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Back to School Books for your Kindergartener

Posted on by Angie

We like finding books for all occasions and Back to School is no exception! So whether you’re happy, sad, excited or anxious about your little one heading off to school this year, here are some books to read with them to help get them (and you!) ready for the BIG day!

A Place Called Kindergarten by Jessica Harper
Tommy’s Animal friends miss him all day while he’s away but he has a great time explaining to them how much he learned while he was at this place called Kindergarten. A comforting depiction of a fun, exciting time that can also be a little scary.

What Did You do Today? By Toby Forward
A sweet way to show your child that while he/she is away that Mommy thinks of them throughout the day and wonders what they are doing while they’re at school.

Kindergarten Rocks! By Katie Davis
Dexter is Kindergartener-to-be and is scared. A great read to help ease the anxiety that comes with starting school for the first time.

Countdown to Kindergarten by Alison McGhee
A little girl counts down the days to kindergarten while being worried that she can’t tie her shoes.. The #1 rule of Kindergarten… in case you didn’t know!

Take a Kiss to School by Angela McAllister
A little apprehensive about the second day of school, Digby manages to make it through with the kisses his Mommy placed in his pocket. A great little idea for some extra encouragement to make it through some of those first days at their new school.

Do you have a favorite back to school read to share? We’d love to hear about it!

Birmingham Zoo: $5 Fun Days –

Posted on by Angie

Take advantage of what the Zoo has to offer with their upcoming $5 Fun Days! Mark your calendars now!

Guests will have the opportunity to get up-close with the elephants at the Boma Encounter, experience Predator Zone and be surrounded by beautiful butterflies in Granny’s Butterfly Garden. Come learn how the Zoo uses enrichment activities to help keep the animals mentally and physically fit. Guests can also see live animal demonstrations and feedings, chat with the keepers and more!

2014 $5 Fun Days Schedule of Events: 

Saturday, July 26th
11am – Piñata enrichment with American black bear cubs

Sunday, July 27th
2:30pm – Training demo with the Malayan tiger

Saturday, August 2nd
9:30am – Animal enrichment with African lions

Sunday, August 3rd
11am – Animal enrichment with Sea Lions

Saturday, August 9th
11am – Picnic enrichment with American black bear cubs

Sunday, August 10th
9:30am – Piñata enrichment with the Malayan tiger

 

Birmingham Events Calendar: July 20th – July 27th

Posted on by Angie

It’s Not Our Fault if Your Kids are Bored!

Summer is winding down and a few of the Summer Reading Finales will be happening this week. The Barons will be home again later this week and the $5 Fun Days will kick off at the Birmingham Zoo. If you love music make sure to check out the Schaeffer Eye Center City Fest at Railroad Park.. General Admission is Free and will be great for the entire family.

Have a great week!

Sunday July 20th:

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs. Mississippi Braves
3:00pm

National Ice Cream Day – Homewood Public Library
Summer readers, come by for a free scoop of ice cream!
2:30pm

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Monday July 21st:

Monday Movie – Homewood Public Library
Join your family and friends at the Homewood Public Library for an evening movie and snack!
3:00pm

Tot Time with Mrs. Eve. How Does the Garden Grow– Avondale Library
Join us as we share stories, songs, and experiments to engage the backyard scientist in all of us! Stories, songs, and crafts geared for 2 to 4 year olds with a caregiver.  24-hour advance registration required.
10:30am

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Tuesday July 22nd:

Magic Science Circus – Emmet O’Neal Library
The always-hilarious Arthur Atsma returns for a magic science circus. All ages. No registration required.
10:30am

Summer Reading Finale – Hoover Public Library
A jam-packed musical concert that encourages kids to SING LOUD, JUMP HIGH and DREAM BIG in the Library Theatre!
10:30, 2pm and 6:30pm

Family Tours, What does a Warrior Wear – Birmingham Museum of Art
FREE // Meet in the Main Lobby
Join the Museum educators to explore the galleries in a fun, interactive experience! Discover Bart the Art Bat’s favorite artworks during these FREE, drop-in tours. After your tour, visit Bart’s ArtVenture to make an art project inspired by what you saw. What will you discover?

What Does a Warrior Wear
10:30

Summer Reading Finale – Bessemer Library
Summer Reading Finale will celebrate all our readers who have participated and met reading goals! This is the last hurrah of the summer! Join us! Ages: 2-11 yrs. old
10am – Noon

Skin and Bones Comedy Circus – Clay Community Center
Packed with family entertainment, this show features trained dogs and potbellied pigs, juggling, low wire, magic, and plenty of comedy. Join us for our 5th annual summer library program! We have lots of fun events planned for the whole family, whether you are participating in the reading portion of the program or not!
10am – 1pm

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Come meet Clifford — the biggest red dog you’ve ever seen! He is sweet, cuddly and very clumsy, but his family loves him. Join us to see why!
11am

Storytime for All Ages – Homewood Public Library
Story Time
10:30am

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Wednesday July 23rd:

Summer Reading Finale – Hoover Public Library
A jam-packed musical concert that encourages kids to SING LOUD, JUMP HIGH and DREAM BIG in the Library Theatre!
10:30 and 2pm

Get Pop Cultured Day: Batman – Barnes and Noble Summit
Batman Day: A Get Pop-Cultured with Barnes & Noble Event. Join us as we celebrate DC Comics’ Caped Crusader’s 75th Anniversary. Costume contest for all ages. Trivia all day. Make a Bat-stache in music at 3:00 and 7:00 pm.

Family Story Time with Mr Mac – North Shelby Library
Storyteller Extraordinaire – Come join Mr Mac and his musical storytime complete with puppets! All Ages, no registration required.
10:45am

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Thursday July 24th:

Summer Reading Finale – Hoover Public Library
A jam-packed musical concert that encourages kids to SING LOUD, JUMP HIGH and DREAM BIG in the Library Theatre!
10:30 and 2pm

Throwback Thursday Kids Club – Alabama Theatre
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Tickets are $2 for kids and $5 for adults. Kids MUST be accompanied by an adult.
Doors open at 9 am to start activities, and the movie begins at 10.

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Friday July 25th:

Friday Movie Madness – Vestavia Hills Library in the Park
Popcorn and drinks provided. Movie list can be picked up at the Children’s Desk.
10:30am

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Saturday July 26th

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs. Tennessee Smokies
6:30pm

Schaeffer Eye Center CityFest – Railroad Park
Featuring a phenomenal music lineup including the Grammy Award winning hip hop band, The Roots. Local favorites Taylor Hicks and Reuben Studdard will open the festival and one to two additional acts will be announced soon.

The Bud Light Stage will host a full line up of great music the entire family can come out to enjoy. Opening with local celebrities Taylor Hicks and Reuben Studdard again emphasizes the importance of the music scene in Birmingham. Headlining the festival is the always entertaining and engaging act, The Roots, currently the house band on NBC’s Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
Free General Admission
Noon – 11pm

$5 Fun Days – Birmingham Zoo
Visit the Zoo during $5 Fun Days and take advantage of discounted admission!

Wild West Day – Hear of Dixie Railroad Museum
Travel back to the 1800s and experience life in the Wild West!  Enjoy a train ride through the forests of Shelby County, but hang on to your gold and valuables just in case yer waylaid by desperados!  The Black Hat Gang is known to hold up this train!  Enjoy old-timey western tunes with Mr. Jim at the depot.  Bring your camera for photos with the outlaws!

Refreshments, souvenirs and collectibles are available in the Visitor’s Center gift shop. A shaded picnic pavilion offers the perfect spot to enjoy the outdoors. Groups welcome!
10:00 am, 1:00 pm, 3:00 pm; Board 15 minutes before departure time.

Barts Art Cart – Birmingham Museum of Art
we will extend the colors of spring with cherry blossoms and bamboo! Study the careful and intentional art-making of Japanese artists in our Japanese galleries and the Lethal Beauty exhibition. Make your own scroll inspired by nature to remember spring.
11am

 

Family Tours, What does a Warrior Wear – Birmingham Museum of Art
FREE // Meet in the Main Lobby
Join the Museum educators to explore the galleries in a fun, interactive experience! Discover Bart the Art Bat’s favorite artworks during these FREE, drop-in tours. After your tour, visit Bart’s ArtVenture to make an art project inspired by what you saw. What will you discover?

What Does a Warrior Wear
10:30

Family Storytime – Emmet O’Neal Library
Bring the entire family and join Mr. Mac for stories and music each Saturday morning.
10:30 a.m.

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Clifford the Big Red Dog is coming to Barnes & Noble! Join us for storytime, a cool treat, and photos with Clifford!
11am

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Sunday July 27th:

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs. Tennessee Smokies
3pm

Summer Film Series – Alabama Theatre
Sound of Music
Tickets are $8 and will be available at the door or in advance through Ticketmaster.
2pm – Doors open 1 hour before showtime.

$5 Fun Days – Birmingham Zoo
Visit the Zoo during $5 Fun Days and take advantage of discounted admission!

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Local Attractions Open Daily!

McWane Science Center:

IMAX
McWane Science Center’s IMAX® Dome Theater puts you in the center of the action by projecting breathtaking quality images onto the 5-story-tall dome screen and delivering intense surround sound through almost 3 tons of speakers and subwoofers.
Now Showing: Tornado Alley, Great White Shark, To the Arctic, Island of Lemurs: Madagascar

Birmingham Zoo:

Lorikeet Aviary – Our Lorikeet Aviary has more birds than ever! Zoo guests can feed these exotic birds every day. You and your family will see these birds’ behavior as they eat nectar out of your hand.
Weekends 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

PELICAN FEEDING – A great way to see our pelicans in action is to witness them eating their favorite treats near the pelican boardwalk.

RHINO ENCOUNTER – Embark on an African adventure and experience one of the world’s most extraordinary animals, the Southern White Rhino. Watch from only feet away as our zookeepers engage in hands-on interaction with the animals inside their African-themed exhibit. Don’t miss this exciting encounter with one of the largest mammals on the planet!
Weekdays: 3pm – 3:30pm
Weekends: 11:30am – Noon & 3pm – 3:30 pm

GIRAFFE FEEDING – This up close and personal animal encounter is a memory you and your family will have for a lifetime.
Weekday: 11am – Noon
Weekends: 10am – 11am  & 2pm – 3pm

Vulcan Park and Museum:

Vulcan is the world’s largest cast iron statue; made of 100,000 pounds of iron and 56 feet tall, he stands at the top of Red Mountain overlooking the city of Birmingham. But, Vulcan is more than a statue. Vulcan Park and Museum features spectacular views of Birmingham, an interactive history museum that examines Vulcan and Birmingham’s story, and a beautiful public park for visitors and locals to enjoy. With an official information center that is operated by the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau, Vulcan Park and Museum serves as the first stop for visitors to the Birmingham area!

Railroad Park:

Railroad Park is a 19 acre green space in downtown Birmingham that celebrates the industrial and artistic heritage of our great city. Situated along 1st Avenue South, between 14th and 18th Streets, the park is a joint effort between the City of Birmingham and the Railroad Park Foundation. Hailed as “Birmingham’s Living Room,” Railroad Park provides a historically rich venue for local recreation, family activities, concerts, and cultural events, while connecting Birmingham’s downtown area with Southside and UAB’s campus.

Southern Museum of Flight:

Earn Your Wings – Bring your little pilot and soar above the clouds in our little pilots room. Kids enjoy building aircrafts, flying kites, and more.
Museum Open Tuesday – Thursday
9:30am – 4:30pm

Do you have or know of an event you would like to have added to our weekly calendar? Please email us at contact@birminghammommy.com, subject line “Events Calendar” – We would love to hear from you!

** All information listed on our calendar is subject to change without notice to us or you… We do our best to keep the information accurate and will always update as soon as we learn that something has changed. It’s always best to double check with the event via their website or a quick call,  especially when weather can impact the event.

52 New Things, 2014. Week 28

Posted on by Angie

We took advantage of the cooler temps this week for some of our new things. What did you do that was new?

Angie and Shirley –
We decided to get outside and mark off some of the outdoor activities we had on our summer fun list this week since the weather was unseasonably cooler for us. We spent the day touring Birmingham with the tiny humans. Our first stop was Vulcan. While this isn’t exactly a “new thing” for us (having lived here all of our lives) participating in the scavenger hunt was new. And our kids absolutely loved it. Searching around outside and through the museum kept them busy and it was a great activity for us to work on together.

The other new thing was eating at George’s Boxcar at Railroad park. We headed downtown after we left Vulcan thinking we might catch up with a food truck but ended up seeing the sign for a $3 Hot Dog Special. You can’t beat that for a Hot Dog, Chips and a Drink. We felt like we scored, big time!

Kristen –
Jenny Lewis Concert – Yay!

Fun Ways to Countdown to School Starting

Posted on by Angie

Whether you like it or not.. School is just around the corner! Many moms and kids countdown the days until summer begins. Why not do the same thing for school starting? It will help teach your children not to dread their responsibility, but rather prepare to tackle it and enjoy it. This is specifically good to do for new kindergarteners who may have the jitters. Only excitement can trump nervousness!!

Here’s a few ideas we thought of, found on pinterest, or heard about from friends:

1. Family calendar- as simple as X’ing off each day until school starts

2. Paper Chain Cut construction paper and glue it into rings. If there are 20 days left, make 2o rings. Each day the kids take one ring off.

3. School “Advent” Calendar- This is what we’re doing at my house. Each day, the kids mark a day off and are given their small treat. Some days it is a piece of candy, some days it is new pencils or crayons. This is a great way to “gift” them new school supplies.

4. Book countdown- Gather books that are themed about school. Make a stack- one book for each day left. Read one book per night, reducing the stack. This would be especially helpful for little ones who may be nervous about the first day.

5. For the tech-savvy crowd, use an online countdown tool like this one. Or find a fun app since our kids have our phones more than us… 🙂

What ways do you prepare for the first day of school?

Birmingham Events Calendar: July 13th – July 20th

Posted on by Angie

It’s Not Our Fault if Your Kids are Bored!

Looking for some fun summertime events happening in Birmingham? We’ve got you covered! From Library Fun, to the Birmingham Barons there is plenty to keep you and your family busy this week! Don’t forget to check out the new throwback Thursday Kids Club at the Alabama Theatre! This week’s movie is Return to Witch Mountain. It’s a great time to take the little ones down to enjoy a show at this historic Birmingham Landmark!

Have a Great Week.

Sunday July 13th:

Summer Film Series: To Kill a Mockingbird – Alabama Theatre
Atticus Finch, a lawyer in the Depression-era South, defends a black man against an undeserved rape charge, and his kids against prejudice. 129 min. NR.
There will be a sing-along and Mighty Wurlitzer performance before each film.
Tickets are $8 and will be available at the door or in advance through Ticketmaster.
2pm – 4pm

Music at the Zoo – Birmingham Zoo
Enjoy your Sunday afternoon at the Zoo by listening to live music from 2:00 – 4:00pm in front of the Aviary next to the Lorikeet exhibit! Before the live music begins, be sure to catch a Red Diamond Sea Lion Splash Show, cool off in the Splash Pads, visit the new rescued American black bear cubs and much more!

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Monday July 14th:

Story Laboratory: Sound – Hoover Public Library
Summer story time! Perfect for children under the age of four years.
9:30 and 10:30

Cool Chemistry We Can Eat– Homewood Public Library
Ever been curious about the science behind some delicious treats? Homewood Public Library has the answer! Registration required! Please call (205) 332-6619 to register! Ages 6-12 welcome.
10:30

Monday Movie – Homewood Public Library
Join your family and friends at the Homewood Public Library for an evening movie and snack!
6:15pm

Tot Time with Mrs. Eve. How Does the Garden Grow– Avondale Library
Join us as we share stories, songs, and experiments to engage the backyard scientist in all of us! Stories, songs, and crafts geared for 2 to 4 year olds with a caregiver.  24-hour advance registration required.
10:30am

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Tuesday July 15th:

Alice In Wonderland – Emmet O’Neal Library
Hampstead Stage brings a live production of Alice in Wonderland. All ages. No registration required.
10:30am

Fizz Boom Read Explosive Fun – Avondale Library
For all readers who have read many, many books this summer and earned a summer reading certificate, it’s time to celebrate. Join us for an explosive fun night of carnival games, prizes, and more! 24-hour advanced notice of attendance required.
6pm

The Magic of Larry Moore – North Avondale Library
First you see it, now you don’t. Join Larry Moore for a program of senseless magic where the impossible becomes possible and the unbelievable—it will blow your mind!
1pm

Ronald McDonald, A Magic Show – Homewood Public Library
Fun and laughs with Ronald McDonald and friends at Homewood Public Library!
10:30am

Bubblemania Comedy… With a Drip – Hoover Public Library
An eye-popping, belly-laughing, fun-filled extravaganza in The Library Theatre! This unique program is loaded with visual comedy, quick wit, big band swing music and the untamed, often unbelievable qualities and beauty of spherical liquids.
10:30am, 2pm and 6:30pm

Family Tours, What does a Warrior Wear – Birmingham Museum of Art
FREE // Meet in the Main Lobby
Join the Museum educators to explore the galleries in a fun, interactive experience! Discover Bart the Art Bat’s favorite artworks during these FREE, drop-in tours. After your tour, visit Bart’s ArtVenture to make an art project inspired by what you saw. What will you discover?

What Does a Warrior Wear
10:30

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Hey Scooby! We love Scooby-Doo and the whole gang. Come hear a story and have a snack – Barnes & Noble style!
11am

Storytime for All Ages – Homewood Public Library
Story Time
10:30am

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Wednesday July 16th:

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs. Mississippi Braves
7:05pm

Bubblemania Comedy… With a Drip – Hoover Public Library
An eye-popping, belly-laughing, fun-filled extravaganza in The Library Theatre! This unique program is loaded with visual comedy, quick wit, big band swing music and the untamed, often unbelievable qualities and beauty of spherical liquids.
10:30 and 2pm

The Fizz Boom Zap Wow Science Show – Springville Road Library
Kids will be mesmerized with this exciting and educational exploration of science. They will learn about atoms, molecules, and matter. The show is full of experiments to impress and everyone is guaranteed to have a hair-raising good time. This program is truly booming with explosions, crazy chemistry, and volts and jolts. It will be a blast!
10am

Family Story Time with Mr Mac – North Shelby Library
Storyteller Extraordinaire – Come join Mr Mac and his musical storytime complete with puppets! All Ages, no registration required.
10:45am

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Thursday July 17th:

Throwback Thursday Kids Club – Alabama Theatre
Return to Witch Mountain
Tickets are $2 for kids and $5 for adults. Kids MUST be accompanied by an adult.
Doors open at 9 am to start activities, and the movie begins at 10.

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs. Mississippi Braves
7:05pm

Bubblemania Comedy… With a Drip – Hoover Public Library
An eye-popping, belly-laughing, fun-filled extravaganza in The Library Theatre! This unique program is loaded with visual comedy, quick wit, big band swing music and the untamed, often unbelievable qualities and beauty of spherical liquids.
10:30 and 2pm

Walkabout Puppets, A Very Funny Puppet Show – Homewood Public Library
Come and watch a very funny puppet show at Homewood Public Library!
6:15pm

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Friday July 18th:

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs. Mississippi Braves
7:05pm

Water and Melon Day – Homewood Public Library
Come play in the water with friends and family at Homewood Public Library! There will be cold watermelon AND a Homewood fire truck here for all the fun!
10:30am

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Saturday July 19th

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs. Mississippi Braves
6:30pm

Bart’s Books – Birmingham Museum of Art
Japanese Folk Stories
Bart’s Books is a storytelling program for children ages 4-7. Bart selects a new book and related work of art each month that he thinks kids will enjoy.
11am

Ice Cream Social – Whole Foods
Drop in for a sampling of various ice creams: traditional, organic, dairy-free, and gluten-free ice creams served along with a fun toppings bar. As with everything in our store, all items are free of artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, sweeteners & high-fructos corn syrup.
11am – 2pm

Cartoon and Cereal – Homewood Public Library
Dry cereal and Saturday morning cartoons at Homewood Public Library!
(Cereal only available until 10:45 AM)
10am – Noon

Family Tours, What does a Warrior Wear – Birmingham Museum of Art
FREE // Meet in the Main Lobby
Join the Museum educators to explore the galleries in a fun, interactive experience! Discover Bart the Art Bat’s favorite artworks during these FREE, drop-in tours. After your tour, visit Bart’s ArtVenture to make an art project inspired by what you saw. What will you discover?

What Does a Warrior Wear
10:30

Family Storytime – Emmet O’Neal Library
Bring the entire family and join Mr. Mac for stories and music each Saturday morning.
10:30 a.m.

Storytime – Barnes and Noble Summit
Let’s have some LEGO fun! We’ll read Catch That Crook! (a LEGO City story) and then pull out the LEGO bricks so you can create your own story. Let your imagination go!
11am

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Sunday July 20th:

Birmingham Barons – Regions Field
vs. Mississippi Braves
3:00pm

National Ice Cream Day – Homewood Public Library
Summer readers, come by for a free scoop of ice cream!
2:30pm

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Local Attractions Open Daily!

McWane Science Center:

IMAX
McWane Science Center’s IMAX® Dome Theater puts you in the center of the action by projecting breathtaking quality images onto the 5-story-tall dome screen and delivering intense surround sound through almost 3 tons of speakers and subwoofers.
Now Showing: Tornado Alley, Great White Shark, To the Arctic, Island of Lemurs: Madagascar

Birmingham Zoo:

Lorikeet Aviary – Our Lorikeet Aviary has more birds than ever! Zoo guests can feed these exotic birds every day. You and your family will see these birds’ behavior as they eat nectar out of your hand.
Weekends 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

PELICAN FEEDING – A great way to see our pelicans in action is to witness them eating their favorite treats near the pelican boardwalk.

RHINO ENCOUNTER – Embark on an African adventure and experience one of the world’s most extraordinary animals, the Southern White Rhino. Watch from only feet away as our zookeepers engage in hands-on interaction with the animals inside their African-themed exhibit. Don’t miss this exciting encounter with one of the largest mammals on the planet!
Weekdays: 3pm – 3:30pm
Weekends: 11:30am – Noon & 3pm – 3:30 pm

GIRAFFE FEEDING – This up close and personal animal encounter is a memory you and your family will have for a lifetime.
Weekday: 11am – Noon
Weekends: 10am – 11am  & 2pm – 3pm

Vulcan Park and Museum:

Vulcan is the world’s largest cast iron statue; made of 100,000 pounds of iron and 56 feet tall, he stands at the top of Red Mountain overlooking the city of Birmingham. But, Vulcan is more than a statue. Vulcan Park and Museum features spectacular views of Birmingham, an interactive history museum that examines Vulcan and Birmingham’s story, and a beautiful public park for visitors and locals to enjoy. With an official information center that is operated by the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau, Vulcan Park and Museum serves as the first stop for visitors to the Birmingham area!

Railroad Park:

Railroad Park is a 19 acre green space in downtown Birmingham that celebrates the industrial and artistic heritage of our great city. Situated along 1st Avenue South, between 14th and 18th Streets, the park is a joint effort between the City of Birmingham and the Railroad Park Foundation. Hailed as “Birmingham’s Living Room,” Railroad Park provides a historically rich venue for local recreation, family activities, concerts, and cultural events, while connecting Birmingham’s downtown area with Southside and UAB’s campus.

Southern Museum of Flight:

Earn Your Wings – Bring your little pilot and soar above the clouds in our little pilots room. Kids enjoy building aircrafts, flying kites, and more.
Museum Open Tuesday – Thursday
9:30am – 4:30pm

Do you have or know of an event you would like to have added to our weekly calendar? Please email us at contact@birminghammommy.com, subject line “Events Calendar” – We would love to hear from you!

** All information listed on our calendar is subject to change without notice to us or you… We do our best to keep the information accurate and will always update as soon as we learn that something has changed. It’s always best to double check with the event via their website or a quick call,  especially when weather can impact the event.

52 New Things, 2014. Week 27

Posted on by Angie

What’s new with you? Here’s what we tried this week!

 

Angie-
Jamberry is what’s new with me this week. You may have seen these all over Facebook now and someone you know may already be hosting a little Facebook Party. A friend reached out to me to see if I wanted to try these and being that I’m always looking for new things, I said I would give it a shot although after looking at what was involved I was a little intimidated and unsure as to whether I would actually follow through on this or not. She brought some samples for me and some little Jamberry Juniors for my girls and I have to say they were freaking adorable. I was still intimidated by the process and let them sit on my counter and stare at me for a week before I decided to just go for it. I dove in following the instructions on the package and have to say it was WAY easier than I thought it was going to be. Even on the little ones. I got faster the more I did and I have to say they looked pretty good. Jamberry claims that fingers last about 2 weeks and toes up to 6. I was skeptical on the fingers. Especially with as much time as we spend in the pool and I have to say at 2 1/2 weeks, my oldest who’s a swimmer still had all of hers and the little one had only lost maybe 2 but she picked at hers more. At 3 weeks my swimmer has only lost 2 and my toes still look fabulous. If you‘re looking for a little pick me up for your next mani/pedi, check these out. We had a lot of fun with them and my girls were picking out all kids of new ones they want for the next go round. Haven’t heard of these.. Check out this Facebook Page and let her know that BirminghamMommy sent you!

(apologies for the foot picture.. I hate feet pictures but you needed to see the cuteness of the jams… )

 

Kristen –
My new thing was Art on the Rocks at Birmingham Museum of Art. Loud but lots of fun!

Shirley –
My new thing is the lemonade from Wendy’s. Much better than the lemonade from Chick-Fil-A… In my humble opinion.

We would love to hear what you’ve done that is new or if you have a suggestion for us to give something a try, let us know and we’ll check it out!

 

Product Review: Oma+ Movement Monitor from Levana

Posted on by Angie

Reviewed By: Amy Richardson

As a new parent, every little grunt, cry and sniffle coming from my baby’s nursery at night triggers me to go check on her to make sure she’s OK. But it’s those nights when I realize she’s gone a few hours without making a peep that really get me up and crib side in a hurry. There’s nothing more important than peace of mind when it comes to your child’s safety in the next room, and that’s when a good baby monitor can be your best friend.

For those who love high-tech baby gadgets or want the added security of the most advanced baby monitor, then the Oma+ movement monitor from Levana is a great choice. It’s a cordless and battery-powered device that clips directly on your baby’s diaper so it can easily be used anywhere your baby sleeps. I used it in addition to an audio monitor in my baby’s nursery.

The Oma+ houses a movement sensor that rests on your baby’s tummy, sensing her tiniest movements. After 15 seconds of complete stillness, the sensor will gently vibrate to help encourage the return of regular movement and will beep loudly to alert you if no movement is detected for more than 20 seconds. In other words, if your baby stops breathing, the Oma+ has the very important job of letting you know!

I had to wait a couple of weeks until my daughter’s umbilical cord fell off to use the device since it clips to the top-middle part of the diaper with the soft, rubbery sensor piece right beneath the belly button. Although it seemed a bit obstructive on such a little body, my daughter didn’t seem to mind it. With a newborn, however, the device became a little cumbersome during all those middle-of-the-night diaper changes and feedings. As a bleary-eyed, new parent, you have to make sure the device is fitting squarely on the diaper and making contact with the tummy for it to work properly. I’d recommend using it when your baby is a little older and sleeping longer at night and sleeping in her own crib—the motion of a swing, car seat or stroller negates the functionality of the device, according to the manufacturer.

While nothing can replace your own eyes and ears during the night, an advanced movement monitor like the Oma+ can help ease your fears a little and keep you from constantly checking in on a soundly sleeping baby, letting you get a little more rest during those first crazy months of parenthood.

To learn more about this Monitor or other items by Levana, visit their site.

 

About Amy:

A Birmingham native, Amy Whitfield Richardson, is a proud new Mommy to a beautiful baby girl. She credits all of her knowledge on parenting to BirminghamMommy.com 🙂

 


 

 

Event of the Week! Meet Scooby and Shaggy!

Posted on by Angie

Like, Yikes! It’s a chance to meet Scooby and Shaggy at the McWane Science Center!!

It’s time to solve the case of the missing mummy and his necklace.
Come for the fun, stay for the Scooby Snacks and be a junior detective to help Mystery Inc. solve this case.

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Parenting with a PhD: Appropriate Complaints

Posted on by Angie

Teach Your Kids to Complain!

By: Kristen Berthiaume

The punch line for this title is, of course, that your kids already know how to complain. They practice. All. Of. The. (Expletive deleted). Time. But, complaining appropriately is actually a skill that may not come naturally and a really important one to master. Without the ability to complain, how would you let your boss know if a co-worker is creating a hostile environment? How would you tell your spouse that he has to cool it with the whistling? Even though I’m sure you’re a lovely person, you complain multiple times every day. Or, at least I do. But, there’s a huge difference in those whiny (them), nagging (us) complaints that are usually answered with annoyance or irritated silence and appropriate complaints that are likely to get actual results.

There are many reasons a kid may need to complain (and probably more where they need to just hush): her teacher added points wrong on a test, dinner is too cold to eat, or her shoes don’t fit. By helping your child complain about situations like these, you’re teaching her that she can speak up for herself, that it’s O.K. (and often very helpful) to address problems she’s having with others head-on, and that she is worth being treated with respect. These will be invaluable lessons for her – especially once she hits adulthood! Help your child learn to identify situations that do warrant a complaint by asking herself: Is this a regular or major problem for me or someone else? Have I tried to fix the problem on my own but can’t? Is this a situation that could turn dangerous? Once your child has determined that a complaint will be necessary, have her brainstorm about the best way to address the problem with someone. When the other person is busy or available? (Answer: available!) When everyone is calm or upset? (Answer: calm!) In private or in public? (Answer: private!).

Although many parents feel that children should get what they get (and don’t throw a fit), there are situations where complaining is truly crucial and there could be significant consequences of keeping quiet. If we teach our kids to blindly follow authority, even when something doesn’t feel right, we put them and others at risk for mistreatment and abuse. There may be serious issues your child needs to complain about some day – a kid bullying him, a friend cutting herself, violence in a relationship, or an adult asking to see private body parts. We want to make it really clear to our kids that they must speak up if something isn’t right or if someone is in danger, and that they won’t get in trouble for it. From the day-to-day situations that your child finds frustrating to the major problems that need to be addressed quickly and by a trusted adult, sometimes complaining is the best decision.

Try the “3 Fs” formula for teaching your child the right way to complain: FACT+ FEELING + FAIR REQUEST.

The FACT is what has happened or is happening that your child is unhappy or concerned about. For example, “Mom, Jake keeps changing the channel when I’m trying to watch something…” Notice the total absence of words like, “stupid,” “jerk,” and “annoying” in this statement. The FEELING is self-explanatory: “…and I feel really frustrated.” It’s important to point out that the other person’s behavior isn’t making your child feel a certain way – it’s just a result. The FAIR REQUEST is what your child wants you or the other person to do/not do/do differently next time. “Can you ask him to give me the remote and find something else to do?”

Kids sometimes need several attempts at this – especially the FAIR REQUEST part – “Can you send him to live with the neighbors?” is not quite what we’re going for. Help guide the request toward something reasonable and have your child keep a back-up plan in mind, just in case the first idea doesn’t work out. “Can I watch T.V. in your room?” might work better.

So, all put together, an appropriate complaint might look like this (please imagine in your child’s least whiny, most mature voice):

“Mom (only one syllable), Jake keeps changing the channel when I’m trying to watch something and I feel really frustrated. Can you ask him to give me the remote and find something else to do or can I watch T.V. in your room?”

Once your child knows the formula for making appropriate complaints, it’s time to practice. First – and very importantly – you’ll need to model the new skill. If you’re nagging/begging/screaming at your child to clean her room, you’re not complaining about the messy room in an appropriate way and might be teaching your child to whine or yell. Try this: “I noticed that you haven’t cleaned your room up yet and I asked you to get that done last night. I’m frustrated that it isn’t done. Please get off of the computer now and clean your room.”

Follow up with consequences, positive (return to the computer) or bad (no more computer for the night), as necessary. Second, find a fun way for your kids to practice appropriate complaints. In my Social Skills Group, we play “Complaint Jeopardy” where I read a problematic situation and kids have to buzz in (using a host of hilarious noises they come up with) to give an appropriate
complaint for that situation. Third, when your child complains in an inappropriate way, praise his effort but ask him to re-phrase the complaint. “Thank you for telling me that your brother stole your markers – I want to help you with that. Let’s try the complaint you had again using our 3 Fs so we can come up with a plan.”

If he can’t use the formula, do it for him. Explain how the formula gives you the information to know what’s wrong, how he feels about it, and what he would like for you to do. Continue to give gentle reminders about appropriate complaints and don’t act on the complaint until an appropriate complaint is used. Obviously, if your child is really upset, she probably won’t be able to follow the formula at first. Help her calm down and then try again. Finally, when you hear your child making an appropriate complaint (or at least attempting it), be sure to give praise. Tell her how the complaint was very clear and helped you to figure out what she needed. If possible, try to be appreciative if your child points out that you aren’t using the 3 Fs formula – provided that he complains about your complaint appropriately (wink).

About this column: Send your parenting- and kid-related questions my way and I’ll tell you what I can: parentingwithaphd@gmail.com Please be aware that email is not a secure method of transmitting personal information so it’s best to keep your questions general. If your question is featured, your name and email will not be published. Submitting a question does not constitute a professional relationship in any way and this column is not meant to substitute for face-to-face therapy. If you feel you’re doing the best you can and still need help, it may be time to bring in a professional. Start by talking with your child’s pediatrician to get a referral.

About Kristen:

Kristen Berthiaume, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist with Grayson and Associates. She obtained her doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Kentucky. She completed a predoctoral internship in clinical psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a post- doctoral fellowship in the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD) Program at Duke University Medical Center. She specializes in providing assessment and treatment of children, adolescents, and families dealing with the following issues: ADHD, learning disorders, social skill deficits, organizational problems, behavioral difficulties, anxiety, and depression. She generally focuses on behavioral and cognitive- behavioral techniques, but maintains a flexible approach to therapy. Her other day job is as mom to her daughters, ages seven and one, and four-year-old son.

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