Specifically, California, Chicago, New York, Nashville, TN or El Paso, TX, because the Baskin-Robbins’ there are giving away free soft-serve ice cream this coming Wednesday to knocked-up ladies.

Yep, it’s Bump Day 2008.

While I think anything free is totally awesome, it’s sorta sexist, isn’t it? Do they do a similar day for Dad-to-be’s? Or maybe men with guts who look pregnant?

And what if you aren’t showing yet (as many first-time moms don’t until even five months or so)? Bring in the pee stick? That’s a wonderful scene to ponder, isn’t it? Hormonal, hungry women lined up with urine-soaked tests in their hands, demanding free ice cream.

The fluffy little Easter Bunny is hopping around town. He always sneaks up on me each year.

He’s at both the Oshawa Centre and the Pickering Town Centre until this Saturday — click the links for hours, photo packages and more.

Lucy is at the age where she’s totally ready for an Easter egg hunt, and I’m so excited to have one this weekend. As Jen O. said, I’m not entirely thrilled about loading Lucy up on sugar, but am planning more of a modern day hunt: There will be some chocolate and refined sugar, but also some notepads and stickers and markers and other small little presents any toddler would love.

My Mom bought Lucy the most adorable dress for her birthday, perfect for Easter: It has embossed bunnies, sequins, ribbon, little chicks and other whimsical bits. She’s going to look adorable. She’ll probably smear her dinner or dirt on it 0.598 seconds after we put it on her, but that’s part of toddler living, right?

Sunday we are heading to my parents’ house to visit with them, my Grandma and Aunt Judy and Uncle Randy. It will also be my birthday dinner, as I turn the big 29 on Saturday, March 22. The last year in my twenties! Friday I’m celebrating with the Game Night Hooligans and Lucy with Thai food at my fave restaurant in Ajax, followed by ruckus back in the Boonies after. Gooood times.

Got any Easter plans? Big hunts planned for your wee ones? Giant dinners with family? Chocolate gorge fests? Can I come?

I’ve spent an eye-crossing amount of time updating and adding to the links section the past week or so. They desperately needed to be done to preserve my sanity, and also in response to what Mr. Google says people are looking for (namely: stuff to do, places to go, and birthday party centres — all for Durham).

Things are now split into what I hope are easier-to-navigate categories for y’all:

Durham links: The main entrance, also found on the right-hand toolbar over there, and directly above, under the logo

Places to play: Municipal recreation programs, indoor gyms, dance, birthday party centres

Stuff to do: Get out of the house with grown-ups (including, of course, Durham Mom’s Night Out!), Early Years Centres, public libraries, event listings, travel/tourism links

Durham daycare/nannies: Places to find childcare, resources

Safety and support: Recalls, breastfeeding, car seat safety checks, postpartum depression, parenting etc.

Local businesses and mompreneurs: List of consignment stores, baby gear, online sales, local entrepreneurs

Health: Labour, fitness, beauty

Fave Canadian retailers: The Eh! online stores we love the best

Coming soon: Baby shows, crafts and photography. Got any to add?

Have a site you love you want listed? A category to suggest? Business to add? Leave a comment or drop me an email. These are ever-expanding.

Enjoy!

My new journey south on Wednesday evenings to Durham Mom’s Night Out takes me past Haugen’s restaurant.

Normally passing a restaurant on a sultry summer evening wouldn’t cause a second glance, but Haugen’s on Wednesday nights holds the title of Creating Its Own Traffic Jam because of an awesome spectacle: Classic Car Cruise-In.

Hundreds of classic cars pour into the field behind and beside the restaurant. I’ve never gone to the show, but just seeing it from the road takes your breath away. So many cool cars! And the atmosphere — couples walking hand-in-hand, grease monkey-types bending inside hoods, biker dudes chatting with middle-aged white guys, all against the setting sun — is entertaining and so…summer unto itself.

The food at Haugen’s is pretty good, too, especially their seasonal pies (strawberry and blueberry notably) and butter tarts.

Maybe us Moms will have to check it out some night.

(p.s. — Thursday night is a Motorcycle Cruise-In!)

Remember back in September, when we changed Lucy’s diaper on the table of a Tim Hortons and the Internet took a hit out on us?

I was thrilled to find a local Tim Hortons that is, finally and truly, family friendly.

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