Ideal Bite

Whenever anyone mentions childhood art, I immediately think of paste. Big tasty tubs full of it. I don't claim to have a particularly refined palate even today, but I was definitely one of the many who licked up gobs and gobs of that stuff growing up.

Is there anyone out there who doesn't cop to eating paste as a kid? And what exactly made it such a common snack for tots? I mean, I never tried to eat Play-Doh. Wait, yes I did. Well, I never tried to eat real clay. OK, I did that too, actually, but it was on a dare, so it doesn't count. Ditto watercolors out of those little trays and one burnt sienna crayon.

But I have never eaten...um...uh...hot glue. Yes, never hot glue. That is a guarantee.

-SF Editor Mike...off to learn how to keep my mouth shut...

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I like my water cold. I also like it filtered. Cold + filtered = I put my Brita in the fridge. Okay? Okay.

Enter Brittany, my sweet-as-sugar vanilla cupcake college roommate. Brittany likes her water tepid - better for digestion, Chinese medicine, blah, blah, blah. Passive aggressive comes to mind when I reflect on Brittany and the water war we had throughout our sophomore year. I would walk into the kitchen to pour myself a frosty glass of deliciously filtered Hetch Hetchy, and my dreams of refreshment would die as soon as I would see that Brita on the counter, taunting me. I would put the Brita in the fridge, Brittany would pull it out, and so on, without our speaking a word concerning the matter - ever.

They say that comedy = tragedy + time (they is brilliant), and now Brittany and I laugh about our lil'

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I'm at an age when everyone around me is knocked up - and it's not a bad thing. Suddenly, chats with the girls revolve not around boys and dating (yeah, I'm still there), but babies and real estate. I have three showers in the next month, but thankfully, my friends are more into co-ed (read: drinking) soirees to celebrate their plunge into parenthood.

What do get my panties in a bunch tho' are dept. store registries, which for me seem all too impersonal - and definitely non-eco. Instead, I'll hit an SF-local baby boutique - I just spotted Nest Maternity for locally made onesies and compostable Gdiapers; Lavish for natural wood Anamalz and kid's artwork

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My parents were naked when they met, so, yeah, I'm one of those kids.

Having conceived and given birth to me at a hot springs community in Northern CA, my mama interpreted "mommy chic" to be various forms of undress in the sunshine. And she rocked it, a happy, naked, sun-kissed pregnant woman. We moved to the 'burbs when I was four, so the hippy-go-lucky dream died (although the mama did go on to create her own Euro-inspired line of children's wear - check it out here), and lil' baby Hanah had to learn the hard way that an outfit appropriate for school included underwear and socks. La-ame.

-Assistant Editor Hanah...off to smile warmly at pregnant women for no reason (no matter what they're wearing), like everyone

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I'm really not into cold food (gazpacho), especially if it's mushy (hummus). All the airplane noises in the world wouldn't get me to open my mouth for jarred pulverized peas.

But I would entertain the idea of eating fresh homemade baby food. I hear it's pretty easy to do. A friend is borrowing my KitchenAid mixer that's got a grinder attachment and says his kid is gobbling up the applesauce he makes with it. I'm not so sure I'd scarf it up, but I'd be willing to let one spoonful come in for a landing. Got a good recipe? Share it in the comments.

-Managing Editor Diane...off to find some hot, solid food...

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Before smart keys and cell phones and when I was still small enough to be strapped into a car seat, my mom accidentally locked the keys in the car with me in it...while it was still running.

She didn't want to leave me because she knew I'd freak out, so she just yelled for help while talking to me through the closed window as I looked through my alphabet book; eventually my neighbor came running and was able to use a wire hanger to get the car open. Fortunately, technology has improved since the early 80s, so that moms and little ones alike can usually avoid this mother's-worst-nightmare-type experience.

-LA Editor Molly...off to hop in my Prius (using keyless entry)...

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Everyone has those moments in life where you ask yourself, "How the %#$@ did I get here?" One of mine came while I was sitting at a table full of women during a breastfeeding discussion - and I was the one answering the questions.

During my time as an editor at BabyCenter.com I learned a lot of things I never in a million years wanted to know, but one of the most poignant facts was that there are a lot of extremely staunch advocates of breastfeeding out there. And like our tip says, there are countless benefits to becoming one of them.

But if you're a new mom and the feeding process is just not happening, and you're in severe pain and simply can't go on, DON'T STRESS ABOUT IT. The very most bestest thing you can do for your baby is be happy and loving, and if that requires a bottle of formula, well, your kid's probably

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