line at sarah at dc-baby dot com and we'll talk wholesale.

If you're a member of the press and want to review the book, get in touch and I'll send you our press materials and a review copy.

If your nonprofit group would like to schedule a speaker to discuss resources for expectant couples and parents in and around DC, feel free to drop me a line. I have a good time sharing what I know!

To all of you who have already bought your copy online and by snail mail, THANK YOU FOR READING. My family and I so appreciate your support of our hard work.

Posted by Sarah at 4:08 PM

November 4, 2005

Weekend Watch

Can you believe this beautiful fall weather in Washington? Let's enjoy it while it lasts! Here are a few of my favorite goings-on this weekend:

On Saturday at the Kennedy Center, check out two back-to-back events. From noon to 5 p.m. there's the Multicultural Children's Book Festival, featuring book signings, readings, celebrity appearances, and family entertainment. All FREE. Then at 6 p.m. on the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage, catch the FREE kids' concert and CD release party for SteveSongs.

On Sunday, check out children's musician The Banjo Man at the Takoma Park Farmer's Market from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, while enjoying the weather and picking up some locally-grown produce. Then swing by Apple Days at the Reston Zoo in NoVa.

Enjoy!

Posted by Sarah at 7:52 PM

November 3, 2005

Babywearing

DC-area mama and independent business owner of The Baby Hammock Trish Thackston will host a babywearing workshop for expectant and new parents on Saturday, November 12 at 10 a.m.

This is your chance to sample a full inventory of babycarriers of all brands, shapes, and sizes -- slings, wraps, you name it. You can test drive them, learn how to wear them, find out more about the benefits of babywearing... and with no obligation to buy. (Though I think you'll want to, after you see the products and meet Trish.) I can't say enough wonderful things about the quality of the hand-picked products The Baby Hammock stocks, or about the rave reviews their customer service gets.

For more details on the babywearing workshop, visit the website or contact Trish directly at trisht at thebabyhammock dot com.

Posted by Sarah at 11:24 PM

Wise Stork Classes

There's one spot still open in each of the upcoming childbirth prep classes offered by The Wise Stork. The first session runs November 19-20 and the second runs December 3-4.

This is NOT a hospital-based class. Heather Johnson, RNC, CBE of The Wise Stork offers a small, intimate setting with no more than four couples per class. It's an opportunity for you to learn about ALL of your birth choices, no matter what your intentions are for medical intervention or lack thereof. You can find out more about the class content, philosophy, location and cost at the website. Or contact Heather directly: heatherjohnson at thewisestork dot com.

Here's some of the feedback Heather has received about Wise Stork classes:

"Thank you for a phenomenal class! Russ and I really enjoyed it and I felt like I got SO MUCH good information, and feel so much more prepared and confident about the birth process."

"Your knowledge, experience, and straightforward presentation made us both feel like we signed up for the best class around."

"I just wanted to follow up on the weekend's classes and tell you how great and informative they were! I would most certainly recommend your class to any expectant parent."

The Wise Stork also offers private classes in your own home, if their group offerings don't fit your schedule.

Posted by Sarah at 1:52 PM

November 2, 2005

Independent School Fair in NW

Stoddert Soccer is sponsoring an independent school fair tomorrow -- Thursday, November 3 -- from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in NW DC's Glover Park neighborhood, 2121 Wisconsin Ave. (the same building that houses Jonah's Treehouse).

Admissions counselors and athletic directors from many of the area's top independent schools will attend this event. The school fair offers the opportunity for you to learn more about programs at many institutions in one fell swoop. Schools represented will include:

Capitol Hill Day School
Bullis School
Edmund Burke
Georgetown Day School
Holton Arms
Landon School
Maret
National Cathedral School
National Presbyterian School
Oneness-Family School
Sheridan
Sidwell Friends School
St. Andrews Episcopal School
St. Patricks Episcopal School
Stoddert Elementary School
Washington International School

When you enter the lobby of the building, look for the signs directing you to the school fair.

p.s. In case you haven't noticed, the book, DC BABY: A Handbook for Parenting In (& Around) the Capitol City, is now for sale on the website. Our online payment system is secure and easy to use! Books ordered now will ship to your home on November 11. As always, thanks for reading, and for your support. Stay tuned for news of a book launch party later this month -- plans are in the works!

Posted by Sarah at 7:25 PM

Complementary & Alternative Prenatal Care

This Sunday, November 6, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.,the Takoma Park Birthing Circle's monthly Birth Salon will focus on complementary and alternative medicine in pregnancy and childbirth. The group meets at at Sangha, 7014 Westmoreland Ave. in Takoma Park, Maryland.

This month's Birth Salon will feature a panel of local CAM practitioners and women who have used CAM during pregnancy and childbirth. The event is FREE and open to the public, and all are invited -- You don't need to live in Takoma Park to attend! Come learn more about therapies and treatments available for conditions and discomforts of pregnancy and birth.

The Takoma Park Birthing Circle is a community-based resource for women who are considering pregnancy or are already pregnant, allowing them to connect, share resources and discuss issues important to them. The Birth Salons take place the first Sunday of every month at the same time and place.

The Birthing Circle also sponsors a listserv for online/email discussion. To join the listserv, go to http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/takomabirthingcircle and click on "Join this Group!" For more information about the Birthing Circle, email larissa@northstarbirth.com.

Posted by Sarah at 10:01 AM