Sign Language for Babies

Here is a great dictionary abbreviated for words that you are more likely to use with your baby.

http://www.aslpro.com/cgi-bin/aslpro/aslpro.cgi

Indoor Play

Indoor Play… at the Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center.

Don't let the rain get you down. Come visit our indoor play land at the community center. Every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday morning from 10am to 12pm; call for current dates. Your child (ages 1-5) will enjoy a variety of toys and play equipment and making new friends, for only $3. We are still growing and would appreciate any riding or infant table top toys. Call the recreation office for more details, 425-556-2300 ext 3. The program does not run during Lake Washington School District Holidays or during the summer months (June through September). Check the current recreation guide for starting dates and no program dates

Toddler Time: Sammamish Hills Lutheran

When

Wednesdays 9:30am – - 11:30am (Weekly at 9:30am on Wednesday)

Weekly at 9:30am on Wednesday

Where

map

22818 SE 8th St. Sammamish, WA 98074

425-392-7799

Call for more details

Toddler Time: Issaquah

Ages: 1 Yr. to 3 Yrs. Fees:- Toddler $2.00 Description: You and your young child are sure to enjoy this indoor playground. Play on a variety of toys, bikes, wagons, slides, hoops and more! Parents are responsible for watching their own child(ren). No food or beverage permitted except in the bleacher area. $2 fee/child is payable at the front desk. CASH OR CHECK.

http://issaquahparks.ci.issaquah.wa.us/Activities/ActivitiesCourseDetails.asp?cid=31700

Donate to a school in need

From www.iloveschools.com

iLoveSchools.com is a free donor-matching service for education! School
teachers build WishLists of equipment, materials and supplies; anything they
need for their classroom. Donors locate teachers through our WishList search
and
offer their donations of new or used items or the cost of the teacher's
WishList.

100% of donations go directly to a school teacher in
need!

Each year the average teacher spends over $659 from their own
pocket to buy
classroom materials for America's kids. To help alleviate this
burden
iLoveSchools.com acts as a matchmaking service between donor and
teacher.

Sammamish Police help gather toys for needy children

Release Date: Oct. 27, 2008 If you would like to contribute a new toy for a needy child, the Sammamish Police Department is once again accepting donations at City Hall, 801 228th Avenue S.E. It's all part of the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots program, a non-profit effort supported by the City of Sammamish. If you would like to participate in this worthwhile program, please bring a new, unwrapped gift to the drop bin located in the Sammamish City Hall lobby near the main entrance. Donations will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Thursday, December 18th, 2008. More information about the program is available at the following website: www.toysfortots.org . You may also contact Sammamish Police Detective Amy Jarboe at (425) 295-0786.

FW: Little Gym vs. Gymboree

Hi guys,

We are realizing Isabelle is needing more activities now that she's getting older, seeing how much she loves KinderMusik, and since we didn't make it into the Wobblers class :( . We are exploring signing her up for one of the local gyms. Anecdotally we know a lot of people with kids at Little Gym but no one at Gymboree. Anyone understand the differences in terms of activities, prices, etc. or heard anything good/bad about either?

Thanks so much for any input and let me know if anyone else is interested in signing up. I know Little Gym next session doesn't start until 2/4.

-Jenn

Halloween Activity

Free family halloween activity at Sammamish City Hall.

http://www.ci.sammamish.wa.us/files/document/4953.pdf

Fun Music class- $5.00 per kid

Hi everyone,
I met a wonderful Mom who was a teacher in CA and teaches music classes in her home in Klahanie (sp?). She does a great job, and it is drop in. Her classes are Mondays at noon and every other Wed at 4:00. The classes are 45 minutes and both my girls (ages 3 and 1) had a great time.

Here is the info- Kathy Brandt

4260 246th PL SE
Issaquah 98029

(425) 427-9778

sisterkbrandt@hotmail.com

Fun stuff to do

I was cleaning out my desk today and found this paper that was given to me by a toddler group. It has a bunch of fun destinations for toddlers/kids and I thought I would post it. Not all of it looks fantastic but some of it does :-)

Seattle: Maritime Museum, Greenlake Community Center, Pacific Science Center, Childrens Museum, Monorail, Pike Place, Aquarium, View Ridge Park and wading pool, Argosy Cruise, Waterfront Trolley, Woodland Park Zoo, Childrens Theater, Ballard Locks, Burke Museum, Alki, Discovery Park, Golden Gardens, Scratch Patch, Swanson Nursery

Woodinville: North Creek Trail, Tot Spot Cafe, De Young Park, Cottage Lake Park and pool, LLC Farm on Wood-Red Rd, Wilmot Gateway Park, Gold Creek Trout Farm, Northshore Gymnastics

Issaquah: Cougar Mt Zoo, Lake Samm State Park

Redmond: Farrel-McWhirter Park and petting zoo, Marymoor Park, Redmond Town Center and fountain, Borders storytimes, any Barnes and noble too for storytime, Anderson Park, Grasslawn Park, Pine Lake on Plateau, Inglewood Park, Nike Park, Redmond Park and Rec classes, 2nd story childrens theater, South 47 Farm

Bothell/Kenmore: Stipek Park, Little Gym, Country Village ducks, Bothell Landing concerts, St Edwards park

Duvall: Cherry Valley Farm, Taylor Park, River at McCormick Park

Bellevue: New Castle Beach, Kelsey Creek Park animals, Meydenbauer Beach Park, Crossroads Mall, Robinswood Park

Everett: Forest park animals, Jetty Island, Silver Lake Beach, Childrens Museum

Snoqualmie: train rides, Falls

Kirkland: Market walk and park, Houghton Beach/Kidd Valley, Kirkland Community Center, Peter Kirk Wading pool, Juanita Beach, Denny Park, Tot Lot (111 9th Ave),Concert Series, Dennys Pet World, Big FInn Hill Park

Popular Baby Names for 2007

The list has been released! Check out your baby's name at http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/

One of my clients told me about this place and I thought it was pretty darn cool. Forgive me if you've already heard of it but I thought it would be worth posting anyways. There is a website that will take your blog and turn it into a hardcover (or softcover) book! For all of us with baby blogs that maybe in the future want to find a way to have a copy of it to leave on the coffee table etc then this is the place to go. Prices are super cheap too. Around $20....

http://www.blurb.com/create/book/blogbook

Breakthrough Research on How We Learn

http://www.king5.com/about/newsreleases/stories/NW_040708NRLEARN.3f537992.html

Get out of the house!

Coming soon! May 21st will be the first day of the Sammamish Farmers Market. It will be held at City Hall from 4-8pm. Sure to be fun to stroller around!

Finally! A weekday Farmers Market at a time that that partners can attend!

http://www.sammamishchamber.org/Farmers-Market.352.0.html

Everyone knows that having a kid means lots of clutter!

Sammamish Spring Recycling Collection Event

http://www.ci.sammamish.wa.us/News.aspx?ID=670

From Brenda: Community Health Classes

COMMUNITY HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS OFFERED

To register or for more information, call 206-386-2502.

Car Seat Safety Inspections — Cherry Hill: Saturday, April 12 in the Cherry Hill parking garage, level 3B. Half-hour appointments required, 9 a.m.-noon.

Kid’s Safety and CPR — First Hill: April 16 from 5:30-9:30 p.m. in the 1-East Conference Room. Fee: $20.

And this is supposed to be really great. I started talking to another mother at the theater one day and she mentioned this:

http://www.listeningmothers.org/welcome.html

Super Baby Food

I wasn't as ambitious as I wouldve liked but this book is awesome for baby food recipes to do at home that are really healthy. Especially when they get into solids etc.

http://www.superbabyfood.com/

From Jennifer: DHA Cereals

After our discussion on baby food I started to do a little research. I had noticed at the store rice and oatmeal cereals for babies with DHA added and wondered if it was really better. Here's a Consumer Reports article on baby food that talks about this issue, organic baby food, etc.:

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/babies-kids/baby-toddler/eating-and-sleeping/baby-food/baby-food-4-07/overview/0704_baby-food_ov.htm

Baby Photographer List

Looking for a photographer? Here is a list of recommended photographers compiled by the MS moms and their respective comments...


Mary Ann
http://www.barefeet-photography.com
She’s taken my pregnancy portrait and our 2006 Holiday picture we send to our family. Beyond her natural talent for taking great shots, you also get a CD with high resolution images taken at the session included in her fee!

Docuvitae
http://docuvitae.com
She shoots celebrity weddings and does quite a bit of lifestyle work, including documenting children.

Desiree Swanson
www.jillabberton.com
We had good experience with Desiree Swanson. You get a CD with all the images so you can get them developed anywhere and any way you'd like.

Jill Labberton
www.jillabberton.com
Jill Labberton is amazing. She's pricey, but well worth it. She's located in Redmond.

Elisha Rain
http://www.erainimages.com
I highly recommend Elisha Rain. She’s a former doula with such talent for working with new families! She just took our daughter’s six month pictures and they are wonderful. She took newborn, and pregnancy photos for us as well.

Michelle Huenink Photography
www.michellehuenink.com
She’s great – AND you get the CD with all the rights to print on your own.

Amanda Shea
www.amandasheaphotography.com
she is simply wonderful to work with and her photographs are first rate. We have been 100% pleased with everything’s she’s done for us. She’s not the cheapest, but we think the quality of her work is worth it.

Crains
www.crainphotography.com

MeRa Koh Photography
http://www.merakoh.com
MeRa Koh photography is great! A little more expensive but worth every penny in my opinion.

Kristine Anderson Photography
www.kmaphoto.com

Bella Photography
www.bellaphotographynw.com
I really like www.bellaphotographynw.com. You can see other peoples’ proofs on her web page to see if you like her style.

Carmen Chan Photography
http://www.carmenchanphotography.com/

I have personally used Carmen Chan, and she is great. Her price can be a bit more, but she loves kids and will come to your house. Very easy to work with. The only other thing is that you have to purchase the CD seperately if you want all your images. -Maria

Easter!

For any zoo members (Im still looking to see if there are any other fun easter things going on for kids)... BUNNY BOUNCE


Bunny Bounce presented by HomeStreet Bank Saturday, March 22, 2008 9:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Hop, skip and jump to Woodland Park Zoo for the seventh annual Bunny Bounce presented by HomeStreet Bank, featuring amazing egg hunts for children ages 1 to 8, crafts, bunny photos, and eggs-citing zoo programs throughout the day. Space may be limited. Each egg hunt is open on a first-come, first-served basis. Activities are free with zoo admission. Zoo members receive free zoo admission year-round. For more information call 206.548.2500.

The malls have Easter bunny pictures too.