Reddit mentions of Axiom Monsoon Aero DLX 35 Pannier Set, Grey/Black

I'm pretty sure those are not waterproof. Axiom does have some that are waterproof. http://www.amazon.com/Axiom-Monsoon-Aero-Waterproof-Pannier/dp/B006Z0O6NQ/

I'm going to point you towards bike and seat combo options that allow for carrying some cargo since you seem to want to go car-light(er) around town. If cargo isn't something you care much about you can basically pick any non-carbon fiber bike that has decent rear braze-ons for mounting a quality rack as most bike seats mount this way. So moving on to recommendations...

• Any touring bike (randonneur, touring, adventure touring, or even commuter bike) that has braze-ons for both front and rear racks. Surly LHT, Soma Saga, Kona Sutra (holy hell those got expensive), Trek 520, Schwinn LeTour (the old ones) all come to mind. Bought new those are all going to push your budget but used will keep you under with a bit to spare to get it sorted by a LBS.
  
  
• SomaYuba Boda Boda - This is a compact cargo bike with an integrated rear rack. It is shorter than traditional long cargo bikes like the Surly Big Dummy so it's easier to manage both on the street and in storage, putting it on the bus, etc. You can mount a child seat directly to the rack for your toddler but as he/she gets older and more mature they can just sit directly on the rear deck (there are accessory handlebars you can add so they can hold on). This is my dream bike right now. Can carry up to 2 kids on the back as well as cargo. Under $1,000, but you'll have to buy a seat and maybe a couple other accessories.
  
  If you know that cycling is something that will always be important to you and you are serious about reducing your car usage I'd strongly encourage you to find a way to up your budget to around $1,700 including accessories and buy one of the touring bikes I listed above. It could possibly be the last bike you ever buy, and reduced driving will help recoup that extra cost over time. Here's an example price list of what I would buy if I were you:
  
  
• Surly LHT complete bike - $1,275 link
  
  
• Tubus Tara front rack - $120 link
  
  
• Axiom Monsoon Aero front panniers - $98 link
  
  
• Yepp Maxi seatpost-mount child seat - $210 link. using the seatpost mount means you don't need to spend extra money on a quality rear rack (don't go cheap on that - it needs to hold the weight of the seat).
  
  A child's seat is going to cost you around $200 (+/- $100) no matter what so that's a sunk cost. Front rack and pannier are such a small price for the value that you get; tubus is one of the best racks so you can save money in this area or omit completely if you don't want to carry cargo. Note however that it will be tough to fit rear panniers AND a rear child seat because of clearance issues which is why having a front rack helps a ton on this type of setup.
  
  The biggest place to save money is the bike itself. you should be able to find a used but well-sorted newish touring bike for $900 or less depending on your market. But if you buy new from a reputable LBS they will do a proper fit for you and get you on the right size frame with a comfortable setup that will let you ride all day without issue - you can't get this buying used and it's definitely worth the money if you don't already have a very good idea what size frame you best fit (i.e. seat tube length, effective top tube length, reach, handlebar height, etc.).
  
  Good luck!
  
  

These Axiom monsoons have treated me well thus far. Not fancy, but the waterproofing is legit, and there's quite a lot of room. The mounting system works well, although I don't take them on and off much, since I have a secure place to park the bike at my work.

edit: phone screwed up link, fixed

I'll probably get the Axiom Monsoon Aero DLX 35 Pannier Set for $90 that I've been looking at. Will see how big my nxt paycheck and might just splurge on the Ortieb Back Roller Classics.