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Brookwood Womens Medical Center Sets a High Standard

Posted on by Angie

As a Birmingham Mom I feel incredibly fortunate to have not one, not two, but count em’ 3 incredibly awesome medical facilities in close contact to me. Four if you want to count Children’s Hospital, but as far as being near a facility that can fix anything that ails you, Birmingham has everything we need at our fingers tips, and the facilities continue to upgrade and amaze.

Brookwood Medical Center AlabamaWe were recently invited to attend the ground breaking ceremony for the new Brookwood Women’s Medical Center. The plans are impressive. And their commitment to enhancing the health of Women and Children is truly something to look forward to if you are a Birmingham Woman, Mom or have a little bambino in the works.

With a “Due Date” of 2012, this new addition to the Women’s Medical Center will continue to provide high quality care, only now, they will be doing it in a state of the art facility with modern, home like amenities that have been designed with their maternity and neonatal programs at the fore front of their minds.

Some of the new Features and Amenities will include: (but are not limited to, the list is lengthy)

12 high risk pregnancy suites
19 labor and delivery suites
2 well baby nurseries
2 Overnight “care by parent” rooms to ease baby and parent’s transition from hospital to home
Neonatal and maternal-fetal medicine physicians available around the clock
2 childrens playrooms
Patient and family laundry facilities
Family lounges with computer stations

In addition to all of the amenities listed above we were really excited to learn about the dedicated water birthing suite and other amenities designed to facilitate natural childbirth plans, and if you have ever had a child in the NICU, you will certainly understand the need and appreciate the 29 private neonatal intensive care rooms that will allow family and baby to stay together. Larger private rooms will also be available for parent’s of multiples. Those two new amenities alone will increase the comfort level to women choosing Brookwood Women’s Center as the place to welcome their newest addition.

If you are in the baby planning stages or like me, contemplating another child just to be able to experience this new facility, you won’t be disappointed. To see and read more about the expansion visit their site.

Is it 2012 yet?

Thinking of Camp Cosby? How about a Discount Code!

Posted on by Angie

The awesome folks over at Camp Cosby have hooked up our readers with a fantastic discount code good for $25 off camp tuition until April 15th.  In addition, everyone will be entered into a drawing in which the lucky winner receives a free week of camp!

You can register on-line through their website www.campcosby.org or by calling the office (1-800-85-COSBY).

The discount code is: camplovesmommy

Here’s to a fun summer for everyone!

52 New Things – Week 8

Posted on by Angie

Plugging away at our New Things for this year… Here we are at week 8, check out what we did!

Angie –

Seems like I can always come up with something that has to do with food. This week we had lunch and one of our favorite places, Maki Fresh. I decided to branch out a little and order something that I kept seeing that looked so good…. The Tokyo Bowl. YUM-O! I love  and typically order the Crunch Crunch, and was a afraid that I was going to miss it by ordering something out of my norm, only I turned out to be the envy of the table. Did I say YUM-O? It’s a bowl full of rice (I chose brown) topped with chicken, steak, corn, cilantro, tomatoes and carrots. Mmmm Mmmm Good. Try it, you’ll like.

Trish –

My new thing this week was book club.  We actually started it a month ago, but last week was the first meeting.  I love, love, love reading.  I’m a bit of a book hoarder.  We have been a part of book clubs before never the fearless leader.  Angie is focusing on classics this year, so we decided to do a rotation:  Start with a classic, Pride and Prejudice.  Then we need a break from true literature, so we do a trash novel.  Then to do a full circle, we do a contemporary book- memoir, fiction, non-fiction… you name it.  Then repeat.  Anyway, book club was great.  Next time we’ll remember to talk about the book.  Thanks to a margarita, I left the discussion questions in my purse.

Jamie –

I’m taking strides towards organization and productivity.  I thought a great place to start would be my inbox.  I spend an enormous amount of time on my computer everyday and thought that I should begin there – with hope that it would lead to organization in other places.

So, I set up the appropriate folders and labels, began filing all 800+ emails, that had previously been hanging out in my inbox, into the appropriate  folder or trashed it.

One little step can make all the difference!

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!

Birmingham Moms! Let's Conquer the Kid Clutter!

Posted on by Angie

by Amber Bordelon

I’m fairly certain that my children aren’t the only ones who have too. much. stuff. When we bought our house as a newly married couple, it seemed spacious and comfortable. Fast forward 5 years and 2 sons later, and I’m being buried alive by onesies and toy trains. My poor husband will testify that I regularly freak out and begin to frantically clean
and de-clutter (especially after watching an episode of “Hoarders”, but that is another story). So what are some things that I do to keep it all manageable and have a nice home that doesn’t look like a daycare center?

1. Prevention is the best medicine. After one trip to register at Babies R Us, I was certain that we didn’t have space for all of the equipment that comes along with a baby. Swings, bouncy seats, exersaucers, high chairs….where was I going to put it?

So I did two things:

1. I polled friends who were already mommies to determine what I REALLY needed vs. what was just the latest gimmick

2. For those items that were essentials, I tried to find compact or dual purpose models. For example, my high chair is this compact seat that sits on a regular kitchen chair and goes all the way from reclining for the baby food stage to a booster for a toddler. 

I also love this little space saver that hooks onto your kitchen table. Genius.

2. Call off the Grandparents. My oldest son was the first grandchild on both sides of the family, and everyone was understandably excited. I just don’t have the space to contain all of their “excitement” (wagons, 4 wheelers, bikes, jumpy houses). We’ve started asking the grands to  give gift cards, donate to the college funds, or pay for experiences
like lessons, sports, the circus, seeing Thomas the Train at the local railroad museum, etc. They are more than happy to do this and love hearing about the kids’ fun adventures.
3. Purge Regularly. Little happy meal toys. Party favors that are no longer interesting. Broken pieces of toys they haven’t played with in a year. With these things, I just purge, purge, purge. I must add, though, that this is best done at
nap time or when they are at school. My older son may have completely forgotten about that little toy, but if he sees me about to get rid of it, it is a TREASURE that he just NEEDS! I promise, this isn’t mean. They have plenty of toys. Some of this junk is just collecting dust. Decide if it needs to be trashed or if you could donate it. Many local
organizations, like Hannah Homes, will come pick it up from your house.
4. Rotate out the toys. One of the best ideas I’ve heard is to swap out toys so that your kids don’t always have access to all of their toys. Keep a closet where you can stow toys, then rotate them monthly–your kids will feel like it’s Christmas when the new ones come out. They’ll probably never miss what’s in storage.
5. Label and Sort. For those items that you do keep, I am a huge fan of baskets and labels. I have baskets for trains, baskets for balls, baskets for art supplies, baskets for blocks. Everything can be put up neatly on bookshelves. I love this one, the Expedit from IKEA, featured on the blog Young House. Love.

Having their stuff organized in baskets also helps at clean-up time. Even the little ones can learn to sort and put things away in designated places. So those are some of my simple methods for maintaining my sanity. If anyone else has good ideas, please chime in. My OCD self would love to hear them!

To read more from Amber, visit her blog “Blooming in the South”

Finding Fables: A Guide to Storytime for Birmingham Moms – B&N at The Summit

Posted on by Angie

I need a storytime stat. I have 3 very active children, we’ve tried classes, and sports and until I can pay a tenth, for the tenth they actually participate in and like, I’m on a mission to find a free storytime that they can enjoy a lot, or not at all. Birmingham is filled with a plethora of free storytimes, from libraries, to bookstores and markets, this city has them, and I’m going to find them.

Barnes and Noble – Summit

We attended a Super Saturday Storytime a couple of weeks ago, and I have to say I was extremely impressed. It was a character storytime, “Where the Wild things Are.” Storyteller, Ian, read 2 books, finishing up with “Wild Things,” After the story, they allowed the children to color on coloring sheets that corresponded with the first book, “Guess How Much I Love You,” then they brought out a yummy treat from the in-store Starbucks, warm milk with caramel syrup.  A nice drink for what was a very cold day. A few minutes into the coloring sheet, a real “Wild Thing” made an appearance. Now, we’ve seen a lot of “characters” in our time and this one was the real deal. (maybe a little too real?)

I have to give this storytime, two thumbs up for the older set. The under 2’s seemed to be very distracted by all of the lovies, and touchables in the childrens department where the storytime is held. Not necessarily a bad thing if you have an older child there to enjoy it, but not something you would want to do with just the little ones or at least not something you would have to do on a schedule. The children’s department in general is very inviting and full of fun

Barnes and Noble at the Summit hosts two recurring storytimes each week. Tuesdays at 11am, and on Saturdays at 2pm. You can find their schedule at their site or by checking out our weekly calendar.

McWane Membership Discount for Birmingham Moms!

Posted on by Angie

The awesome folks at the McWane Center have teamed up with us to provide our readers with a special discount on memberships! For most moms in Birmingham, McWane is a boon on a rainy day or when it’s super hot – or any day you feel like learning while you have a little fun! And now, you can get a $10 discount on your membership!

“McWane Science Center features four floors of interactive exhibits. All exhibits celebrate science and wonder – from an amazing collection of dinosaurs to innovative environmental showcases, imaginative early childhood playgrounds, and an awe-inspiring aquarium. Scroll through and learn the science behind each of the exhibits below.” In addition, the center also features an IMAX theater, Shark and Ray Exhibit, Itty Bitty City (one of our favorites for the Itty Bitties) and other special exhibits.

The Details:

Birmingham Mommy Membership Offer
Valid 2/24/10 -12/31/10)
$10 Off Any Membership Level
Must Give Code: BhamMommy (Write “BhamMommy” On Member Discount Section of Brochure at the
ticketing counter)

So, go enjoy your time at the museum and say hello for us!

5 Tips for registering for your baby shower

Posted on by Angie

1. Don’t get a Wipe Warmer– Most moms will tell you it’s not practical or useful. Seriously, we all worried about precious baby’s bottom getting a little cold. The harsh reality is that you can wipe that baby with the warmest and softest wipe in the world, but the fact of the matter is… baby’s don’t like having their butts wiped. Cold or not, soft or not, they hate it. Wouldn’t you? Why use an unnecessary gadget? The first poops are so explosive and traumatic for most first-timers, you’ll be too terrified at the atrocities that come out of your baby to worry about whether their bottom is chilly.

2. Keep tags on everything! You can always exchange things that are not needed for diapers. And you’ll be surprised to find out that for the first 2 months, it’s a miracle if the baby wears anything outside of a onesie. It’s also a miracle if you take more than one shower per week, but that’s another story for another time.

3. Choose basics and choose things in all price catergories. Make it easy for your friends. Most of them will be rushed and probably have no idea why on earth a rectal thermometer is on a list of things you want.

4. Check the store’s policy on exchanges and returns. A lot of stores, specifically Target, have tightened up their exchange policies.

5. Give an online option. So many of us shop online these days, it’s just too easy. Try myregistry.com for a way to register for items on any website. All your friends have to do is login and pick one. The upside for you is that you can choose from 10 different websites. This is especially helpful if you want some unusual items from several sites. Another upside is that you can search around for the best prices for your friends. They’ll appreciate that!

Got any tips to share? Please help those soon-to-be mommies out!

Secrets From a Preschool Teacher :Calming the Little Darlings Down

Posted on by Angie

It’s 4:15 pm.  There’s a certain anxious energy hanging in the air like smoke.  You know at any minute all hell is going to break loose because there’s something odd about that magic hour or so between 4:30 and 5:30.  I like to call it “The Witching Hour”, and it’s the time of day when my kids go from decently behaved to absolutely flipping nuts.

Those little darlings are virtually unrecognizable as they throw tantrums in the kitchen floor, they shout what they’re not going to do and then continue by shouting how they don’t care how you feel about it.  They make a mess and when you politely ask them to clean it up; they look at you as if you have three heads and then take off in another direction to cause more pandemonium.

And of course, this is the time of day when you’re trying to get your house in order, the chores finished and food on the table – after all, you simply must make it appear that you do more than sit around eating Bon-Bons everyday.

If I’ve ever been desperate for help, it’s during this time of day – and it’s almost every day.  I wanted answers, so I went to an “expert”.  I thought of all the wonderful teachers my child has had, and how they almost effortlessly seemed to hold it all together, and then some.

One of those people was Tracy, a seasoned preschool teacher from Hoover.  Every day I watched as her warm heart filled the room and was reflected with gentle excitement in all those kid’s faces.  She seemed to have it all under control with her six, meanwhile my two were sometimes more than I thought I could handle. I asked for a few of her secrets and she told me – so naturally, I’m passing them on to you.

First up, I wanted to know how to calm things down in a hurry when all goes haywire.  “When everyone is running around crazy, I turn the lights off for a second, that usually gets them to stop and look at me,” said Tracy.  I can tell you that I’ve already added this one to my arsenal of “Mom tricks” and it works – unless it’s daytime, in a sunny room and then, well they just look at you like you’re some crazy person flicking the lights on and off.

Next, I wanted to find out a little about how to get their attention – because I can promise that at one point or another, I’ve tried almost everything.  Tracy said that distracting them with something different works great. “I think my number one tip for getting and keeping their attention is talking quietly. They really listen when I’m talking softly like I have a secret to tell them.  My number two tip is using an incentive such as a sticker or a stamp or even a small piece of candy such as a smarty. The fun thing about preschoolers is they don’t need much. I’m always amazed at how happy they are to receive one skittle or one sticker.”

Got any tricks you’d like to share? I know I’d love to hear them!  Until then, good luck during the Witching Hour!

52 New Things – Week 7

Posted on by Angie

Jamie –

This week, I’ve started taking 3 minutes (by the clock) and reflecting on things I’m thankful for.  I get so caught up in life that I think I take things for granted.  I think expressing gratitude (even if it is in private) is a way to humble yourself and remember life’s struggles, triumphs, trials and wonder.

Trish –

My new thing this week was to plan a garden.  By garden I mean 3 types of plants that I hopefully won’t kill.  I’m going to try to grow a few things that we eat a lot of, for several reasons.  It’s cheap of course, and I think it will be a great learning experience for the kids.  I have a black thumb, so they may just have to learn how plants wither and die.  I’m hoping for success but I’m being realistic.  🙂

Angie –

For me this week was a big one. I started P90X. I’ve been determined to get in shape and because the girls dislike going to the gym so much I actually cancelled my membership, leaving me gymless.  I had to come up with another way to workout. I bought the DVDs and they are kicking my butt. I love it. I love being able to work out at home on my own time. I’m 5 days into the 90 day program,  and can’t wait to see the results.

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!

When You Give a Kid A Set of Blocks…

Posted on by Angie

When You Give a Kid A Set of Blocks…You see just how creative they can be.  I love simple toys.  Scratch that, I believe in simple toys.  I see my daughter’s imagination fly when she sits down to a set of blocks, a blank page and crayon, a croquet set or a puzzle. I think that she learns to utilize her senses of touch, sight, coordination and imagination at an incredible speed when she’s not distracted by flashing lights or loud noises.  Furthermore, I think that challenging her allows her to learn in ways that she can’t with other “animated” toys (not that we don’t have any animated toys, I just prefer simple).  I love to watch her explore, create and defy reality as she draws a penguin with an umbrella or as she builds a bridge to Never Never Land.

We’ve hooked up with a wonderful toy company that seems to specialize in toys that let kids imaginations fly – Gifted Imaginations. They have an incredible selection of toys from many well-known brands such as Haba, Melissa & Doug, Plan, Beleduc (one of my favorites ever!), Manhattan Toys…

They recently sent over a set of some of the coolest blocks I’ve ever seen and they were a huge hit.  My daughter and husband sat with them for over an hour – Citiblocs.  My husband loves to build things and my daughter loves to do anything her father does, so they were an instant hit! Their simple design allowed the creative juices to flow. Her dad loved them so much, I really think these would make a great gift for adults as well!

“Citiblocs are high quality wooden construction blocks which inspire both traditional building and modern design. The secret behind Citblocs is that every piece is exactly the same shape and size – measuring in inches approximately 1/4 inches thick x 1 inch wide x 4 1/2 inches long. Each block is precisely cut from Grade A Radiata Pine from certified renewable forests in New Zealand. Citiblocs Building requires no glue, no snaps, no connectors and no magnets: just gravity, balance and imagination.” Citiblocs are also winners of 14 Industry Awards!

So, now that they’ve become a late-night staple for daddy/daughter time, we’re giving you a shot to win a set of your very own!  In fact, Gifted Imaginations has been so generous – they’re now giving away 2 sets! Here’s what you can do to enter:

  • Follow Gifted Imaginations on twitter (@GiftedImagStore) and then tweet “@Birminghammommy is giving away a set of Citiblocs from @GiftedImagStore!)  After that, come back here and comment letting us know you followed and tweeted.  – That’s it! You’re entered!  You’ll love all the sweet specials they post to their twitter fans – you’ll never miss another 30% off sale again (yeah – 30%!)

For an extra entry you can do the following:

  • Subscribe to the Gifted Imaginations newsletter – found here (lower left) – and don’t forget to come back here and tell us you subscribed so you’re entered again!

The giveaway runs until Sunday, March 7th at 11:59 pm.  Good luck to everyone, and in the meantime, visit the store – you won’t be disappointed in the selection!  Winners will be chosen using random.org.  First two numbers drawn will determine winning entries.

About Gifted Imaginations
The Gifted Imaginations team is dedicated and passionate about finding high quality, unique, educational toys, books and children’s clothing for the best prices. At Gifted Imaginations you’ll find cool, fun, imaginative, exciting educational toys from some of the best selections of manufacturers such as HABA, Plan Toys, Kaloo, Kathe Kruse, Melissa and Doug, Crocodile Creek and Alex just to name a few. From wooden blocks to puzzles to backpacks, dolls, cars, and games – these are not the kinds of toys you’ll find in your local department store. In addition to these unique finds, Gifted Imaginations also carries eco friendly and fun children’s clothing such as Life is Good, Green Label and BioMe5. Please also visit our companion store which hosts the full line of wonderful Usborne Books (www.ubah.com/D3861). You can also find them on Facebook!

*the item reviewed was provided entirely by the above company. The winner will also be provided with a set of blocks from the above company*


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