Northern VA Mom Resources

Two months ago today I had my second little girl, and I've been on maternity leave looking for things to do. I realized that if I can keep my toddler busy our days go much more smoothly! I started to compile a list of resources I've been using or have heard about and thought I'd share it on a blog for others to use. Keep in mind, this is generally northern VA specific, but some of them are universal.

Any that I have personally tried and can vouch for are marked with a star.

FITNESS

*Fit4Mom: Offers classes like Stroller Strides and Stroller Barre for moms with their little one using the stroller and engaging the kids throughout the class. I personally participate in the Vienna/Falls Church group and love it! They have a maternity plan that allows unlimited classes for two months, which is great while you're on maternity leave! Website: http://fit4mom.com/

Moms Run This Town: Running group with one chapter in Herndon/Reston. Website: http://momsrunthistown.com/herndonrestonva/

Beloved Yoga: Located in Reston, they have Mommy/baby yoga classes and you can meet mommies there. The instructor is wonderful and has sponsored free mommy/baby days in the past for baby massage, sign language, etc. Website: http://www.belovedyoga.com/

Sun & Moon Yoga: Locations in Arlington and Fairfax with prenatal and mom/baby yoga classes. Website: http://www.sunandmoonstudio.com/

CLASSES

Reston Community Center: Reston Community Center has fantastic baby music and swim classes where you can meet other moms. If you are a Reston resident or employee you pay the Reston rate too. Website: http://www.restoncommunitycenter.com/

*Fairfax County Parktakes: Classes that range from swimming, to camps, to cooking, to dance, etc. Cheaper for Fairfax County residents, but open to anyone. Website: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/parktakes/

NoVA Playlabs: NoVA Playlabs in Chantilly offers play space for children, including classes like baby sign language. Website: http://www.novaplaylabs.com/

PLAY SPACE FOR CHILDREN

Chibis: Chibis' (pronounced: CHEE-bees) mission is to provide an Open Play environment where parents can have fun with their children or socialize with friends while their children enjoy our fun, safe, CLEAN playground. Personalized parties & private events are also their specialty! Website: http://www.chibisindoorplayground.com/

Busy Bees: This play area is located in Falls Church. Adults and children under age 1 are free and there's free coffee/tea and wifi! It's $15 and you can come in and out of the facility, the fee is good for the entire day. Website: http://www.busybeesplay.com/

*PB & Jack: This play area is located in Fairfax. Note that no outside food is allowed so they can keep the facility 100% nut free. Website: http://www.pbandjack.com/

CONSIGNMENT/HANDMEDOWNS

*Dulles Reuses Baby Items: This Facebook group allows moms to sell - or sometimes give away - baby gear (e.g., swings, sound machines), baby clothes (up to 2 years), and maternity clothes. Website: https://www.facebook.com/groups/388460154524424/

Consignment Mommies: Website listing consignment sales near you. There are some huge spring ones at Dulles Sportsplex and in Ashburn. Website: http://consignmentmommies.com/

Swap.com: According to one neighbor of mine, the quality is outstanding. Website: www.swap.com

Freecycle: You can sign up for our local freecycle chapter. People give away baby clothes & supplies daily on it and it's a great free resource for things. Website: www.frecycle.net

BREASTFEEDING RESOURCES

La Leche League USA: There is a national Facebook page and local chapter Facebook pages. Websites: https://www.facebook.com/LaLecheLeagueUSA/

La Leche League Herndon/Reston: Our local chapter has open meetings every Tuesday from 1-3pm at the Starbucks in Fox Mill. Website: https://www.facebook.com/La-Leche-League-of-Herndon-Reston-PM-161853187215480/?fref=ts

*LLL Mother-to-Mother Forums: I found this group INCREDIBLE when I was nursing and didn't have enough people to get advice from. You can pose questions and get multiple perspectives, and you can share the information you've learned. Website: https://www.facebook.com/groups/LLLI.Breastfeeding.Support/?fref=nf

BLOGS/WEBSITES

*Dulles Moms: They cover every topic imaginable! Website: www.dullesmoms.com

*Super Healthy Kids: This site has fun recipes and food ideas for families with kids.  Website: http://www.superhealthykids.com - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/superhealthykids/

*A Mighty Girl: I love this website for it's great powerful stories about women and girls. It also provides books and movies that help demonstrate how "mighty" girls can be by age level. Website: http://www.amightygirl.com/ - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amightygirl/?fref=ts

OTHER

Baby Wearing: There is a DC baby wearing chapter where you can "borrow" baby carriers and slings from their carrier library and meet other mommies that way too. Website: https://www.facebook.com/BWIofDCMDVA

Color Guard: How a Being a Mom is like Being in Drum Corps

In the summer's of 1999 and 2000 (my age out), I was a proud member of the Carolina Crown Drum & Bugle Corps Color Guard. There were many details that were less than fun, and yet I never wanted to go home, and I marched two seasons (so clearly I liked it!).

Flash forward 14 years (eeeek!)....and now I am married and have a 7 month old daughter.

I was thinking about my time in drum corps, and realized "man, there are a lot of similarities to my life right now." As I went through a few band camp rehearsals, while simultaneously watching my daughter learn to crawl, I started taking note of specific similarities.

  Sleep:  

• You start to sleep in random places (like the couch, the nursery floor)
• You sleep whenever you can, like today, when I napped during her morning nap

  Eat:  

• You eat whatever's available, sometimes it's whatever's leftover or fast
• You have to stay hydrated (specifically if you're a mom who's nursing your little one)

  Schedule:  

• Your schedule is not your own, even though you planned to go to the grocery store at 10 AM, she may need a nap then unexpectedly
• You have sectionals (you and your little one), and ensemble (you, your little one, and your significant other), and each has their own purpose

  Injuries:  

• You're likely to have aches and pains

  Other Areas:  

• Repetition is the norm - what infant or toddler doesn't like doing the same thing over and over and over and over
• You have to think on your feet to answer questions or find a new way to solve an issue (dirty diaper during a road trip... too hard to stop and find a bathroom with a changing table...so you improvise!)
• You sing random songs (at least when I was in drum corps, we did..."we're here, because we're here, because we're here, because we're here....")
• You never want to mess up, but it's bound to happen

The most interesting similarity for me....I sing "You are My Sunshine" all the time!!!!!! Crown folks will understand!

What other similarities can you think of?

Mom Posts: Nursing Friendly Dresses

One thing that saddened me about going back to work was that I had to buy new outfits and couldn't wear dresses anymore (most are not nursing compatible!). Out of curiosity, I tried on a couple of dresses I had worn pre-pregnancy and then during some of my pregnancy and they worked!!

Lauren by Ralph Lauren has a few dresses that are matte jersey, and the tops are crossed like a wrap dress. The two I have happen to also have rouching on one side that allowed me to wear them while my tummy got bigger during pregnancy. I tried finding some pictures of the dress but can't seem to find it online.

Here are two dresses that are similar to the one's I use. The cross / faux wrap top is what makes it feasible, combined with the stretchy matte jersey fabric (one without the other wouldn't work!). The dress below is one of the exact dressed I have (the other one is yellow, navy and white):

Find this White and Blue Dress on EBay Here

The first two dresses below are the same exact cut, but different fabric pattern. The other two are very similar and would likely work just the same.

Find the Blue Ikat Dress at Nordstrom's Here

Find the Purple and Brown Dress on EBay Here

Find the blue dress on Amazon.com here

Have you found any other dresses or work outfits that work for nursing and pumping? I'd love to hear more!

Mom Posts: Nursing-Friendly Swimsuits

We went to the beach in July and one of my realizations was that I needed a bathing suit that would allow me to nurse while at the beach. It would be such a drag if I'd have to run home to feed my daughter!

My mom recommended looking at Land's End, so once the swimsuit line came out for the season, I made a beeline for Sears (one of the only stores that sells Land's End) so that I was sure they'd have the style and size I wanted. Though, for others who may not have a Sears near them, they do have a catalog you can order from (or online).

Here's the suit I picked out!

With a close-up of the bottoms.

I have to say it was a breeze to wear this swimsuit and nurse my daughter on the beach! I used a nursing cover (that's my preference for myself), and it wasn't too difficult to make it work. If I were to do it again, I would probably order online so I can order a different cup size. I didn't even know that was an option!

You can find suits at Land's End's website.

Have you found other companies whose swimsuits work well?

My Week Ahead - July 27, 2014

I've known for a while that I need to start regular postings but haven't figured out until now something I could keep up with on a weekly basis (at a minimum!). I was reading High Five for Friday on Pursuit of Pink and got an idea. She recaps her week every Friday and I love the idea, but of course, that's her thing!! Instead, on Sunday night or Monday morning I often think about the week in front of me. Mondays typically are no fun for most people, but these days they don't seem to bother me so much, so I'm hoping these will be fun and exciting posts, not "woah is me" Monday posts.

1.  Play Dates and Friends: We're starting off the week with a play date with my little one's boyfriend (he's a whole 2 months older!! the scandal....). I've started to realize that now that my daughter is getting much more interactive, she needs kids her own age to play with. That, and it's a great excuse to stay connected to my friends. 

2. Performances: I have two days a week off (I work part-time) and on one of those days this week, I may be heading to see a children's performance with my sister-in-law and her three kids, and her sister and nephew! My daughter's only 6 months old, so I may not get to stay the whole time, and chances are she won't be that interested/entertained, but it'll be fun nonetheless! Check out their website if you have kids.

3. Travel: My team at work travels to OH this week. While I love traveling with them, I'm sitting this one out so I can stay home with my little one a bit more...plus, then I don't have to rearrange childcare again! The biggest disappointment in skipping the trip? Missing out on seeing my good friend Sean (right)...

...and missing out on Dublin Pub's famous Pub Fries (below)! Imagine a white wine cheese sauce, spring onions, bacon, cheese.....

4. Work: Another team member is joining the project I'm leading. This project has allowed me to manage a team of 2 individuals, and now we're at 3! Small wins. And on Monday I take on another leadership coaching client! I'm loving helping people in terms of leadership development on such a personal level.

5. Farmers Market: Now that we're nearing the end of the summer, I finally made it to the farmers market around the corner from my house 2 weeks ago. I fully intend to go back and get myself some BBQ (food truck), fresh veggies, and one of the fancy popsicles (flavors like hibiscus raspberry). If I don't make it, I'll be kicking myself come fall when the farmers markets all start to fizzle away. Last time I went I bought their fresh picked lobster, flown in the night before from Maine by Lobster Maine-ia! I turned it into our own lobster rolls with fresh corn and a tomato-cucumber salad all from the farmers market. Delish!

What does your week have in store for you?

Mom Posts: Nursing Tank Tops

Since my little daughter was born, I've been dying to find dresses and tops that are nursing compatible. The nursing specific tops aren't always cute and are often expensive for the quality and the fact that they're specifically for nursing. That got me thinking about how I've been slowly finding dresses and tops that work with nursing my little one, but that I can wear long after I'm no longer nursing her!

I figure there are probably a ton of moms out there with similar issues so I will post them as I come across them so you can go out to buy them too!

The first product I want to highlight is actually for nursing. I've tried a few different brands of nursing tank tops and the one's that I've found to be the best are actually from Target. They are Gilligan & O'Malley® Women's Cotton Nursing Cami. I have two in white and one in this purple stripe. They're great for wearing to bed, or for underneath other shirts. I also wear tank tops frequently in the summer so I wore these while on vacation at the beach so I didn't overheat walking on the boardwalk.

The other brands I've tried either didn't fit properly or they stretched out (the piece underneath that holds the strap in place). The Target one's, however, are thick enough that they don't stretch, and they aren't see through like so many tops nowadays.

What is your favorite basic top?

Mom Posts: 3 Lessons Learned from Traveling with an Infant

Yesterday we returned from our first travel adventure with an infant, and I must day, it was highly successful! I caveat this blog by stating that we truly do have an easy baby, and are forever grateful and do not take that for granted!!!! That said, there were still things I learned for next time that I thought I'd share. This is what worked for us, but every infant - and family - is different, so do what works.

Everyone on the first flight was incredibly nice and complimentary! The gate agent took us to the "special assistance" area and we were able to take a shuttle to the plane well before other passengers. The pilot (while waiting for the delayed shuttle of passengers!) came out and said hi, and turns out he has a baby the same age!! Then there was a pilot sitting next to us heading home who said "I've been there" very reassuringly. A lady passed by while boarding and said "I'm sure she'll do great!" and many complimented us on how adorable she was. After a stressful day getting everything ready and navigating the ticketing, security, and gate....it was reassuring and calming to hear everyone's comments!

Here are my three lessons learned:

1. When to Nurse: I knew to nurse her during take-off and landing, but didn't think about how they pressurize the cabin when they shut the door. Our super happy and sleepy baby started screaming for what I thought was no reason, then my husband figured it out. I quickly nursed her and she was fine. I put this lesson into action for the return flight with no issues. 
2. Changing Diapers: I changed a wet diaper on the plane at our seats, but since small planes do not have changing tables, I also learned that I have no idea what I would have done with a dirty diaper situation! No advice here, but a definite realization!!
3. Car Seats: Infant car seats can be installed without a base, which we knew, and even practiced before we left. However, it does not seem to be sucre in the slightest because the seat angle, and the angle of the straps just cannot physically stay where they're supposed to be. The foot end of the seat constantly wants to push down and the head end constantly wants to push up, so I readjusted it EVERY time we got in the car. It was also nearly impossible to get an infant into the seat once installed because the lap belt goes across the whole car seat. Lesson learned: I can't wait till we just need a booster or none at all. 

And we did use the advice from Lindsay's Pursuit of Pink blog, and made cute notes from our daughter and included a pair of ear plugs and a chocolate treat. Everyone thought it was cute!

What lessons did you learn after traveling that you'd wished you'd known before?

Prepping for Baby's Arrival: A Network of Support

We have had incredibly generous friends and family who have all given us hand-me-downs for Baby Chickpea! It got me thinking about how something about motherhood creates a network of support that doesn't exist in other ways.

It started when I became pregnant. I had family, friends and even one acquaintance from a certification course, who had recently had babies and wanted to lend or give me maternity clothes! I was shocked that so many people recognize that maternity clothes are only used for a short period of time, and some things you don't use the same season of maternity clothes. My sister-in-law let me borrow a few sweaters and a pair of jeans. A friend and coworker gave me two business casual dresses, a fancy dress that I used for the holiday parties I had to attend, a maternity coat, and a few other odds and ends. The biggest shock, however, was that a classmate from a certification course, as soon as I told her I was pregnant, she got excited and then said "I have tubs of maternity clothes I want to get rid of!" I barely new her, and here she was giving me two large tubs of clothes! Granted, not everything fit well, but those two tubs meant I only bought a couple shirts, a pair of dress black pants, and a couple pairs of casual pants.

Then came time for baby gear and clothes!

I had so many people shower us with love and gifts and got some great clothes from those baby showers, as well as various gear like a Fisher Price Rock 'n Play, a Diaper Genie, an Ergo carrier, and a Crib. And while I probably had more baby showers than most folks (you have no idea how appreciative I am of that fact!), there is now way that is enough for a baby. I did make a run to a Goodwill and found some practically new (and some ACTUALLY new) baby clothes - 20 pieces for about $20.

But it was the hand-me-downs are a godsend! My sister-in-law lent me BAGS of baby girl clothes from 0-12 months, along with some crib sheets and towels. A high school classmate saw we were having a baby on Facebook and mentioned she had a bassinet she was looking to get rid of, and when we arrived to get it she also had a few clothes and a bouncy seat to give us! My husband's brother had a whole mess of baby bottles (a set of glass and a set of plastic because his son only took the plastic version), and an impeccably clean Pack 'n Play. My brother and sister-in-law are loaning us another Pack 'n Play (so one can be at a grandparent's house). A friend had a baby in July and even though it was a different season, I got about 40 pieces of clothing that were mostly sleepers and body suits.

And with all these hand me downs came the realization that there are a lot of people out there willing to help each other out, but somehow it's having a baby that brings it out in people.

Perhaps we should think about helping each other out regardless of our children's ages, or whether someone is pregnant or not. Imagine if you had a sweater you didn't want anymore, or that didn't fit, and you asked your friends if they wanted it instead of just donating it?

I know donating it is a great cause to support, but maybe look around you to see if someone else could use the help too! Think of it as helping locally, just like we're supposed to "eat locally" these days!