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What Do You Know Now That You Wish You'd Known Then?

Posted on by Angie

No one knows parenting like moms.  We’re in the trenches, day in day out.  We make sure the “t’s” are crossed and the “i’s” are dotted.  There’s no one in the world better to ask advice of, than moms who’ve been there, done that.  We asked our Birmingham Moms one question: What’s the one thing you wish you’d known when you were a new parent? This is what they had to say:

Regina V. – Not to get suckered into buying so much stuff. You really don’t NEED as much as companies try to convince you of. Wish I could have ALL that money back!

Jennifer M said: Two things primarily that would have saved alot of money:

1. Waterproof baby mattress pads will save you from having to replace many ruined mattresses from upset tummies, and other “accidents”.
2. Investing in a carpet cleaner first thing will save you from having to buy new flooring later.

I have 3 kids!

Ruth D. said: I wish someone had told me that you will be irritable and tired and want to scream and that is ok to feel that way.And then tell them how to properly handle that frustration.

Bonnie Y. said: The zip up sleepers are a life saver at 2 AM when you don’t want to fumble with 20 buttons

Kerry L. said: Hold the baby. Stop resisting the urge because the scheduling book says to put it down. You blink and that wee thing is grown. Just hold it.

Christi W. said: I agree with Kerry, hold the baby, rock the baby, love, love that baby! Don’t worry about keeping the house clean, or that the baby ate 3.5 oz rather than 4! Babies don’t keep– they grow up waaayy too fast!

Rachel M. said: Accept any offer for help-whether its to cook, clean, or watch the baby(or babies in my case!) while you nap! Its okay to accept help!

Rebecca S. said: two things.
1. Labor & delivery plans rarely go how you think or want.
2. Once you have a little one, the invites to dinners/parties may be less, especially from your single or no-children friends

Sheila W. said: Enjoy every second good and not so good…it all goes way too fast

Carolynn W. said: You are NOT a bad mommy, if at first you don’t feel overwhelmed with love for your baby. With some women it takes time(like me).

Amy L. said: That even with all the excitement of a new baby, you will be EXHAUSTED!!! I fell asleep practically everynight in the glider nursing my daughter(4yo now) . Promising myself to NOT repeat with my son(20m now) which I did and who just like his sissy still needs momma to get to sleep! Time for SLEEP TRAINING!!!! Or it will be too much when the time come for a third blessing in my life! Take a nap any chance you get, I always was cleaning! REST REST REST:)

Annabelle B. said: Put the baby down for a nap two hours after it wakes up. I read that when my first baby was three months old, and I tried it and lo and behold, he was on a schedule within two days. I was so mad no one had told me before that two hours was the magic number! Worked like magic with my second too!

Aimee G. said: Put your baby down drowsy instead of asleep. You’ll thank yourself when your kiddo is two or three and you are no longer rocking them to sleep

Amber B. said: Sleep when the baby sleeps!!! Don’t feel like you have to keep up with the housework, laundry, etc. along with a newborn. If you sleep and you’re sane, it will all go much better.

Lisa M. said: New toys are so expensive and you can get hardly-used ones for pennies at yard sales. You will not have any time to go to yard sales after the baby comes so try to go while you are still pregnant. It was nice to have age-appropriate toys on hand when my son finally became ready for them.

Amanda I. said: Think of nursing as quality time together instead of something you “have” to do. You’ll be glad you had all that time together later on!

Paula W. said: No need to buy dreft detergent to wash only baby clothes in. Buy Tide free and wash everyone’s clothes! Works the same!

Dedra S. said: I wished someone would have explained night sweats and post partem more thoroughly. Nobody talks about night sweats. I thought I was coming down with the flu. The night sweats happened with both children and the nurses acted like I was crazy when I couldn’t stop shaking or get warm enough. Additionally, I was definitely very emotional and hadlots of weepy days about a week after birth with both children. While I read about it and knew it would happen, nothing really prepared me for it…and though I knew WHAT it was WHEN it happened, I couldn’t stop the thoughts or feelings from creeping in. I felt like a crazy lady for a few days and nothing really helped until the hormones were out of my body.

Sarah B. said: I agree sleep when the baby sleeps. Always. Also, don’t buy the diaper genie or the wipe warmer. They won’t get used. Or not for me for sure. Also, I changed him on the floor, the bed, the couch…didn’t matter that I never bought a changing table.

Jane W. said: Enjoy the little moments, they are gone in a blink of an eye…..the laundry will always be there, cleaning floors, dusting…but your babies won’t !

So, what do you know now that you wish you’d known then?

52 New Things – Week 22

Posted on by Angie

Jamie –

I tried a new face wash that I love! Philosophy Purity. I love it so much I’m glad I bought the super duper size!

Trish –

My new thing was to try new foods that scare me. A crawfish is basically a cockroach of the river to me. But I was at a crawfish boil so I decided to try it. It was too much work for such a tiny bite. I’m a lobster gal.

Angie –

I tried something new at Zaxby’s. I love their salads and decided to try the new Chicken Salad Sandwich. I like it a lot. I have to say it’s not as good as Zoe’s but better than Chick-Fil-A. I’m a chicken salad nut, so anywhere I can get good chicken salad without getting out of my car makes me happy.

For more New Things or if you’d like to participate in 52 new things along with BirminghamMommy and many others – please join in by posting your new thing to your blog, facebook or on twitter (use #52newthings) – Also, you can head over to www.willblogforshoes.com to link up every Thursday!

Giveaway: Twilight Over 21 Ticket!

Posted on by Angie

>BirminghamMommy.com is thrilled to be teaming up with McWane Science Center and 103.7Q to bring you a night of the Twilight Saga: Eclipse. We’ll be celebrating the love of all things Twilight under the moonlight on the plaza. Complete with games, prizes, great food and cocktails.

We’re happy to be giving one lucky reader a FREE TICKET to Twilight Over 21!

You’ll be able to walk the red carpet and have your picture made with the life size cutouts of some of your favorite vampires or werewolves. You can declare your love with a Vampire bite or Wolfpack tattoo, all guests will receive a Dazzle Bag full of goodies. So come toast to Twilight with blood red cocktails that even a Vampire would kill for!

Here’s how to enter:
1. Comment here, tell us why you love Twilight! (1 entry per day allowed)
2. Subscribe to our newsletter if you don’t already. Then comment here (again) that you did so or do already. (1 entry total allowed)
3. Tweet this EXACTLY: “@BirminghamMommy and @Mcwane are having the ULTIMATE Twilight over 21 party! http://ow.ly/1V5gd” (1 entry per day)
4. Refer a friend. If a friend comments that you referred them to the giveaway, we’ll give you each an extra entry!

Giveaway will begin on Monday June 7 and will end on Monday June 14 at NOON CST. Winner will be announced the next day. Good luck!

Event Details:
TWILIGHT OVER 21
Date: July 1
Party Time: 8 pm – 10 pm
Movie Time: 10 pm
Where: McWane Science Center
Tickets: $25, BirminghamMommy followers will get $5 OFF that price! (Includes party, food, and movie ticket)
TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW! Must call (205) 714-8414 with promo code BHAM MOMMY to get the discount. It will not be available online.

Birmingham Event Highlight – DeSoto Caverns June Family Fun Festival

Posted on by Angie

We’re highlighting special events around the Birmingham area.  This week, welcome summer with a fun outdoor festival at DeSoto Caverns!

June 12-13, 2010  Saturday, June 12 and Sunda, June 13, head to Childersburg and you’ll find “Country and Bluegrass performers, appearances by Spongebob Squarepants, Dora the Explorer, Spiderman, and Happy Hernando.  Also, vendors and hay rides!” All in addition to the fun environment of DeSoto Caverns!

In the meantime, check out some of the interesting history of the caverns, including being the first recorded cave in the United States, being a Civil War Gunpowder Mine and more.

For even more fun, check out our weekly calendar.  We break down the family friendly fun one day at a time!

Don't say cheese! How to take good pictures of your kids

Posted on by Angie

We all love taking hundreds or thousands of pictures of our kids. Then, if you’re like me, you end up letting them sit on your computer because they all look the same or they just aren’t “print-worthy.” It’s time to get print-worthy! We asked 2 local photographers for their top tips in photographing kids.

Both of our photographers interviewed agreeed on 2 main points: Turn OFF the flash and don’t force the smile! Read on for more great tips, and feel free to head over to our Facebook discussion page to share some pictures of your little ones!

Tips from Jen Cowsar of Jen Cowsar Photography

1. Turn OFF the FLASH! Natural light is unbeatable. If photographing inside, open the curtains and let in the light. Shoot near a window with light shining through. You will have to lower your shutter speed shooting inside so compensate by dialing up the ISO. Example: set shutter speed to 60 but dial up the ISO to 800. Never shoot lower than a 60 shutter speed without a tripod.
2. NIGHTY NIGHT! Sleeping babies are beautiful. Utilize naptime to get some beautiful sleepy time shots.
3. WATCH THE CLOCK!!! When shooting photographs outside, the best times are early and late. Try to plan photos for between 8 and 10 am or between 4 and 6 pm. The light early and late is the best filtered light and you will have less problems with shadows and squinty eyes.
4. GET BEHIND ME!!! Put the sun behind your subjects. Yes, you will squint as the photographer but your kiddos won’t.
5. CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF…Cloudy days are often the best days for a great photo shoot. You will have less problems overall with shadows and kids squinting because of the sun. I personally love cloudy days with my camera.
6. DON’T SAY CHEESE!!! Some of the best photos I have ever snapped have no posing involved. Take photos of your kids talking and interacting. Snap the shutter when they are playing like they usually do everyday. Those everyday moments are the ones you will want to always remember.

Tips from Becky Abernathy of Abernathy Photographics

1) TURN OFF THE FLASH: Sometimes going near a window or outside allows the beautiful natural light to be the main light source. No flash should be on in this case, as it casts unwanted shadows, and can really wash out the
subject. Natural light is so soft and compliments any image.

2) SHOOT FROM YOUR KIDS’ LEVEL: As adults, we’re obviously bigger than our children. Sometimes sitting, squatting or laying down in front of them so that the camera is on the same level with their face brings a whole new
dimension to the image. Not only that, but it helps you connect with your child better and it will help you get the close-ups of those precious faces.

3) DONT FORCE THEM TO SMILE: Dont always ask for a smile. If a smile isnt genuine, you can usually tell in the resulting photo. Instead, let your child(ren) do something fun. Anything that lets them be their natural selves will create a genuine smile/laugh, and more memorable pictures for you. Photograph them jumping in rain puddles with their rainboots, capture them laughing on a swing, let them enjoy that lollipop or popsicle. You will love these pictures so much more years down the road than you will those where they are sat down and being told to say ‘cheese’.

4) FILL THE FRAME: We all want to take pictures that show our children’s entire bodies, or maybe a cool location we visited. But dont be afraid to get in realllly close and fill the whole frame with your child’s face.
Sometimes it is the expressions and tiny details of their faces at that particular age that should be the focus, rather than the head-to-toe shots.

5) READ YOUR CAMERA MANUAL: So many of us have the latest and greatest digital cameras on the market. We buy them, we take them out of the box, and we start snapping away. Yet, we know so little about what each camera can
really do to help us. Whether you have a point-and-shoot, or a snazzy SLR, reading the manual is a must so that you are getting the most out of such a precious tool.

Father's Day Gift Giving Guide

Posted on by Angie

Father’s Day will be here before you know it.  What do you get the man who has everything? We have a few ideas from Birmingham and beyond, as well as a deal exclusive to BirminghamMommy.com readers!

If you have a Dad that Rocks in your house, we have just the gift for this Father’s Day. Remember the thumbprint necklaces we love so much for moms? Well, we got together with Do It Yourself Crafts and came up with a version that we think dads all over Birmingham are going to love. Not only is this a super cool gift for Dad but DIYC is offering the keychain free with the purchase of the guitar pick to the first 20 readers that that go in and mention BirminghamMommy.com.

If you fancy yourself a Do It Yourself-er and you have a kid that likes to do crafts, check out this manly picture frame, made with washers and nuts. Incredibly easy, and super inexpensive, especially if you pilfer through Dads tool box! Here’s what you need:

  • Small wooden frame (any craft store for about a buck)
  • Black acrylic paint (or any color you want)
  • Washers and bolts
  • Permanent adhesive glue (recommended: GemTac jewel glue)
  • Photograph of the kiddos ( or you in a bikini, we aren’t here to judge)

  1. Remove glass from frame.
  2. Paint frame black and let dry.
  3. Use permanent adhesive glue to decorate outside of frame with nuts and washers. Let dry completely.
  4. Insert your photo and the glass into the frame

Done and Done, how easy is that?

If the Dad on your list is an adrenaline junkie, check out the Dale Jarret Racing Adventure at the Talledega Super Speedway. Got a golfer in the house, how about a gift card to the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trails? That’s a win/win, he’s happy to play golf, you are happy to have him out of the house for a day!

Need more ideas?  Check these out!

  • A gift certificate from Butler’s Executive Grooming Lounge.  This is like a spa for men.  It’s swanky – why not introduce your guy to the joy of pampering.  Then it will be an easier sell when you’re ready to head to the spa.
  • Tickets to a Braves game.  Ok, I’m going to admit it.  This is my standby Father’s Day gift.  My dad and husband can attest to receiving primo seats to a Braves game for many, many years. What can I say, it’s easy and a good time.
  • Head out to the great outdoors – either with him, or without.  Check out the many hunting, fishing and outdoor resorts located in Alabama.  This one looks amazing, if you’re into that sort of thing.
  • Zac Brown Band?  Kings of Leon?  Check out the many great shows heading to Birmingham soon – a night out is a great way to say thanks for being a rockin’ dad!
  • Need to think a little outside of the box?  How about a personalized gallon of Tabasco 😀
  • Ok, it’s not just moms who are App addicted.  Go grab an ipad for him.  Bonus – you get to play with it when he’s not looking!
  • You could get really creative and have “Dad Day” – start off with his favorite breakfast, served by his favorite munchkins.  Move on to his favorite activities all day.  Fill in the holes with picnic lunches, trips to the ice-cream shop – make the whole day revolve around him – when was the last time that happened?

52 New Things – Week 21

Posted on by Angie

Jamie –

My new thing was I took a hike. It wasn’t my first hike 🙂 but one day when we found ourselves bored, we hopped in the car and headed off to a hiking spot rather than vegged out in front of the tv like we would’ve done usually 😀

Trish –

My new thing this week was layers.  I have long hair that is all the same length.  It doesn’t change much.  Everyone tells me to get long layers and so I did it.  Not sure how I feel about it though…

Angie –

For my it was my first time to try Snapple.. Don’t judge me. I happen to be a fan of Celebrity Apprentice (you can judge me now) and their last assignment involved Snapple. I was thinking that it all looked tasty and would be yummy if  ice cold during this summer, so I bought some and it was meh. I don’t hate it, but don’t love it like I thought I would.. Maybe it was the flavor choice, so I think next time I’ll try something not diet and in a different flavor.

For more New Things or if you’d like to participate in 52 new things along with BirminghamMommy and many others – please join in by posting your new thing to your blog, facebook or on twitter (use #52newthings) – Also, you can head over to www.willblogforshoes.com to link up every Thursday!

Summer is here! How about a Road Trip? Tennessee Aquarium Here We Come

Posted on by Angie

If you are looking for a way to kick off your summer, how about a quick trip to the Tennessee Aquarium? This weekend is going to be packed full of fun as they celebrate 50 years of Dr. Suess’ One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish, and World Oceans Day.

Inspired by the theme of diversity in One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish Aquarium events scheduled for the World Oceans Day party will teach children how everyday actions impact the ocean and about the importance of protecting the variety of life found within its depths. Children will have Seussational fun getting to know the ocean’s creatures with Seussian crafts, tattoos, dive shows and activities in both Aquarium buildings.

Here’s something you need to do before hitting the road, it will save you a litte cash when you get there!

Visit the Tennessee Aquarium’s website to download a Suess-Styles scavenger hunt activity sheet. present the sheet at the Aquarium ticketing center to receive half off child’s admission. Offer Valid on June 5, 2010 only. The first 3,000 children will receive a FREE  Dr. Seuss’s “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish” activity book and if you dress up as your favorite Dr. Seuss character you may receive a prize!.

Download your scavenger hunt activity sheet here

So, if you were looking for a fun weekend trip – we’ve given you a great start!

Drumroll please!

Posted on by Angie

Our winner for the Abernathy Photographics is…. Mirena!

Congratulations, I’ve already emailed you the details!

Don’t fret, lovely mamas, there’s always SOMETHING up our sleeve… stay tuned!

Hello Mr. Potato Head! Welcome to Birmingham!

Posted on by Angie

Mr. Potato Head arrives this week to McWane Center in Birmingham!  You won’t want to miss this neat exhibit following “The Adventures of MR. POTATO HEAD, a new interactive traveling exhibit that features the much-loved MR. POTATO HEAD character will lead young visitors and parents on a number of fun and educational adventures. From trips to outer space to jungle safaris and archeological digs, each activity will provide children with engaging learning experiences”

Also, they’re now offering Potato Parties! “Sundays only this summer, celebrate your special day @ McWane with a party featuring Mr. Potato Head! Meet Mr. Potato Head, enjoy a crafts project & you will even a Mr. Potato Head stuffed animal for the birthday child! Book your spot: RESERVATIONS: 205- 714 – 8414″

Exhibit Opens May 28th
at The McWane Science Center

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