Rainy Day Playdates at the Bookstore

 

Paulo is wearing “Take Flight” from Le Top’s 2010 Fall/Winter collection.

When you schedule playdates in advanced, you hope the weather will be warm enough so you can meet up with your child’s friends at the park. I like meeting at a playground because it gives Paulo a chance to run around and burn off energy so that he naps well in the afternoon. Since we can’t always rely on the weatherman’s forecast, my Mommy friends and I always have a back-up place to meet in case it’s raining or if it’s too cold. That place is our local Barnes & Noble. Unfortunately, this is the back-up plan for everyone else, too. But that’s okay. It works out somehow.

Our bookstore has a train table in the children’s book section. They have a few trains for the kids to play with, and it’s cute (and sometimes not-so-cute) to see them learn how to share. Parents are also allowed to pick up a book from the shelves and read to their children. They have a little table and a few chairs, or you can even sit on the floor with your child on your lap and spend a quiet moment entertaining them with a story or two. Once a week, our bookstore has Story Time. The kids sit around the stage area while one of the staff members reads to the children. At the end of Story Time, they provide a small snack. Best part of Barnes & Noble? They have a Starbucks so I can order a grande soy caramel macchiato with whipped cream and enjoy drinking it while Paulo plays at the train table. Bliss!

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The First Haircut

Paulo is wearing T-Rex Touchdown from Letop's 2010 Fall/Winter Collection

I didn’t want to do it, but I had to do it. I wanted to keep my baby boy’s hair untouched by a pair of scissors because I am thinking that this is the only way for me to hold on to his “baby-ness.” Does anyone know what I’m talking about? Unfortunately, Paulo’s hair kept getting in his eyes and he was constantly rubbing his hands trying to move his long bangs out of his face. So the time has come for… Paulo’s First Haircut!

With my daughter, her first haircut was just at a nearby cheap-o haircutting salon. No frills. She was excited to do it because she has seen me do it before. She sat still through the entire session! Maybe it’s a girl thing. I don’t know. I took her before and after pictures, and saved a lock of her hair for her baby book. With Paulo, I knew this guy wasn’t going to be that easy. I’ve heard of these special children’s hair salons where they had horses, motorcycles and cars that kids can sit in. While they were watching a DVD of “Sesame Street” or “Dora the Explorer,” the hairstylist was chopping away as fast as he/she could while the child was distracted. So, I already knew that this is where I needed to go. They had him in-and-out in 15 minutes! Yeah, it was a bit more expensive but it was definitely worth it! Included with the price was a “My First Haircut” certificate, a photo and a little bag of his hair.

So now he looks older (especially in the convertible sports car) but he’s still my handsome little devil.

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