I just planted my FIRST veggie garden EVER!!!?

AWESOME! I just started one myself this year, heirloom tomatoes, 3 varieties of peppers, eggplant, crook neck squash, and some herbs. My suggestion would be to use a chicken wire type of fence, something that you could put over the top. Then the birds and squirrels would find it more difficult to get in. Also, I'm trying to leave a small radio running in my garden at night (it's one of those shower radios that can get wet.) If you put it on a talk radio station, it might keep the critters away since it would be human voices. I'm hoping it will keep out the raccoons, I see them everywhere in my neighborhood, and I'm sure they are already watching the garden. ;D Good Luck with your greenery, your such a great Mom!