Beat the Winter Blues!

February: the time in Minnesota where everyone starts going a little crazy from being inside all winter. We have been lucky enough to have a pretty mild winter; in fact E and I have even been able to make a few trips to the park in January and that is UNHEARD of! But going outside is still a challenge and being stuck inside with a baby or young toddler can drive a parent crazy.

I've been working on compiling a list of indoor playgrounds to take your baby to and saw this GREAT list that MinnMoms.com put together. [By the way, if you haven't checked out MinnMoms.com and you live in the Twin Cities you need to add it to your bookmarks!] I've taken some of their list, plus added a few of my own and made sure they are baby friendly. E has been walking for about a month now and he is at that stage where all he wants to do is climb, crawl and walk all over. An indoor playground is PERFECT and I can't wait to take him to one of these!


[photo credit]

Adventure Peak [Edina]
Adventure Peak features great areas for toddlers to explore. The Tot Area includes climbing, crawling, sliding and even bouncing in an inflatable air bounce geared just for them!

Eagles Nest [New Brighton]
Part of Eagles Nest, The Eaglets Aerie, is for kids 3 and under. It has its own colorful ball pit, challenging climbing structure, reading corner and more! $5.50/baby 12 months & up.

The Blast [Eagan]

Babies 17 months and younger are FREE [they do not have a specific toddler area] But at the Eagan Community [where The Blast is] they do have open gym Monday-Friday for $3 which is for ages 1 and & up, see more details here.  

Maple Maze [Maple Grove]
Babies under 12 months are FREE and over 12 months are only $5 [$4 for residents] There is a specific toddler area for ages 3 and under where they can crawl into the lions mouth and back down a slide to venture on to the molded alligator, hippo and more.

Lookout Ridge [Woodbury]
They do have a toddler area here [$4.50 for 1 & older].  The "inside tip" is that mornings are usually busy, so if you are looking for a quieter time to take your baby, head on over after lunch.

Tropical Adventure [Shoreview]
Babies under 12 months are free, otherwise it's $5 per child for their indoor playground.  Tropical Adventure also has an indoor water park with an area called "Ship Wreck Beach" with a zero depth pool just for little tots to splash & play in!

Sky Zone [Oakdale, Plymouth]
Sky Zone is a indoor trampoline park. Check each website for toddler time [ages 5 & under].

The Little Gym [Edina, Burnsville & {coming soon} Eagan & Eden Prairie]
The only downfall to The Little Gym is that they don't have any type of open gym and you have to sign up for weekly classes. Although your first class is FREE so you can always try it out first!

My Gym [Eden Prairie]
Same thing with My Gym, they have ongoing classes that you can register for unless you are a member then they have "free play".

I have yet to speak from experience about any of these places so I would love to hear if you have been to any and how they were. Or did I miss any places you like to bring your older baby to? Please share!

Spend a Week in the Twin Cities [with your baby!]

When E was an itty bitty baby and I was searching for every mommy book under the sun, I came across this gem: The Rookie Moms Handbook. Filled with wit, humor and 250 activities to do with [and without] your baby, this book is a must have for every new mama out there! I was fortunate enough to connect with Heather from Rookie Moms during a late night twitter [nursing] session and came up with this post for new moms [and dads] visiting the Twin Cities [no matter what the season or weather].



Monday

[Summer] Como Zoo is a Minnesota must for you and baby in the summer time. Donations accepted for admission, it’s the perfect smaller size zoo for your little one. Bring a picnic lunch and wander the outside gardens and conservatory afterwards for some great photo-ops!

[Winter] Visit the independently owned bookshop Wild Rumpus in Linden Hills [Minneapolis]. New mama’s, I would avoid the crowded story time at 10:30 and go a little later to cozy up in this enchanting store with your little one- just watch out for the live chickens running around! Afterwards, feel free to do a little window-shopping for baby at cute stores like Creative Kids Stuff or Oscar & Belle.

Tuesday

[Summer] Minnehaha Falls is a perfect spot in the city to go for a daytime hike with your baby. A beautiful area with various walking paths and ample parking close to the park [in case baby is fussy and you need to make a quick emergency exit.] Don’t forget to swing by the Sea Salt Eatery before you leave & order a cone of Minneapolis’s award winning Sebastian Joe’s ice cream.

[Winter] Baby story time [10:30 – 11:00] at Red Balloon Bookshop on Grand Ave. is a “can’t miss” event for you and baby. Sara Waters [Sara’s Stories] reads stories, sings silly songs and even plays the violin to keep these babies entranced. Afterwards meet up with some mommy-friends at Café Latte for a delicious lunch! The friendly staff is more than willing to lend a hand when yours are full with baby.

Wednesday

[Summer] Cool off at the Splash Pad at Wabun Park in Minneapolis [near Minnehaha Falls]. While you might not be ready to take your baby to the big pool, this splash pad & wadding pool is the perfect way to get your feet wet and let your baby enjoy splashing around.

[Winter] Midtown Global Market in Minneapolis hosts “Wee Wednesdays” every week [10:30AM] which includes anything from live animals from the zoo, to cooking for your baby and even story times and sing-a-longs. After enjoying this free event, make sure to stop by Salty Tart to satisfy your sweet tooth with a “melt-in-you-mouth” cupcake or cookie.

Thursday

[Summer] Take a day trip to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chaska. Meet up with a girlfriend and bring the stroller for a nice long walk to enjoy the beautiful flowers and landscapes. Don’t forget the camera, another great place for some memorable pictures!

[Winter] Need to get some exercise but not ready to leave your baby? Hit up Stroller Strides [9:15AM] at the Mall of America. This mommy boot camp is free your first time with additional classes being as low as $2.75 with certain membership packages.

Friday

[Summer] Take advantage of those small babies that will sleep anywhere and head to the Vali-Hi Drive-In. No need to even take your snoozing baby out of their car seat and you’ve got instant date-night up front!

[Winter] Every Friday from 11:00-12:00 Amma Parenting Center in Edina has drop-in baby playtime. Bring yourself and your baby and Amma will provide a nursing friendly environment with music, toys, blankets and babies! A great place for new mom’s to venture out of the house for the first time and make new mommy friends!

Saturday

[Winter] Check out the Habitot room at the MN Children’s Museum that is especially designed for little ones on the move. This is another hot spot for meeting new mommy friends while your baby is exploring the soft and sensory little world built just for them! [Bonus: children under 1 are FREE and there is also a nursing room.]

[Summer] Hit up the shops of Woodbury Lakes with your little one. This outdoor mall has the right balance of boutiques and national retailers for baby AND mama!

Sunday

[Summer] Head to the St. Paul or Minneapolis Farmers Market. Strap your baby to your chest and enrich their sensory experiences with the bright colors and smells of the fresh produce. Let older babies help pick out fruits and vegetables to encourage healthy eating.

[Winter] BOYB [bring your own BABY that is] mommy & me yoga at Blooma. A great way for new mama’s to get some exercise while stimulating baby at the same time. Running late? Fussy baby? Need to nurse in the middle of class? NO problem! Even major blowouts mid class are understood here.


What do you love doing with your little one in Minnesota?

Making Keepsakes for Baby's 1st Christmas

I'm all for baby crafts and making lasting memories [even if they turn out cuter in my head than in real life!] Here are some great ideas for making keepsakes for "Baby's 1st Christmas":



Baby's 1st Ornament [via a sorta fairytale blog]




handprint art fun [via craft rookie]




keepsake handprint ornament [via moments of mommyhood]




time capsule ornament [via family fun.go.com]


And don't forget that the holidays are a GREAT time for my personal favorite.....Baby Photo Shoot!