Girls’ Little League Softball

Yakima Valley Little League Softball for girls 5-10 years

A girls’ Little League softball program is being assembled for a 2012 season.

Yakima Valley Little League Softball is designed for girls ages 5-10 from the following school districts: Yakima, West Valley, Union Gap, Wapato, Zillah, Toppenish, Parker and White Swan. The program will include T-Ball, coach pitch, and player pitch divisions.

League President Ryan Yates notes that most girls in the area have to wait until age 10 to start playing softball, and the YVLLS will introduce younger girls to the sport so they can make a smooth transition. Yates is hoping to get the community involved with the league, and a board is being formed.

Registration starts 4-7 p.m. Feb. 7-8, and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 11 at Kimmel Athletic, 2105 W. Lincoln Ave., Yakima. Girls must be 10 before April 30 to register.

Registration: $50 for ages 5-6 (T-Ball), $75 for ages 7-8 (coach pitch), and $75 for ages 8-10 (player pitch).

For volunteer interest, email yakimasoftball@gmail.com or visit www.eteamz.com/yakimavalleylittleleague/.

Minute for Mom: February/March

A Minute for Mom

If you ever get a minute for yourself, this is what we think you should do with it!

 

Eats – Copper Pot Caramels

Right now I’m slowly (OK, not so slowly) working my way through box after box of Copper Pot Caramels. I’m so crazy over these caramels that my friends are starting to tune out my constant blathering about them. But friends are also bringing the little sugary gems to my house for hostess gifts, too (mission accomplished!).

 

The caramels are made by two local gals, Colleda and Adrienne, and they’re available at Johnson Orchards, Inklings Bookshop, Tasting Room Yakima, Deep Sea Deli, Gilbert Cellars and Pet Pantry. So far I’ve tried three flavors: sea salt, chai and a new concoction that shall remain nameless (but they say it will be announced soon). They’re chewy, rich and sweet. And if you’re a packaging freak like me, you’ll love the brown boxes with their decorative bands. Check them out on Facebook or at copperpotcaramelsllc.com.

 

Reads – “The Forgotten Garden”

This is one of those rare books that pulls you inside its pages and doesn’t let you out until the last page is turned — sadly at that. Written by Kate Morton, “The Forgotten Garden” is a grown-up fairy tale, complete with mysterious, endearing characters that teeter on the edge of realistic and a setting that includes foggy mazes, creaky mansions and walled gardens. Yet it isn’t a fairy tale at all, but the story of a woman trying to trace her grandmother’s origins — a grandmother whom was abandoned on a wharf in a foreign country at the age of 4. The story is a lovely – and often mesmerizing – escape.

 

Watches – “Downton Abbey”

I’m completely wrapped up in Masterpiece Theatre’s “Downton Abbey” miniseries on PBS. Before you roll your eyes, this isn’t your grandma’s Masterpiece Theatre. Gone is Alistair Cooke, the show’s iconic host for 21 years, who’s been replaced by the relatively fresh-faced Laura Linney. “Downton Abbey” is not your grandma’s stuffy miniseries either. Set in 1912, the show, which revolves around the Crawley family and its dynasty, grapples with the issue of primogeniture, the English law that only allowed an estate to be passed on to a male heir. The only problem with is that the Crawley’s closest male heir – and the fiance of their stubborn eldest daughter Mary — died on the Titanic. The story of how the Crawleys will maintain their residence, and their family, is told both from their point of view and that of the household servants. This, and the critical changes happening at that time in history — make it a gripping and sometimes hilarious tale to watch. Although the second season is in progress now, you can get DVDs on Amazon or on PBS.org. It’s also available on Netflix.

 

 

~Robin Beckett

 

Second Opinion: Co-sleeping

Co-Sleeping

I remember the tidal wave of emotions I felt after the birth of our first child. The fear and sense of responsibility driving home from the hospital. The sense of wonder watching him gaze at his surroundings. The joy in my heart seeing him coo or smile. Except for the times he had projectile vomiting, I wanted to be around this little guy all the time, awake or asleep. And so I was first confronted with the issue of co-sleeping.

Let’s first define what co-sleeping is in regards to this article.  Co-sleeping is when a parent sleeps next to his/her infant in the same bed. (Incidentally, my least favorite form of co-sleeping is in a motel room with family — usually because there is little sleep.)

What are some of the potential benefits of co-sleeping? Moms may not need to get out of bed to breastfeed. It may deepen the relationship between mother and child. And some may sleep better in this arrangement.

But studies indicate there are pitfalls to co-sleeping as well. The most important potential danger is SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Co-sleeping becomes more dangerous when parents use tobacco or alcohol or when a parent is overly tired or sleeps on a couch. The United Kingdom Department of Health advises that the safest place for an infant to sleep is in a crib in the parents’ room for the first six months of life. Similarly, the American Academy of Pediatrics, in a November 2011 report, recommends that baby can sleep in the same room as parents, but not in the same bed. Sharing a room is OK, but sharing a bed is not.

Let’s re-examine some of those purported benefits. If co-sleeping works while baby is small, fast-forward a year to when that toddler needs to graduate to his or her own bed — that could be a more difficult task. There are other ways to bond, as well: taking a walk, reading a book or playing games.

And on a related note, please place your baby on his or her back to sleep, and avoid blankets and toys in the crib (please see healthychildren.org for more information). The above AAP report also notes that immunizations and breastfeeding are associated with a lower incidence of SIDS.

Many mothers go the extra mile in pregnancy, avoiding over-the-counter medications, caffeine, soft cheeses and fish. Parents fill their homes with safety latches, gates and CO2 detectors. I would challenge parents to think of co-sleeping as a similar safety issue, where good choices can potentially save lives.

David Pommer, MD, is a family physician with Selah Family Medicine. He is a graduate of Whitworth University and the University of Washington School of Medicine. He co-sleeps with his pager, and he is happily married with three children.

Family Fare: Ballesteri’s

I reviewed Ballesteri’s Toasted Pesto Chicken Sandwich last year for On magazine, describing the sandwich as “one of the best things I have ever tasted.”

I wasn’t lying.

Since then I’ve found excuse after excuse to eat there, always ordering that sandwich. I’ve never been disappointed. My husband and I heard Ballesteri’s had a tasty — and pretty inexpensive — menu in the morning, so we checked it out with our very hungry 4-year-old a few Sundays ago.

Ballesteri’s has a cheery atmosphere, with bright yellow walls, red-and-white-checked tablecloths and always-friendly service. The restaurant is usually very busy, with chatter all around, and this particular Sunday was no different. We got the last seat in the house.

Nonetheless, we ordered and were served quickly, saving us from the tension that a preschooler can create when he’s really hungry. My son had four silver dollar pancakes ($3.99), my husband had the biscuits and gravy ($5.99) and I had – what else? — the Toasted Pesto Chicken sandwich. Everybody loved his or her meal (my husband didn’t talk for 10 minutes – his mouth was too full), and all three of us had syrup on our hands and jackets to prove it.

But let’s get to that sandwich.

It starts with the bread: grilled sourdough. With lots of butter. Thick enough to add some substance, but not so thick that you lose the filling from the mix and you end up chewing something that tastes like wet paper. In fact, the bread and filling ratio is spot on — for me, that’s about a 50-50 split. Too much meat on my sandwich makes me cranky.

Next is the filling. Warm chicken is cut into bite-sized pieces, then mixed into a sauce of unbelievably rich and herbaceous pesto, crunchy chopped almonds, bright celery, zesty scallions and parmesan cheese. And then, just for kicks, they put a couple slices of salty bacon on top. It’s almost indescribable.

Ballesteri’s menu also includes burgers, soups, salads and cold sandwiches. Prices for breakfast and lunch range from $6.99 to $8.99, with breakfast averaging a little less expensive.

The only downside of the menu’s variety is that until they take their toasted chicken pesto sandwich off, I will never try any of it.

– Robin Salts Beckett

 

Ballesteri’s Cafe

Open for breakfast and lunch

Westpark Shopping Center, 4001 Summitview Ave., Suite 3, Yakima

Phone: 509-965-8592

 

Give Valentines to Everyone

By Lacy Heinz

 

My daughter is 2 1/2 years old and just recently decided to grace us with the sweet sound of her tiny voice. This is the first time in our years together that I have been able to participate in what is happening in her toddler brain. It is, of course, bittersweet, as all parents know.

A good portion of the jibber jabber is fun, like “silly mama!” and “snowman poop! Snowman pee!” followed by fits of giggles. There’s also the brow-furrowing dialogue while she stretches her wings and tests her limits, like “NO” and “MINE.” And, every once in a while, there is a golden nugget that comes from all of this chatter and zings my motherly heart for weeks. One such zinger happened recently.

While visiting Seattle, we made it to the never-before-seen play structure at the REI flagship store. It is tall, soft, probably crawling with germs, and preschoolers can climb high with all kinds of protective netting. My daughter was thrilled, as evidenced by her nonstop chatter.

She went on and on about “A boy! In the net! So high!” as she climbed and climbed. Her smile was huge, and I watched her with a dumb grin as large as the structure. It was the first time I heard her express major excitement with words.

Unfortunately, “The boy! In the net!” at the top of the structure did not share her enthusiasm for the experience and yelled, “STOP. You can’t come up here! NO! This is MY PLACE!”

He was big, about 5, and he broke my 2-year-old’s heart for the first time. Oh, yes, and he broke my motherly heart, too. Her rosebud mouth turned down, her eyes squinched, and she ran about 10 feet before bursting into tears.

“Boy in net, not nice Mama. Not nice,” she said through her tears. It was not a big deal in the grand scope of things – not at all. But it was the first time my daughter learned that not everyone is caring and kind all of the time.

Later in the day, a boy at the Woodland Park Zoo was carrying a giant leaf in his hand. (“Oooh Mama, boy has big leaf.” Repeat seven times.) He dropped it on the ground by accident, and my daughter was quick to approach in the hopes of touching it. The boy, no more than 3, was a gem, and with a quiet smile, gave her his prize leaf.

She talked about the “Nice-boy, leaf-boy” all afternoon while petting and cherishing the quickly deteriorating leaf.

But she talked about the boy who wouldn’t share for weeks. At breakfast. Randomly in the car. During storytime. She was excluded, and it took some time to process.

So, you might be asking, “What does this have to do with Valentine’s Day?”

On Valentine’s Day there is an opportunity to share and be inclusive. That little paper card may soon be forgotten, but the failure to give one could be remembered for weeks, or for sensitive folks and 2-year-olds, a lifetime.

We all have bad moods, special friends and a million other reasons to curtail the way we give and to whom, but I would submit that it is better in everyday life to practice giving valentines to everyone.

It is an easy opportunity to be loving and kind to people who might not get much. Better yet, make it your family mantra for the year: Give, share, love. As much as you can, when you can. Happy Valentine’s Day.

 

– Lacy Heinz is a mom with a capital M who loves to read, root for the Oregon Ducks, and do a little legal work when time and preschoolers permit.

How is love seen through kids’ eyes?

By Scott Mayes

 

How is love seen through the eyes of kids?

I recently asked some friends of mine to ask their young sons a simple question: “How do you know that your daddy loves your mommy?”

One response, from a 6-year-old, was this: “Well, you got married!” … but then he said, “when he makes your dinner for you and when he kisses you.”

Another young tot said: “it’s because Daddy bought mommy a Nerf gun.”

And my own 11-year-old says: “You take her on dates … and you kiss her a lot. That’s obviously a sign.”

While this is just a small sampling, the message is clear to me.

If you’re a parent, you’re a model.

Whether you realize this or not, you set an example every day for your kids.

Think about all the things we want to show our kids:

We want to show them not to lie. We want to show them not to steal. We want to show them to be kind to others.

But, what about Valentine’s Day?

This is a perfect day to show our kids about loving someone.

In our house — we have sons who are 16, 11 and 1 — I have come to realize that it’s not long before “serious dating” begins.

Their future relationships may well be defined by what they see in our household.

Yes, depending on their ages, your kids want to go to that Valentine’s Day party at school. They want the “SpongeBob” cards, the “Harry Potter” cards and the sweetheart candies.

But, don’t be naive. Just like every other day, they’re watching you for their lead.

Julie and I have been married 18 years.

In that time, I have learned that being married 18 years doesn’t happen by accident. Like any relationship, there are great days, tough days and all points in between. You have to make that relationship a priority to make it last.

I don’t know much about being a woman on Valentine’s Day – well, because I’ve never been one. But, I know how to be a husband and I know what makes Julie smile.

Sure, you can go to the store and buy a box of chocolate or go online and order flowers. But, you’ll be missing two opportunities if it ends there.

First, every married woman on the planet will have one of these things on Valentine’s Day. Do something more – something that takes more than your credit card.

How about breakfast in bed? Maybe you get the little ones ready for a change? What about a note of thanks (handwritten, of course) thanking her for all that she does to make the house run smoothly each day.

And, don’t forget the parenting piece.

Involve your kids in the morning. Let them help you with breakfast. Have them write handwritten notes, too.

If you want your kids to have an 18th anniversary, 25th or 50th, teach them how to love and how to be successful in a relationship.

It’s one lesson they’ll never forget. Little eyes are watching. Only you decide what they get to see.

• An editor by day, Scott Mayes is also dad to Matthew, Micah and Nathan. He’s a high school parent, a youth basketball dad and changes diapers. You can read his Dadventures blog at playdateyakima.com.

 

Sweet Valentines!

Valentine’s Day Crafts

Fun recipes and crafts for your little Valentines!

 

Cake Pops!

We can’t get enough of them … rich and delicious and so easy to make! For Valentine’s Day, try making cake pops from Red Velvet cake. Just make any yellow cake from a mix, adding red food coloring to the batter before you bake in a regular cake pan.  Then crumble the cake, mix with a scoop or two of whipped cream cheese and roll into balls. Place a lollipop stick in each ball and dip in melted white chocolate, placing them on a tray lined with parchment or wax paper. Chill for at least 30 minutes. Then decorate with tiny red hearts or other frou-frou. Enjoy!

 

A Heart and a Kiss

 

Reader Jennifer Wolman, arts and crafts expert and mother of two, gives us the scoop on how to make Valentine’s Day extra choco-licious.

(Note: You might want to make sure your kids have a meal before playing this game, in case they stock up on too many chocolates!)

 

1. Cut out paper hearts. You choose the quantity and variety of colors!
2. Hide the paper hearts around the house. It might work best to hide them in places the kids would naturally go to search for them.
3. Once your kids find a paper heart, they can trade one in for a kiss. Here, they have two choices: they can either get a real kiss from Mom or Dad, or they can select a Hershey’s Chocolate Kiss.
4. There’s no limit, until the kids run out of paper hearts! (Of course, you can modify the game so they don’t have so much sugar.)

 

The activity “can involve the entire family if the spouse wants to get in … but in mine it’s just fun with the kiddos,” Wolman notes. “I’m a big heart lover, so oftentimes I’ll have my kiddos decorate paper hearts and hang them from the chandelier in our dining room. When I’m done, I use the hearts as part of my scrapbooking the holiday.”

Another idea is to decorate paper hearts and deliver them to friends and family in place of store-bought valentines.

It’s a great way to satisfy the sweet tooth and capture memories at the same time.

 

 

­­Create Your Own Valentines

Contributed by Ruth Klepach

 

Giving someone a handmade card can be a very special expression that can create a lifetime bond between the giver and receiver. Making cards with your child will do the same, while creating lasting memories and teaching the value of giving to others.

Cards that are personalized are especially nice. Be creative and use your imagination. The possibilities are endless. Cards can be as simple or complex as you want them to be.

Things you may need: scissors, glue, paper, paper heart doilies, pens, pencils, markers, stickers, adhesive letters, adhesive gems, ribbon, card stock, computer to type verse/clipart, and scrap wrapping paper.

 

Be Mine Valentine Card

Get a 4-inch white heart doily. Cut a 3-inch heart out of white paper. Paste it on the doily.

Cut out a bear with heart from wrapping paper. Paste it on heart.

Use computer to type the sentiments. Paste on heart.

Happy Hearts Day Card

Cut card stock to 6 1/4 inches x 9 inches. Fold in half (you can also get pre-folded cards).

Cut decorative paper to 6 1/4 x 4 1/2 inches. Paste.

Cut ribbon to 6 1/4 inches. Paste.

Place decorative adhesive sticker on ribbon.

Write or type a sentiment. Paste.

Think about writing a poem or verse inside!

 

Heart-Shaped Card

Cut an 8-inch heart out of card stock. Paste two 4-inch paper heart doilies onto the big heart. Apply adhesive stickers. Cut out clipart and paste on the hearts. Write/type sentiments and paste on heart.

 

Princess Card

Cut a piece of sparkling card stock to measure 6 inches by 6 inches. Cut corners so card will become octagon in shape. Get clipart/stickers and place on center of card. Write/type sentiments. Paste above and below pictures. Cut two, 4 1/4 inches of sparkly, velvety ribbon to the top and bottom of the card.

 

Lacey French Lace Doily Card

Get a 6-inch red heart paper doily. Paste on a 4-inch white doily. Paste photograph/picture and frame it if desired. Apply adhesive ribbon with sentiment. Apply adhesive letters and gems.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blessedly Beating the Odds: A Preemie Story

Story by Scott Klepach Jr.

Photos by Amber Miller

Amber Miller had no idea she and her unborn baby were about to be thrust into a life-threatening situation. Amber had been sick her entire pregnancy, but, 28 weeks in, there was no real sign of what was about to happen.

On the morning of June 6, 2003, Amber discovered she was spotting, and within an hour she was bleeding heavily.

Her father rushed her to the hospital, where it was determined she was hemorrhaging. Later Amber learned she had endured placenta previa, a condition that caused her placenta to detach from the wall of the uterus.

The bleeding subsided that afternoon, but it started again when Amber took a walk around the maternity ward.

“They told me even if I did get it stopped, I couldn’t leave the hospital until birth,” Amber says. “I basically laid there and almost bled to death the whole day.”

Her husband, Mike, came to the hospital as soon as he could get off work. He and Amber’s family were greeted with a grim reality.

“I went out and said somebody needs to do something,” Mike says. “Blood clots were the size of grapefruits, and they were coming out like crazy.”

The doctor informed them an emergency C-section would be needed.

Mike was presented with what he viewed to be a terrible choice: at 28 weeks, life for a baby outside the womb is precarious at best. But without the C-section, both Amber and the baby were in danger.

“They were both dying, slowly dying. That’s how the doctor made it sound,” Mike recalls.

The medical team moved quickly to perform the C-section.

 

Gracie Marie Miller was born that evening, a full 12 weeks early. She weighed 2 pounds, 14.6 ounces, and was 15 inches long.

Because Amber received a blood transfusion and couldn’t walk on her own, she couldn’t see her daughter until the next day.

“It was the hardest thing I can imagine,” she says. “Machines were keeping her alive for some time, and not feeling or not knowing day to day if she’d be OK was the scariest thing you can imagine.” Even Gracie’s survival was in question.

Gracie remained in the hospital for 56 days, and arrived home a month before her actual due date. She had a 40 percent chance that she would develop normally.

But unlike so many “preemie” babies, Gracie, now 8, has perfect vision and none of the respiratory problems that so often plagues children who were born well before they were fully developed.

 

The Millers attribute at least some of their daughter’s solid development to a shot of surfactant amber was given hours before her C-section. The drug, paid for by the March of Dimes, helped develop Gracie’s lungs, but it takes 24 hours to work and requires two doses. Amber received only the first shot just a few hours before her C-section.

“Either [Gracie’s] lungs were already developed, or it helped develop them,” says Mike. “She was so little. She wasn’t supposed to come out then.”

Complications arose in those early days. In addition to living in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), Gracie couldn’t have regular formula, nor could she breastfeed. Amber pumped, but she had to feed her daughter through the gavage tube that was inserted into her nose and down to her throat. During her stay in the hospital, Gracie developed two staph infections.

Mike and Amber rotated shifts at the hospital so they could take naps and to allow Mike to get to work.

 

Despite Gracie’s steady progress, Amber and Mike had to be cautious.

“It was really awful. We couldn’t go in public, couldn’t be around people for the first two years, had to keep her away,” Amber says, noting that respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was one of her main concerns, which could be fatal especially for preemie babies.

“We didn’t go anywhere, really. Anyone who did come around her had to sanitize their hands,” she continues. “It was mentally exhausting.”

“We felt like kids trying to deal with a bunch of adults,” says Mike, who, along with Amber, was in his early 20s during this time.

Now, both 30, Mike and Amber view their trial in a new light.

 

They were March of Dimes Ambassadors in 2006 and continue to walk each year. Gracie has made strides in growth and began fitting into age-appropriate clothes when she was 5. Now in second grade, she reads at a fifth-grade level.

“She’s a genius. I know parents say that, but her test scores are unbelievable,” Mike says.

The Millers didn’t plan on having another child, but a second pregnancy went much more smoothly. Four-year-old Madalynn Mykal Miller was born 10 days early on a scheduled C-section and weighed nine pounds.

“Having this experience, is like we’re just together more, a closer family,” Mike says.

Adds Amber, “She’s a miracle.”

 

Sidebar:  Resources for parents with “preemie” babies

Children’s Village

3801 Kern Way, Yakima

509-574-3220

 

Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital

Family Birthplace: yakimamemorial.org/mybaby

Maternal Health Services: 509-575-8160

 

March of Dimes

Mid-Columbia/Central Washington Division:

6515 Clearwater, Suite 224

Kennewick, WA 99336

Phone: 509-783-1099

 

General website: marchofdimes.com

Washington state chapter: marchofdimes.com/washington

 

Information on March for Babies: marchforbabies.com

Yakima walk: 9 a.m. Apr. 21, 2012 at the Yakima Greenway, 111 S. 18^th St., Yakima. Registration time: 8 a.m. Apr. 21. Walk distance: 5.75 miles.

 

Book recommendation:

The Preemie Primer: A Complete Guide for Parents of Premature Babies—from Birth through the Toddler Years and Beyond

by Jennifer Gunter, M.D.

List price: $16.95 (Da Capo Lifelong Books, 2010)

More information and resources on Gunter’s website: preemieprimer.com

 

Prenatal and Kids’ Yoga

Prenatal Yoga:

Feather Yoga Studio
Prenatal yoga classes.
Heather Powell: 509-469-2559

featheryogastudio.com

 

Prenatal Yoga

Mondays 6-7 p.m.

Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital’s Education Center

2506 W. Nob Hill Blvd., Yakima

Lori Gibbons: 509-248-7322

lorigibbons@yvmh.org

 

Yakima Yoga

509-910-1151

yakimayoga.com

 

Kids’ Yoga:

Surva Yoga

Kids’ 4-8

910 Summitview Ave., 6A

509-965-2346

Baby Resources: Top Picks and Tips

BABY RESOURCES

Top 5 Baby “Must Haves”

If you’re a new parent – or about to become one – keep in mind that each family has its own list of “musts” for the nursery (or the family room). Some folks HAVE to have a diaper pail, others don’t need it. Some swear by a special bottle, others find there’s no difference. But in our humble opinions, there are five items that were indispensable during our own family’s “baby” days:

• The Miracle Blanket. Sounds ridiculous, yes, but it’s not. If you have a fussy baby – and fussy babies abound on our staff – this might just do the trick for nap and bedtime. It’s like an “extreme” swaddling blanket. Pretty easy to use, it’s also completely washable. Available at miracleblanket.com

• The Boppy. Part pillow, part arm rest, part baby prop, the Boppy is multi-functional and is available with a multitude of cute fabrics. For the small amount of space it takes up, we think it’s well worth the small investment. Available at Boppy.com or Target.com

• Swing. If your baby only sleeps when rocked, this item will be a sanity-saver, since it means mommy and daddy might get a nap in too. Swings these days have some many functions, they’re practically space aged. (caption Graco Sweet Snuggle Swing) Swings available at most major retailers, like Target, Shopko and WalMart.

• Air purifier. Our son was colicky, so there was no end to the products we’d try to sooth his baby woes. One night, while my husband and I were at dinner trying to regain some semblance of composure while our son cried for his grandparents, we ran into friends who had also gone through the stages of colic. They recommended putting an air purifier in baby’s room, so that the white noise helps induce sleep. I believe we got one that night—and we still use it.

• Rocking Chair. Last but not least, the good ol’ rocking chair. I still remember the hours I spend rocking my son during his naps, watching reruns of Magnum P.I. The rocking chair we used is not pretty, but I didn’t care. It glided away precious hours, my son sweetly sleeping the afternoon away. It’s not a cheap item, unless you can find one second-hand, but if you’ve got a fussy on your hands, then it might be worth the expenditure.

 

-Robin Beckett

 

Interested in using cloth diapers? How about a cloth diaper party?

One Yakima mom, Colby Rasmussen, knows all about cloth diapers. Rasmussen works for Everything Birth, which connects parents with natural parenting items and baby gear.

Rasmussen’s real specialty, though, is holding cloth diaper parties.

“I have an entire stash of all the different cloth diapering options parents have, and I bring them to the customer,” she says. “They get to hold, get familiar with and then make a decision as to which type of diapering best suits their family.”

She adds that ecofriendly parenting techniques are on the rise, and cloth diapers are becoming more popular.

“It’s not your grandmother’s pins and prefolds anymore,” she continues. “There is truly a diapering system that can work for every family, even a baby who goes to daycare.”

For more info, email Rasmussen at colby@diaperparties.com.
Perfecting the Swaddle

How DO they get those newborn babies so perfectly swaddled in the hospital?  The nurses make them look so nice and burritolike … and then it’s time to take them home, and you’re on your own.

Is it three steps of four? Or 10? Or just one “wraparound” step?

Or will you even need it? My son was notorious for being able to break free of even the snuggest swaddle, and protested profusely. This came as a surprise to us since our daughter really enjoyed being tightly bundled.

Most infants benefit from being swaddled for the first few weeks or even months after birth. If you find your newborn loves the swaddle, here are a couple of steps to help you along:

 

• Grab a clean, square baby blanket and spread it on the floor in a diamond shape. Fold down the top corner to make a flat line at the top.
• Gently place your baby on the blanket. Your baby’s head and neck should be above the flat line at the top of the diamond shape (that way you don’t wrap the baby’s face inside).
• Left to right: With baby’s right arm tucked against her body (oh, those arms will be flailing!), take the left point of the “diamond” and wrap the blanket across baby’s chest.
• Baby’s left arm will be free as you tuck the blanket snugly underneath.
• Bring the bottom of the blanket up over baby’s left shoulder. This will cover baby’s feet!
• You will then tuck in baby’s left arm.
• You’ll need to take the remaining blanket and cross it over the baby’s chest, and then tuck in the loose material.
• Or, you can always use Velcro swaddlers.
• For more helpful information, and other ways of to swaddle or techniques to combine with this practice, check out what Dr. Harvey Karp has to say (especially for colicky babies) at happiestbaby.com.

 

-Scott Klepach Jr.

Parenting classes beginning in February at First Pres

An 8-week parenting class will kick off at 11 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 5, at First Presbyterian Church, 9 S. Eighth Ave., Yakima. The theme of the series is “How to get your kids to behave without Spanking or Spoiling.”

Certified Family Life Educator and author Laurie Kanyer will teach the classes. Instruction will cover some of the following areas: Why kids misbehave, understanding temperament, acknowledging feelings and gaining trust, accountability, gaining trust and cooperation, ways to reduce stress, offering healthy alternatives, setting reasonable limits and teaching life skills.

The 11 a.m. classes are free, and no registration is required. Child care is available. For more info, call 509-248-7940 or email Shan at shan.trick@fpcyakima.com.

 

Memorial Hospital offers parenting support and education programs

MOM & BABY meets each Monday from 10 a.m. to noon. This group is for moms and their babies up to 12 months of age. No registration is needed and the group is free to attend. This group allows other moms to meet and receive helpful suggestions when it comes to raising a baby. Located at Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital’s Education Center in Nob Hill Plaza, 2506 W. Nob Hill Blvd., Yakima. 248-7322.

 

Online Childbirth Education classes

Another option is eLearning, which offers childbirth education via your computer. Preregistration is required, just call 509-248-7322 or visit yakimamemorial.org/mybaby. While you’re at that site, you can also get glimpse into what the Family Birthplace looks like by taking a virtual tour.

 

More parenting support:

Children’s Village

Infant and Toddler Early Intervention
Developmental screening, birth to 3 years.
509-574-3260
800-745-1077
yakimachildrensvillage.org

 

Family Help Line

Confidential parenting support.
Parent Trust: 800-932-4673

 

Maternal Health Services

Nutrition counseling, breast feeding education, counseling and help accessing community resources.
509-575-8160

 

Intensive Parent Training & Support
Home visitation program.
Parent Trust: 509-454-4000

 

Personal Parenting & Assessment Services
509-575-1760
800-513-5437
personalparenting.com

 

Baby Resources

Swimming for you and the little ones

Parents and infants as young as 6 months can start gaining those swimming skills at several Yakima locations:

 

Yakima Athletic Club
Pre- and postnatal water aerobics.
2501 Racquet Lane, Yakima
509-453-6521
yakimaathletic.com

 

Lions Pool
Lessons for ages 6 months and older.
509 W. Pine St., Yakima
509-575-6046
www.ci.yakima.wa.us/services/parks

 

Yakima Family YMCA
Lessons for ages 6 months and older.
5 N. Naches Ave., Yakima
509-248-1202
yakimaymca.org

 

 

Excited about physics?

When I was in high school, I thrived in classes like English and math. Science and history, on the other hand, were a struggle for me.

As a matter of fact, my wife and I (back when she was my girlfriend … wow, that was a long time ago) took a history class in junior college and she smoked me. If memory serves correctly, she got an A and I got a C.

Well, I think my 16-year-old got Julie’s science genes.

He came home very happy on Friday that he’d been accepted into physics for the second semester of his junior year.

If this were me, I’m not sure how excited I would be. English, on the other hand, that would be great fun.

But, nonetheless, we’re proud of his maturity, his growth and his interest and passion for science.

It should be a fun semester — but I’m pretty sure Julie will be the “go-to” parent for homework advice.

He’s getting to that point in the educational process that he needs a little more than a basic lesson on the Periodic Table or a refresher on fractions.

It definitely makes me feel inferior, but I’m thankful that he has great teachers to walk him through the process.

• An editor by day, Scott Mayes is also dad to Matthew, Micah and Nathan. He’s a high school parent, a youth basketball dad and changes diapers. He left science classes in his rear-view mirror long ago.

Take a deep breath, then tackle that homework

Today is the last day of the first semester for my kids. Different school districts may have a slightly different calendar, but most of the semesters are ending around this time.

That means that it may be time for a deep breath — for both you and your kids. Sure, you’ve been watching those grades all semester long. You’ve been asking about this assignment or that assignment and asking the question over and over again: “Do you have homework tonight?”

Well, the chances are that there’s nothing — or very little — you can do about Johnny’s first semester grade at this point.

But what you can do is affect next semester.

This is probably a good time to sit down with your loved one and have a “de-briefing.” Sure, that’s a “business” word, but it still makes sense here.

What has gone right so far this year and what hasn’t?

The best tips don’t change much, but sometimes it’s good to hear them again.

• Talk to your kids about staying organized — about avoiding that homework assignment wadded up in the bottom of the backup.

• Keep communication open.

• Sure, get on your kids when they fall behind, but don’t forget to praise their good work.

• And, don’t forget to have a consistent homework plan. Students who do their homework at the same time and same place each day usually get in a rhythm that helps them complete projects on time.

You’re halfway to summer sunshine. Keep things moving in the right direction.

• An editor by day, Scott Mayes is also dad to Matthew, Micah and Nathan. He’s a high school parent, a youth basketball dad and changes diapers. He wonders how many pieces of paper can actually be stuffed in the bottom of a backpack.

A school bus ride and a cookie

From time to time, I hear stories about the bus ride to and from school.

I read a national story today about how tough it is to ride the bus. The story suggests that more teasing and bullying happens on the bus than anywhere else.

We have had great experiences this year as our older boys ride the bus to school in Naches each day.

But, there have been times in the past couple of years where the stories have come home.

Sometimes, they say they’ve had a tough time with other kids. Sometimes, they’re fighting with each other.

Perhaps one of the challenges is the span of ages. They put kids in grades 3-12 on the same bus.

I guess it’s just going to happen some days.

We, as grownups, don’t have a perfect day every day. And, sometimes — just sometimes — we carry it home with us.

Kids are no different.

My recommendation is to do two things when the kids get home:

• Talk to them. The older they are, the more they will want to conceal things. So, without hitting a nerve, see if you can find out what’s going on. Usually, you can tell by their facial expressions and body language that something isn’t quite right.

• Listen to them. With the younger ones, they may just want you to hear them out. They may want a hug. They may want a chocolate chip cookie. Heck, you may want one too.

Like everything else, keep the dialogue open and assure them that the bus ride is not the end of the world.

• An editor by day, Scott Mayes is also dad to Matthew, Micah and Nathan. He’s a high school parent, a youth basketball dad and changes diapers. He’s also fond of the chocolate chip cookie.

What do dads do at 4 a.m.?

I’ve heard the stories about dads sitting outside the delivery room, smoking and/or handing out cigars.

I was thinking this morning that I wish my own dad was still alive so I could ask him about his experience when I was born.

I don’t remember whether he was in the delivery room, or simply waiting outside.

But I do know this: things are different in the year 2012.

My point is not to have this come across as “hey, look what I do” but rather to explain how different things are.

At 4 this morning, I was up rocking my son, trying to put him back to sleep. As an aside, it didn’t actually work. I got him to sleep, put him in his crib, and before I could get out of the room, he was crying.

So, he ended up laying down next to mom and dad, and eventually, went back to sleep.

But that’s just one part of what it means to be a dad to an infant in 2012.

I change diapers, I wipe runny noses, I give baths and I play games with young Nathan. (By the way, one of my favorite things to do is watch him smile when he sees himself in the mirror.)

Of course, my wife, bless her soul, does all these things too.

But, I can’t imagine growing up in a time where dads were really “hands off.”

I bet it results in better relationships down the road, but I’m no psychologist or therapist — so I can’t prove that.

Since my dad died when I was 13 and I see so many families of divorce and single-parent homes, I guess I’m just keenly aware of the importance of dad in the life of a child. Having boys ages 16, 11 and 1, I try to stay involved in their lives — which I must confess, are all quite different.

And aside from all that, I’ve never had a cigar — and I don’t see any reason to take up the habit now.

• An editor by day, Scott Mayes is also dad to Matthew, Micah and Nathan. He’s a high school parent, a youth basketball dad and changes diapers. He’s a fan of sleeping at 4 a.m. — but who isn’t?

OK, dads, the day is coming. Get your game face on.

OK, folks — and, by folks, I mostly mean dads — it is three weeks (or 21 days) until Valentine’s Day.

The day was named after Saint Valentine and was established by Pope Gelasius in 496 AD. Here’s a little detail on its beginnings.

But before we get lost in a history lesson, let’s bring the focus back to you.

If you’ve been inside a store in the past week, you’ve surely seen the pink and red displays, begging you to try and ignore them.

If you wait until the last minute, your wife (and of course, this applies to girlfriends as well) will be on to you. She’s not stupid.

Chocolate and/or flowers are the norm. If that’s all you’ve got up your sleeve, the big day may fall short of your (or her) expectations.

Here are a few ideas to get you started.

And since this is a blog about parenting, don’t forget the kids. Get them involved in making mom’s day special. Have them write a handwritten note and be involved in some creative way that requires more than you taking out your credit card.

You can argue all you want about whether dads (and dudes, in general) get a bum rap about being romantic. But, this is one of those defining moments.

So, put your thinking cap on and get to it. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

• An editor by day, Scott Mayes is also dad to Matthew, Micah and Nathan. He’s a high school parent, a youth basketball dad and changes diapers. He’s stayed married for nearly 19 years — in part because he doesn’t fall asleep at the wheel in February.

 

 

 

Our bus stop is on the naughty list

There are many great things about living in the country.

But, when snow comes, there can be challenges as well.

We got the word last night that our bus stop is no longer safe — at least under current conditions — for the bus to travel to.

So, we were added to the “alternate bus route” schedule.

What does that mean for us?

That meant that we loaded up the truck with all three boys this morning to get them on their way to school.

The littlest one was off to preschool, just like any other day.

But our 16-year-old and 11-year-old had to be transported down the road to a different bus stop than the norm.

I’m thankful that the Naches Valley School District made the call.

Yes, it means a little planning on our behalf.

But, ultimately, it means an extra measure of safety for our boys, for lots of other kids — and for the bus driver.

And as an added bonus, our older boys got to be along when we dropped off our 1-year-old at his school. That’s the first time they’d done that, so it was kind of fun.

• An editor by day, Scott Mayes is also dad to Matthew, Micah and Nathan. He’s a high school parent, a youth basketball dad and changes diapers. He likes his boys to return home from school in the same condition they left in. Who wouldn’t want that?

Yes, metal does wrinkle. That’s OK.

A little snow, a little boy and some wrinkled metal brings a whole lot of things into perspective.

I was in an accident yesterday as my car slid across slick snow.

My baby boy was in the back seat in his car seat.

We were not hurt, but our car was.

It was a good reminder of several things for me:

1)   We have an awesome responsibility to keep our kids safe. I’m thankful, that the result was, in fact, safe. No cuts, no bruises, no broken bones.

2)   Metal wrinkles, and that’s OK. Metal does not have feelings, it does not have a heart. It’s just metal. Baby boys have feelings and big hearts.

3)   Car seats are not just a good idea. They are required by law.

So, when you get out there, put your babies securely where they belong — in their car seat.

Now, let’s get on to better topics in the days ahead — like babies smiling and walking; like teenagers navigating their way into adulthood. Yep, I like those better.

• An editor by day, Scott Mayes is also dad to Matthew, Micah and Nathan. He’s a high school parent, a youth basketball dad and changes diapers.

His vocabulary grows every day

Kids are amazing. But, you knew that already.

Our son, Nathan, is closing in on 18 months on this planet and his vocabulary is growing by leaps and bounds.

I probably can’t even remember all the words he says now. He says ball, car, more, mama, dada — and over the weekend he even started referring to himself as “nana.”

And even more impressive is the list of things he understands.

When we pull up to his daycare, he announces “chool.” To the untrained ear, it’s school without the first letter. But, he clearly knows we are at school. He also has this little plastic football. Ask him where his football is and he’ll bring it to you.

It is such a fun age if you can handle him taking all the movies out of the movie cabinet every day and if you can handle him turning off the TV when you’re watching something just because he knows how the power button works.

So, here are a few tips in helping your youngster grow his/her vocabulary, courtesy of kidsource.com:

• Read books and sing songs to your child on a daily basis.

• Introduce new vocabulary in a meaningful context. For example — name specific foods at dinnertime.

• Speak directly to your child, and give him/her time to respond.

• Avoid finishing sentences for the child.

Enjoy this stage because it will be gone before you know it. I’m reminded of this daily because my 16-year-old is nearly as tall as me. I still remember back in the late 90’s when he went through this phase. I still remember him telling me his mom was a “grill.” Thankfully, he eventually learned to say the word girl.

Rest assured, one day Nathan will say school and start it with the letter “S.” In the meanwhile, we’ll keep teaching him new words and watch with amazement as he perfects each new word.

An editor by day, Scott Mayes is also dad to Matthew, Micah and Nathan. He’s a high school parent, a youth basketball dad and changes diapers. He loves watching his boys grow and learn new skills along the way. It must be time to pick up the movies off the floor again.

Parenting class begins Feb. 5

Need help keeping those kiddos in line? Or keeping your sanity?

I took a call here in the newsroom yesterday about a parenting class that will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Yakima beginning Feb. 5.

The class is an 8-week parenting class taught by Certified Family Life Educator and author Laurie Kanyer. The class will begin at 11 a.m. each Sunday during the eight weeks. The best news: there is no charge for the class.

Here are the topics to be covered:

• Why kids misbehave/discipline
• Setting reasonable limits
• Understanding your child’s Temperament
• Listening to feelings to gain cooperation
• Making changes to avoid predictable problems
• Reducing adult stress to care for kids in more positive manner

For more information, call 509-248-7940.

• An editor by day, Scott Mayes is also dad to Matthew, Micah and Nathan. He’s a high school parent, a youth basketball dad and changes diapers. He’s not a parenting expert, but he promises to laugh at himself — and others — on occasion.

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