Babies, toddlers, kiddos in general. Parents, community, local business. Babywearing, breastfeeding, and diapers. Access to resources, creation of community, self-informed decision making. Visiting, researching, and meeting new folks.
Music
Favorites around the store?
The Be Good Tanyas, Billie Holiday, Bob Dylan, Robinella, Putumayo's collection, The Garden State soundtrack, Norah Jones, Neko Case, Bob Marley, Aretha Franklin, Box Elder (hmmm, now called, mmm, anyone remember their new name?), Etta James, Daisy May, Patsy Cline, Amy Winehouse, Ray LaMontagne, The Beatles.
We're always up for new music--any recommendation for baby-friendly-HB Staff-parent friendly tunes???
Movies
Yeah.....we don't watch too many films around here. Birth films anyone?? Happiest Baby on the Block DVD?
Television
Yeah....not much tv here either.
Books
Now books. We got LOTS of those! Our best-sellers and favorites?
Alison new fav kids book: Llama, Llama, Red Pajama. This is a catchy one about a llama going to sleep without his mama. "Llama Llama, red pajama, in the dark without his mama. Eyes wide open, covers drawn.... What if Mama Llama's GONE??"
Lea's favorite kids book two years running is still And Tango Makes Three, a fabulous (true story!!) tale about two boy penguins at the Central Park Zoo who are given an egg and hatch the baby (Tango) and raise her as a family.
And the store favorites for big people:
Ina May's Guide to Childbirth
No Cry Sleep Solution
Dr Sears' The Baby Book
Super Baby Food
Happiest Baby on the Block
Womanly Art of Breastfeeding
And the store favorites for the little folks:
Guess How Much I Love You
Where the Wild Things Are
The Very Hungry Catapillar
Olivia
Miss Spider
Freight Train
The Flower Man
Curious George
Knuffle Bunny
Welcome With Love
Kiss Goodnight
Heroes
Oh my. All of you parents. Seriously. We are all doing our best in a world that is not friendly or supportive to parents. But we do this crazy thing called raising kids--even when we do it badly--with love. We have so much respect for all of you.
And of course to all the small business owners out there who are thriving and succeeding. Orange over at Orange Tree Imports and Ellen & Myrtle of A Woman's Touch
About me: Well, do you want the formal version of who we are? Nah, of course not, go check out our website for that:
www.happybambino.com
Here's a great low-down on Happy Bambino, thanks to Tenaya Darlington when she was writing for the Isthmus, when we opened in November of 2004:
Lea Wolf and Alison Dodge had the brainstorm of the century when they conceived of this resource-and-retail center for parents. These 20-something mamas have created a comprehensive parenting shop that has the same community vibe as the Willy Street Co-op, albeit with couches and a cork floor..... Mamas and papas, come one, come all. This is your ultimate spa and tonic. If only there were a wet bar in the yoga room.
Who I'd like to meet: All you rockin' mamas, papas, aunties, uncles, grammas, grandpas of those gorgeous babies in the area.
People who lead us towards more ways of supporting parents and local community.
Oh!-people who lead us to new music at the store are also particularly appreciated. ;)
Hi there! I'm sorry my page made you all weepy! But thanks for the birthday wishes! I haven't been to HB yet, but I'm signed up for the Cloth Diapering class next month. I'm looking forward to it!
I love your store! Wish we had one in Milwaukee! Tara MacLean is the awesome Canadian singer. http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=35630997&MyToken=780fd873-faee-4e4a-88b3-0d3b4798b79d
yes, he is doing much much better. It's funny, when they are sick, we want them to speed up a bit and be better, yet when they are better, we just want them to slow down a little!!
hi!!! I was the one who called earlier about increasing my supply for my sick 18 m. old.You recommended Fenugreek...and I don't know if it is the fenugreek or all in my head, but I swear it is working! I have let down every time Tyler has nursed (woohoo) compared to one out of five times...Seeings as B.m. is all he is getting and keeping in him, I feel so relieved!!!!!! Just wanted to say thanks so much!
thanks!! i love the butterfly pic too, but i'm biased!!! heehee!! "the bababimo" as tyler calles it, is one of our favorite places to go to when we are in madison (now if only you had an evening toddler group...*hint*) haha!
