Shannon Armitage, 34, lives in Columbia City with her husband Greg Bamford, 33, daughter Clara, 2 and the mysterious "Baby X," due this fall. Shannon is a family therapist and parent coach in private practice, and blogs at Managing Life Transitions. Here, Shannon tells us how to put the spark back into your relationship, plus favorite stops in and around Columbia City.

What's a common issue you see with new parents?

After coming home with a new baby, parents are very much in survival mode. The couple's main focus is on learning how to care for this little stranger in their midst -- as well they should be. Sometimes, though, couples focus so much on the baby, they neglect to care for their relationship as a couple. With all the demands for their attention, they need to be aware of how they're doing as a couple -- not just as parents.

You say that dates can help a couple overcome that issue. How can you date if you have a newborn?

Dates don't have to require a babysitter or leaving home. You can have a great date at home once the baby's asleep. Preparing a special dinner, or picking up take-out from a favorite restaurant can make dinner at home feel more date-worthy. 

If you used to go to bars and listen to bands in your pre-baby days, you can stock your favorite drinks at home and listen to the live shows on KEXP, or pull out some of your old favorite CDs that you haven't heard in a while. You can also double-date by inviting friends over for drinks, dinner or games. 

Where do you  go for a "family date?"

Wherever my toddler is happy eating dinner! Our favorites are Tutta Bella where she can watch the pizza being made, All-Purpose Pizza in Leschi where she can take phone orders and roll out dough in the play kitchen, El Sombrero in Columbia City where the staff give her sombrero-wearing rubber duckies and lollipops, Geraldine's Counter because the macaroni and cheese is awesome, and anything Ethiopian, because eating with your hands is fun. If my husband and I are having a rare child-less evening, we like to go to anyplace 21 and over, like the Columbia City Ale House, because we can!

What else do you like to do in Seattle?

Thankfully, there's a lot of kid-friendly things to do in our neighborhood. We like story time at the library, toddler gym at the Rainier Community Center, Toddler Tales and Trails at the Seward Park Audubon Center, the Columbia City Farmer's Market, and anything involving a playground.

Nominate your favorite Seattle family! E-mail Lora at littlekidsbigcity@lorashinn.com or see previous families at http://littlekidsbigcity.com

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