Swimming Class at Trinity Recreation Centre

We made it, we took our 1st swimming lesson last monday at the recreation centre by the Trinity Bellwoods park (Queen Street West, west of Barthust) and we both enjoyed it.
The class is 30 minutes long in a small pool where you can easily sit down on steps or get on your knees while holding your baby. The group is fairly small with I would say 7 or 8 couples parents/baby. The class starts off with a song and then you get to learn how to hold your baby in the water. After that it's your time to play with your baby and get him/her comfortable in the water, you can walk around the pool, pick toys for your little one to play with or just chat with other parents. If you just did you hair you may not want to do it but otherwise you can soak your baby into the water, I was a little bit scared at first but it looks like Achille liked it so who cares about my hair?! Babies in the group are a few months to 2 years old.
I take the lessons from 10.15 to 10.45am on Mondays but they also have the Guardian class (that's how they call the class for babies) from 10.15 to 10.45am on Fridays and from 7.00 to 7.30pm on Mondays.
Price is affordable because part of the city kids program. It's only $30 for 9 sessions.
It was lot of fun, Achille loved it and the instructor is really nice . However I didn't find the water was really warm and when you get out of the water changing rooms are not warm either... My sessions go through the fall so at that point I am a little bit concerned...
FYI Little Swimmers and a bathing suit are fine.

Movies for Mommies

It looks like it is becoming a real phenomenon. First launched in Canada a few years back Movies for Mommies programs are now popular among parents from all over the world including France (ok for now it is just in Paris but we're getting there:)
The concept is based on recent movies (I just saw Love Happens with Jennifer Aniston yesterday and next week they will be playing Fame) that are being played one afternoon every week and you can go with your baby.
Sound is lower than usual, changing tables and wipes are available and tickets are $8.50 with complimentary baby food. And if you are a movie addict, make sure you get the fidelity card: one movie free for 6 movies purchased.
Downtown Toronto has 2 locations: one at the Beaches and one in front of the St Lawrence Market.
The Rainbow Cinema at 80 Front Street is a good place to go, they have an elevator for your stroller but, considering the success, the theatre might be a little bit small. Lot of space to park your stroller though.
The Fox Cinema at 2235 Queen Street East is an old theater with no elevator and stairs from the sidewalk up to the theater and down to the washrooms... So you might want to get a baby carrier or ask for extra help from other moms but I thought you should be aware of that little detail:). However they will let you bring your stroller in so that Baby can take a nap and Mommy can enjoy the movie.
Now that summer is over it might get really busy but it is a good way to stay connected to the world and the every-day life. When about the TIFF for Mommies??

YMCA Metro Central - fitness club and child minding service

For those of you who have read this blog before you might remember the post about the YMCA Family Development Centre. This time I want to tell you about the fitness centre and the child minding service. I went last Monday to try out the spinning class and I had to leave my little Achille to the baby sitting service.
The 45 minute spinning class was not long and intense enough for me, I wanna really sweat when I go to the gym but I also get my workout carrying Achille around... and as for the child minding service, it's a pretty good deal. $4.26 an hour or $28 for 7 hours and kids get to play or get some sleep in a big playroom with toys, activities and cribs for the little ones. No TV which I really liked:)

Child minding is open 7 days a week. However it is open 5-8pm mondays, wednesdays and fridays only.
Staff and volunteer are friendly and reassuring, with experience and they will make you feel relaxed and cool the 1st time you drop off your baby. If necessary they can change diapers, warm up a bottle and they always want to know where you gonna be in the building in case of a problem. Time is limited to 2 hours but would you exercise for more than 2 hours anyways?
I want to try out other classes and the pool before joigning the club as it is quite of a budget (around $60 per month + child minding) but a good gym with child care downtown, what other options do I have? They also packages with special prices for the whole family.

There's plenty of fitness classes to choose from as well as fitness equipment and a large variety of sports, including squash, swimming or badminton. For info on the activities and schedule go to http://www.ymcatoronto.org/en/files/PDF/hfr_program_schedules/metro_program_fall09.pdf

Meetup.com

As dynamic moms we are all looking for something to do in the city or someone to talk to (beside our little one) and when we live downtown it is not that easy. I guess many families live outside Toronto so when it comes to meeting downtown moms they are rare:) I have been trying to meet new people through different activities and I found out that the meetup.com website has more than 40 moms groups in the GTA but only a very few downtown. I just joined a group in the West End and I should be meeting with the group later on this week but based on your location, hobbies and lifestyle there might be a group for you. The website is easy to use, you enter your interests (such as "moms"), country and postal code and the system will populate a list of groups for you. Then just pick the one you want and because many of those groups are private, you need to apply and answer a couple of questions about yourself. It's free. Once you are approved you can review the activities and other members' profile. If you are interested in one of the activities just say YES... As simple as that, that might be a good way to meet new people and if you forget about activities you will be emailed reminders. When I first came to Toronto, I met some really good friends through a meetup group so why not again this time?

Start now, go to http://www.meetup.com/topics/

Fresh vegetarian restaurant

Long time no talk about restaurants:) No worries, I'm back on track.
Last weekend for the second time in a short period of time my family and I (meaning my husband, our little one and myself) went to Fresh on Queen West (passed the Trinity Bellwoods park). This place is about veggie food and you would have to trust them as you won't know half of the dishes and vegetables on the menu. I would think dishes are asian inspired but I am not even sure... All I know is that food is delicious and it is good to try out new flavours sometimes.
They have a nice patio, with space for strollers and the good or bad thing for our little ones is that the patio gets lot of sun exposure. Now that summer is almost over I am not sure about the room inside, it looks nice but it might be tough to park your stroller, although they have several high chairs available.
They serve food all day long which is priceless if your little one decided for a change that he would have the longest nap ever:)
Last but not least they have a changing station on the main floor so you don't have to carry your stroller down the stairs.
More info on their website at http://www.freshrestaurants.ca/locations2.asp. They also have 2 other locations in the city that I don't know (yet).

Baby Salsa

You want to know how to have fun with your baby and work out at the same time?
Baby salsa is the answer....
I am not a big fan of the caribbean music and rythms but when you learn how to salsa with your baby it is a lot of fun. It is a 45 minutes class, you need a baby carrier such as a Baby Bjorn, a lot of energy and you're good to go. When I first attended the class I had my jeans and a pair of sneakers on but you would be more comfortable with your workout outfit as you might be sweating:) The class starts with a warmup (and believe me squats with your baby pulling your shoulders down are worse than a body pump class), then goes on to the dancing and finishes up with a cooldown. The older and bigger your baby the better the workout:)
First class is free and then you can buy a package of 6 sessions for $110. Many locations in Toronto. For information about the fall schedule and locations, please go to http://www.torontosalsababies.com/schedule.php
FYI the location on Bloor Street is in the United Church but there is lot of space for strollers, feeding or diaper changing.

YMCA Family Development Centre

You may know about the YMCA or I should probaby say the "Y"... Anyways I didn't know about them until I have my little Achille and I am glad I found out about them as they have great activities for kids - from newborn to pre-schoolers.
The Y I'm talking about is called the Metro-Central YMCA and is located at 15 Breadalbane Street downtown Toronto (Yonge and South of Wellesley) but if you are looking for one around the GTA, you can go to their website at http://www.ymcatoronto.org/en/find-ymca/toronto/index.html.
When I joined, Achille was only 6 weeks old and we both enjoyed getting out of the house even though he was sleeping 20 hours a day:) We started with the baby circle class, a combination of soft lullabies singing and storytelling, at 10am on Fridays and we then joined the lively "singing class" at 10am on Wednesdays. This one-hour class is about the instructor, parents and kids singing lullabies while playing the guitar (I like to think the teacher could be Phoebe in Friends, the tv show!!). After a few weeks of me experiencing those lullabies at home I was amazed to see a smile on Achille's little face when I would pronounce even just a few words of those songs.
We recently joined the 10.30am Monday class even more lively and active but still based on music, songs and instruments. This class might not be for infants as you have to move around but definitely from a few months old.

The Y Family Development Centre has lot of activities that I haven't been able to try out yet, from gardening to cooking classes, from swimming to gym classes and lots of others.
And compared to any other activities for parents and babies it is quite affordable: $180 a year per family with unlimited access to classes and playrooms.
When I am in Toronto, I try not to miss the class as it is a good way for Achille to be educated to music and sounds and a good way for me to connect with other parents or care givers.

Anything I should add to convince you? Staff is really friendly and it is open 7 days a week. For more info on prices and location, you can go to their webpage at http://www.ymcatoronto.org/en/families/child-care-programs/family-dev-center/index.html

Shall I meet you there next week?