Birmingham Parent Magazine - April 2014

THE PREMIER PARENTING MAGAZINE FOR CENTRAL ALABAMA

APRIL 2014

FREE

ALL ABOUT TWINS

DOUBLELOVE

DOUBLETROUBLE:

WHAT'S IN

A NAME?SUPERNANNYJo Frost HelpsBring Baby Home p16

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3590-B Hwy. 31 S. #289

Pelham, AL 35124

205-987-7700

205-987-7600 FAX

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editorial Publishers David & Carol Evans

Editor Carol Muse Evans

Associate Editor Lori Chandler Pruitt

Calendar & Business David Evans

Contributors, Paige Townley, Vivian

Friedman, Christopher “Bull” Garlington,

Beth Malizia, MD

sales Special Events Coordinator

Sharon Menachemi

Account Executives Kayla Fricks,

Melanie Cade

Webmaster David Evans

Social Media Melanie Cade

art & production Art Director Hilary Moreno

Distribution T&P Deliveries

Legal Counsel Balch & Bingham LLP

BIRMINGHAM PARENT IS A PUBLICATION

OF EVANS PUBLISHING, LLC. Publish-

ers: Carol Muse Evans, David K. Evans Sr.

Birmingham Parent (EIN20-0694149) is

published monthly by Evans Publishing LLC.

www.birminghamparent.com or editor@

birminghamparent.com. Birmingham Parent

is © 2013 by Evans Publishing LLC. Family

Connections Media ©2011 by Evans Publish-

ing LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction

in whole or part without written permission

is prohibited. Editorial submissions are

welcome. For back issues, please send a

self-addressed 10” x 13” envelope with $4 for

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Thanks for picking up this issue!Carol Muse Evans, Publisher/[email protected]

EDITOR'S NOTE

We were talking to a guy in the bank, and he said he and his wife were expecting their first child. My husband said, “Your life will never be the same.” He is right.

If you are expecting your first child or your third, you probably already know (or are about to know) your life will never be the same – in a good way. From nights of lost sleep from teething, croup, worry and just a happy baby, wide awake and wanting to play, when you have a child, your life absolutely changes forever.

My babies are now 21 and 25. I cannot believe they are all grown up. But it doesn’t change how you feel – they are always your babies, and you are always concerned about them.

IN THIS ISSUE

This time in our Baby Book we take a look at the name trends for 2014 on page 14. What name have you chosen for your baby? Is it traditional or trendy? Why did you choose? Did you think about how the baby will deal with that name throughout his or her life?

We also look at twins. Writer Paige Townley interviews several area parents who are parenting twins, including ABC 33/40 Meteorologist Charles Daniel, pictured on our cover, first-time dad to twins Ingram and Harrison. Double the work, Daniel says he and his wife don’t know any better because it’s their first babies. But there are some real challenges to parenting twins. Check out the story on page 22.

Last but not least, I enjoyed my conversation with Supernanny Jo Frost, who discussed ways to make a sibling more comfortable welcoming a new baby into your home. She’s my hero when it comes to parenting, and she has some great advice for parents beginning on page 16. And she’s got a new book out that’s definitely worth the read.

Of course you’ll find our regular columns this month, as well as our terrific calendar of events. Speaking of births, did you know we are celebrating 10 years of publishing this year? Thanks for sticking with us all these years. We continue to be dedicated to good journalism and serving you, our local readers.

Happy Spring, and Happy Easter!

WELCOME TO OUR baby book!

If you would like your kid to be a Birthday Kids contestant, complete and send this form, along with

a recent photograph of your child (photos will not be returned) to Birthday Kids, Birmingham Parent,

3590-B Hwy. 31 S., #289, Pelham, AL 35124. Child must be 15 and under to win. By entering, con-

testants and their parents or legal guardians release the photo to Birmingham Parent with no further

obligation to Birmingham Parent, and give consent to Birmingham Parent to reproduce and publish

any photographs submitted whether or not the entry is chosen as the winner. All entries must be

signed by parent/guardian. Employees of Evans Publishing and contest sponsors are not eligible.

May. entries much be received by April 12, 2014. Entries can be sent ahead for later months.

Child’s Name ____________________________________________________________

Child’s Age _________ Birthday _________________ Phone ______________________

Address ___________________________________________ City _________________

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ON OUR COVER: ABC 33/40 Meteorologist Charles Daniel and twin sons Harrison and Ingram, age 6

months, are “double trouble” on the set at ABC 33/40, and double the love.

PHOTO BY AMANDA TRAYWICK, www.amandatraywick.com.

1434

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16

THE PREMIER PARENTING MAGAZINE FOR CENTRAL ALABAMA

APRIL 2014

FREE

ALL ABOUT TWINS

DOUBLELOVE

DOUBLETROUBLE:

WHAT'S IN

A NAME?SUPERNANNYJo Frost HelpsBring Baby Home p16

destination:

MOBILE

departments

04 Editor’s Note

Welcome to our Baby Book

07 Parenting with

Dr. Friedman

08 School News

09 Short Stuff

20 April Pull Out Calendar

26 April Expanded

Calendar of Events

32 Ask the Specialist:

Why Am I Not Getting

Pregnant?

34 Destination:

Mobile, Alabama

38 Death by Children:

Flying & Crying

APRIL2014

14

BABY & ME DIRECTORY

Find great baby-related

shops and services

16

BRINGING BABY HOME:

Supernanny Reveals

How to Help Siblings

Accept the New Baby

142416

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

What are the baby

name trends for 2014?

babybook

All About Twins

22

13

34Mobile, Alabama

birminghamparent.com | 7

A: You and your son seem to be suffering from what I call “newcomer syndrome.” While

there are many different ways to do things, when people move to a new place they tend to define the correct way to do a task or view an issue as the way it was done in their old town. No matter how good the new way or place may be, if it is not exactly like it was at home, it is wrong. Until time passes, and the new ways and places become familiar and accepted, the new place seems awkward, wrong, and unfamiliar.

People vary in their openness to change. Some people cling to old ways longer than others. Even under the best of adaptability, it often takes one to two years to feel completely at home.

The child’s age determines, in part, the length of the period of adjustment. Preschoolers make friends easily and quickly forget their old home.

In grades K-3, children are open to new friends and most children with adequate social skills are quickly ac-cepted. The very fact that they attend school and are introduced to peers often makes the adjustment easier for the child than for the adult. As long as the family structure is in place, and the move is not due to a divorce or other trauma, children will soon adjust to their new room, new teacher, and new class.

Teens are much slower to adjust to change. Because they are so sensitive to doing things exactly as their peers do, it takes time to figure out the new style and to blend in to new ways. To fit in, they feel they must be just like the others. Since the new town is likely to be different, and different at this age is bad, it can take time to adjust.

You can help him by keeping an open attitude about the new ways of doing things. If you make fun of, for

example, the lack of a beach here, then your son will also view his new home as lacking. If, on the other hand, you take the attitude that, “Well, we lost the beach but gained the beautiful hills and trees,” your son may also begin to find something he likes.

Most adjustment problems are within the person but some may be aggravated by the environment. Bir-mingham is an area of many different neighborhoods. It is hard to have a sense of the different neighborhoods when you first come to find a place to live, but after a few months here if you still don’t adapt, you may find that a different neighborhood may suit your needs better.

Teens adjust best to school when they find a small subset of the larger group. Capitalize on a talent or inter-est, such as band or theater, and help him to find others who share this with him.

Parenting with Dr. Friedman

Q: We moved to Birmingham just before the start of this school year. My ninth grade son continues to mope and

has not made any real friends. He compares everything to home and fi nds everything not quite as good as it was

there. Even though he is in an excellent school system, he thinks all his classes in his old school were better. I

may be guilty of furthering his attitude because I, too, miss our old city. How do I help him to make his way here?

Vivian K. Friedman Ph. D. is a child and family psychologist at UAB, Department of Psychiatry. Send questions for response in this column to [email protected]. No personal replies are sent.

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JCA’s annual golf tournament, which raises money for school programs, will be held on Thursday, April 24 at Castle Pines Country Club in Gardendale, beginning with an 8am shotgun start. Check-in is at 7:30am. Format is a four-man scramble, with lunch served after the tournament.

SuperTickets are available for purchase, which includes a mulligan, a power drive and your name added to a drawing for your choice of any Allen Edmonds golf shoes – a $350 value.

For more information, contact Wen-dy Burrows, JCA Development Director, at 205-956-9111 or [email protected]. Registration deadline is April 17.

NEW HEAD OF SCHOOL AT HIGHLANDS SCHOOL

The Highlands School Board of Trustees recently announced the appoint-ment of Kavita Vasil to head of school, effective July 1, 2014.

With 24 years of education adminis-tration experience, Vasil joins Highlands School from Temple Beth Sholom Schools in Sarasota, Fla., where she served as school director since 1994.

Vasil holds a Masters of Education (M.Ed) from the University of Massachu-setts, Amherst, and a Bachelor of Science (B.S. in Psychology) from the University of Florida. In addition, she served as an assistant professor of education at the University of Maine where she focused on early and elementary education.

For more information on the school, visit www.highlandsschool.org.

SEND US YOUR SCHOOL NEWS, [email protected]. We welcome photos, too, but be sure you have the

rights to the photo before sending and include any caption or photo credit we should include. There is no guarantee

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short stuff

New York Times bestselling author and nationally-syndicated radio talk show host Dave Ramsey teams up with his daughter, Rachel Cruze, to offer a parent and adult child’s perspective on raising money-smart kids in a debt-filled world.

Published by Lampo Press and distributed by Nelson Books, Smart Money Smart Kids (ISBN: 978-1-9370-7763-1) is available April 22 and retails for $24.99.

“I was born the year my parents filed bankruptcy, so I grew up watching them learn the right way to handle money,” Cruze says. “My dad has helped millions of people get control of their money. But my parents were even more diligent about teaching their three kids how to avoid the mistakes they had made with money. By sharing from our own experiences we’re helping parents change their family’s financial future for generations to come.”

Smart Money Smart Kids includes practical steps parents can take to teach their kids about money basics like working, spending, saving and giving, as well as how to deal with bigger challenges like avoiding debt, paying for college, and battling discontentment. Ramsey and Cruze include no-nonsense, common sense tips for parents of kids from toddler to young adult.

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In 2006, Religious Education Director Me-gan Everett saw a gap in Prince of Peace Catholic Church’s religious education curriculum. According to Church Canon Law, religious learning must be available to all – but what about the kids who can-not learn in a regular classroom? They were not being served, not learning their faith, not participating in the sacraments of first communion nor confirmation.

Everett established the first Sunday Catechesis program in the Birmingham Diocese to educate these non-traditional learners and the program is thriving today. In recognition of its success, the Prince of Peace Knights of Columbus Council just gave their third four-figure donation to the program.

Prince of Peace Church’s formation special ed program has between 10 and 12 students this year. They are taught by two volunteer teachers in a self-contained classroom complete with a SmartBoard and SmartTable. One of this year’s teachers, Missy Whitfield, is not only a special educa-tion teacher on Sunday, but also during the week at Shelby Elementary School where she was named the 2013 Teacher of the Year.

“We can accommodate anyone who needs help,” says Everett. Originally, the church’s faith formation program had a buddy system for students who needed an aide to be in a regular classroom. However, Everett discovered that the class

time was not sufficient and the pace was too quick for these special students to absorb the material.

These children are now able to receive all of their sacramental preparation on Sunday while their parents attend Mass. The families can then decide how their children will participate in the sacrament ceremony. Some opt to join in the large ceremony in the main sanctuary held for that year’s class. Others take a quieter approach, opting for the sacrament in the church’s chapel with just family.

Erika and Mike Zoeblein held son Noah’s first communion in the chapel. Erika says, “Prince of Peace Church was very supportive of our decision to hold Noah’s first communion in the chapel. We were so happy that they were willing to accommodate us.”

The Zoebleins began attending Mass at Prince of Peace Church upon the recommendation of a friend. “It was an opportunity for all of us to go to church together. It was the first church that was

welcoming,” Erika says. The special ed formation students

are also welcome at the church’s summer Vacation Bible School held in June. It’s the only VBS in the Birmingham Diocese with a self-contained special ed program incorporated into the larger program. It is very well-attended, according to Ever-ett. “It’s super fun! We create a schedule that works for each child attending the week-long program,” she says. Registra-tion opens in March.

Prince of Peace Catholic Church strives to accommodate all learners and live its stewardship hospitality message of “All Are Welcome.” The church divides its 60 plus ministries among the four pillars of service, prayer, formation and hospitality. All parishioners are called to be Christian stewards and share their God-given gifts with others. The forma-tion pillar, directed by Everett and School Principal Connie Angstadt, welcome your inquiries at [email protected] or the school at [email protected].

PRINCE OF PEACE CATHOLIC CHURCH LEADS THE WAY IN “SPECIAL” RELIGIOUS ED

Noah Zoeblein (left) and Katie Crook (far right) enjoy a story from PoP Church’s Religious Special

Ed teacher Missy Whitfi eld. PHOTO COURTESY OF POP

short stuff


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#ichooseb

Tag your Twitter or Instagram photos with #ichooseb so we can collect and curate them for our photo gallery on iChooseB.com, or upload them directly to iChooseB.com/photo.

There’s only one way to decide where to have your baby: Ask a mother.There are certain things only a mother can know. Like why kisses are the best medicine for boo-boos. Or how a tiny pair of socks can break your heart in the best way. Or most of all, how it feels to carry a life inside you—then welcome it into the world. That’s why, if you’re deciding where to have your baby, there’s only one recommendation you should trust: a mother’s. So don’t take our word for it. Ask your friends.

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birminghamparent.com | 13birminghamparent.com | 13

B I R M I N G H A M P A R E N T ' Sbabybookspring 2014

PHOTO BY DONALD LOVE PHOTOGRAPHY

What's in a Name 2014?

BRINGING BABY HOME:

Supernanny Jo Frost Helps

With Accepting a Sibling

ALL ABOUT TWINS

Baby & Me Directory 2014

What’s in a Name in 2014? 2013 was defi nitely a banner year for outrageous baby names. 2014

is shaping up to be the year that pushes the boundaries of what was

previously considered “normal.”

Gone are the vogue of names ending in –den, such as Brayden,

Jayden and Aiden, as well as the ‘x’ madness of Axl and Xander. As

parents strive to distinguish their children from peers, social baby

naming website Belly Ballot is predicting some shocking trends. The

site collects real-time data on what names parents are selecting from

around the globe.

Based on naming data from more than 3,500 parents, along with

25,000 votes from their friends and family, the site has released the

following predictions for 2014:

babybook



UNCONVENTIONAL

SPELLINGS

Unusual and borderline eccen-tric spellings have become the simplest way to become dis-tinctive. The names are still traditional in their pronuncia-tion, yet extremely unique in their spellings. Rules of grammar and morphology aside, this is a perfect fusion for parents who don’t want to stand out, but still want to give their child a name with a modern twist. As a way of breaking from stereotype, parents choose Izak, Karder, Riyan, Kooper, Mykel, Emhily, BrookeLynn or Meeya.

IT’S ALL ABOUT

SHOW BUSINESS

Every year there are new TV shows, movie blockbusters and celebrity babies that serve as inspiration for parents when choosing a name for their child. We saw it when Twilight Saga’s Isabella be-came the most popular femi-

nine given name in the U.S. a few years ago; when Aria from Pretty Little Liars skyrocket-ed from zero popularity to one of the most favorite; and when Addison switched its usage from a boy to a girl thanks to the attractive and intelligent Dr. Addison Montgomery on Private Practice.

2014 favorites will be Hayley and Camille from vampire craze The Originals, Piper from Orange Is the New Black, Ichabod and Katrina from a new TV series Sleepy Hollow. As for celebrity babies, odds are in favor of Milan (Shakira’s baby boy), Lincoln (Kristen Bell’s son), Everly (daughter of Channing Tatum) or Autumn (Jennifer Love Hewitt’s newborn). See http://babynames.net/list/rockstar-names for more of those “famous names.”

HISPANIC IS HOT

Hispanic names are more and more popular, and not only

with Latino parents. With the rise in the Latino commu-nity in the United States, an increasing number of white couples are giving their chil-dren Hispanic names.

The main reason seems to be the expectation that their children will assimilate more easily in the society, where Latino culture might prevail later on in their lives. They might not appear among the first 10 most popular names in the US, but there’s no doubt their popularity will expand within the next decade. Hence names such as Lola, Maria, Carmen, Sierra, Ernesto, Diego, Santos, Miguel or Luis are likely to soar.

RETURN TO THE BIBLE

Who wouldn’t like to go back to old traditions at some point? After a few years of innovations and experiment-ing, parents are restoring old customs to regain the essence of religious values. Biblical

names are nothing new under the sun. Names like Jacob, Michael or Noah have been scoring the highest popularity ranks for years, but the surge of others, previously less fre-quent Biblical names is about to hit in 2014: Caleb, Levi, Luke, Isaiah, Naomi, Shiloh, or Judith.

MYTHOLOGICAL NAMES

The trend of going back to Biblical names is complement-ed by parents going even fur-ther back in history, choosing names from ancient mythol-ogy. One of the greatest perks of these names is the fact that despite being ‘ancient,’ they have that mystique and exotic uniqueness parents often seek Luna, Camilla, Gaia, Tristan, Damon or Thor.

For more baby names, check

out http://babynames.net.

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babybook TEACH LIFE SKILLS

“One of the best things you can do is help children learn life skills BEFORE the baby comes home,” Frost explains. “You need to do it anyway, and this is the time.”

It creates a sense of achievement in the older child, she continues, and it can also be a safety issue. They need to know how to feed themselves, dress themselves, and many other skills, depending on their age, to make them more self-sufficient. “You don’t want to have two babies,” she adds.

Once the baby arrives, you may want to help them hold it, discuss that they are a “big boy” or “big girl,” and show them how to deal with the baby and let them do it while watching them, Frost says.

MAKE THE JOURNEY FUN

“It’s inevitable that a child will ask, ‘when is it coming?’ But nine months is a long time,” Frost says. “You may want to tell them about the baby once you start show-ing, but your older child is likely to ask often about how much longer it will be.”

Frost suggests that you do things to make the journey fun, such as a count-down calendar or anything else that will help your older one understand the pro-cess takes time, but it is going to happen.

DON’T MAKE EVERYTHING

ABOUT THE BABY

“Not everything you do is because of the baby, and don’t leave your older child with the impression that everything he or she does is around baby,” Frost explains. “It can build resentment.”

Be sure to do things that are fun for the older child, and include them. “Don’t let them forget how important they are,” Frost says. “Most parents say they just didn’t know if they had enough love in their heart to love a second child like they love the first one. Of course, they find out they can, but make sure you communicate how important your first child is to him or her,” Frost adds.

WORK ON PATIENCE

It’s going to take the firstborn longer to get used to the baby than it will take you, Frost says. “Reserve patience,” she says. “Work on the transition before and after the baby arrives. Putting everything into place physically and mentally for a new baby can be overwhelming. You have a new routine, double work, and you need to get sleep as much as possible.”

ANTICIPATE SIBLING RIVALRY

“Curb bad behavior by showing that all actions with the baby should be through love,” Frost points out. “All behavior has

BRINGING BABY HOME:“Supernanny” Reveals How to Help

Siblings Ac cept the New Baby

By Carol Muse Evans

When it comes to handling sibling rivalry, “Supernanny” television star and now book author Jo Frost is an expert.

We’ve watched her deal with parents and children on television for years, handling every type of sibling rivalry and difficult parent, from the too-stern to the pushover. In a recent talk with Birmingham Parent, she had a lot of tips for helping older children accept a new baby in the family.



Carol Muse Evans is publisher and editor of Birmingham Parent and a parent of two.

Best known as the “Supernanny,” childcare ex-

pert and child advocate Jo Frost has always had

a natural gift for connecting with kids and helping

parents navigate milestones with practical, easy

solutions.Now, the New York Times bestseller

off ers parents and caregivers her invaluable

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boundaries…but what your child may be testing or asking is ‘am I still loved by my parents?’”

Sharing how to behave with your actions is equally im-portant, Frost says. “You both are going through a transi-tion…remember your older child is going through a transition as well. “I definitely urge parents to com-municate with each other about how they

are going to handle bad behavior after baby and related to the baby,” Frost says.

SHARE THE LOAD

“I definitely urge parents to communicate how they will handle everything ahead of time,” Frost says. “Of course some things will have to be handled on the fly, but try to have the important conversations ahead of time.”

This not only includes how to handle the older child’s behavior, but basic things like how your baby is going to be fed, and based on that, who will handle feeding and changing shifts, who will put the baby to bed, bath time, helping the older child, etc. “This creates a smooth transition, and also it makes it easier for the older children,” Frost adds.

Planning ahead also gives the parents peace of mind, Frost says. “Feeling good about the situation creates a healthy energy, and children are really receptive to the overall energy between the parents and in the home,” Frost says.

“One of the best things you can do is

help children learn life skills BEFORE

the baby comes home."

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Acton Road Pediatrics LLC opened its doors in 2007. Since

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Acton Road Pediatrics

2409 Acton Road Suite 171




Toddler Program

The Toddler program at Joseph

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Because the moment you learn you’re having a baby is the moment when everything changes. That’s why St. Vincent’s is with you every baby step of the way with a variety of classes such as Preparing for Parenthood. After all, we’re not just where babies come from, St. Vincent’s is where parents are born.

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babybook


UNDERSTANDING POTEN-

TIAL COMPLICATIONS

The number of twins has actually gone up more than 50 percent in the last 20 or so years, mainly due to infertility treatments, says Dr. Antonio Gonza-lez, Brookwood Medical Center’s maternal-fetal medicine specialist. About half of twins require time spent in the Neonatal In-tensive Care Unit (NICU) upon birth, Gonzales says.

“Multiples have a higher chance for problems, such as birth defects and prematurity,” he says. “That also means higher expenses, not only in the cost of taking care of a twin pregnancy but also in the cost of having the babies because of the probability of the babies going into the NICU.”

On average, more than 60 percent of twins are

born before 37 weeks, usu-ally around the 35-week to 36-week mark. Because they are born early, mul-tiple birth babies tend to be smaller than singletons. There are many strategies that many mommies-to-be try to avoid premature labor, such as bed rest and medication, but they are all myths, Gonzalez says. “None of them work,” he says. “No one has ever really shown that bed rest helps avoid premature labor, or that the medica-tions given will stop it. The most medicines can do is delay a delivery up to about 96 hours.

“Some have tried home fetal monitors, which do not work either. The best thing to do to avoid premature labor and potential complica-tions is to start the preg-nancy on the right foot.”

MANAGING THE RISKS

DURING PREGNANCY

Because a pregnancy with multiples does come with an increased risk for problems, Gonzalez first recommends seeking prenatal care early. “If you are trying to get pregnant, I cannot overstress the importance of taking extra folic acid,” he says. “Go ahead and start taking folic acid before you ever get pregnant. And if your chances are great for hav-ing multiples, be sure to seek out the care of a phy-sician who has experience in the care of multiples.”

In addition, the best way to help avoid any potential complications once pregnant is to be as healthy as possible: maintain proper nutrition and weight gain. “There is really nothing a mother can do to improve her

By Paige Townley

So you’re having twins, an exciting – and

usually surprising – discovery in the lives

of many parents-to-be. Already appre-

hensive about the thought of having just

one, many about-to-be parents’ anxieties

double, along with the delight, at the

thought of the extra expectation.

While there is much more that goes

into having twins rather than just one,

early planning and some extra helping

hands can go a long way in preparing

for your special arrivals. Here, health

care professionals and parents alike

share their tips and experiences when it

comes to preparing for and raising twins.

twinsALL ABOUT

The Jacobs family of Birmingham includes

fraternal twins Lillian and Henry.

PHOTO BY KIM BRANTLEY PHOTOGRAPHY

pregnancy with the excep-tion of nutrition and proper weight gain,” says Nancy Bowers, president of Marvel-ous Multiples, Inc., a nurse and mother of twins. “These two things have been shown to make a difference.”

Bowers developed the Marvelous Multiples Prenatal Education classes while she was teaching childbirth edu-cation classes at Brookwood Medical Center in the early 1990s. “When I was pregnant with my own twins, I real-ized that there was nothing out there for multiples,” she explains. “I knew if there was a need for me, there were others that needed it too. So the objective of our course is to help these moms and dads expecting multiples to have healthy pregnancies.”

Her education classes, which piloted at Brookwood and now are taught all over the country, focus on teach-ing soon-to-be parents about the importance of nutrition and proper weight gain and how to recognize the signs of problems so that treatment can be sought early.

Lynn Jeter, coordinator of the prenatal education pro-gram at Brookwood, strongly suggests soon-to-be parents enroll in an education class, such as Marvelous Multiples, soon after confirming a pregnancy. “Not only will the mom be more comfortable than later on in pregnancy, but by coming in early they will be able to take greater advantage of the information, especially when it comes to weight gain and nutrition, as

well as learning how to watch for signs of complications.”

BRINGING HOME BABIES

With so much out of parents’ control during pregnancy and after delivery, there is much new parents can do to prepare for bringing the babies home to make the transition as smooth as possible.

Charles Daniel and his wife, Brannan are parents to six-month-old identical twin boys, Ingram and Harrison. As first-time parents, they quickly discovered the importance of keeping both babies on a similar schedule. “Both babies spent almost two weeks in the NICU, and when they left they were on a schedule,” says Daniel. “So we did everything we could to help keep them on that schedule. With multiples especially, you need to find a routine that works for you and stick with it. For us, when one baby wakes up wanting to eat, the other baby is going to be awakened to eat too. Otherwise, we are caught in a never-ending cycle of feedings.”

Kelly Jacobs, mother to nine-year-old fraternal twins Lillian and Henry, also recom-mends not getting stuck in the mind frame that having twins means automatically purchas-ing two of everything. “That’s expensive and cluttering,” she says. “Except for the obvious items like car seats, start with one and then go buy a second one only if you discover you really need it.” Also of par-ticular importance with twins is seeking out hand-me-downs, Jacobs adds. “That really saved me,” she says. “I luckily

bought very little new because there were people that gave us hand-me-downs. I’m so grate-ful for that.”

But perhaps the most helpful advice for soon-to-be parents of twins: accept help from friends and family. “When people offer help, take it,” Daniel says. “It’s easy to say you’re good and you’ll handle it, but take the help. And take whatever help you can get, even if it’s just some-one babysitting while you take a nap. Every little bit counts.”

Adds Jeter, “Adjusting to parenthood is big enough, but adjusting with two babies is even bigger. Line up some family and friends to help you at home. Learn how to delegate and that you can’t do it all yourself.”

Raising twins, as well as other siblings, can be quite a balancing act. Experienced parents and health care professionals provided more suggestions on the best ways to manage multiples:

✱ If the twins have older

siblings, be sure to maintain

their established routines

as much as possible. “If you think you’re going to need to change the older child’s routine, change it early,” says Bowers. “But if you can keep whatever routine has already been established for the other child, keep it.”

✱ Remember that each

child is diff erent. Don’t com-pare the development of each child. “When I had just one child, I never really compared her to other children, but when the twins came along,

I couldn’t help but compare them,” Jacobs says. “So when one baby started rolling over and the other one didn’t, I wor-ried. I had to realize that all children are different.”

✱ Learn to go with the fl ow. “There was a moment as a mother when I finally real-ized that some things are out of my control,” Jacobs says. “I had to learn to go with the flow. When I only had one child, I could delude myself into thinking I was somewhat in control of a situation, but with the twins it was obvious that I wasn’t and I had to learn that was OK.”

✱ Be prepared. Besides an educational class focused specifically on multiples, Jeter recommends soon-to-be mothers take a breastfeeding class, as well as infant CPR and safety.

✱ Don’t forget to savor

the small moments. “It’s easy to be overwhelmed with the rough feeding schedule, which for me was every three hours,” Jacobs says. “But what a blessing that ended up being. As much as there were moments I wanted to scream because I was so rigidly tied to a schedule, if I hadn’t been forced to do that I wouldn’t have taken the time to sit down and stare at each baby and spend that dedicated time with the babies. I would have gotten busy with the other things that needed to get done. Try to view that time with the babies as sacred.”

Paige Townley is a freelance writer.

Below are three helpful resourc-

es that can provide you with in-

formation about childbirth and

preparation classes, pregnancy

tips, and even support groups:

Marvelous Multiples:

www.marvelousmultiples.comInformation about classes

and all sorts of informational

articles, links, and other helpful

information.

Brookwood Women’s Center:

www.ichooseb.comResources include childbirth

and preparation classes, infor-

mation about support groups,

and more.

Birmingham Area

Mothers of Multiples:

www.bamom.orgAn organization dedicated

to the support of moms with

twins, triplets, and higher order

multiples that provides infor-

mation along with emotional,

physical, and fi nancial support

to members.

Want to Learn More?


YOUR CHILD’S HEALTH


2409 Acton Road Suite 171


205-978-8245

www.actonrdpeds.com

Board certifi ed pediatricians Dr. Lillian Israel, Dr. Sheridyn Breed-love, and Dr. Alison McAfee off er more than 50 years of combined experience and provide a cheer-ful, kid-friendly offi ce environment.

Alabama Allergy & Asthma

Multiple locations: Homewood

* Hoover * Hwy280/Chelsea *

Alabaster * Cullman

205-871-9661

www.alabamaallergy.com

The best allergy & asthma care provided by board certifi ed allergy & asthma specialists. Treating pediatric & adult aller-gies, food allergy, asthma, sinus & skin disorders.

Angelica Rohner

Pediatric Dentistry

Drs. Rohner & Maher

2045 Brookwood Medical

Center Dr., Suite 21


205-870-0892

[email protected]

www.drrohner.com

Drs. Rohner & Maher, special-ists of pediatric and adolescent dentistry. Our doctors and their professional staff strive to make each dental visit fun and exciting!

Children’s of Alabama

1600 Seventh Ave. S.


205-638-9100

www.childrensal.org

Children’s of Alabama has pro-vided specialized medical care for ill and injured children since 1911, off ering inpatient, outpa-tient, and primary care services throughout Alabama.

Child’sPlay Therapy Center

3057 Lorna Rd. Suite 220


205-978-9939

www.childsplaytherapycenter.com

Pediatric speech, occupational and physical therapy in a child-friendly, non-clinical environ-ment. Also providing music therapy, tutoring, ADD/ADHD treatment programs and Orton-Gillingham reading therapy.

McCalla Pediatric Dentistry

and Orthodontics

4814 Bell Hill Rd.

Bessemer, AL 35022

205-477-35022

www.mccallasmiles.com

Services include dentistry for children & adolescents; patients with disabilities and orthodontic for child/adults. We off er tradi-tional metal brackets, as well as clear and Invisalign.

Dr. Michael Anglin

Pediatric Dentistry

Dr. Erin Nelson

Family Dentistry

3825 Lorna Rd., Suite 206

Hoover, AL 35244

205-988-9800

www.BirminghamKidsdentist.com

Dr. Michael Anglin has provided high quality pediatric dentistryto the Hoover and surrounding communities since 1993. WithDr. Nelson, they off er excellent care for children, adolescents & adults.

Pediatric & Adolescent

Dentistry

Dr. Clark Thomas &

Dr. Lauten Johnson

HOOVER LOCATION

1015 Brocks Gap Pkwy.

Hoover, AL 35244

205-982-0112

www.hoover.info@alpediatric-

dentistry.com

BIRMINGHAM LOCATION

3918 Montclair Rd. Suite 206


205-879-6150

www.alpediatricdentistry.com

Your child’s path to optimum dental health starts here with our kid-friendly staff . Options for in-offi ce sedation or general an-esthesia at Children's Hospital.

Pediatric Smiles

5751 Pocahontas Rd., Suite B

Bessemer, AL 35022

205-230-9000

www.psmilesal.com

Dentistry for children, infants and special needs persons. Now accepting new patients. Most insurance accepted.

Small Steps Pediatrics

Dr. Shameza Boyd, MD, FAAP

St. Vincent’s East Professional Bldg.

52 Medical Park Drive East,

Suite 201


205-868-3486

www.smallstepspediatrics.com

From routine checkups to immu-nizations, Small Steps Pediatrics is equipped to handle all of your child’s health needs with com-passion, excellence and value.

MOM’S HEALTH

Brookwood Women's Center

2010 Brookwood Medical Center Dr.


205-877-1000

www.ichooseb.com

At Brookwood Women's Center, we've devoted our lives to caringfor women and all their unique needs.

St. Vincent’s Birmingham

810 St. Vincent’s Drive


stvhs.com

St. Vincent’s East

50 Medical Park East Drive


stvhs.com

Our team of doctors and nurses are with you every baby step of the way! For more information or to fi nd a doctor, call Dial-A-Nurse at 205-939-7878.

PRESCHOOLS, DAYCARES & EDUCATION

Alabama Institute

for the Deaf & Blind

220 34th St. S.


205 E. South Street

Talladega, Alabama 35160

www.aidb.org

AIDB provides services to all ages from birth to adults for indi-viduals with hearing loss, vision loss or unique sensory losses.

The Discovery School

2100 Highland Avenue


(205) 933-5907

[email protected]

www.ourtemple.org/discoveryschool

The Discovery School is a nurtur-ing and engaging preschool for all children to learn, discover, and imagine. Full-day program, ages 15 months-5 years old.

Grace Community School & Daycare

8777 Helena Rd.

Pelham, AL 35124

205-769-6209

[email protected]

www.thewhaleschool.com

Advanced reading program, Bible classes, character training, healthy meals/snack, students advance at their pace, new

student specials, exceeding the typical daycare without the cost!

Joseph S. Bruno Montessori

Academy

5509 Timber Hill Rd.


Phone: 205-995-8709

Fax: 205-995-0517

www.jbma.org

For 30 years JBMA has equipped children with the essential skills and knowledge they need to thrive as a suc-cessful adult. Enrolling toddlers - 8th grade.

La Petite Academy

2041 Brookwood Medical Center Dr.


[email protected]

www.lapetite.com

205-879-7615

Provides educational childcare for children 6 weeks-age 12. Passionate about providing children with the tools they need to be successful in all aspects of their lives.

Mountain Brook Presbyterian

Preschool

3405 Brookwood Rd.

Mountain Brook, AL 35223

205-967-5037 x4

www.mbpcpreschool.com

Children ages 6 months to 5K are nurtured in an individual-ized, small-school learning environment. Fostering a love of learning, and we never forget how to play!

RECREATION & CLASSES

Alabama Dance Academy

3221 Old Columbiana Rd.

Hoover, AL 35226

205-978-6820

www.aladance.com

A state-of-the-art dance instruc-tion facility in the disciplines of ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, hip hop, lyrical/contemporary and Pilates. Founded by professional ballet dancer Pamela Merkel in 1995. Pre-school classes off ered.

ASFA Ballet Preparatory

Academy

1800 Reverend Abraham

Woods Jr. Blvd.


205-252-9241

[email protected]

www.asfa.k12.al.us

Disciplined instruction in classical ballet. Commitment to excellence

baby&me DIRECTORY 2014


in training & etiquette. Prepares students to audition for ASFA Dance Department. American Ballet Theatre Curriculum. Pre-School classes off ered

BSC Conservatory of Fine and

Performing Arts

900 Arkadelphia Rd.


[email protected]

www.bsc.edu/academics/music

205-226-4960

Lessons in piano, voice, violin, band. Preschool classes available.

Children’s Dance Foundation

1715 27th Court S.

Homewood, AL 35209

205-870-0073

www.childresndancefoundation.org

This class is a great fi rst activ-ity for your little one and their favorite grown up! Class includes piano accompaniment and a wide variety of props.

Samford University

Preparatory Music

800 Lakeshore Dr.


205-726-4049

[email protected]

Music for all ages on the lovely Samford University campus in Homewood. Preschool classes, piano & voice. Private lessons.

ENTERTAINMENT & TRAVEL

Birmingham Children’s Theatre

2130 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N.


205458-8181

www.bct123.org

One of the nation’s oldest and largest professional theatre com-panies for children. BCT produces high-quality, professional theatri-cal entertainment and curriculum-relevant arts education experi-ences for children and families.

Birmingham Museum of Art

2000 Rev. Abraham

Woods Jr. Blvd.

Birmingham, Al 35203

205.254.2565

www.artsbma.org

Bart's ArtVenture combines high tech art-making tools with hands-on creation stations to let kids and families develop their art education in a creative, commu-nal environment. Birthdays In Birmingham

www.birthdaysinbirmingham.com

The most complete resource for your birthday party and all party needs, from places to party to en-tertainers, food trucks and more.

Gaylord Opryland Resort &

Convention Center

2800 Opryland Dr.

Nashville, TN 37214

615-889-1000

www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/

bnago-gaylord-opryland-resort-

and-convention-center/

Gulf Shores & Orange

Beach Tourism

23685 Perdido Beach Blvd.

Orange Beach, AL 36561

877-475-1528

www.gulfshores.com/birming-

hamparent

Find your memorable fam-ily vacation with time to relax, explore and enjoy our 32 miles of uncrowded white-sand beaches, variety of attractions/accommo-dations and great seafood.

Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum

1919 Ninth St.

Calera, AL 35040

205-668-3435

www.hodrrm.org

Ride the Train! Board at a turn-of-the-century depot and experi-ence a ride through the scenic forests of Shelby County. Museum is a living monument to railroad history.

SHOPS & SERVICES

Applause Dancewear

1629 Oxmoor Rd.


205-871-STEP

www.appausedancewear.net

Dancewear & accessories.

Celebrating over 33 years. Dressing future ballerinas. New fashions arriving daily. Family owned and operated.

The Korduroy Krocodile -

Consignment

2912 Linden Ave.

Homewood, AL 35209

205-879-0030

[email protected]

www.kordoroykrocodile.com

For more than 30 years providing friendly, personalized service. Up-scale and aff ordable kids’ clothing.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Donald Love Photography

205-902-5357

www.dlovephotography.com

Family photos, children, pregnant

moms, weddings, and much more

in the central Alabama area.

Photocraft by Tom Warriner

850-803-1161

www.photocrafttom.com

We off er our beach portrait and wedding photography services to the Florida Panhandle area, including Destin, Rosemary Beach, Pensacola Beach and the surrounding areas.

Photocraft by Tom Warriner

#1 on the Emerald Coast

Destin, FL 32540

850-803-1161

www.photocrafttom.com

Children and adult beach portrait photography services to the Florida Panhandle areas. We are also available for weddings in Birmingham, Alabama and South Central Alabama.

Evening &Saturday appts. available • Free ParkingOn site Lab and X-Rays

St. Vincent’s East Professional Building52 Medical Park Drive East, Suite 201 . Birmingham, Alabama 35235

www.smallstepspediatrics.com

We Are AcceptingNew Patients!

NEWBORN TO18 YEARS OLD

Shameza Boyd, MD, FAAP

www.psmilesal.com

5751 Pocahontas Rd. Suite BBessemer, AL 35022

p 205-230-9000f 205-230-0188

Dr. Tabitha Jarman Gatrey, DMD

DENTISTRY FORCHILDREN& SPECIAL

NEEDS PERSONS

CONSIGNMENT

32 yrs in business

hours: Tues - Sat 10 - 4

SPRING &

SUMMER

ITEMS

ARRIVING DAILY

HOP ON OVER

FOR OUR SALES!

Upscale Children’sClothing



5 SATURDAY

Curtain Call Ball

5:30-8:30pm, Birmingham

Children’s Theatre. Wear your

costumes for an enchanted

family evening to raise funds

and awareness for BCT’s edu-

cation and outreach programs.

Music, a live and silent auc-

tion, food, art activities and a

performance showcasing BCT

productions. 205-458-8181,

www.bct123.org/CurtainCall-

Ball.html.

Junior League of Birming-

ham 5K for Kids

8am-11am, Regions Field. Join

the Junior League of Birming-

ham and the Birmingham Bar-

ons as we take “Small Steps to

End Childhood Obesity” in the

5K for Kids and 1 Mile Fun Run.

205-879-9861, www.jlbonline.

com/5kforkids. FREE.

Hikes for Tykes

with Fresh Air Family

10am-11am, Birmingham Botan-

ical Gardens. This program en-

courages preschool children

and their parents to engage

in an outdoor educational ad-

venture. 205-540-6642, www.

freshairfamily.org. FREE.

Nano Day

10am-4pm, McWane Science

Center. Learn about big sci-

ence on a small scale during

fun programs throughout

the week! 205-714-8300,

www.mcwane.org/calendar_

items/1144-nano_day. FREE

with admission.

Free Classes

from Magic City Chess U

10am-noon, Birmingham Public

Library. Learn to play or im-

prove your play in these free

classes. 205-862-2018, http://

magiccitychessu.wix.com/

magiccitychessu. FREE.

Bart’s Art Cart

11am-1pm, Birmingham Mu-

seum of Art. This drop-in art

program for kids and families

features a diff erent theme

from our galleries and art

activity each month. Stop by

to make art with Bart! April:

Create woven wonders. http://

artsbma.org. FREE.

The Friends of the Alabaster

Albert L. Scott Library

11am-3pm, Books-A-Million,

Alabaster. Books-A-Million will

donate a percentage of its

sales during the event to the

Friends to support the many

programs and services of the

library. 205-663-1374, www.

cityofalabaster.com/depart-

ments/library/.

6 SUNDAY

Whispers from the Past-A

Native American Experience

11:30am-7:30pm, Aldridge Gar-

dens. Rediscover the culture

and contributions of Native

Alabamians as life takes shape

through demonstrations of

fl intknapping, cooking and

hunting weapons, leaf pound-

ing, beading, corn grinding,

gourd painting and pottery

and children’s games and ac-

Events may change after publication deadline; please phone ahead to confi rm important information. The deadline for submitting calendar

items for the May 2014 issue is April 3. Mail calendar items to: Calendar, Birmingham Parent, 3590B Hwy 31 S #289, Pelham, AL 35124;

fax to 987-7600; e-mail to [email protected]; or enter directly to the online calendar at www.birminghamparent.com. Entries

added online after the print deadline will not appear in the print version. Information cannot be accepted over the phone. Birmingham Parent

publishes a calendar 11 times a year. January events are included in the December issue.

Guidelines: Birmingham Parent’s calendar is designed to be a resource and service to the community and our readers. Events which are

open to the public, fund-raisers, free classes, etc., are events that may be included in our monthly calendar. We reserve the right to reject any

event or listing due to rules or space restrictions. For questions regarding calendar entries, call 987-7700.

Calendar sponsored by

The Gardendale Magnolia Festival Caterpillar Roller Coaster is a fun ride for kids. Be sure to take in this two-day festival this month!

daily calendar of eventsapr2014

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tivities. $5 donation for visitors

18 and older. $3 passport for

schoolage children wanting

to participate in take-home

crafts.

8 TUESDAY

Moms Connect

6:30-8:30pm, Riverchase

Community Church. Sup-

port group of mothers with

children of all ages. Topic:

Preserve your memories in

photographs with tips for tak-

ing good pictures. Childcare

is available. Call Lynn at

205-664-4531 for childcare

reservation. FREE.

Lego League

6-6:45pm, Albert L. Scott

Library, Alabaster. Kids of

all ages. Youngsters 6 and

younger must be with an

adult. 205-664-6822. FREE.

11 FRIDAY

Birmingham Botanical Gar-

dens Annual Plant Sale

9am-7pm, Century Plaza, in

the former JC Penney loca-

tion. Birmingham Botanical

Gardens’ annual sale will

have over 100,000 plants for

purchase. Most have been

nurtured by volunteers at the

gardens. www.bbgardens.org.

FREE.

American Girls Club

4pm Albert L. Scott Library,

Alabaster. Girls 7 years old

and older can come celebrate

the birthdays of all the Ameri-

can Girls doll characters. Sign

up and come with or without a

doll. 205-664-6822. FREE.

12 SATURDAY

Birmingham Children’s The-

atre presents “The Secret

Garden”

2-3pm, Birmingham Children’s

Theatre. In an exciting new

musical production of this

familiar tale, Mary Lennox, a

willful young orphan, is sent

to live with her brooding

uncle at gloomy Misselthwaite

Manor. Discovering a hidden,

neglected garden, Mary plants

the seeds of new life for all

those drawn into her secret

refuge. 205-458-8181, www.

bct123.org.

Farm Day

9am-5pm, Birmingham Zoo.

Take a look at Alabama’s

agricultural heritage with a

fun and educational peak

into daily farm life. Watch

horseshoe making demon-

strations, create rural-themed

arts and crafts, examine

several antique tractors and

farm equipment, watch a goat

show and much more! www.

birminghamzoo.com. fee.





tion. See April 11.

Hikes for Tykes with Fresh

Air Family

10am-11am, Birmingham Bo-

tanical Gardens. See April 5.

Free Classes from Magic

City Chess U

10am-noon, Birmingham Pub-

lic Library. See April 5.

Bart’s Art Cart

11am-1pm, Birmingham Mu-

seum of Art. See April 5.

13 SUNDAY





tion. See April 11.

Audubon Teaches Na-

ture: Return of the Spring

Migrants-Great Expectations!

1:30-3:30pm, Alabama Wild-

life Center. Free after paid

admission to Oak Mountain

State Park. Refreshments are

off ered at 1:30pm followed

by the program at 2pm.

Weather permitting, an infor-

mal nature walk follows the

program so be sure to bring

binoculars and fi eld guides.

Guest speaker: Greg Harber,

Birmingham Audubon Society.

205-663-7930, Ext. 4, www.

awrc.org. FREE.

14 MONDAY

Homeschool Happening:

Bird Watching Wonders

11am-noon, Albert L. Scott

Library, Alabaster. Helena

Uber-Wamble of the Audubon

Society will tell children fi rst-

Calendar sponsored by apr2014

www.magnoliafestival.org

The Total Family Experience!

Cowboy Bruce • Midway Carnival • Pooch ParadeFree Art Classes • Eating Contests • 3 Stages Live

Entertainment • Car Show • Over 150 vendor booths

5K & FAMILIY FUN RUN 04/19/14Benefi ting Just Keep Smiling and the Miracle League.

Voted one of the TOP 10EVENTSin April 2010& May 2012

in the Alabama Tourism Calendar

13th Annual

April 25-26, 2014Fri 5-10pm & Sat10am-5pm

Beach Portraits & Wedding Photography

Serving Destin, Florida and surrounding areas

[email protected]

850-803-1161

Empowering Children to Reach their Potential Empowering Children to Reach their Potential

Call for your FREE testing appointment205-987-9577 www.tutoringcenter.com2804 John Hawkins Pkwy, Suite 100, Hoover, AL 35244

Your child’s Reading & Math skills will improve one full grade level in 40

hours of instruction!WE GUARANTEE IT!

READING MATH WRITINGSTUDY SKILLS ALGEBRA IALGEBRA II GEOMETRY

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Calendar sponsored bydaily calendar of eventsapr2014

12th grade about bird watching

in this area. Children age 6

must be with an adult. 205-664-

6822, FREE.

15 TUESDAY

Science Cafe: What’s Up

Dude? Why Teens Think The

Way They Do

6-8pm, John’s City Diner. What’s

up dude? Find out why teens

think the way they do. Speaker:

Dr. Mark Westfall, psychiatrist.

205-714-8300, www.mcwane.

org. FREE with admission.

19 SATURDAY

Party for the Planet

on Earth Day

9am-5pm, Birmingham Zoo.

The zoo celebrates the AZA’s

signature event and largest

combined Earth Day celebra-

tion in North America! Special

activities, animal demonstra-

tions, wildlife shows and local

Birmingham business booths all

focused on promoting the care

and conservation of the planet.

www.birminghamzoo.com.

Admission charged.

Hikes for Tykes


10am-11am, Birmingham Botani-

cal Gardens. See April 5.

Free Classes from

Magic City Chess U


Library. See April 5.

Bart’s Art Cart

11am-1pm, Birmingham Museum

of Art. See April 5.

Bart’s Books

11am-noon, Birmingham

Museum of Art. 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. April’s book:

Something from Nothing. http://

artsbma.org. FREE.

22 TUESDAY

Moms Connect

6:30-8:30pm, Riverchase Com-

munity Church. A support group

of mothers with children of all

ages. Spa Night! Join us for a

relaxing time at the Moms Con-

nect Spa. Call Lynn at 205-664-

4531 for childcare reservation.

FREE.

Caterpillars to Butterfl ies:

How These Insects Use

Plants to Thrive

6:30-8pm, Aldridge Gardens.

Learn how a tiny egg, the size

of a grain of sand, transforms

into a beautiful, colorful but-

terfl y. Each family that registers

for this family nature program

will receive a butterfl y host

plant. Fees from $5 to $26, see

website. Space is limited, pre-

registration suggested. http://

aldridgegardens.com. Fee.

24 THURSDAY

18th Annual Jeff erson Chris-

tian Academy Invitational Golf

Tournament

7:30am check-in; 8am shotgun

start. Tournament benefi t’s

JCA’s programs. Information,

Wendy Burrows, 205-956-9111,

[email protected].

Bargain Bash

6-10pm, former JC Penney

location, Century Plaza. Join

the Junior League of Birming-

ham for exclusive access to

the merchandise that will be

sold at Bargain Carousel. Food

and treats, tasty beverages,

auction items, terrifi c shopping

at bargain prices. Ticket pricing,

location information, and event

times, see www.bargaincar-

ousel.net/bargain-bash.html.

205-879-9861, www.bargaincar-

ousel.net/. Fee.

Music Gala

7:30pm Dorothy Jemison Day

Theater. Enjoy a beautiful clas-

sical and jazz repertoire. The

show features the ASFA orches-

tra, Jazz ensemble, Concerto

delle Donne and Choir. Also on

Friday, the 25th. $10 adults and

$5 students. www.djdtheater.org.

25 FRIDAY

Tales for Tots Story Time

10am-11am, The Arc of Shelby

County. A fun-fi lled story, craft

activity, snack, and best of all,

free family fun! Please bring

a donation as your admis-

sion (wipes, glue, stickers,

paper, etc.). The Arc of Shelby

County’s Early Intervention staff

will conduct each session. The

sessions are designed to allow

children to participate suc-

cessfully at their own level. 205-

664-9313, www.thearcofshelby.

org. FREE with donation.

Blue Ribbon Rally for Child

Abuse Prevention

11am-1pm, Jeff erson County De-

partment of Human Resources.

Registration for this event ends

on March 28, 2014. Registra-

tion includes lunch and a t-shirt.

Vangie Davis 205-423-4933.

FREE.

The Magnolia Festival

5-10pm, Gardendale Civic Cen-

ter. Cowboy Bruce, Friday Fire-

works. Two day festival. Almost

200 vendor booths, 3 stages

entertainment, Midway carnival,

Sidewalk chalk art contest,

Free art classes all day, Pooch

parade. Birmingham Parent is a

sponsor. www.magnoliafestival.

org. FREE.


Albert L. Scott Library Spring

Book Sale

5-7pm, members only preview

sale, Albert L. Scott Library.

Membership in the Friends of

the Alabaster will be avail-

able for as little as $10 and

Sunday’s hours are 1-3 p.m.

Patrons may donate books and

DVDs directly to the library by

bringing them to the front desk.

664-6822, FREE.

Music Gala

7:30pm Dorothy Jemison Day

Theater . Enjoy a beautiful clas-

sical and jazz repertoire in the

Dorothy Jemison Day Theater.

The show features the ASFA

orchestra, Jazz ensemble, Con-

certo delle Donne and Choir.

$10 adults and $5 students.

www.djdtheater.org.

2014 Hope for Autumn

Foundation Crawfi sh Boil

3-9pm, the Main Green of Ross

Bridge. An afternoon of music,

food and family fun to benefi t

the families of local pediatric

cancer patients, as well as the

Alabama Center for Childhood

Cancer and Blood Disorder’s

Developmental Therapeutics.

Tickets $25 online, $30 at the

door. Children 12 and under are

free. info@hopeforautumnfoun-

dation.org. Fee.



Book Sale

9am-3pm, Albert L. Scott


26 SATURDAY

Magnolia Festival

10am-5pm, Gardendale Civic

Center. Cowboy Bruce, Friday

Fireworks, Almost 200 vendor

booths, 3 stages entertainment,

Midway carnival, Sidewalk chalk

art contest, Free art classes all

day, Pooch parade. Birmingham

Parent is a sponsor. www.mag-

noliafestival.org. FREE.

23rd Annual Bargain Carousel

8am-5pm, Former JC Pen-

ney location at Century Plaza.

Please join the Junior League of

Birmingham for our “1000-family

garage sale!” Through member

donations, Bargain Carousel

provides shoppers with quality

items, many of life’s necessi-

ties, at very aff ordable prices. In

return, proceeds are returned

directly to the Birmingham

community through the Commu-

nity Projects the JLB supports.

Tickets, www.bargaincarousel.

net. 205-879-9861. Fee.

Hikes for Tykes


10am-11am, Birmingham

Botanical Gardens. See April 5.

Free Classes from

Magic City Chess U



Bart’s Art Cart

11am-1pm, Birmingham Museum

of Art. See April 5.

27 SUNDAY

Birmingham Suzuki

Violinists in Concert

3pm, Virginia Samford Theatre.

Young pianists will also perform.

Tickets are $5-10, young

children can attend free. A

reception will be held after the

concert. www.birminghamsu-

zukiviolinists.org.



Book Sale

10am-3pm, Albert L. Scott

Library. Fill a Bag for $5 day.

See April 25.


HEART OF DIXIE RAILROAD MUSEUM1919 9th St. Calera, Alabama

For tickets & information

www.HODRRM.org • 205-757-8383

RIDE THE TRAINCOTTONTAIL EXPRESS

April 12, 13, and 19

HOP ABOARD for a trip to Peter Cottontail’s meadow for an

Easter Egg Hunt and fun activities!

Find the lucky egg & you could win a prize!

205.978.9939 • www.childsplaytherapycenter.com

Improves ability to sustain ATTENTION & minimize distractibility

Promotes Motor and Cognitive PLANNING

Develops THINKING skills for improved

academic performance

CALL TODAY FOR MORE INFORMATION!

I N T R O D U C I N G

A customized treatment program for children with ADD/ADHD

Uses current technologies of Interactive Metronome and Integrated Listening Systems to build neurological pathways that enhance overall functional abilities.

WE FILE ALL INSURANCE AS A COURTESY. WE ARE PROVIDERS FOR MOST INSURANCE COMPANIES.

Where all the dental needs of your child can be met under one roof!

459

EASTERN VALLEY RD.

BELL HILL RD.

exit 1

MON-THU 8AM-5PMwww.mccallasmiles.com4814 Bell Hill Rd, Bessemer, AL 35022 . 205-477-8004

SERVICES INCLUDE:

Dentistry for children and adolescents

Dentistry for patients with disabilities

Orthodontics for children and adults

We offer the traditional metal brackets, as well as clear.

We also do Invisalign.

Dr. Olga Sanchez-

Hernandez is dual trained as a pediatric dentist and

a board certifi ed

orthodontist


Calendar sponsored byevents & attractions

ALDRIDGE BOTANICAL GARDENS 3530 Lorna Road, Hoover. 205-682-8019, www.aldridgegardens.com

ALABAMA JAZZ HALL OF FAME1631 Fourth Ave. N., Birming-ham. 205-254-2731, www.jazzhall.com

ALABAMA SPORTS HALL OF FAME2150 Richard Arrington Blvd. N., Birmingham. 323-6665, www.ashof.org

ALABAMA WILDLIFE CENTER100 Terrace Drive, Pelham. 205-663-7930. www.awrc.org

AMERICAN VILLAGEHighway 119, Montevallo. 205-665-3535, www.americanvillage.org

BARBER MOTORSPORTS PARK6040 Barber Motorsports Park-way, Leeds. 205-298-9040, www.barbermotorsports.com

BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDENSBe sure to download the trea-sure map to take with you!www.bbgardens.org/docu-ments/treasuremapforweb.pdf2612 Lane Park Road, Birming-ham. 205-414-3900, www.bbgardens.org

BIRMINGHAM CIVIL RIGHTS INSTITUTEWhile the BCRI remains open, the Archives of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI) will be closed to the public from March 1 through June 30, 2014 for installation of a Collection Storage Improvement Project. 16th St. N., Birmingham. 205-328-9696, www.bcri.org

BIRMINGHAM MUSEUM OF ART Family Tour: Musical Moments 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? Dance through the Museum searching for Musical Moments! April 1, 5, 8, 15, 22 and 29 10:30-11:30am.2000 Rev. Abraham Woods Jr. Blvd., Birmingham. 205-254-2565, www.artsbma.org

BIRMINGHAM ZOOGiraff e Feeding & Keeper Chat, Saturday & Sunday 11am-12pm & 2-3pm, $3.00. See Griffi n, the fi rst giraff e born in a North American accredited Zoo in 2014!Sea Lion Training, Daily 10am & 2pm Predator Zone, Saturday & Sunday 11:30am & 3:30pm

2630 Cahaba Road, Birming-ham. 205-879-0409, www.birminghamzoo.com

HEART OF DIXIE RAILROAD MUSEUM1919 Ninth St., Calera.

205-668-3435, www.hodrrm.org

MCWANE SCIENCE CENTERIMAX Movies: TORNADO ALLEYTornado Alley takes audiences on a thrilling quest to experi-ence a tornado’s destructive power at point blank range. Dazzling computer-generated imagery brings this mysterious era to life - from saber-toothed cats and cave bears to dire wolves and woolly mammoths - giants both feared and hunted by prehistoric humans. Through May 31, 2014.

GREAT WHITE SHARK Mis-represented, maligned and misunderstood, the Great White Shark is an iconic predator: the creature we love to fear. Great White Shark explores the Great White’s place in our imaginations, in our fears, and in the reality of its role at the top of the oceanic food chain. Through May 31, 2014.

TO THE ARCTIC An extraordi-nary journey to the top of the world, the documentary adven-ture “To The Arctic” tells the ultimate tale of survival. The fi lm takes audiences on a never-be-fore-experienced journey into the lives of a mother polar bear and her twin seven-month-

old cubs as they navigate the changing Arctic wilderness they call home. Through October 1, 2014

ISLAND OF LEMURS: MADA-GASCAR Academy Award® winner Morgan Freeman (Mil-lion Dollar Baby, Dolphin Tale) narrates the IMAX documentary Island of Lemurs: Madagascar, the incredible true story of nature’s greatest explorers—lemurs. Madagascar takes audiences on a spectacular journey to the remote and wondrous world of Madagascar. Lemurs arrived in Madagascar as castaways millions of years ago and evolved into hundreds of diverse species but are now highly endangered. April 4, 2014 – December 2, 2014*Robots + Us. This exhibit, ending May 11, features more than a dozen interactive robotic components, showing how robotic technology can change our lives for the better.200 19th St. N., Birmingham.

205-714-8300, www.mcwane.org.

MOSS ROCK PRESERVEPreserve Parkway, Hoover. 205-739-7141, www.hooveral.org.

OAK MOUNTAIN STATE PARK200 Terrace Drive, Pelham. 205-620-2520, www.alapark.com.

RUFFNER MOUNTAIN NATURE CENTERChildren’s Story Time. On the fi rst Monday and third Saturday of every month at 10am, children 3-5 are invited to story time to encourage their excitement about the outdoors. Short activity follows. Must be accompanied by an adult. $3, $2 for members. 1214 81st St. S., Birmingham. 205-833-8264, www.ruff nermountain.org.

SOUTHERN MUSEUM OF FLIGHT4343 73rd St. N., Birmingham. 205-833-8226, www.southern-museumoffl ight.org

TANNEHILL IRONWORKS HISTORICAL STATE PARK12632 Confederate Parkway, McCalla. 205-477-5711, www.tannehill.org

VULCAN PARK1701 Valley View Drive, Birmingham. 205-933-1409, www.vulcanpark.org

apr2014

There are great activities all month long at McWane Science Center.


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THE ABOVE ADS HAVE NOT BEEN SCREENED BY THE SOUTHEASTERN ADVERTISING PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION (SAPA) or BIRMINGHAM PARENT; Therefore,

any discrepancies thereof shall not be the responsibility of the aforementioned association or this publication. Your publisher has agreed to participate in this program and run these ads as a service to the Southeastern Advertising Publishers Association.

national classified ads

Poster by artist Joel Bullock

is a proud media sponsor of the Montevallo Art Show


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We spend most of our reproductive lives trying not to get pregnant. When the timing is finally right,

some women have a difficult time conceiving. There are several common misconceptions about trying for preg-nancy, so I’d like to take this oppor-tunity to set the record straight and dispel some common myths related to fertility and fertility treatments.

MYTH 1 – I will get pregnant as soon

as I come off my birth control.

The general population has a 20 per-cent chance of conception each month during the menstrual cycle when an egg is released. Only 20 percent, even once you come off birth control! Many couples trying to have a baby get pregnant within three to six months, and almost 85 to 90 percent of couples become pregnant after a year of try-ing. This leaves 10 to 15 percent of the population who are diagnosed with infertility. The term infertility is often over used. If you are not getting preg-nant at the rate of the general popula-tion, you may simply be subfertile.

MYTH 2 – I will never get pregnant,

since I’m not getting any younger. Or,

I have all the time in the world to get

pregnant.

Age and its effect on fertility is an im-portant topic for all women. Fertility generally peaks in the early to mid 20s and slowly declines from there. But regardless of age, your ovaries do not simply stop functioning one day. If you are attempting pregnancy over the age

of 35, seeing a fertility specialist after six months of trying is recommended. There are simple tests that can be per-formed to determine your ovarian re-serve, which provides a clear picture of how your ovaries are functioning and how they may respond to fertility medications if needed. I recommend seeking the advice of a fertility spe-cialist at any age if you have ques-tions, especially if you have irregular periods, endometriosis or fibroids.

MYTH 3 – Everyone around me is

pregnant! I must be the only one going

through this.

It may feel like you are the only one going through infertility, but let me assure you, this is not the case. Gener-ally 10 to 15 percent of the population struggles with fertility for a variety of reasons. Women are often very private about their fertility issues and feel even more isolated around their fertile friends. Hang in there and be kind to yourself. If you would like to skip out on baby showers for now, then honor yourself and decline the invitation. Seek out local and online resources through trusted agencies like ASRM and Resolve.

Seek out arenas to talk about your fertility issues and chat with close friends or family – you may be sur-prised who will open up about similar experiences. And always share your struggles with your primary care doctor or fertility specialist who can recommend options. Remember that you are not alone.

Why Am I Not Getting Pregnant? THE ANSWERS MAY SURPRISE YOU.

by Beth Malizia, MD

Beth Malizia, MD, is an OB/GYN and fertil-ity specialist at Brookwood Medical Center.


who are helping beat blood cancer!MEET THE CANDIDATES

LAST MONTHTO VOTE in the 2014 Birmingham Parent’s Family Favorites Awards! VOTE AND YOU CAN ALSO BE ENTERED IN A RANDOM DRAWING FOR A GREAT GULF SHORES PRIZE PACKAGE!

Must vote in at least 20 categories for you survey to be counted and also put into the random drawing for a 3 night stay for 4 people in a Gulf-front condominium in beautiful Gulf Shores. This fall vacation package will include a meal and an attraction, too! Some restrictions and black out dates apply.

VOTING ENDS AT MIDNIGHT ON APRIL 22, 2014. Look for the family favorites award winners in the June 2014 issue of Birmingham Parent. You must vote in at least 20 categories for your vote to count, and if you wish to be entered in the random drawing, we must receive your complete contact info. Information may be shared with prize sponsors.

Tell us Your Family’s Favorites & WIN!Cast your vote online at www.birminghamparent.comfrom January 1-April 22, 2014

SPONSORED BY


travel

DESTINATION: MOBILE, ALABAMABy Carol Muse Evans

You’ve probably seen the cute little “You Tube” sensation who when filmed by her parents surprising her with a trip to Walt Disney World, exclaimed, “But I

wanted to go to Mobile!”We later found out her grandparents lived

in Mobile, but maybe she also knows something about all the great things to do in Mobile, too. Maybe her grandparents do, and treat her to a great attraction or two each time she visits. It’s a surprising city right here in Alabama filled with history, technology, great food and much more.

One of the most visible attractions in Mobile is the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park (www.ussalabama.com). If you’ve never been, you should go at least once in your life-time. The attraction is a memorial to all men and women who have or are serving in our armed forces, and exhibits throughout the park – not just on the ship – tell stories of great courage and heroism. Check out the ship and go below and see where soldiers lived, ate, and bathed. Check out the hangar with airplanes and other aircraft, and be sure to visit the submarine.

Get in touch with more great Mobile and American history at Fort Conde and the Muse-um of Mobile (www.museumofmobile.com), downtown. You can walk through Mobile’s history – a great component to any study of Alabama history – and learn how six flags have

flown over the city. The museum just across the street takes you through 300 years of Mobile his-tory with many great artifacts and displays.

A fascinating part of Mobile history is Mardi Gras. Mobile was home to the first Mardi Gras in 1703, and the Mobile Carnival Mu-seum (www.mobilecarnivalmuseum.com) is a great way to learn about this interesting his-tory, with celebrations and secret societies still continuing today, and see the elaborate floats, costumes, crowns and more. The gift shop itself is a treat! Great for all ages.

More Mobile history can be found at the Oakleigh Historic Complex (www.historic-mobile.org), as well as Conde-Charlotte (www.condecharlottemuseum.org), Mobile’s first official jail circa 1850. You might want to spend some time walking or biking in historic downtown Mobile where you’ll find galleries, museums, cafes, parks and more.

Another great favorite is Bellingrath Gar-dens and Home (www.bellinggrath.org), just a short drive from Mobile in Theodore. Whether it’s the spring blooms in the gardens, the Magic Christmas in Lights during Christmas holidays, or any of the other celebrations or simple days in between, Bellingrath Gardens and the home are a fascinating way to spend a few hours learning about the history of this magnificent home and its owners.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BELLINGRATH GARDENS


If you have young children, don’t miss the Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center (www.exploreum.net). Similar to our McWane Sci-ence Center here in Birmingham, the Explo-reum is home to the only full-scale interactive chemistry lab, and the only 3-D virtual theater and domed IMAX theater on the Gulf Coast. The center has a cool permanent exhibit on the hu-man body called My BodyWorks.

Coming sometime this spring, a new attrac-tion not to be missed is GulfQuest, National Maritime Museum of the Gulf Coast (www.gulfquest.org), the first museum dedicated to the Gulf Coast’s maritime history and traditions and only the third interactive maritime museum in the world. It is now the centerpiece of the city’s new development on the downtown water-front and includes an eatery right on the water. Check website for opening date to be announced.

One “don’t miss” attraction is the Delta Sa-fari Boat Tour aboard the Osprey with Five Riv-ers Delta Safaris (www.5rds.com). You’ll learn about the diverse scenery of the Mobile-Tensaw Delta and its ecosystem, along with wildlife and maybe an alligator. Take the Osprey over to the 5

Rivers Delta Center (www.outdooralabama.com/ outdoorsadventures/ 5rivers), a $10 mil-lion facility on the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta where the Mobile, Spanish, Tensaw, Applalachee and Blakeley rivers flow into Mobile Bay. There are classrooms, meeting spaces, camp sites, a theatre, a great exhibit hall with wildlife the kids will enjoy, and much more. Call ahead for reservation.

In addition to Mobile proper, there’s the wonderful and historic Grand Hotel Marriott Resort, Gulf Club & Spa (www.pchresorts.com) close by at Point Clear, as well as Fairhope (www.fairhopemerchants.com), known for its quaint shops, boutiques and galleries. The East-ern Shore could be a trip all its own, or a place to visit for the day.

Visit Mobile for a day, a weekend or a week. There’s much to do. I want to go to Mobile, too! For more information, visit www.mobilebay.org.

Carol Muse Evans is publisher and editor of Bir-mingham Parent, and a frequent visitor to Mobile, where her daughter lives.

cWHERE TO EAT

There are a number of places

to get a great lunch or dinner in

Mobile. Here are some of our

suggestions:

Moe’s Original BBQ

a personal favorite downtown,

www.moesoriginalbbq.com

Wintzell’s Oyster House

celebrating its 76th anniversary.

This is a “can’t miss” in Mobile.

Go for the one downtown!

www.wintzellsoysterhouse.com

The Grand Hotel Marriott

several great places to eat, check

ahead, www.pchresorts.com

The Original Oyster House on

the Bay, www.theoysterhouse.com

Dreamland BBQ

just like in Birmingham and Tusca-

loosa! www.dreamlandbbq.com

Callaghan’s Irish Social Club

www.callaghansirishsocialclub.com

hWHERE TO STAY

The Mobile Marriott

3101 Airport Blvd.

www.marriott.com/mobmc

Bellingrath Gardens is a special

delight in spring with all the

new blooms and the Easter

celebrations.

Don't miss a chance to learn

about Alabama History at the

Museum of Mobile.

The U.S.S. Alabama has been

a long-time favorite Mobile

attraction. Be sure to take your

children if they've never been.

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Enroll in

Birmingham-Southern

College’s

Conservatory of Fine and Performing Arts

Lessons in piano, voice, violin, guitar, band and much more. Preschool classes also available.

Music and Theatre Camp 201

June 1 -K5-5th grade

www.bsc.edu205/226-4960

GO TO WWW.BIRMINGHAMPARENT.COM TO VOTE FOR

YOUR FAVORITES! Only one vote per IP address, and you must choose

one child in each category for your ballot to count.

Voting will end at midnight MAY 5, 2014.

Winners will be announced in the MAY 2014 issue of

Birmingham Parent, online and on Facebook and Twitter.


Located on Lookout Mountain in northwest Georgia, CJL is an independent, non-profit summer camp for girls ages 7-17. 1 & 2 week sessions available

June 8—August 2, 2014

Camp Juliette Low Cloudland, GA

Horseback Ropes course Climbing wall Crafts/pottery Drama Pool

Canoeing Sailing Archery Fire-building Backpacking Camp crafts

Recognized as one of the South’s favorite Christian summer camps for girls!

Welcome to an award winning camp experience…RIVERVIEW CAMP FOR GIRLS.

Just off DeSoto Parkway on top of Lookout Mountain in Mentone, Alabama…nestled in a bend of Little River.

are appreciated by both parents & campers!Call 800-882-0722 or visit www.riverviewcamp.com

for a FREE DVD & Information packet

Check us out online at www.riverviewcamp.com

Dr. Larry and Susan Hooks, Owners/DirectorsDonna Bares, Assistant Director Exciting

Traditional Camp forgirls ages

6 to 16!

Only 2 short hours from Birmingham

1 & 2 week sessions! Mother-Daughter

Weekends also Available

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a chorus • gymnastics • Dance • canoeing • tennis • GOLF sw

imming • beach volleyball •

archery • riding •

basketball • golf •

much more!

AMAZING COUNSELORS

CLIMBING TOWER

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PAINTBALL & WIFFLE BALL

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DELICIOUS, HEALTHY MEALS

SMALL GROUP BIBLE STUDY

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PRETEEN (GRADES 3–5) • MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOLCAMPSONE & TWO WEEK OVERNIGHT

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2.5 Hours North of Birmingham • Near Historic Downtown Franklin, Tennessee

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Parent • Annual Read

ers Poll


death by children

I said it. I invoked karma as a threat, as an epithet, as a balm for my dignity, wounded by glares and stares and unsolicited advice, whispered indignantly over

crossed arms as an entire airport observed my children in full fury.

As newbie parents we’d made a critical error. Thinking our family vacation flight would be easier if the kids were asleep, we’d kept them up late and woke them up early. We brought them to the plane in their PJs as an amulet for sleepy time. In retrospect, from the battered perch of a wizened old dad, I can where we went wrong.

Our kids weren’t about to sleep for two reasons: The girl was jacked up on theme park anticipation, loudly and diligently planning our trip, assuming I was noting her every command on a spreadsheet and alert-ing the authorities. Simultaneously, our sleep deprivation experiment was causing her to hallucinate she was somehow related to Mickey Mouse and when we got there he’d send us a carriage so we could all do lunch.

Also, she was cranky. I wanted to avert disappointment so I told her, gently, carefully, that Mickey Mouse was busy so we’d probably not be lunching with him, to which she replied “AAAAAAAAAAA!” and threw herself on the floor.

Meanwhile, my son was using his incredible toddler superpowers to give himself an ear infection that would cause his head to explode somewhere over Alabama.

And so we boarded, last, our progeny howling and gnashing their teeth down the aisles as each row of passengers greeted us with laser focused preflight hatred.

I got in my seat, leaned over to my wife and said it: “I’ll NEVER judge screaming kids on a plane or diapers or anything!”

Thirteen years later, there we were , on a return flight from a kid-less vacation, comfy in the next to the last row. From the front of the plane we hear a tornado of wailing, sneez-ing, lugubrious triplets, pushed, dragged and carried by a couple who looked like earthquake survivors

to the seats directly behind us. The second the wheels left the ground all three pooped in unison engulfing our section of the plane in a sulfuric death plume that made my eyes water and broke my iPad.

Yet I smiled. I smiled and I in-haled and breathed deep the fecund perfume of new life. Never did I gri-mace. Never did I glare over my seat back. Didn’t even cross my arms.

These poor people had invoked enough hell on their own having thruplicated. Who was I to add to their worries? Who was I to judge? I ordered scotch and when the stewardess glanced meaningfully toward the beleaguered parents and asked me how was I enjoying the flight, a glance surely captured by the guilt-ridden suffragettes in the last row, a glance that held judgment in its bosom and threatened to poorly adjudicate their triple poops, I spoke up loud and clear: “Why, it’s delight-ful. Could not be happier. I’m having a marvelous time.”

Christopher “Bull” Garlington is a syndicated humor writer and a Birmingham native. His fi rst book, by the same name as his column,

is available at Amazon.com.

“Why, it’s delightful.

Could not be happier.

I’m having a marvelous time.”

Flying & CryingBy Christopher “Bull” Garlington

Suddenly, you’re in a whole different state of “Hmmm, I wonder. . .”

“What’s so shiny?”

“Hey, little crab!”

It’s amazing how fun learning can be in the

right environment. Here you’ll find 32 miles

of uncrowded sugar white beaches, sparkling

water, unspoiled natural wonders and interactive

educational attractions just waiting to be explored.

And a whole different state of discovery.

877-475-1528@alabamabeachesGulfShoresOrangeBeach

Birmingham Parent Magazine - April 2014

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Transcript of Birmingham Parent Magazine - April 2014