Spring 2010 issue of urbanbaby & toddler magazine is here!

urbanbaby & toddler magazine's Spring 2010 LIVE GREEN issue is now hitting the streets! Find your copy in Metro Vancouver at:
- community centres
- public libraries
- Safeway stores (starting Mar. 5, 2010)
- hospitals and participating doctors' offices
- participating children's stores (contact us to find out where you can find it in your area!)

It's our annual LIVE GREEN issue, filled with lots of great tips, from cleaning naturally to cloth diapering, from feeding your family to fantastic green products. Pick up a copy to take with you wherever you go, or read the whole thing online at www.urbanbaby.ca (click on the cover).

Announcing the 2010 COVER CONTEST! It's back, and this year, you get to decide who wins. We'll shortlist 10 semi-finalists, and starting June 15, 2010, you can vote on your fave. Pick up a copy of the Spring 2010 issue and complete an entry form to enter your baby or toddler. Deadline: May 15, 2010. More info, visit www.urbanbaby.ca/contests.shtml.

Why answer your child's 'why'?

My son came home from school yesterday and told me that the supervision aide who helps watch the kids on the school grounds when they're playing during recess or lunch, told him and his friend to stop digging little holes in the sandbox. He told me he didn't understand the reason behind her request. I told him that he could first tell her that he'll stop, and then ask her why in a respectful way. He said he did ask her why, and that she only repeated, "Stop digging those holes," and ignored his question.

When children are little, one of the first and often annoying questions they ask is, "why?". When our kids were small, both my husband and I tried our hardest to answer all the 'why's and refrain from shooting out a sharp, "Because!" We want to foster our children's curiosity, and most of all, we don't want them to take things at face value all the time or to feel as though they can't challenge authority. In short, we want them to think for themselves.

So, answer your children's 'why's. Why? Because it encourages their curiosity, gets them thinking, and keeps us as parents, teachers, caregivers on our toes!

Unique marketing campaign for Agoo kids' wear

Did you see this? Agoo Apparel, Vancouver-based designers and makers of excellent active wear for kids, has teamed up with the Green Men to market their newest lines! You won't see the typical marketing campaign complete with cherubic children modeling these trendy fashions. See what all the fuss is about! Read all about it in today's Georgia Straight, here.

Now that's out-of-the-box marketing. :)

Save on baby and toddler stuff at Polkadot Pond!

Save 20% off everything at www.polkadotpond.ca. Specializing in organic and natural products. Use UBTE20. Ends Mar. 31/10!

Pregnant Leanne: Week 38 of pregnancy - Tick tock

February 23, 2010: Week 38 of pregnancy

With my due date fast approaching, I've never felt so ugly and un-edgy and hard-done-by. My hubby likened my walking style to that of a freighter, along with fog-horn sound effects. Lovely.

I've been thinking about how the body adapts for pregnancy and how there is a fatal flaw in the design. Why, oh why, if females have been giving birth for bazillions of years, hasn’t evolution sorted out the hemorrhoid thing. It seems so simple. Additional weight in the pelvic/bun region? Strengthen veins and tissues in said region.

Giraffes have long necks; chameleons can change colours. Why can’t I have a hemorrhoid-free pregnancy? I wonder if lions get hemorroids.

I have several genuine but irrational fears surrounding this area:
1. I’m going to push out my lower bowel along with my baby
2. The midwife and obstetric nurse are going to run screaming from the room in horror
3. My hubby will never see me as pretty ever again

I’m a jumble of emotions right now. The overwhelming desire to get this all over with competes with my scaredy-cat impulse to press 'pause.' Any time now, baby, any time.

How not to motivate this Mommy on a run

Although I dislike the 2010 Winter Olympics theme song, I Believe, I thought I'd use it on my 6K run today as a means of motivating me around the park. If it's good enough for the Olympics, maybe it's good enough for me, too. Calling my inner Olympian, I started singing it, in my head (I'm not that crazy!) as I found myself faltering after 4K:

"I believe... nah naaaah nah nah..."
"I believe...in the power...nah nah nah nah nah..."

I realized that I do not know the words. Well, I could just fill in the words, right? At least I knew the first two words. Knowing just, "I believe..." should be enough to get me going. How could I go wrong? This is what happened as I attempted to fill in the lyrics through my last 2K:

"I believe...that I've run enough."
"I believe...in the power...of my burning thighs."

Oh, my burning thighs. Must. Learn. The. Lyrics.

Olympic torch, styled by local child artist

Oh, you Olympic torch with your sleek styling, gently curved profile, and stainless steel/aluminum construction. You've got nothing on our Olympic torch. With a toilet paper-roll core that is enveloped with hand-crushed aluminum foil, our torch was designed and manufactured by my 5-year-old daughter Lauren right here in Vancouver. Beautiful, isn't she...er, it?

Pregnant Leanne: Week 37 of pregnancy - Pain in the...pelvis

February 16, 2010: Week 37 of pregancy

As a personal trainer, I specialize in (among other things) pre- and post-natal training. Although I'm certified and qualified and researched to the hilt, training me for pregnancy has been a whole other experience. Up until now, I've had to take the literature and anecdotal experiences of my clients as gospel. Now I'm my own case study! Take my pelvis for example. When I pictured myself pregnant in the ninth month, I imagined walking every day as my way of keeping fit. In fact, fitness-for-pregnancy literature highlights walking as a great choice. Sadly, my pelvis has other ideas. I guess having the head of my unborn child lodged in my loins is really throwing my bones and ligaments for a loop. Given that I'm off work and getting antsy, I've been hitting the gym for a bit of cardio. Picture me on an exercise bike, knees splayed apart. Sure, I might look like a circus clown but at least I don't have pain in the pelvis!

The best Valentine's Day ever

This year, my husband bought me a bouquet of flowers, which was very nice. But what was even better? The single red rose that he bought for our 5-year-old daughter Lauren. He presented it to her while we were in Yaletown last night, taking in the Olympic festivities. She literally skipped and laughed the rest of the night. I'm not sure I've ever seen her so thrilled.

I think we will have to make this a new Valentine's Day tradition for her!

What did you do for Valentine's Day?

Britax issues baby stroller recall

Here's a voluntary recall notice from Britax, the makers of baby strollers and products, regarding the Britax Blink stroller:

“Because we’re committed to creating the safest products for children, Britax is conducting a voluntary safety recall on its Blink stroller. The recall is in response to a potential risk of harm when a consumer opens or closes the stroller. No injuries have been reported, but as an extra precaution Britax will provide free remedy kits to all registered Blink owners. We encourage all Blink owners to visit www.BlinkRecall.com or call the Britax information line at 1-888-427-4829 for further instructions.”

- Jon Chamberlain, president of Britax

Reading can be a curse

It's like when parents try to get their toddlers to walk as early as possible. The adage, "Be careful what you wish for," applies. Sure, you want your kid to walk, but the drawbacks hit you when he/she finally does walk and you're spending all day long chasing your little Speedmeister as he/she outruns you around the house, the shopping mall, the street... This adage also applies when you're trying to get your children read early and to read well, particularly when you're in the grocery store. Case in point:

"Daddy," my son exclaimed one day as he was on a grocery-shopping trip with my husband. "Froot Loops has fibre! That means it's good for you right? Can we get some? Can we? Can we?"

Pregnant Leanne: Week 34 of pregnancy - Sweet freedom!

February 5, 2010: Week 34 of pregnancy

I’m officially finished working. My favourite comment so far? “Have a great holiday Leanne!” Sure, people, a holiday. Baby laundry, pack my hospital bag, install the car seat, renew my car insurance and wrap my head around the fact that I’m going to be a MOTHER! I have this overwhelming drive to get ‘stuff’ out of the way and keep the nest clean. If I could vacuum every day, I would. Alright, I’ll admit I have, but only because I can’t get down that low to wipe the floor anymore and vacuuming is easier.

Have we set up the crib? What colour are we painting the nursery? Thankfully, life is simple in that regard. We live in a one-bedroom apartment and the baby will not have a room of its own. The crib is in its box under our bed until the kid outgrows the Moses basket and the diaper station is going to be a changing pad on my livingroom floor.

I’ve been having fun making up ‘systems’ for when the baby is born. Onesies in this drawer. Hooded towels in this cupboard. Washcloths by the tub. Purely based on guess-work and logic at this point, it’s going to be funny to see where things actually end up.

I’m ready to embrace the chaos that is a newborn! I think…

Help prevent hazardous waste

Leading up to Earth Day and the 'green' issue of urbanbaby & toddler magazine (to hit the streets starting March 1), here's a cool initiative by Green Earth Organics, as outlined in the company's press release today:

Throughout the month of February members of Green Earth Organics will be able to downsize the clutter in their homes and feel good about it by knowing that their old electronics and batteries are not contributing to toxic waste in landfills. Drivers working for this grocery delivery service will be taking away unwanted items in bins as they drop off containers full of healthy organic foods. At the end of the month Green Earth Organics will then drop off used electronics to the Return-It Program.

According to Earth911.com, electronic waste accounts for 70 percent of the overall toxic waste currently found in landfills. In addition to valuable metals like aluminum electronics often contain hazardous materials like mercury. When placed in a landfill these materials can contaminate soil as well as drinking water. With a vision to develop, manage and improve systems to recover used packaging and end-of-life product from consumers to ensure that they are properly recycled and not land-filled or incinerated the Return-It Program is a not-for-profit, product stewardship corporation.

Besides old batteries, Green Earth members will be able to dispose of desktop computers, laptop computers, printers, and monitors. Nasreen from Burnaby who has received deliveries for more than a year was proud to be a recipient of this unique service, "We feel we share the same philosophy of trying to make a difference to help lighten our environmental footprint. The community-based focus, various tips and the pick-up of used batteries were much appreciated."

For more info, visit www.greenearthorganics.com.