Night Out: SF Dining with A Cause

For parents looking for a night out with or without baby, I highly recommend checking out Mission Street Food. Local chefs guest star on Thursdays and Saturdays putting together special menus. Go early cause the line is usually out the door. Tonight Carlo Espinas is the star. CE will be dishing out plates for meat lovers and vegans. He'll be trickin' out a special Filipino Sisig too.

Eat up and be thankful your money will benefit Delancey Street Restaurant.

DIY Birthday Ideas

When Kai cries, we sing happy birthday. it's the latest trend since he turned one a few days ago. I'm glad that he associates the song with happy times.

here are some pics of our DIY segments of the bday:





fish cake



fish decor--the handcrafted stuff seemed to have much more life than the store bought decor. We picked up tissue paper and origami paper for cheap at Creative Reuse.

Michael Jackson...a part of my childhood dies

You know I never really get emotional when celebrities die. When Aaliyah died, I certainly was very sad but I didn't cry. The news of MJ's death certainly shocked me, but the emotions didn't quite hit me until I heard his songs. First the radio was playing Man In the Mirror, and I thought about how great the lyrics were. Then I switched the station ,and Rock with You came on. This is probably my favorite MJ song, and I just started crying.

I remember when I was seven and my best friend had a birthday party. Her parents rented Thriller from the video store, and we watched it at least fifteen times that night. Or all those good times in my life when the DJ would play an MJ song, and I would dance with pure happiness.

He will be missed. Watch the Rock with You video.

Monday Thoughts

Hello. Still smiling about my son's first birthday celebration. It was great fun. Photos to come later this week.

One of the best experiences this past year is seeing Kai's relationship with my parents. Both my mother and father have really come through for him. That's all that matters now. Though there were some rough times with my parents when I was a child, they are becoming stellar grandparents. Life is funny like that. Time and grandchildren can really change people.

Bart Responds

Following up from my post about my semi-scary experience taking baby on the BART elevator.

Mmoran@bart.gov to me

Follow up message

I regret the unpleasant experience as described. Certainly there are some urban areas such as that near the Civic Center SF BART station where activities in the surrounding neighborhoods may find their way into the periphery of the BART station. Such infractions as described appear in a flash--that brief moment of opportunity.

We continually watch for inappropriate behavior and the BART Police will respond to calls based on the priority of the calls at the moment. We also look upon the assistance of the eyes and ears of our passengers to help us and report immediately when something perceived as inappropriate is occurring. A prompt contact to the BART Police at 1-877-679-7000 or to the station agent works much better than an email message to an office that is unoccupied on weekends.

All I have to say is when we were in Oaska and Kyoto, Japan, the subway elevators did not reek of urine and there was no element of danger. Plus despite the fact that people are allowed to drink on the trains, there is still no litter anywhere in their stations or trains. Plus every single station agent and ticket seller were amazingly nice and helpful. They never made it felt like you were bothering them. Hmmm...something to be learned from other countries. Anyways, just beware of your surroundings when taking bart with a baby in the stroller.

Product Review: wee-go bottles by lifefactory

When I opened up the box from lifefactory, I was quite charmed by the blue tactile sleeve on the glass bottle. Originally I thought we could test out the 9 0z bottle on our vacation to Japan, but it was a bit heavy even without liquid. So I abandoned the idea. Perhaps that’s the only imperfection of the bottle but it’s more likely that I’m not use to carrying glass.

Good news is that Kai was excited to come home and test out the wee-go bottle. He was a little bored with his Born Free bottle and sippy cup. Within seconds, Kai’s fingers were playfully grasping the blue silicone and he took a big chug of water:



You’ll be happy to know that the bottle’s co-founder Pam Marcus worked with babies and children for over twenty years. Pam’s knowledge and passion paired with the talent of designer Daren Edward Joy gave birth to a bottle complete with good looks and functionality.

The fine construction of the bottle is undeniable. The bottle survived our dishwater and several rounds of Kai throwing it on the kitchen floor.

Wee-Go bottles are quite inexpensive considering the quality and ingenuity: $12.49 for the 4oz and $14.99 for the 9 oz. Plus the bottles come in colors that pop. Most importantly, the bottles have no harmful chemicals and are produced in the “greenest” way possible.



What are you waiting for? Go get your wee-go bottle. It's Kai-approved.

Baby’s First International Trip

I’m back from Japan and still getting adjusted to the time. Looking back at our trip, here are some reasons why Japan is a smart first international trip for babies.

- Japan certainly favors cartoons and animated characters in advertising and other public canvases. Everything is so cute!




-Super clean family friendly bathrooms almost everywhere even in their subway stations. Not only can you appreciate the TOTO high tech toilets with warm seats and bidets, but most Japanese bathrooms are baby friendly. Many restrooms have a full-on hybrid adult/child bathroom with a big person’s toilet and mini toilet for the little ones. Plus the musical device that masks your "bathroom" sounds is an experience!



-Every restaurant immediately offers your baby a kid’s bowl and utensils. Good to share meals and also can be used as a distraction while you eat. Plus baby loves slurping up ramen, udon, and soba!



-Subway and buses have plenty of seats that are clearly designated for lap babies, pregnant women, and seniors. I never saw anyone who didn't fit those categories sit in those areas. Elevators are normally near those cars.



-Biking in places like Kyoto is pretty safe with babies. Bikers can ride on the sidewalks or scenic river pathways. We rented bikes with the Kyoto Cycling project. They have baby seats and helmets.



-Tokyo and Kyoto have an awesome international toy store and playland...
Bornelund which will keep your child entertained for a good few hours.

- In the city of Nara, deer roam freely in the temples and grass parks. They're very friendly and aren't scared of us. For rainy days, you can duck into a cool mom's group and activity center at the Nara train station on the second floor.




The only bad aspect is that smoking is still allowed in restaurants. We had to leave 2 restaurants because there were smokers near us. Other thing is that nursing isn’t normally done in public. I did it anyways but very discreetly.

Overall Japan is a super fun and safe place for your little one to explore a different culture. Happy travels!

Related Links: Flying International with Baby

More Japan Travel: Monkey, Monkey

A childhood friend recommended that we visit the Arashiyama/Sagano area. It's a beautiful town full of temples and bamboo groves. The highlight though was visiting Iwatayama Monkey Park. It was quite a trek heading up to where the macaque monkeys play. I'm talking about climbing at least 100 steep steps and walking a winding upward trail with a chubby baby. However it was well worth it to capture a baby monkey nursing:

Traveling with Kai on the long flight to Osaka wasn't so bad. In fact, there were a total of 11 other babies on the Asiana Air flight. Overall having a baby with you actually makes the time go by faster.

On Day 1, we went to visit the Osaka Kaiyukan Aqaurium which is amazing. If you think the Monterey Bay Aqaurium is cool, then this one will blow your mind. It has the biggest aquarium tank in the world. Kai was delighted to witness a sloth climb a tree branch and look into the eyes of pretty fish. He made some friends too along the way.

Down the street from Aqaurium, there is a sweet old lady who makes the best takoyaki too!

Also, there have been many Elmo sightings at the arcades in the Namba district.

I'll keep you posted with pictures and such shortly.

Btw, we discovered a place called Mister Donuts which makes their doughnuts in mini sizes and super delicious and soft.

ER Wish--Create More Kid-Friendly Rooms

Are ER’s created equally? I wonder. It’s never fun having to take anyone there, but especially your baby. While we were in the ER at Kaiser Oakland, I thought of ways the experience could be less scary and more comforting:

1. Solid knowledge of your wait time. I know the ER is hectic, and staff are working hard and quickly as possible. But I wish that the receptionist could tell you exactly how long you needed to wait. It could be anywhere from 15 minutes to a couple of hours. If you knew that your wait was going to be over an hour, at least you could wait in an area that’s more pleasant. The ER waiting area always feels so tense and the wait feels like forever.

2. How about some soothing music in the waiting area? Or even soothing sounds of nature. Wouldn’t everyone feel a little better?

3. Rooms dedicated to children and babies. It’s so scary for young kids to be in the hospital and the sterile/drab environment probably doesn’t help. It would be nice to have a couple of rooms dedicated to the young ones. There must be room in the budget for a bit of colorful paint, soft blankets, and books.


Wait a minute... ER’s aren’t created equally:

-Stanford Medical created a Children’s Wing in their ER
-Sweden has a pediatric ER in several locations.
- NY Presbyterian-Weill Cornell installed mural tiles for pediatric emergency rooms

Hmmmm...will the rest of the world catch on anytime soon?

Letter to BART: Sketchy Elevators

Hello,

I'm a mother of a young baby who took BART this past Saturday (5/16) from Lake Merritt to Civic Center Bart. It was my first time taking a stroller and having to use the elevators. I'm wondering what is being done about the safety of the elevators at Civic Center. Specifically, the elevator going from the ticket area to the BART platform. It was a pretty sketchy experience for us.

On my return around 3:30 in the afternoon, I saw a man who was obviously a drug addict waiting by the elevator. He was extremely impatient and pressed the button multiple times. My instinct told me to stay behind and wait until he entered the elevator and wait for the next one. When I watched him enter the elevator, he shot up. I could see him strap the band on his arm etc. Very scary. I was surprised that no one watches out for that. I waited several minutes before entering the elevator. But even when I got in, I was nervous that some other drug addict would get on at the next level etc.

I think the elevators are hidden away from public view and seem vulnerable to a bad confrontation. Especially for women with children and elderly people. What ways is BART going to improve this?

Considering SF is a high class city, it seems inappropriate that elevators are filthy and a place where drugs are used. Where is the public safety strategy? You have to wonder why parents would prefer to drive then to encounter such a sketchy experience.

I'm interested in hearing about what ways you will improve this.

Thanks.

-Ly

Let's see how quick BART responds. I sent this via email this morning. Feel free to share your own experience.

Power Shake for the Nursing Mama

To curb the hunger that hits me after nursing, I make this great shake that also satisfies my peanut butter cravings:

PB Boost

3 tablespoons smooth natural peanut butter
½ cup of vanilla or plain yogurt or vanilla ice cream if you need more fat
1 teaspoon bee pollen
2 squirts of honey
¼ cup of soymilk
1 banana

Make one for your partner too! Enjoy.

Read about the benefits of PB...it's good fat!

Aaahh, Mother’s Day

I experienced my first this past weekend. I’d have to say for a Hallmark holiday, it was pretty sweet. Here’s how I spent it:

Friday:
- Celebrated a dear friend’s 90th birthday at the SF Metropolitan Club
What a beautiful place! I hope my kids write me poems when I’m 90.

Saturday:
- Picked up falafel and had a picnic at Golden Gate Park

-Walked around the Conservatory of Flowers. Definitely worth it for $5! I love how each exhibit has a different room temperature. We went from humid tropical weather to cloud level cool.

- Had Thai Tea Ice-Cream at Joe’s

-Picked up chicken karaage and sushi from Nijiya Market in J-Town for dinner

Sunday:

- Brunch with all the mother’s in our family

- Nice swim at the YMCA with the baby


I ended my weekend by mopping the floors! It wasn’t so bad after having such a fantastic weekend.

Friendly Skies? Flying International with Baby

Well, I don't know how friendly the skies will be. In two weeks, we're headed to Osaka with Kai. I've been a bit nervous about flying with him. The flight on Asiana will be about 12 hours. Yikes! I've been getting advice on how to alleviate the pressure on his ears. Nurse him. Give him water. I've been hearing about having to change the baby in the tiny bathroom. To bring extra clothes for myself in case he gets airsick. Fun! I'm just praying that whoever we sit next to will be understanding. Anyone have advice? Maybe giving Kai the boob will solve all my worries.

It didn't help that I read this story last night in the New Yorker...the author didn't find it amusing to sit next to a small child on the plane :0

Find more tips on this baby travel blog.

This post by Jessica McFadden made me feel better.

Gardening with Kids

Two weeks ago, I visited community gardens in Oakland. It’s quite fascinating to find gardens amidst the urban landscape filled with picture perfect kale and red leaf lettuce. We were able to visit both a vegetable and fruit tree garden through Bay Friendly tours.

A couple of months ago, we’ve noticed that Kai has a bit of a phobia towards flowers and grass. He touches them, shakes his head, and backs away. Then we figured out it’s probably because he’s not exposed to nature enough. Sure we take him to parks but it’s not like he’s playing in the grass outback.

We’re thinking of sharing a garden plot with friends. It might be a great way for our kids to learn to appreciate plant and vegetable life. For urbanites, having a backyard is rare. We manage to grow succulents, dwarf trees, herbs, and a couple of vegetable vines but it’s limited to a balcony overlooking the lake. So there’s no room for Kai to roll around in the grass or plant a vegetable plot.

If you’re hoping to garden this season with the kids, here are some resources:

Books:

The Children’s Kitchen Garden


The Garden Book


Ideas:

Kids Gardening


Connect:
Community Gardens