Eastern Shore Parents magazine Feb13

I chose my doctor because he delivers at USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital.

My name is Candis Busby. My husband and I are the proud parents of three wonderful children, the newest born this fall.

Our second baby, Ty, had some health concerns when he was born a few years ago and the doctors transferred him to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital. They said he would receive better care at Children’s & Women’s, and they were right. Today, Ty is a healthy, rambunctious boy!

Well, when we learned we were pregnant again, I said “this baby will be born at Children’s & Women’s!” They deliver more babies than any hospital in the area, with the only intensive care unit for babies, so it just makes sense.

I chose my doctor because he delivers at Children’s & Women’s, and I would encourage every mother who wants the best for her baby to do the same.

Candis and Bucky Busby Monroeville, Alabama

www.usahealthsystem.com/usacwh

415-1000

Contents February 2013 Volume 5 Number 9

Features 38

The (New) Parent Trap

Find advice for adjusting to a new baby, which includes accepting help from others and avoiding isolation, among other important tips.

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New & Expectant Parents Guide

Our local guide directs you to all things “baby” on the Eastern Shore, from pediatricians to clothing and much more!

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Save Big on Baby Gear

Learn easy and practical ways to cut costs when caring for your new baby.

Columns

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10 Indoor Activities for Winter

Don’t let the cold weather keep you and the kids in hibernation. Use these fun ideas to make winter lively around your home!

2 From One Parent to Another Lynn Knighton

4 Living With Children John Rosemond

On The Cover

12 Kids Health

Departments

by Dr. Robert L. Rux, M.D.

6 Bits and Pieces

34 Get This!

Paige Gardner Smith

14 School Bits

36 Dave Says Dave Ramsey

60 Family Calendar

50 The FlyLady

68 Movie Reviews

Marla Cilley

58 A Page in a Book Paige Gardner Smith

Jillian Kelley, 7 months, daughter of Allison and Chuck Kelley and little sister to Connor.

Proud grandparents are James and Carolyn Light and Durand and Sherra Kelley.

Visit www.EasternShoreParents.com

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Eastern Shore Parents I February 2013

EasternShoreParents The Eastern Shore’s Foremost Parenting Source

Eastern Shore Parents Magazine, is founded on the principle that parenting is an exciting, diverse, challenging, and significant, role in our community. Eastern Shore Parents Magazine is a community advocate for families and the parenting process.

Publisher Lynn Knighton lynn@easternshoreparents.com

Editor DeAnne Watson deanne@easternshoreparents.com

Associate Editor Kelly Watson kelly@easternshoreparents.com

Research Editor Shellie Hoag

Advertising Opportunities Lynn Knighton Leslie Hall

ads@easternshoreparents.com (251) 929-2099

Contributing Writers Marla Cilley Sandra Gordon Kerrie McLoughlin Dave Ramsey John Rosemond Dr. Robert L. Rux, M.D. Heidi Luedtke Smith Paige Gardner Smith

Cover Photography Janel Gay www.janelgayphotography.com

President

Jason Watson jason@easternshoreparents.com

Visit us online at www.easternshoreparents.com Eastern Shore Parents magazine is published monthly by KeepSharing, LLC. Mailing address: P.O. Box 374, Montrose, Alabama, 36559. The phone number for voice and fax is (251) 929-2099.

Eastern Shore Parents is copyrighted 2013

by KeepSharing LLC. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. Opinions expressed in Eastern Shore Parents magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the owners, nor do they constitute an endorsement of products and services herein.

Eastern Shore Parents I February 2013

From One Parent to Another...

As I walked by the girls’ bathroom the other day I had a reality check. There they were, all three lined up looking in the mirror, fixing their own hair, primping for the day in cute outfits they had picked out the day before.

Mary-Bradley with her ears now pierced, Anna carefully accessorizing, and Katie, now tall enough to reach the higher shelves. My girls are growing up...and fast. It was that moment that solidified a promise I made to myself over the holidays, to really focus on spending quality time with the girls when they are home and being “present”. As a working mom it is really easy and tempting to check emails every chance you get, or to answer each text as it comes in. But my girls are not going to be little very long and I want to savor every moment. Yes, it is also tempting to spend the time on the weekend cleaning and organizing, but that’s not what I want the girls to remember.

I want them to remember Mom and Dad playing games and laughing with them. We love going to the park and playing outside, but that’s not always possible. It’s great to have a list of fun indoor activities on hand for cold and rainy days or even those summer days when it is just too hot to play outside. Kerrie McLoughlin has some great suggestions in this month’s article, 10 Indoor Activities for Winter. These ideas will get you through a whole year of fun when the weather isn’t right for outdoor play!

During my reflection on my girls, I got extra sentimental and decided I wanted to look up and print some old pictures from when they were babies. I couldn’t help but remember what a stressful time that was with a four year old, one year old and an infant, along with running a business. Why is it, as moms, we feel the need to be super woman, to act like we can do it all without any help? We were not designed for that. God designed us to have great friends and close family relations to help one another. Most of us love helping out a friend, so why is it we all have trouble ASKING for help? I think if I had asked for help more when my babies were smaller, I not only would have enjoyed them even more (if possible), I probably would have deepened relationships further with family and friends. If you are guilty of the inability to ask for help, I encourage you to read The (New) Parent Trap, by Heidi Smith Luedtke.

The stress of a family is, of course, not just limited to having enough time and energy. As we all know, it can also put a pretty decent dent in the budget. Diapers, food, wipes, car seats and more can all add up fast! However, there are several ways to save on baby gear. Many grocery and department stores have baby clubs that offer coupons and discounts, so ask everywhere you shop. Also, check out local coupon sites like www.EasternShoreMom.com and www.FrugalFairhope.com. They often post great deals on diapers and more. For even more money saving tips check out this month’s article, 6 Ways to Save Big on Baby Gear.

One thing you can definitely save money on this month is family fun! February offers several FREE activities in the calendar, and of course, Mardi Gras parades are listed in our Bits N Pieces section.

Wishing you a February filled with love and laughter,

Lynn Lynn Knighton, Publisher

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Eastern Shore Parents I February 2013

Living With Children

By John Rosemond

Supporting Irresponsible Adult Delays Maturity Q: We have an

arrangement, one that you should not participate in. She isn’t going to learn how to deal with life’s realities if you make it possible for her to be both irresponsible and care-free.

Decisions of this sort are riddled with guilt and self-doubt. They are the toughest of parental decisions, in fact.

Hang tough, and remember that life’s most valuable lessons are learned the hard way.

adult child who doesn’t want to grow up. She quit college after two years and moved across the country. As we anticipated, she’s having difficulty supporting herself. In fact, she doesn’t have a job and seems to have no real motivation to get one. Her mother, my husband’s ex-wife, thinks we should be sending her a monthly allowance to help with her rent and food. We have kept her on our health insurance, but feel that sending her money would equate to approving her poor choices and unacceptable lifestyle. What would you do?

Q: My 10-year-old daughter is having thoughts about other girls. She says she’s worried because she notices and admires other girls’ figures. I know this is normal, but I’m not really sure what to say to her. She seems to be obsessing about it. What’s your advice?

A: I’d do what you’re doing. Legally,

A: You should tell her what you

you are under no obligation to support an adult child, and supporting an irresponsible adult child will only further delay her maturity. It may be what she wants, and it is surely going to make her life temporarily more comfortable, but it is not what she needs, not in the long run. Her mother is obviously addicted to enabling, and the girl is obviously addicted to entitlements. This is a toxic

Eastern Shore Parents I February 2013

already know to be true: It’s perfectly normal for a pre-teen girl to admire other girl’s bodies. Point out to her that adult men admire other men’s bodies and adult women admire other women’s bodies. Admiration and sexual attraction are two entirely different things.

It’s also fairly normal for pre-teens to experience a moderate amount of obsessive thinking about one thing or

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another. Their tendency to worry about themselves probably has to do with changes going on in brain chemistry and cognitive abilities as well as related changes in self-concept. In that regard, it’s important that you not make this a topic of frequent conversation. The more you talk with her about it, no matter how understanding and reassuring you are, the more obsessing she’s likely to do.

Say what you have to say, and then tell her something along these lines: “This is not something we need to keep talking about. In fact, the more we talk about it, the more you’re going to think about it, and the more you’re going to worry about it. I’ve said all I have to say, so let’s make an agreement that this is the last conversation we’re going to have about this.”

She’s looking to you for indication of whether this is important or not.

If you act like it’s not worth talking about, she’ll eventually stop worrying about it—eve¬ntually being the operative word. At that point, because she’s a pre-teen, she’ll probably start worrying about something else.

Family psychologist John Rosemond answers parents’ questions on his website at www.rosemond.com.

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Eastern Shore Parents I February 2013

bits & pieces 3rd Annual Sole2Soul Sister’s Scoot to Benefit Ransom Cafe The Sole2Soul Sisters are hosting their 3rd annual 5K and Fun Run on Saturday, February 9, at 8 a.m. It will be held at the Battleship Memorial Park on the Causeway in Mobile. The first 400 to sign up are guaranteed a t-shirt and all Fun Run participants will receive a finisher’s ribbon. There will also be medals and lots of door prizes. Proceeds benefit Ransom Ministries, Inc. a local 501©3 nonprofit that operates donation only cafés in three locations throughout Mobile. Ransom has served over 40,000 hot meals throughout Mobile and surrounding areas since opening it’s doors in October of 2010! To sign up for the race, visit Ransom Café’s website (www.ransomcafe.com) and click on the Events page or go to active.com. You can also register at Running Wild, Run n’ Tri, McCoy Outdoors, or on the day of the race! To learn more about the Sole2Soul Sisters, please visit their website, www.sole2soulsisters.com.

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Touch Tank Exhibit Opens March 16 at Estuarium

The Estuarium at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab is about to open its first outdoor touch tank, an exciting exhibit that invites visitors to learn about the “Rays of the Bay.” This 6,400-gallon tank will house cownose rays, southern stingrays and bonnethead sharks, and visitors will be allowed to gently touch these animals once the exhibit opens on Saturday, March 16. “Rays of the Bay” is sponsored by Lulu’s at Homeport Restaurant and the Hearin-Chandler Foundation.

Mobile Ballet to Host “Snow White” Tea and Visit Library Storytime For the young and young at heart Mobile Ballet Eastern Shore will be hosting The Snow White Tea on Saturday, February 23rd, 2 p.m. at the James P. Nix Center in Fairhope. Join us for an enchanted afternoon of Tea and Hors d’oeuvres, shop the silent auction and meet the cast of the Snow White Ballet. Guests will enjoy a performance by the Mobile Ballet company dancers, getting a sneak peak of the world premiere of Winthrop Corey’s Snow White that will be presented on March 8-9 at the Mobile Civic Center Theater. Tickets are $25 per person.

You can purchase tickets from Mobile Ballet Eastern Shore at 26436-B Kensington Place in Daphne or call 251-626-8932. Also, join the Mobile Ballet Eastern Shore for story time at the Daphne Public Library, Thursday Feb,7th 10:30 a.m. Participants will Live the Fairytale and dance with Ballerinas. Tickets to the Snow White Tea will be available for purchase at this event.

Eastern Shore Parents I February 2013

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Get Your Girl Scout Cookies Today!

It’s Girl Scout Cookie time. The 2013 lineup includes favorites, such as Shortbreads, Thin Mints, Caramel Delights ®, Peanut Butter Patties ®, Peanut Butter Sandwiches, Lemonades™, Thanks-A-Lots™ and a new addition, the Mango Crème with Nutrafusion. The cookie program activity is the nation’s largest girl-led business and the leading financial literacy program for girls. Designed for girls in grades K-12, it is a key element of the Girl Scout leadership experience. Beginning February 1, cookies will be sold at booth sales, where troops will set up in front of local businesses and shopping centers. For more information or to locate Girl Scout troop, visit www. girlscoutssa.org or call toll free 1-800-239-6636.

2nd Annual Project Rummage Scheduled for March Junior League of Mobile (JLM) is happy to announce its 2nd Annual Project Rummage. This year’s Project Rummage, sponsored by Belk, will be held Saturday, March 16th, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 85 N. Sage Ave. General Admission for the event is $2 with free parking at the JLM Office, 57 N. Sage Ave. The event provides the community access to rummage through hundreds of slightly used but completely amazing items at affordable pricing. Items included in the sale are furniture, toys, appliances, housewares, clothes and much more. Project Rummage will also offer customers a “Peek and Purchase” Event.

This preview event will be Friday, March 15th, from 6-8 p.m. For only $10, customers will have the opportunity to purchase items before the general public and enjoy food and drinks! Proceeds from Project Rummage fund the mission of JLM. 6

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Mobile Boat Show Helps Kids with Cancer Enjoy Fishing

For nearly 10 years the Mobile Boat Show has hosted a trout pond fishing experience as a fundraiser to help pay for fishing during Camp Rap-A-Hope’s week-long summer camp for children with cancer. The Mobile Boat Show’s trout pond raised more than $1,800 for Camp Rap-A-Hope in 2012 and was used to purchase supplies allowing 70 campers to fish the entire week. These funds have helped purchase new fishing rods, bait and tackle, and life jackets since 2004. Tickets for the trout pond are $3 and can be purchased at the Mobile Boat Show. 100% of the money raised from trout pond ticket sales helps fund fishing during Camp Rap-A-Hope’s week-long summer camp. This year’s summer camp will take place June 2-8 at Camp Grace, www.campgrace.com, in west Mobile. Campers come from more than 300 miles of the central Gulf Coast and usually reside in the states of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

The Mobile Boat Show will take place at the Mobile Convention Center, February 22-24. For show details, a schedule of events, and to purchase tickets in advance visit www.gulfcoastshows.com.

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Junior Cotillion Holds Holly Ball

The National League of Junior Cotillions, Eastern Shore chapter, had its Holly Ball at the Marriott Grand Hotel on December 14th. Dressed in semi-formals, sixth grade students from along the Eastern Shore mingled, danced and enjoyed refreshments. The event was complete with a professional DJ and photographer as well as games and dance contests. Chapter Director, Kathy Sternenberg, said, “The Holly Ball was a perfect opportunity for students to practice the social skills they have been learning in class.” The National League of Junior Cotillions program features etiquette, character education, and social dance training for sixth through ninth grade students on the Eastern Shore. The program includes five classes and two balls over a seven-month period. Established in 1979, the headquarters for the National League of Junior Cotillions is located in Charlotte, North Carolina. There are now chapters all across the country, involving thousands of students. For more information on the Cotillion program, call Kathy Sternenberg at 990-5366.

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Eastern Shore Parents I February 2013

bits & pieces Carnival of the Animals to Benefit Thomas Hospital’s Birth Center Mercedes of Mobile presents Carnival of the Animals. Allow yourself to be taken away to a whimsical make-believe world of zoological wonder.

This production will feature special performances by Mobile Opera's Scott and Sarah Wright, along with Mobile Ballet's Lauren Woods and narrated

by Daniel Mainwaring. Proceeds benefit Thomas Hospital's Birth Center.

Saturday, February 23rd at 7:30 p.m. at the Saenger. VIP Pre Performance Party at Room 1927 presented Gary Englade's Legacy Bar & Grill. Join us for cocktails, champagne and heavy hors d’oeuvres beginning at 6:00. To purchase tickets visit shop.mouvement-in-art.com or call 251-610-8902.

Project Mouvement In Art is a community dance initiative which offers dedicated young dance artists an exceptional array of intensive training and performance opportunities. www.mouvement-in-art.com.

Waterville USA Announces Addition for 2013

Construction will begin soon on a new water park attraction that will be the first of its kind on the Gulf Coast; a six lane mat racer waterslide. The new attraction features six slides that are equal in length. Racers will first enter a harrowing tunnel circling 360 degrees high in the air before exploding out onto a high speed straightaway for a race toward the checkered finish. The slide allows for a racing environment where riders can enjoy the thrill of actually winning their race against other sliders. The slides are approximately 55’ high, allowing racers to reach a top speed of 40 feet per second.

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Nutcracker Charity Ball Raises Funds for Children’s Charities One of the unique aspects of the Nutcracker Charity Ball is that the focus is on raising funds for worthy children's charities, as well as recognizing outstanding young women and their families. The proceeds of the Ball support the outreach and education programs of Mobile Ballet, as well as one or two children's charities that our Board selects each year through a formal grant application and selection process. In lieu of individual gifts to the debutantes, we encourage "in honor of" gifts to the Nutcracker Charity Ball through Mobile Ballet, Inc., which raises significant funds.

This year's children's charities, in addition to Mobile Ballet, were the children's programs of Penelope House and the USS Hope, the pediatric infusion therapy program of the University of South Alabama Children's & Women's Hospital. Representatives of the charities speak to our debs and their Mothers at our advance meetings and special events. Our debs also participated in volunteer service projects at both charities. Since its inception in 2003, the Ball has raised nearly $800,000.

The decor of the Ball is also an amazing aspect! Under the direction of Ron Barrett, the Ball Decoration Committee each year selects a theme based on a scene from The Nutcracker ballet. This year's theme was "Waltz of the Flowers." The talent of Winthrop Corey, Mobile Ballet’s Artistic Director, is also evident throughout the evening, with his input on staging, choreography, music, lighting, décor, etc.! Each Ball also features a performance by the dancers of the Mobile Ballet Company and students from the Mobile Ballet School (both studios - in Mobile and our Eastern Shore studio in Daphne). The Band for this year’s Nutcracker Charity Ball was US Beat from Atlanta. This year’s co-chairs of the Nutcracker Charity Ball were Libba Lyon and Jeanne Hunt. More than 50 volunteers, in addition to the Mobile Ballet staff, served on committees and assisted with the Ball. The Honorary co-chairs of this year’s Ball were Mr. & Mrs. Reginald “Reggie” Copeland, Sr. The Board President of Mobile Ballet, Inc. is Becky S. Tate. She is also a former co-chair of the Ball. This year we had 37 debutantes.

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25th Annual Mayor’s Golf Tournament to Benefit Public Education Take a stance for public education in Fairhope and join us for the 25th anniversary of the Mayor’s Golf Tournament, Thursday, March 21, at Quail Creek Golf Club in Fairhope.

Proceeds will provide classroom grants in academics, arts and music, science and technology, and tutoring. Sponsorship includes Wednesday’s practice round ($16 cart fee only – call for reservations), Thursday lunch compliments of Burris Farm Market, Thursday round, beverages on the course, awards ceremony, dinner courtesy of Wintzell’s Oyster House, and the opportunity to win door prizes generously donated by local businesses. The tournament format is a four-person scramble with check-in and lunch beginning at noon and a shotgun start following at 1 p.m. Non-golfers can support the tournament and schools by adopting a tee sign, honoring a teacher, coach or classroom, for $150. Space is limited. Visit www.feefonline.org to download a sponsorship form. For more information, call 990-FEEF or email info@feefonline.org.

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Students Organize Food Drive at Dance School to Benefit Catholic Charities Caroline Wilcox and Mary Holcombe organized a food drive at their dance school, for Catholic Charities. If dancers at Susan’s Academy of Dance contributed a nonperishable item they were allowed to wear their pajamas to dance class. Caroline and Mary are 11th graders at McGill-Toolen High School and they donated over 275lbs. of nonperishable items to Catholic Social Services for the needy.

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Eastern Shore Parents I February 2013

bits & pieces Mardi Gras Schedule 2013

• Friday, February 1 6:30 p.m. - Order of Inca (Mobile, Rte A) 6:45 p.m. - Apollo's Mystic Ladies (Daphne) • Saturday, February 2 2 p.m. - Mobile Mystics (Mobile, Rte A) 2:30 p.m. - Mystic Mutts of Revelry (Fairhope) 2:30 p.m. - Mobile Mystical Revelers (Mobile, Rte A) 6:30 p.m. - Maids of Mirth (Mobile, Rte A) 6:45 p.m. - Knights of Ecor Rouge (Fairhope) 7 p.m. - Butterfly Maidens (Mobile, Rte A) 7:30 p.m. - Krewe of Marry Mates (Mobile, Rte A) • Sunday, February 3 (Super Bowl Sunday) 6:30 p.m. - Neptune's Daughters (Mobile, Rte A) 7 p.m. - Order of Isis (Mobile, Rte A) • Monday, February 4 6:30 p.m. - Order of Venus (Mobile, Rte A) • Tuesday, February 5 6:30 p.m. - Order of LaShe's (Mobile, Rte A) • Thursday, February 7 6:30 p.m. - Mystic Stripers (Mobile, Rte A)

• Friday, February 8 6:30 p.m. - Crewe of Columbus (Mobile, Rte A) 6:30 p.m. - Mystical Order of Mirams (Orange Bch) 6:45 p.m. - Maids of Jubilee (Fairhope) 6:45 p.m. - Mystic Order of Persephone (Daphne) • Saturday, February 9 Noon - Floral Parade, Knights of Mobile, Mobile Mystical Ladies, Order of Angels (Mobile, Rte A) Noon - Krewe of Goats Parade (Prichard) Noon - Mystic Revelers (Bay Minette) 2 p.m. - Krewe of Mullet Mates (Mullet Point) 5:30 p.m. - Mystics of Pleasure (Orange Beach) 6 p.m. - Mystics of Time (Mobile, Rte A) 6:45 p.m. - Shadow Barons (Daphne) • Sunday, February 10 (Joe Cain Day) 2:29 p.m. - Loyal Order of the Firetruck (Daphne) 2:30 p.m. - Joe Cain Procession (Mobile, Rte A) 5 p.m. - Le Krewe de Bienville (Mobile, Rte A) • Monday, February 11 (Lundi Gras) 11:00 a.m. - Arrival of King Felix III (at foot of Government Street) Noon - King Felix III and Floral parades (Mobile, Rte A)

Noon - Prichard Mardi Gras Association Parade (Prichard) 3 p.m. - MLK Business and Civic Organization (Mobile, Rte D) 3:30 p.m. - MLK Monday Mystics (Mobile, Rte D) 4 p.m. - Northside Merchants (Mobile, Rte D) 6:30 p.m. - Infant Mystics (Mobile, Rte A) 6:45 p.m. - Order of Mystic Magnolias (Fairhope) • Tuesday, February 12 (Fat Tuesday) 10 a.m. - Gulf Shores Mardi Gras Association (Gulf Shores) 10:30 a.m. - Order of Athena (Mobile, Rte A) 12:30 p.m. - Knights of Revelry (Mobile, Rte A) 1:00 p.m. - King Felix Parade 1:30 p.m. - Comic Cowboys (Mobile, Rte A) 2 p.m. - Orange Beach Parade (Orange Beach) 2 p.m. - MAMGA Mammoth Parade (Mobile, Rte B) 6 p.m. - Order of Myths (Mobile, Rte C)

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Students Gear Up for Baldwin’s Biggest Talent Show of the Year

Planning for the fifth annual Baldwin Star Search is underway. The event, sponsored by Project Rebound and presented by Baldwin County Community Alliance, will take place Friday, February 22 from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. The event will be held at The Wharf Conference Center located in Orange Beach. The Baldwin County Community Alliance has created this no charge, alcohol & drug free event for students and families in Baldwin County. The purpose is to show high school students, during their most impressionable years, that they do not need alcohol or drugs in order to have fun.

Each high school will hold a talent competition in which their top winners will advance to perform in this countywide drug-free talent competition. High school talent for the event will include soloists, bands, and instrumental acts.

As with all of the BCCA drug-free events, high school students will sign alcohol and drug-free pledge cards at their schools prior to the event or the night of the event. High school students will then present their drug-free pledge card as free admittance and will be given a ticket that will be used for their chance to win door prizes from local businesses. This family fun event is free and is open to students, parents, and community members. Student bus transportation will be available at select schools.

Local celebrities will serve as the emcees for the event this year. The top three winning acts will receive grand prizes which will include a vacation trip, cash cards, gift cards, and other donated items from local businesses. Each contestant performing in the Baldwin Star Search will receive a prize pack. All students and attendees will enjoy free pizza and popcorn. Intermission will consist of video clip messages where students were encourage to live an alcohol and drug free lifestyle as well as local school performances.

“Project Rebound is very excited about sponsoring this event for the third year in a row. Our counselors continue to work very closely with the Baldwin County Schools system and we know first-hand that underage drinking is a serious problem in our county. Although there has been progress in reducing the extent of underage drinking in recent years, particularly among those aged 17 and younger, the rates of underage drinking are still unacceptably high, according to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Underage drinking shouldn’t be the norm growing up. It’s a serious and persistent public health problem and puts our community’s in danger,” said Paige Rucker, Project Rebound State Director.

Project Rebound is a nonprofit organization designed to assist in coastal recovery as a result of the 2010 Deep Water Horizon/BP oil spill. If someone needs assistance whether it be financial, emotional or deeply personal Project Rebound is here to help. Counselors are available by calling 1-800-639-REBOUND (7326) or by visiting the Project Rebound website at www.ProjectRebound.org.

Eastern Shore Parents I February 2013

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Bobby Deen to Visit Page and Palette Bobby Deen, host of the #1 Cooking Channel show Not My Mama’s Meals, and son of beloved food personality Paula Deen grew up on the delicious southern comfort food that his mother is known for. Bobby has tweaked the recipes he grew up on to contain fewer calories. The delicious result is his new cookbook From Mama’s Table to Mine: Everybody’s Favorite Comfort Foods at 350 Calories or Less which features 120 recipes of Southern comfort-food classics—all under 350 calories and jam-packed with flavor. In addition to mouthwatering recipes and 65 full-color photos, you will find before/after fat and calorie counts —plus a week’s worth of 1,500 calorie/day menus, celebration menus, healthy prep tips, weight-loss shortcuts, ideas for stocking a healthy pantry/fridge, and a section on easy high-fat/low-fat ingredient swaps.

Bobby Dean will be visiting the Eastern Shore, Saturday, February 9th from 2 – 4 p.m. at Page and Palette Bookstore located at 32 South Section Street, Fairhope.

Daphne Cheer Team Wows Judges at New Orleans Competition Taking the south by surprise last season when earning a bid to the 2012 Cheerleading Worlds in their first year even open as a gym, the members of the Gem of Champions (GOC) Black Diamonds out of Daphne, were determined to show the competitive cheer world that their trip to Orlando as a Small All-Girl team was based on their talent and hard work, not just on luck. As they traveled to New Orleans for their first shot at earning a bid for the 2013 Worlds, they were more than ready to show out at the Mardi Gras Spirit Nationals. After day one of the competition, the Senior Medium Coed team was ranked first in their division and third in line for a bid. After day two, the standings remained the same and the GOC Black Diamonds gladly accepted their At-Large bid for the road to Worlds in only their second year in existence. Celebrating their hardworking win, a few members of the team took to New Orleans and went to a newly opened restaurant owned by famous actor, Channing Tatum. While there, they shared their story with the General Manager and he shared it with Channing Tatum, who soon emailed and tweeted the GOC Black Diamonds his own congratulatory statement.

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Eastern Shore Parents I February 2013

Kids Heal h

Sponsored by Magnolia Springs Pediatrics

It’s Mardi Gras Time!

Yelling for moon pies, wrestling over beads, dancing with the marching bands, and running to catch the parade multiple times a few blocks over are just a few of the most enduring memories of my childhood and Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras in Mobile and on the Eastern Shore has a storied tradition and today we’ll talk about a brief history, some differences between Mobile and Eastern Shore parades, some tips on catching the best stuff, and some easy safety plans for you and your family.

Mardi Gras was, of course, started in Mobile (long before New Orleans) way back in 1703 as a festival called Boeuf Gras, which is French for Fatted Ox! However, the first inklings of the Mardi Gras as we know it today with official organizations had their first parade in 1840. Then, in 1866, Joseph Stillwell Cain donned full Chickasaw Indian regalia and paraded to boost the morale of the city during the Civil war. Now we honor him on the Sunday before Fat Tuesday with the infamous Joe Cain Day parade. Mardi Gras in Mobile has evolved over the years to include multiple societies, complete with parades and formal balls prior to the Lenten season which starts the next day on Ash Wednesday.

Eastern Shore Parents I February 2013

In addition to the Mobile scene, Mardi Gras has expanded to include all of Mobile and Baldwin Counties. However, there are a few differences between Mobile and the surrounding areas. Mobile is much larger in terms of the individual parades, float size, bands, and the amount of throws you catch. But with this bounty comes bigger crowds and more traffic.

The non-Mobile areas tend to feature smaller parades and floats, less bands and potentially less throws, but are much less crowded and very family friendly. On the Eastern Shore there are multiple parades in Fairhope, Daphne, Foley and at the Gulf.

Now, for those who are new to the area, there are some tricks to catching the good stuff. The most common throws are moon pies and beads, so let the riders know what you want. As a rider and a pediatrician, I have a sympathetic eye for kids--so hold them up and you will be rewarded. If you know a rider in a specific parade, then make a sign and make it big. It’s almost impossible to pick out individuals in a crowd of jumping and cheering people. And if you see someone with a poster, get near them; you will catch a lot of misfired throws. Last, but not least, us riders like a challenge, so anyone

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with a funny poster or on a balcony will get pelted.

Of course, Mardi Gras cannot be enjoyed unless you follow some simple rules. First of all, the parades on the Eastern Shore have few if any barricades.

Therefore, children can jump out in front of vehicles and floats really easily. Oftentimes good throws will get stuck in the middle of the road, but please wait until the parade is over to collect the goodies. And have a safety plan in case anyone gets lost. Usually meeting at the car or on a certain corner are good plans. So, please enjoy Mardi Gras, but be safe. You can learn all about the history and scheduling of this wonderful celebration on the internet by looking for “History of Mobile Mardi Gras”.

Robert L. Rux, M.D. is a Board Certified Pediatrician at Magnolia Springs Pediatrics.

Originally from Mobile, he attended medical school at The University of Alabama School of Medicine (UAB) and completed residency at The Children’s Hospital of Alabama (UAB). He is married to Jaime and has three children, Adler, Walker and Mary McAtee.

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Eastern Shore Parents I February 2013

2 Fairhope High School Students Attend Photography Field Tip Fairhope High School Multimedia students taught by Sharon Jones recently participated in a digital photography field trip at Bay Front Park and Jackson’s Oak in Daphne and at the Fairhope History Museum. Local photographers Ryan Clements, Irwin Funes, Kathy Hicks, Rob Renner, and Stephen Savage worked with the students showing them how to get the best shots with their DSLR cameras.

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Gulf Shores Elementary School Appreciative of Police Gulf Shores Elementary School students, staff and faculty are so appreciative of presence of the Gulf Shores Police Department every day at school. We love our community! Front row L to r: Students Ana Lopez, Gethyn Evans, Caylin Dean, Cali Sweet, Hallee Howells and Kolton Holland; Back row: Officer Kristopher Baldner.

B Alabama School of Math and Sciences Students Perform at Bicentennial A handful of students performed at Mobile Bicentennial celebration recently.

Pictured, Will Steudle, Lorenzo Gapud, Leanna Hamilton, and Rowdy Cosby.

McGillToolen NHS Members Give Back McGill-Toolen National Honor Society members went to the Ronald McDonald House to cook breakfast for the residents there.

NHS members arrived at the House at 7 a.m. to start cooking french toast, bacon and fruit salad. It was such a fulfilling experience for the members that they are planning to go back every month!

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Chemistry Tie Dye at Spanish Fort High School

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As part of the organic chemistry lab, students in Mrs. Menas' class tie-dyed T-shirts, shoes, aprons, and hats. “Tie Dye” allows chemistry students to see chemistry in action and have fun at the same time.

There are many artistic chemistry students at SFHS! Pictured (L to R): Tanner Schroeder, Jared Powell, and Dustin Watts show off their Tie Dye T-shirts in Mrs. Menas's chemistry class.

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Fairhope Elementary 2nd Grader’s Artwork on Display at Capitol

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Providing Catholic education for the Eastern Shore since 1949

Artwork by Anne Darby Clark, a 2nd grade student in Mrs. Lara LeFever’s Class at Fairhope Elementary, has been selected for the state superintendent’s visual arts exhibit.

Anne Darby, holding her winning piece, “Once Upon a Starry Night,” is pictured with her art teacher, Mrs. Judy Humphrey. Her mixed-media artwork is one of 15 pieces selected from Baldwin County that was on public display at the old supreme court library of the Alabama state capitol in February.

Open Registration For 2013-2014 School Year Monday, February 18, 2013

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1503 Main Street  Daphne, AL 36526 251-626-1692 www.ctheking.org

Bayshore Christian School Spelling Bee Winners Bayshore Christian School held it’s 2013 Spelling Bee. Each grade held it’s own spelling bee in their own class and the top three spellers advanced to the school wide spelling bee. Congratulations to all who participated. Pictured are the winners ( left to right): Aubrey Mund (3rd place), Sarah Chambliss (2nd place) and Allana Wiest (1st place), shown with Director Ms. Becky Whitecotton.

STILL THE BEST

Providing Catholic education for the Eastern Shore since 1949

Open Registration For 2013-2014 School Year Monday, February 18, 2013

Kindergarten Registration for New Students 9:00 AM

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Grades 1-8 Registration for New Students 9:30 AM

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1503 Main Street  Daphne, AL 36526 251-626-1692 www.ctheking.org Visit www.EasternShoreParents.com

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Eastern Shore Parents I February 2013

Robertsdale Elementary Scores High in Stock Market Game

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Robertsdale Elementary students recently placed in the top ten teams in their division in a statewide Stock Market Game. The competition is a problem based learning and real world teaching tool that also helps educators implement common core and STEM guidelines.

Students make decisions as they work to create and manage an online $100,000 portfolio of stocks and mutual funds. They work together in teams, practicing leadership, organization, negotiation, and cooperation, as they compete for the top spot, and engage in high levels of math, reading, writing, and technology skills. Competing against elementary, middle, and high school teams, RES ranked 10th in their division out of 152 teams, and ranked 67th place out of 914 teams in the state. The students were led by veteran 6th grade teacher Craig Broughton.

Pictured are the top RES winners: Demetrius Stallworth, Carl McMillian, Presley Holland, and Elizabess Wright.

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Slim Goodbody Visits Daphne East Elementary

Slim Goodbody presented the fundamentals of anatomy, nutrition, fitness, and hygiene to Daphne East K - 3rd graders. The program is designed to promote self-respect and motivate children to be the best they can be.

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Bayside Academy Spelling Bee Winner

Trent Kannegieter, an eighth grade student at Bayside Academy, recently won the school’s spelling bee in the 14th round by successfully spelling the word “paramount.” Fifth grader Joshua Foster was the runner-up. Kannegieter will compete in the county spelling bee at the Loxley Civic Center on Feb. 5. The State Spelling Bee will be held March 9.

Pictured (l-r): Bayside Academy fifth grader Joshua Foster, spelling bee runnerup, and eighth grader Trent Kannegieter, spelling bee winner.

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Huntington Learning Center’s Fairhope MS Teacher of the Month

Huntington Learning Center is pleased to announce that Mrs. Michele Jordan was selected as the December Fairhope Middle School Teacher of the Month.

Mrs. Jordan, an 8th grade math teacher, earned her Elementary Education degree from McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

She is highly qualified in math and has been teaching for 9 years, all of which have been at FMS. Mrs. Jordan is married with 2 children, both students at Fairhope High School. She was selected by the faculty for her enthusiastic attitude and dedication to the success of her students.

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Eastern Shore Parents I February 2013

United Bank Announces Winners of 2012 Christmas Coloring Contest In December, United Bank held its annual Christmas Coloring Contest. The contest was open to children up to age 12. The participants were divided into three categories based on their age. With more than 500 entries from across the market, United Bank chose the following winners: Ages 0-4: Jenna Reiter, Eastern Shore Centre Branch; Ages 5-8: Jaxon King, Flomaton Branch; Ages 9-12: Larson Little, Bay Minette Branch. Each winner was awarded a $25 gift card. Coloring sheets were submitted from December 1 thru December 24. Judging was held January 3.

The North Invades Fairhope Middle School

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Members of the Senior Bowl North team recently visited with the students of Fairhope Middle School. The football players spoke to the students, encouraging them to work hard and remain focused on their goals. They also answered questions from the students and signed autographs. Pictured, from left to right, are the following players and 8th grade students: Mike Glennon, North Carolina State; Hayden Merchant; Khaseem Greene, Rutgers University; Kody Gratkowski; Marquise Goodwin, University of Texas; and Ashantee Crum.

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Types of Evaluations Offered: Learning Problems Anxiety Disorders Mood Disorders ADHD Dr. Murphree is a licensed Clinical Psychologist who specializes in working with children and adolescents.

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East Bay Psychiatry and Associates (251) 928-4750 eastbaypsych@att.net Accepting Aetna, All Kids, American Behavioral, Blue Advantage, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama, Cigna, Compsych, Magellan, Medicaid, Medicare, MHCA, State EIB, United Behavioral Health, Value Options

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Rockwell Elementary’s Peer Helpers A peer helper program is in full swing at Rockwell Elementary School. This program is funded by the Jennifer Claire Moore Foundation, which is a nonprofit corporation that provides high schools, middle schools, and elementary schools with educational programs designed to help young people cope with day-to-day life pressures and emotional situations. This year, our peer helpers were nominated by classroom teachers, the school counselor, and the principal for their trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, compassion, and citizenship. The following students have been selected and are pictured from left to right: Catherine Walls, Audrey Miller, Morgan Hollis, Lucas Alday, Dylan Peterson, Noah Nelson, Corinne Stanton, Sophia Koolman, Fabiola Rodriquez, Farah Elrakhawi, Anne Nelson, and Lydia Walker. During this semester the peer helpers will focus on creating a culture of kindness in their school by using many activities with the following books: Have You Filled a Bucket Today?, by Carol McCloud and How Full Is Your Bucket? for Kids, by Tom Rath and Mary Reckmeyer.

Robertsdale Elementary Students of the Month Robertsdale Elementary recently recognized its December Students of the Month with a certificate, badge, and special lunch hosted by Mellow Mushroom. The special recipients included: (in no particular order) Hayden Close, Ethan Butler, Mckenzie Buck, Heath Anderson, Presley Ann Brow, Ashley Cortez, Monica Tamayo, Charlotte Edmond, Diana Ramirez-Perez, Jaedon Hill, Morgan Kroll, Anthony Dardar, Karsyn Bodle, Itzy Barrera, Chris Weeks, Braydon Davis, Erica Montellano-Alejandre, Payton Hawsey, Hannah Latorre, Aeva McAlister, Randy Cloer, Chloe Byrd, Kaleb Pugh, Ashlynn Simmons, Valerie Allison, Harleigh Byerly, Ali McDaniel, Lena Spears, Mason Thweatt, Brayden Hilburn, Trey McKinney, Tyler Brown, Emory Page, Wesley Mosely, Colby Lee, Angel Jackson, Gabriel Banks, Cameron Spray, Lauren Shaw, Ariel Smith, Brad Day, Shelby Givens, DJ Herrin, and Andres Ordiano.

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Eastern Shore Parents I February 2013

S Fairhope Students Perform at Community Appreciation Day Program

Fairhope Elementary students were so excited to welcome Fairhope's community workers at their annual Christmas Sing/Community Appreciation Day Program. They recognized Fairhope's police officers, fire fighters, municipal public works employees, paramedics, and parent volunteers. The students sang beautiful Christmas Songs, read heartfelt letters/cards, and presented each group with a basket full of goodies to take back to their coworkers! Pictured from left to right back row: Sergeant Craig Sawyer, Sergeant Jimmy Davis, Fire Dept. Chief Chris Ellis, City Worker Ben Patterson, Paramedics Jennifer Bailey, and Mike Anderson, and our totally awesome parent volunteer Mr. Richard Tellman. From left to right front row: Isabella Tran, Caroline Tapscott, Georgia Byrd, Hailey McEwan, Koestler Anderton, and Pierson Weaver.

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Kiwanis Terrific Kids for November 2012

Orange Beach Elementary School Kiwanis Terrific Kids (Grades 4-6) for November: Front Row L to R: Adam Andrews, McKenna Gehr, Cody Daniels, Hannah Sullivan; Back Row L to R: Jason Jackson (Kiwanis Representative), Dakota Richards, Hannah Dumas, Bonnie Jones, Lacey Tillery, Hannah King, Tripp Oliphant (Assistant Principal).

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Spanish Fort High School Holds Project Outreach Christmas Party

On Friday, December 14, the Project Outreach Club held its annual Christmas party for Project Reach students at Spanish Fort High School. Students ate, exchanged gifts, made stockings, and decorated gingerbread houses. A beautiful, live Christmas tree stood in the center of the library, compliments of Dominique Hatten, a freshman at SFHS. Everyone had a wonderful time at the Christmas party together! Pictured (From L to R): Claire Blackmon, Banner McLeod, and Ashton Prouty were all smiles in front of the live Christmas tree, donated by Dominique Hatten at the Project Outreach Christmas Party.

Gulf Shores Elementary Students Love the Cold Pictured, Kaitlyn Hoff and Aiden Sallin, students at Gulf Shores Elementary School, love cold weather, giving them a great reason to wear their funky hats to school!

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Eastern Shore Parents I February 2013

Christ the King School Geography Bee Winners Christ the King Catholic School held its annual Geography Bee on Friday, January 11 in the school gym. The ten finalists from grades four through eight competed in their respective homerooms to earn a spot in the school bee.

Fourth grader Edward Cowles is the school champion and will advance to the next level of competition. The second place winner was Audrey Destro and third place went to Reily Gordon, both sixth graders. CKCS principal Max Crain, Denise D'Oliveira and Amy Huff were the judges for the bee. Pictured are, from left, back row, .Reily Gordon, Audrey Destro, Brendan Roh, Jake Spotswood and Collin Davidson.

Front row are Tevara Duplessis, Sophia LaPalme, Edward Cowles, Parker Martin and James Marlowe.

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Robertsdale Elementary Spelling Bee Champion

Sixth grader Gavin Wallace was recently crowned 2012-2013 school champion at the Robertsdale Elementary Spelling Bee. Gavin faced tough competition and survived several grueling rounds to claim the trophy, and will now represent RES at the upcoming Baldwin County Championship. Gavin is pictured alongside Amy Ile, fourth grade teacher and Spelling Bee Coordinator.

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Homeschool Co-Op Group is Growing The Navigators Homeschool Co-Op has set sail for the spring semester and much fun is anticipated! Since the fall semester, 6 new families and 19 children have joined the Navigators bringing the total crew count to 124! Navigator academic participants are already enjoying their journey as they take part in weekly, fun classes at the Daphne Recreational Center. These classes include science lab, drama, lego building, cooking, art, sign language and ďŹ tness & health! The Preschool academic Navigators are enjoying their experience as they embark into classes such as Bible story & craft time, choir, play-doh fun, animal explorers as well as a special coordinated weekly, library story time at the Daphne Library! New and old friendships are being molded as Navigator moms serve, teach and fellowship together each week! Fellowship groups are a new addition to the Navigator monthly port check list. This new dock will allow for fun play time amongst Navigator mates and fellowship time for the Navigator moms. The compass values that steer this crew are outreach, discipleship, encouragement and service! These elements are sure to be seen at each Navigator port. The Navigators are always welcoming new ship mates, and if you would like to join the crew please contact Lucy Nelson, Navigators New Family Coordinator at lucywadenelson@gmail.com or 251-978-7556.

Fairhope High School January Students of the Month Pictured, top, left to right: seniors Sammi Moccia and Kevin Walley; bottom left to right: freshmen Aurora Meyer, Andrew Baumhauer, sophomores Mary Baumhauer and Jacob Champion, juniors Mallory Jessee, and Will Cassibry.

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Eastern Shore Parents I February 2013

A a Spanish Fort HS Spanish Club Raises Money for Local Hispanic Family The Spanish Fort High School Spanish Club sold "Candy Cane Candy Grams" to help raise money for a deserving Spanish family in Baldwin County. They raised $200 with the sale of these candy canes! Spanish teacher, Kim Smith, was extremely proud of her Spanish Club students as they worked hard to spread a little holiday cheer around Baldwin County! They delivered the candy canes wearing Christmas costumes and a Taco / Sombrero outfit! Pictured from L to R: Bottom Row- Melody Powell, Haley Garrett, Ellie Melton; Middle Row – Maddie Diring, Ashton Prouty, Claire Blackmon, Lizzy Arnot, Callie Sholder; Top Row – Mia Barazza, Tyler Orem, Gannon Bell, Connor Irion.

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McGill-Toolen Yellow Jackets Play in All Star Game in Montgomery McGill-Toolen Seniors Jason Smith, Harrison Louden and Thomas Hamlin were selected to play in this year's AL - MS All Star Game in Montgomery on December 15th. Thomas Hamlin was 3 for 4 on Field Goals with 2 punts for a 40 yard average and 3 of his 7 kick offs were touchbacks, Harrison Louden played every other series and with some exceptional blocks and Jason Smith as the AL MVP with 6 receptions for 134 yards.

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Alabama School of Math and Sciences Instructor Retires After working at the school since it was founded 21 years ago, Alabama School of Math and Science physics instructor Dr. Garvin Wattuhewa retired last month.

He is pictured with ASMS Registrar Kim Brunson, left, and ASMS Executive Assistant Carlotta Russell.

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Junior Auxiliary of the Eastern Shore - Crown of Character These 5th Graders at Fairhope Intermediate were awarded the Crown of Character award for the month of December. Congratulations! Back Row: Jennifer Flad (JAES), Eli Cunningham, Bryce Houck, Houston Prewett, Mrs. Broughton; Front Row: Nolan Myers, Sara Beth Hill, Anna Lisa Wiggins, Dylan Smith. Thank you to our gold level sponsors: Bay Pediatric, Chick-fil-A, Coastal Neurological Institute, Restoration Health, Terry Thompson & Thomas Hospital.

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Eastern Shore Parents I February 2013

Spanish Fort HS Fashion Class Creates Clothing

Newton School Spelling Bee Winner After a several l rounds with the final word being misspelled, Trevor York won the Spelling Bee at J. Larry Newton School. He won by spelling “orphan” correctly.

The final round was a battle between York, Lorna Agren and Jacob Newsome.

Trevor York claims Spelling Bee title at Newton School. Pictured with Trevor York is Newton School Principal Patrice Wolfe Krueger.

The Fashion Class at Spanish Fort High School, taught by Dianne Bernasconi, hosted a runway fashion show to debut their hand made garments to the student body. All garments were made during the 9 week class.

Not only did the students learn sewing techniques, they also learned about accessorizing, skin care, fashion production, and runway show production. Pictured are Meredith Phillips, and Hollis Chapman.

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You watch your children gr ow at home.

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Wildlife Biologist Visits Daphne East Elementary

Wildlife Biologist, Chris Nix, visits Daphne East fourth graders and presents a program about Alabama's wildlife, animal habitats and ecosystems. Nix is pictured here with his son, fourth grader Cambo Nix, and a baby alligator used to educate students.

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Robertsdale Elementary Recognizes Positive Performance for December

Robertsdale Elementary School recently recognized students who received positive office referrals during the month of December for making good choices and being good school citizens. Pictured are (in no particular order): kindergarten - Monica Tamayo, James Williams, Kaelyn Valladares, Brooklyn Simoneaux, Zabdi Escobar, Mason Moon; 1st grade - Jackson Cole, Jadeon Hill, Joshua Eib, Candace Farrow, Bryce Simmons, Cristina Ahumada, Valerie Sosa; 2nd grade Jonathan Wilson, Jaden Thompson, Riley Trimble; 3rd grade - Kade Wagner, Mason McVeigh, Clautasia Brown, Kaleb Pugh, Brian Garrick, Summer Pierce, Ashley Brown, Lane Lassitter, Izabella Allen, Teryona Taite, Bella Michon, Kaylee Hadley, Tamya Thomas, Damarion Richardson, Nathan Darby, McKenzie Fank, Timothy Moore; 4th grade - Alexa Brooks, Layne Davis, Kaitlyn Taylor; 5th grade - Omar Ruiz, Natalie Evans, Derrica Strong, Chance Chavers, Pablo Rosas-Lemus; 6th grade - Sara Lowry and Jorge Flores. Not pictured are Kayleigh Byerly, Joseph Fabian, and Chris Smith.

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Eastern Shore Parents I February 2013

United Bank Staff Hosts Lunch for Ronald McDonald House Families On Saturday, January 19th, the staff of United Bank's Eastern Shore Centre branch (Spanish Fort) and their families spent the day preparing lunch for more than 50 guests at the Ronald McDonald House of Mobile. The branch team decided in December 2012 they would forgo their annual Christmas Party and instead would help others in need. The Ronald McDonald House serves the families of children being treated at area hospitals. United Bank is proud of its staff for finding a way to serve their neighbors and for thinking of others first. Pictured from L-R are: Lisa Hastings, Branch Manager, Larry Byrne, Janet Rolin, Dottie Goodwin, Branch Operations Supervisor, Mandy Gatlin, Branch Specialist, Lindsey Benton and baby Lola Joy Benton.

Foley Middle School Students Designs and Launches Rocket John Davis, of Foley Middle School, prepares for launch of his air powered rocket and glider. The Air Rocket project is part of the newly introduced STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) curriculum at Foley Middle School. This course promotes a team-based and hands-on approach to learning that engages students while promoting development of critical thinking and problem solving skills. The curriculum also exposes students to the many career opportunities that science, technology, engineering, and math can provide students when entering higher education or the workforce.

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Kim Campbell Photography Exhibit at Bayside Academy

Bayside Academy is pleased to announce that Kim Howard Campbell’s polo photography will be exhibited in the Lorna Huey Gallery in the Pilot Center through the end of the month. Mrs. Campbell is a sports photographer who gained most of her experience following her children’s various sports activities – soccer, football, tennis, basketball, and track. Honing her “Sport of Kings” polo photography came from a lifelong family polo interest and from following her husband and son for the past nine years on the polo field looking through the camera lens.

Mrs. Campbell has extensively photographed polo across the United States – including locally in Point Clear, as well as in Santa Barbara, CA; Palm Beach, Sarasota, and Ocala, FL; Columbus, GA; Aiken, SC; Nashville, TN; Dallas, TX; and Sheridan, WY. She has also taken pictures in Argentina, the world’s polo capital. Her photos have been published in local and regional magazines, newspapers, and brochures. According to Mrs. Campbell, “The beauty of photographing polo is in capturing the intensity of the competition and the athleticism of the polo players and their horses in tandem.” Mrs. Campbell is a 1983 graduate of Bayside Academy and graduated from Tulane University. She is married to Chip Campbell, and they have two children, Camille (Bayside Class of 2009) and Chip (Bayside Class of 2011).

Fairhope Middle School’s Teacher of the Year Fairhope Middle School is proud to announce the selection of Mrs. Tonya Harrelson as their 2012-2013 Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Harrelson obtained her Bachelor of Science and Master of Education degrees from Auburn University. She has been employed by Baldwin County Board of Education since 2005 and taught 5th grade (all subjects) and 6th grade math. Currently, she is an 8th grade Algebra I and pre-Algebra instructor at FMS. Mrs. Harrelson serves as a sponsor of the National Junior Honor Society. Selected by the faculty and members of the Teacher of the Year committee, Mrs. Harrelson was chosen for her dedication to the success of her students and her willingness to help outside of the classroom. Pictured, with Harrelson, are the following students from her homeroom class: Back row (left to right): Lauren Pearce, Hayden Mason, Sage Wallace, Jacob Lake, Sawyer Connick, Haden Merchant, Lydia Norman, Helena Johnson, Carly Huguley, and Jill Johnson; front row (left to right): Kyser Nelms, Brady Summersell, Graham Robertson, Val Garsed, and Caitlyn Gilchrist.

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Daphne East Elementary Teacher of the Year

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Kara Godwin graduated from Mississippi University for Women in 2003 with a bachelors of science degree in elementary education with concentrations in history and reading. She taught second grade in Mississippi, before returning to Baldwin County. Here, she taught in an interim kindergarten position at Orange Beach Elementary. In January 2011, Kara began another interim in 4th grade at Daphne East, and has been teaching there since. Kara is the 4th grade representative of the school's Math PLT team, as well as Peer Helper co-coordinator. Kara is also the coordinator for the school-wide talent show, and serves as the Daphne Middle School cheerleading coach. Kara enjoys reading, running, and drawing or painting. "Teaching is not only my chosen profession; it is who I am! I am blessed to truly love what I do every day.

What better to pour your life in to than the next generation?" says Godwin.

McGill-Toolen Wins First HiQ Match of the Season

McGill-Toolen hosted the first HiQ Academic competition of the season Thursday, January 10th. McT won with 54 points over St. Luke's (24 points) and Satsuma (20 points).

In the first half Captain Allen Davis lead teammates Erin Hannahan and Connor Kusch and in the second half it was Captain Kevin Kusch with teammates Josh Kalifeh, Silvio Piccini and Matthew Davis.

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Sea Cadets March in Christmas Parade Two and a half years after the reformation of the U. S. Naval Sea Cadet’s Dunlap Division in the Mobile area, the unit has grown from four cadets to twenty-nine. “We have seen a significant growth over the last few months and expect even more growth in the near future,” said ENS Cynthia Lowder. The cadets held their Annual Christmas Dinner as well as marched in the Semmes 12th Annual Christmas Parade in December. During the month of December, the following cadets received promotions: E-3 Seaman Jaden Bryant, E-2 Seaman Apprentice Tyler Boggan and Christopher Townsend. The unit’s LPO Petty Officer 3rd Class Nathan B. Goss received an award from the National Society, Sons of the Revolution. Dunlap Division is scheduled to march in the Conde Cavalier’s Parade on January 25.

Cadets are authorized by the Secretary of the Navy to wear Navy uniforms marked with the Sea Cadet Corps insignia. The program is open to the community for young men and women ages 10 to high school graduation with open enrollment year round.

The Sea and League Cadets drill together one weekend a month at the United States Coast Guard Aviation Training Center in Mobile. www. drdunlap.org, www.seacadets.org, www.facebook.com/DunlapDivison.

CTK Youth Group Brings Christmas Cheer Members of Christ the King's youth service group, Serviam, sang Christmas carols at The Brinnity in Daphne on December 12.

Approximately 30 5th – 8th graders were on hand to sing Silent Night and Go Tell It On The Mountain among other Christmas favorites at the Daphne senior living facility.

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Eastern Shore Parents I February 2013

Fairhope High School Baseball Team Visits Pediatric Patients The Fairhope High School baseball team brought Christmas gifts to the pediatric patients at USA Children's & Women's Hospital. They also toured the hospital, including the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Pictured, Children's & Women's NICU Nurse Manager Renee Rogers shows some of the players a typical diaper worn by one of the premature babies in the hospital. The yellow gowns worn by the players are to reduce the risk of infection.

Spanish Fort HS Faculty Has Spirit (From L to R) Spanish Fort High School faculty members Blair Jaye, Jane Leonard, and Carrie Coate held up their sign to show their school spirit as the TOROS prepared to take on McAdory at the state championship game!

Send School News and photos by the 8th of each month to: lynn@ easternshoreparents.com. It’s FREE!

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Eastern Shore Parents I February 2013

Boats Go With the Flow

Recommending the Best Toys and Products for Kids

In a world that’s mostly water, it makes sense that children want to explore and navigate the waterways. From discovering how cups float in their first bath to watching a paper boat rush away in a flooded street gutter, kids have a natural fascination with water and the crafts that move upon it. Whether they want to power-up a fast ship creating wakes of wonder or just go with the flow, the following watercraft are ideal ways for your children to explore whatever floats their boat!

by Paige Gardner Smith

Sprig Dolphin Explorer

My Toy Boat (Magic Cabin)

(Sprig Toys)

Ideal for hitting the water in the ‘old school’ way, the classic My Toy Boat is a water-worthy flat-bottomed boat that replicates those used by New England fishermen in the 19th century. Handcrafted from sturdy buoyant pine and painted with real boat paint to weather the effects of maritime action, these are ideal boats for the wading set who like to wander shallow creeks and inlets. These boats come in two sizes, a two-foot red and a 14” long blue, so skippers can choose the best vessel for their voyages. Designed to be a lasting heirloom toy, My Toy Boat is built to withstand years of shore-side play and sailing the inner seas.

Pretend-play hits the imaginary high seas as the Sprig Dolphin Explorer sets sail. With its own wee captain (whose hat and backpack are removable), a durable dinghy, and dolphin figures (who can join the journeys), the Sprig is waterproof and ready to ride the waves in the bathtub or swimming pool. As a play set the Dolphin Explorer is ideally suited for land lubber adventures as well. Crafted from Sprigwood, which is made from re-purposed plastic from milk jugs, the Sprig Explorer is also the ‘greenest’ boat to voyage upon the ‘big blue’. This is the boat that will have kids looking forward to bath time as they cast away the anchor lines on their imagination and embark on fresh journeys in the water!

Tug Boats and Barge

Double Horse Speed Boat

(Just Think Toys)

(Shuang Ma)

One of the coolest things that children can discover about boats is how important they are in our everyday lives.

We see truck and trains carrying goods every day, but it’s the often out-of-sight big container ships and barges that move the bulk of our freight from place-to-place. The Tug Boat and Barge demonstrates boats as transportation, moving about lightweight foam blocks that can be used to build floating piers, towers and bridges in the bath. The water tension on the blocks helps them “stick” together when wet. The flat barge is big enough to carry plenty of constructible blocks, while the tug moves the barge around the bath, so the youngest sailors can build their own waterways and navigate the world they create!

For the older maritime adventurer (ages 10 and up), the Double Horse remote-control speed boat takes the action to broader outdoor waterways like pools, small ponds and freshwater lakes. It’s almost a perfect scale model of a real racing craft, with slick speedboat design in a range of colors. Powered by a rechargeable battery, the controls allow for forward, backward, stop, left and right turn direction for the launched boat on the water. This very responsive RC speedboat flies across the water with a range of about 100 feet and makes sharp turns with ease.

The balance is good, too, so it doesn’t flip easily. The high-power takes a toll on the battery, so the run-time is limited until the battery re-charges, but WOW, the waves and wakes are worth it!

Paige Smith is a freelance writer and syndicated columnist living in Alabama. More on GET THIS! at www.PageBookMedia.com.

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Eastern Shore Parents I February 2013

Q. My husband doesn’t like dealing with money. For years, I’ve handled everything from paying the bills to making the decisions, and he just does whatever I tell him. This makes things really hard on me, but he says financial issues cause him stress. Do you have any suggestions?

A. The plain truth is you need your husband to step up and be a man. I’m sure he’s a nice guy, but it’s unfair for you alone to carry the weight of all financial and household decisions. It would be unfair, too, if he were the one carrying it all. This isn’t a gender issue.

My wife and I are involved in all the decisions in our home, and that’s especially true when it comes to money. We do a budget,

and we decide together where the money’s going. It’s not a situation where she’s a little girl, and her daddy named Dave takes care of her and everything else. That’s the kind of thing you’ve got going on now. You feel like his mom rather than his wife, and that’s not what a healthy marriage is about.

You need to sit down with him and explain why this is so important to you and how it makes you feel. You’re not asking him to be a number cruncher, but he has to grow up and become part of the team. You can play the role of CFO and write all the checks. But you and he together are the board of directors. You just need 15 to 20 minutes of his time each week, so you guys can discuss what’s going on and how to handle things—together!

Q. My husband and I are on Baby Step 2 of your plan. We move every two or three years due to our jobs, so would it ever make sense in our situation to buy a house?

A. In most cases like this it doesn’t make sense to buy a house, especially if the real estate market in your area is lethargic. Some markets have bounced back and are doing very well, while some are worse than slow. It all depends on where you’re moving.

Here’s the big question: Can you get the place sold quickly the next time you have to move? Another thing to consider is whether or not you can sell it for more than it cost when the time comes. If not, you’ll be writing a check for home ownership, and that’s not a good plan.

As a general rule, a two- to three-year window is not enough time to own a home.

There are rare exceptions to this rule, places where you have a hot, escalating price market.

But if you’re not careful you’ll end up leaving behind a rental property and playing landlord, whether you want to or not!

Q. I have one bill left from an emergency room visit earlier this year, and I’m trying to settle with a collections agency. They’re willing to accept half of the $930 owed, but they want me to pay online or by phone, and I don’t feel safe doing that. What should I do?

A. If they’re willing to lower the bill by half, then you need to get that in writing. If you don’t have it in writing, you don’t have a deal. And whatever you do, don’t give them any form of electronic access to your money.

I’ve seen too many collectors lie to people about “agreements,” then go in and raid their accounts.

Just tell them to send you, by email or regular letter, a statement saying that $465 will be accepted as payment in full for the debt. Also, tell them you’ll turn around the day you receive this letter and send them a cashier’s check for that amount. Until then, they can go jump in the lake!

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The (New) Parent Trap

by Heidi Smith Luedtke Feed baby. Change diaper. Shop for groceries. Wash laundry. Feed baby. Pay bills. Change diaper. Wash laundry. Feed baby. Start dinner. Google “cradle cap.”

Change diaper. Feed baby. Call pediatrician. Drive fussy baby around (and around) the block.

New parents have endless to-do lists.

Just feeding, burping and changing a newborn is enough to fill up your calendar.

And you’d like to feed, bathe, and dress yourself, too!

The tremendous workload of parenthood can leave you exhausted and shorttempered. Interrupted sleep isn’t very restful and it’s hard to relax when you’re focused on getting things done during the day. Recalling your pre-baby productivity only makes you feel like a failure. You used to conquer long lists of tasks before noon.

Now you struggle to remember whether you brushed your teeth today. Or yesterday.

If you long for the days when you felt well-rested and effective, you’re not alone.

And it doesn’t mean you aren’t a good parent or that you don’t love your baby enough. Parenthood is a tough gig and there is little time off for rest and relaxation. It’s completely normal to feel trapped in Babyland with no visible means of escape!

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Caught in an Invisible Trap It is hard for new parents to ask for help. It’s your responsibility to care for your child and asking for help can feel like you’re shirking your duties. You’re especially likely to feel this way if you’re at home with the baby while your spouse heads out to work each day, says Donna Genett, PhD, author of Help Your Kids Get it Done Right at Home and at School (Quill Driver Books, 2005).

Personality matters, too. For some go-getters, “it feels good to be on top of things, to be firing on all cylinders,” Genett says. You may thrive on the adrenaline produced by a never-ending list of “to Eastern Shore Parents I February 2013

dos.” And it seems like taking care of baby should be easy. After all, washing bottles and changing diapers isn’t exactly rocket science. Asking for help with such simple tasks can make a new parent feel inadequate.

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When you ask for help, you put yourself out there and take a risk. But when you don’t ask for help, you miss opportunities to connect with others. Feeling isolated only compounds the stress of new parenthood and can allow unhealthy habits like Advertising: 251-929-2099

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overeating or alcohol use to get out of control, Genett warns. When your sensitive infant picks up on signals that you are stressed, their cranky, irritable response increases your stress even more.

Free Yourself Letting others pitch in allows you to regain a sense of personal balance and wellbeing. And sharing the load is good for others, too. When you give family and friends a chance to help you, they feel good. Free yourself from these common parent traps and you’ll find new baby bliss once again.

Disorientation. As a new parent, you may be so focused on the baby’s needs that you forget your own. “Your needs are important for the same reason that a flight attendant tells you to put your oxygen mask on first and then to see to your child in the case of an emergency,” reminds Claudine Wolk, author of It Gets Easier!...And Other Lies We Tell New Mothers (AMACOM, 2009). “You need to be cared for in order to be able to care for your child.”

Resentment. Moms often feel an enormous sense of responsibility for infant

care. This is compounded for women who breastfeed, especially when baby wants to nurse long and often. Resentment will grow if you feel you’re doing all the work. Fight back by becoming a “yes” mom. Say yes to offers of assistance, even if you don’t need help. Your little bundle will be so much more joy-provoking when she is spitting up on someone else’s shoulder.

Inequality. Don’t be trapped by the notion that fairness and equality are the same thing. Even if both parents work outside the home, it is unlikely you will share parenting and household duties 50/50. If your spouse can’t stomach diaper duty, that’s okay. He can fluff and fold the mountains of laundry your little one makes. Divvy up chores in a way that suits you both and rotate responsibility for tasks no one likes. That way no one gets stuck with them forever.

Ambiguity. Misunderstandings and frustration occur when we assume others know our expectations. “Maybe the biggest help would be to have someone help clean the house or provide you with a dinner,” suggests Wolk. “Granted it’s tough to ask for such things, but if someone close to

you sincerely offers help, take them up on it.” If your mother-in-law offers to pick up some groceries for you, give her the list!

Although you might feel like a taskmaster, being specific about what you need sets others up for success, says Genett.

Perfectionism. When you let others pitch in, they may not do things the way you would. Let go of your need to have things done just right. Others will not always meet your standards. On many days you won’t meet your own standards either!

Good enough is good enough. Appreciate the help you receive even if it falls short of what you wanted.

The pressure to know, be, and do everything yourself can be overwhelming, but letting go isn’t easy. Asking others for help will allow you to take care of yourself and pursue personal interests. (Remember, you aren’t just a parent, you’re a person, too!)

So, surround yourself with helpful others and be grateful for the many loving influences on your new baby. Freedom is really sweet. ESP Heidi Smith Luedtke, PhD, is a personality psychologist and reformed do-it-herselfer. Read her blog at heidiluedtke.com.

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New & Expectant Parents Guide Baby Boutiques (furniture, clothing, toys/gifts) Tiny Town 30500 Highway 181, Spanish Fort (Eastern Shore Centre), 251-621-1970 3980 Airport Blvd # H Mobile (Large selection of Furniture) 251-341-1480, www.tinytowninc.com Tiny Town specializes in traditional children’s clothing, gifts, jewelry, furniture (Mobile Location) and more. We pride ourselves on offering a large selection of quality items and excellent customer service. We know how important shopping for that “coming home” outfit or that “perfect gift” can be, so we strive to give you the best shopping experience possible.

Fairhope Pharmacy, Inc. 398 Fairhope Ave, Fairhope 251-928-8822 A downtown Fairhope landmark since 1904 (and not just a drug store!) Large gift selection including beautiful and unique baby items. Full-service pharmacy and drug store.

Fantasy Island Toys 335 Fairhope Ave., Fairhope 251-928-1720; fantasyislandtoys.com Open Monday through Saturday, 10:00 A.M.- 5:00 P.M. Great selection of unique, award-winning toys for baby, toddler and school-age children. Games, dolls, outdoor toys, swim supplies, dress-up, books, and more. For over 35 years, it’s the place where kids of all ages go! Order online, give us a call, visit our store, or find us on Facebook!

Gigi & Jay’s 400 Fairhope Avenue, Fairhope 251-928-2011 Eastern Shore Parents I February 2013

Gigi and Jay’s Children’s Boutique carries clothing, gifts and accessories for Infants to Tweens. Lilly Pulitzer, UnderArmour, Olive Juice and many more great brands!

Open Monday – Saturday 10am – 5pm.

In the Company of Angels 328 De La Mare Avenue 251-928-2800, thecompanyofangels.com For 20 years, Fairhope’s unique “thoughtfulness” shop for all ages. Specializing in angels, crosses, lambs and other uplifting gifts. Beautiful selection of baby gifts and accessories!

Magnolia Springs Pharmacy & Gifts Now located on the corner of Hwy 98 and CR 49, Magnolia Springs, 251-965-6273; magnoliaspringspharmacy.com Open Monday thru Friday, 9:00 A.M. 6:00 P.M. Find beautiful monogrammed items, unique baby shower gifts, baby toys, and more much more. Custom gift baskets also available. A truly unique selection of gifts for every occasion as well as a full-service pharmacy and drugstore.

For more information, call or visit the website or email info@magnoliaspringspharmacy.com. Be sure to visit us on Facebook!

Sew Unique 314C De La Mare Ave., Fairhope 251-928-0220, sewuniquefairhope@ hotmail.com Monday – Saturday, 10:00 AM – 5:00 P.M. Sew Unique is a monogramming and gift boutique offering unique baby bedding, furniture, room décor, clothing and gifts. Gifts for every reason and season.

Great selection of children’s clothes and home decor. Provide monogramming on in-store items as well as things that are not 40

purchased from the store. Find them on Facebook!

Stitches 1808 Main Street, Daphne 251-626-8778 Stitches is the newest fabric, monogramming, vinyl, & more shop on the Eastern Shore! Come by and visit us, let us help you create the perfect item!

Announcements/Invitations Stationery Studio 412 Fairhope Avenue - downtown Fairhope, 251-990-9940 Website: www.fairhopefinepaper.com.

We have a huge selection of imprintable announcements and invitations for every occasion, every event. Whether it’s announcing the birth of a new baby, family gathering for that special 1st Birthday, a Sweet Sixteen soiree, or a blow-out event for the 40th, we have several themes from silly to sophisticated and formal to festive!

We are a Crane & Co. fine cotton paper dealer and carry several national lines of stationery for writing your birthday gift thank yous! Come shop with us at our store in downtown Fairhope or visit our website www.fairhopefinepaper.com and click on the links that take you to our online shopping.

Consignment Shops Pass-it-On Children’s Consignment and Maternity Boutique 23825 Highway 98, Fairhope 251-928-9991; www.passitonboutique. webs.com Advertising: 251-929-2099

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Open Monday-Saturday, 10:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M. Huge selection of children’s gently used clothing (Newborn-Tween), shoes, toys, baby equipment, strollers, car seats, furniture, school uniforms and maternity apparel. Low prices and great quality! Also carrying a large selection of new bows, headbands, and accessories. Home of the popular Plasma Car! Find them on Facebook for current sales and events.

Kids Towne 7 South Church Street, Fairhope 251-929-2555 Clothing for infants through pre-teens.

Now accepting Spring clothing. Open M – F, 10am – 5pm and Saturday 10am – 4pm.

Find us on Facebook - /kidstowne Lily Pads Children’s Consignment 28588 US Highway 98 Suite 6, Daphne 251-621-0337; www.lilypadsconsignmentboutique.com Open Tuesday-Saturday 10:00 A.M.- 5:00 P.M. Specializing in new and “gently used” clothing, furniture, toys, baby goods, accessories and more. Also offers new and handmade items, monogramming, applique, and custom vinyl.

www.youniqueboutiqueconsignment.com

Now Accepting Spring and Summer

Luv Me 2 Times Consignment 8685 State Highway 59, Foley 251-970-5882 Carrying women’s clothing and accessories, children’s clothing sizes 0-12 (girls) and 0-6 (Boys) and much more. Become a fan on Facebook to get updates about sales and events. Call for hours.

Mommy and Me Marketplace 22203 Hwy 59 S. Suite A, Robertsdale 251-747-3890; mmmboutique.webs.com Open Tuesday–Friday, 12:00 P.M.-6:00 P.M. and Saturday, 12:00 P.M.-4:00 P.M. Join the Mommy and Me Marketplace Rewards Club! Locally owned and operated children’s & maternity consignment boutique & so much more. Carrying consigned, name brand children’s clothing (size newborn to juniors), women’s clothes/shoes & men’s clothes, furniture, toys, books, etc. Offing a wide selection unique “new” & handmade custom baby and children’s items. Located in Robertsdale, AL in the Greer’s Shopping Center.

Become a fan on Facebook!

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Peek-A-Boutique 6729 Spanish Fort Blvd (in the Bruno’s Shopping Center), 251-626-2266 Children’s and Maternity Consignment Boutique, Designer and department store brands. Gently used clothing for children sizes newborn to 8. Maternity, Furniture and Toys also available. Open Tuesday – Thursday 10am – 6pm; Friday and Saturday 10am – 5pm.

Sweet Seconds Boutique 21193 Alabama 181, Fairhope 251-928-8771; www.sweetsecondskids. blogspot.com Open Monday-Saturday, 9:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. and Sunday, 10:00 A.M.- 4:00 P.M. Children’s consignment boutique, specializing in gently used and new consignment items. Sizes newborn to size 8 children’s clothing, baby equipment, maternity, rideon/outdoor toys and other toys, strollers, furniture, crib bedding, shoes, school uniforms and more. New hair bows & accessories, new A-lines, shortalls, longalls, 3-piece A-line knickers/bloomer sets, bloomers and other items ready to monogram and applique. Find us on Facebook to stay up to date on sales and events!

Prenatal Care/OB-GYN Medical Park OBGYN Richard A. Roh, MD, FACOG Gary W. Nelson, MD, FACOG Dylan R. Wells, MD, FACOG Mary D. Wells, MD, FACOG Leslie Evans, MD

150 South Ingleside Dr. Suite #6, Fairhope (Behind Thomas Hospital) 251-928-1222; www.fairhopeobgyn.com Medical Park OBGYN is comprised of a team of dedicated doctors offering a wide range of Obstetrics and Gynecological services. Currently accepting new patients.

Call or visit the website for details.

Diegmann OB/GYN, PC Fred Ferris Diegmann, MD 188 Hospital Dr., Suite 102, Fairhope 251-990-6550; diegmannob-gyn.com/ Providing quality medical care in Baldwin County since 1974. ACOG, MASA, BCOG, ABOG, Member of Christian Medical and Dental Society, and American College of Pro-Life Physicians.

Eastern Shore OB-GYN Mitzi M. Childs, MD 8552 Morphy Ave., Fairhope 251-928-4113 Marshall D. Shoemaker MD, Board Certified OBGYN Heather Talbot, CRNP Carla Corte, CRNP 188 Hospital Dr. # 304, Fairhope 251-990-1950 Full Service Obstetrics & Advanced Gynecological Care. Over twenty years of experience. Providing the most technologically advanced care and a strong foundation medical excellence.

Grace Ob Gyn Jennifer Grace, MD, Board Certified OBGYN 188 Hospital Dr. # 303, Fairhope

251-990-1960 Through, high-quality, total care for women that keeps pace with active lifestyles is one of our trademarks. You’ll feel comfortable discussing any issue. Form annual exams to specialty services, we approach each challenge by first establishing a comfort level that makes it easy to get to the heart of the problem and treat using the latest, most proven techniques.

Pediatricians Eastern Shore Children’s Clinic Warner M. Wiggins, MD; Rhoda E. Burns, MD; Paula S. Drummond, MD; Jennie W. Breslin, MD; Margaret T. Moore, MD; Danielle Gilliam, MD 150 S Ingleside St, Fairhope 251-928-0624; www.eschildrens.com Offering all needed primary care for infants, children, adolescents, and young adults (through age 19). As a group practice devoted only to these age groups, we can better serve you by sharing certain responsibilities such as night, weekend, and holiday coverage. Accepting most Insurance. New patients welcome. Serving Southwest Alabama since 1974.

Fairhope Pediatrics Katrina Skinner, MD Kelly Green, MD Katie White, CRNP 19087-B Greeno Rd., Fairhope 251-928-5568 www.fairhopepeds.com Email: info@fairhopepeds.com Established in 2009 to provide a new and

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exciting home for quality pediatric care on the Eastern Shore. Serving ages birth to 18. If you’re an expectant mother, call and schedule a prenatal visit to discuss important issues like delivery, breastfeeding, and circumcision (if applicable). Visit the website for more information.

Magnolia Springs Pediatrics

A.B Walker, Jr. MD Robert L. Rux, MD 14975 Hwy. 98, Magnolia Spring 251-965-3320 Drs. Walker and Rux are both Board Certified in Pediatrics. Accepting new patients.

Accepting most insurance. Call for more information or to schedule your child’s appointment.

North Baldwin Pediatrics Jessica Hagemeir, MD Natalie Sharp, MD 2002 McMillan Ave., Bay Minette 251-580-8475 Baldwin Pediatrics Gerard P Galle, MD 26030 Capital Dr., Daphne; 251-626-1862 Board Certified Pediatrician. Providing quality care for children Newborn-17 years. New Patients are welcome. Call our office for more information.

Gulf Shores Pediatrics Kathleen C. Lovlie, MD 232 Office Parks Drive, Gulf Shores 251-968-2323 gulfshorespediatrics.yourmd.com Board Certified Pediatrician New Patients & Vacationers Welcome. Specializing In Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine. Open Monday-Friday 9:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M. Pediatrics By the Bay Raymond D.A. Peterson, MD 28490 Second St., Daphne 251-300-2030 Email: info@pediatricsbythebay.com Whether your child is a new baby or a 17 year old, Pediatrics by the Bay takes the time to make a healthy difference.. Expectant Parents: You’ll want to select and meet with your pediatrician before your baby is born. Call our office and schedule an appointment to meet our doctors. Then call back the day after you are discharged and schedule an appointment when your baby is 1-2 weeks old. Located across from US Sports Academy.

Visit www.EasternShoreParents.com

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Eastern Shore Parents I February 2013

South Baldwin Pediatrics, LLC Gary Eberly, MD David Sanford, MD Micki Raber, CRNP 1090 East Laurel Ave., Foley 251-943-7901 Member of the American Board of Pediatrics. Accepting new patients.

Stephen Donald Palmer, MD 12130 Jessamine St., Magnolia Springs 251-965-7983

Pediatric Dentistry Bay Pediatric & Adolescent Dentistry Wells Hammock, DMD 115 Lottie Lane, Fairhope 251- 928-5045; www.baypedo.com The office with “The Little Door” welcomes patients 6 months to 21 years of age. Providing a fun atmosphere where children feel safe and comfortable. The first visit to the dentist may be the most important in a child’s life and the team at Bay Pediatric & Adolescent Dentistry has the skills and training to make that visit a positive experience. Call to schedule an

appointment or visit our website for more information.

Daphne Pediatric Dentistry Todd Chamliss, DMD 7058 Professional Pl., Daphne 251-447-0627 www.daphnepediatricdentistry.com Dr. Todd Chambliss has been providing children and teenagers with exceptional comprehensive dental care since 2001.

He is member of American Dental Association, American Academy of Pediatric Dentists and Alabama Dental Association.

A pleasant, comfortable first visit builds trust and helps put the child at ease during future dental visits. Dr. Todd and the staff will explain everything in detail, will answer any questions, and are always encouraged to discuss any fears or anxieties he or she has.

Dr. Trey’s Children’s Dentistry

Trey Fellers, DMD, Board Certified Pediatric Dentist 24208 US Hwy. 98, Fairhope (temporary location); 251- 929-3030; Email: Smile@ drtreys.com www.drtreys.com Six-year Board Certified Pediatric Dentist

in Fairhope, providing a positive, fun, dental experience for children (and their parents!). Scheduling allows additional time with each child and parent, helping to assure the highest quality of total care.

A new location is currently under construction (it will be located across from Fairhope Elementary school). During construction of the new office, Dr. Trey will provide all your child’s dental cleaning and treatment needs at his temporary office located on Hwy. 98 (across from the Sportsman Marine and next to Underwater Works Dive Shop). To schedule an appointment call or visit the website.

Malbis Parkway Pediatric Dentistry Kelly Jones, DMD 9807 McSara Ct., Daphne, 251-626-9924 www.malbispediatricdentistry.com Dr. Jones is Board Certified and a member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, American Dental Association, Alabama Dental Association and the Southeastern Society of Pediatric Dentistry. Her office is a leading pediatric dental practice in committed to making your child’s dental visit a fun, rewarding, and

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So much more than water!

comfortable experience. Call or visit the website for details.

Breastfeeding Resources International Board of Lactation Consultants Large online directory of lactation consultants and local support resources for breastfeeding mothers. www.ilca.org La Leche League of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana- Online information on breastfeeding, phone help from accredited leaders, local support, lactation consultant directories, online forums, parenting resource libraries and much more. www.lllalmsla.org La Leche League (International) Helping mothers worldwide to breastfeed through mother-to-mother support, encouragement, information, and education, and to promote a better understanding of breastfeeding as an important element in the healthy development of the baby and mother. www.llli.org www.breastfeeding.com - A wealth of information about breastfeeding. Includes online directory of lactation consultants, midwives, doulas, and childbirth educators in your area.

Birthing and Safety Classes

Amusement Park Opens March 1st

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Early Bird special on season passes!

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by February 14th.

Children’s and Women’s Medical Centersouth

Preparing for Childbirth -The expectant mother and her support person (coach) can attend the all-day Saturday class.(offered every other month, call for schedule) Topics include: pregnancy changes, labor, role of the support coach, relaxation and breathing techniques, vaginal and cesarean births, postpartum care, and a tour of the maternity areas. Fee: $30.00. You should plan on beginning the 3-week series when you are approximately 28 weeks pregnant.

Class will meet in the CWEB2 Building.

Advance reservations are required and may be made by calling 415-1685. No children at classes, please. Class size is limited. Advanced payment required to secure your reservation. If you are expecting multiples or having a c-section, please call for additional class information.

Childbirth In a Nutshell - This class includes a brief overview of labor and a tour of the maternity areas. Class meets 1st Tuesday of every other month, from 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm. Class will meet in Visit www.EasternShoreParents.com

call 251.948.2106 Water Park Opens May 18th!

Parties are better at the

House of Bounce!

Available year round!

HWY 59 South • Gulf Shores, AL 251.948.2106

watervilleusa.com

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Eastern Shore Parents I February 2013

the CWEB2 Building. Fee: $15 Advance reservations are required and may be made by calling 415-1685. No children at classes, please. Class size is limited. Advanced payment required to secure your reservation. If you are expecting multiples or having a c-section, please call for additional class information.

Breastfeeding - This one-night class is for expectant and newly delivered mothers and their support persons who want to learn about breastfeeding. Topics include: advantages, myths and facts, getting started, correct positioning, latching on, engorgement, returning to work, and problem-solving. Class meets 2nd Thursday from 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm. Class will meet in the d CWEB2 classroom. Fee: $5.00. Advance reservations are required and may be made by calling 415-1685.

No children at classes, please. Class size is limited. Advanced payment required to secure your reservation. If you are expecting multiples or having a c-section, please call for additional class information.

Gulf Coast Swimfants - Infant Swimming Resource IRS) Fairhope and Mobile Instructors: Pamela McPher-

Eastern Shore Parents I February 2013

son and Sydney Cody 251-391-4799 Email: p.mcpherson@ infantswim.com; www.infantswim.com or www.swimfants.com ISR goes beyond traditional swimming instruction by teaching infants aged 6 months – to children 6 years-old ISR Self-Rescue™ them techniques designed to help them survive should they reach the water alone. With more than 40-years of research and development behind ISR’s Self-Rescue Program, ISR teaches each child survival skills in conjunction with basic swimming lessons that give them the competence required to safely enjoy the water. Empower your child by enrolling him or her in ISR’s Self-Rescue Program…. “The Sooner, The Safer”. Contact Pamela McPherson at 251-391-4799 or email p.mcpherson@infantswim.com.

South Baldwin Regional Medical Center 1613 North McKenzie Street, Foley 251-949-3676 Call to schedule class. Your entire family can also take part in several informative classes designed to help moms and dads welcome their special new addition to the family with more confidence. All classes

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are located at South Baldwin Regional Medical Center–1613 North McKenzie Street Foley. Tuesday evenings 6:308:30pm Classroom A. Located just off of the main lobby. Please plan to attend the Healthy Pregnancy Class during your first trimester and the Prepared Childbirth Classes anytime after your 24th week of pregnancy. For more information or to enroll please call the OB Educator at 949-3676 to schedule. We look forward to sharing this special time with you!

Classes Offered – Having A Healthy Pregnancy - Nutrition, discomforts of pregnancy, warning signs of complications, and relaxation exercises.

One session. Cost: $10.

Prepared Childbirth Classes (Once a week for four weeks). Cost: $30. Week 1: Begin the Stages of Labor: The labor and delivery process, signs and stages of labor, options for coping, pain management, vaginal delivery, and relaxation exercises. Week 2: Delivery and Cesarean Birth: A review of complications that may arise, use of special equipment, complete the stages of labor, cesarean delivery, and relaxation exercises. Week 3: New Born and Postpartum Care: Newborn appear-

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ance, caring for the newborn, infant safety, recognizing complications, relaxation exercises, and choosing a pediatrician.

What to expect after delivery, understanding the physical and emotional changes to your body and relaxation exercises. Week 4: The Art of Breast Feeding: The benefits of breast feeding for mother and baby, anatomy and physiology of the breast, how to breastfeed, and common difficulties. One session.

Thomas Hospital Moving Through Labor - Three or fourweek prepared childbirth class series.

Prepares the mother-to-be and her support partner for the labor and delivery experience. $30 fee for the class series.

Pre-registration required. To register call 279-1373.

Thomas Fitness Center, Fairhope Mondays, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Jan.14-Feb. 25; March 11- April 8; April 22-May 20; June 3-June 24; July 8-Aug. 5; Aug. 19-Sept. 23; Oct. 7-Nov. 4; Nov. 18-Dec. 16; Thomas Fitness Center, Fairhope Saturdays, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 2; March 2; April 6; May 4; June 1; July 6; Aug. 3; Sept. 7; Oct. 5; Nov. 2; Dec. 7 Breastfeeding Class - Thomas Fitness Center, Fairhope, Monthly, first Tuesday, 6pm-8 pm.Feb. 5; March 5; April 2; May 7; June 4; July 2; Aug. 6; Sept. 3; Oct. 1; Nov. 5; Dec. 3 Newborn Basics - Thomas Medical Center, Daphne Monthly, second Monday, 6-8 p.m. Feb. 11; March 11; April 8; May 13; June 10; July 8; Aug. 12; Sept. 9; Oct. 14; Nov. 11; Dec. 9 Pre-admission Sessions - Thomas Medical Center, Daphne 6 p.m. Jan. 21; Feb. 4; Feb. 18; March 4; March 18; April 1; April 15; May 6; May 20; June 3; June 17; July 1; July 15; Aug. 5; Aug. 19; Sept. 16; Oct. 7; Oct. 21; Nov. 4; Nov. 18; Dec. 2; Dec. 16 Sibling Class - Thomas Hospital Fitness Center, Fairhope Pre-registration required. To register call 279-1373. 10-11 a.m. Feb. 16; May 18; Aug. 17; Nov. 16 Infant CPR and Safety Class - Thomas Fitness Center, Fairhope Pre-registration required. To register call 279-1373. Saturdays, 4-6 p.m. Feb. 2; April 6; June 1; Aug. 3; Oct. 5; Dec. 7 Pre-registration required. Call 251-2791373 or visit www.thomashospital.com for upcoming classes and registration.

Visit www.EasternShoreParents.com

Doulas and Childbirth Educators Andolyn Fitzgerald, Certified Bradley Childbirth Instructor 251-680-8525, www.bradleybirth.com The Bradley Method® series is designed for small classes with lots of individual attention. The standard length is 12 weeks covering 12 units of instruction. The Student Workbook is included with classes. It has over 130 pages with over 75 pictures and illustrations. Your local teacher of The Bradley Method® is an independent affiliated instructor. By taking classes in The Bradley Method® of natural childbirth, you will learn about Prenatal nutrition & exercise, Relaxation for an easier birth, Husbands as coaches, Birth plans and more!

Blissfully Born Kaleigh Naylor, Certified Doula and a Bachelor’s of Science in Cytotechnology 251- 209-7303, http://kaleighen.wordpress.com/about/ My philosophy regarding birth is that the vast majority of women are fully equipped to give birth naturally, vaginally, and joyfully if they are in a supportive environment and are encouraged to listen to their bodies. My goal as a doula is to help remind women that birth is a normal process and to facilitate her own labor coping instincts as well as helping partners be involved in whatever means with which the laboring couple is comfortable. I can be as involved as the couple wants- recommending position changes and relaxation techniques often (and employing the “take charge routine” if needed!) or fading into the background (or the hallway) when the couple needs a private moment. I can be an advocate and ambassador to the clinical team, as well. Ultimately, though, the laboring mother should remember the birth of her child as a day in which she was able to make empowered, informed decisions as a woman- whether she has a completely unmedicated vaginal birth, a medicated vaginal birth, or a cesarean section. The couple should remember the day as being joyful, not stressful.

Mother’s Comfort Birthing Services Colleen Tullis, CPM, CD, CCE , Doula, Childbirth Educator South Alabama 251-510-8540 motherscomfort@comcast.net 47

Eastern Shore Parents I February 2013

Childbirth Education Classes, Labor Support in and our of the hospital. Labor Support Services and Comprehensive Childbirth Education go hand in hand in equipping an expectant Mother to make informed decisions about her upcoming birth and preparing her to have the birth experience she desires.

Out of the Belly Doula Services Hannah Simoneau, Certified Doula 334-332-8756, outofthebelly@gmail.com Advocating, preparing and educating families. Prenatal education, labor and birth support.

Woman to Woman Birthing Services Certified Birth & Postpartum Doula Focusing on Natural Birth, Fairhope Stacey Bufkin 251-928-4107 or 251-6046258; http://doulanetwork.com/directory/ doulas/1780.htm Providing personalized childbirth preparation for expectant families to help them achieve a positive birth experience. Will be on-call 24-hours/day the two weeks on either side of mother’s due date. Provide continuous support throughout labor, birth, and the first postpartum hour. One postpartum visit and breastfeeding support included in services.

Breast Pump Supply Rental and Sales Professional Health Care Services, LLC 8367 Morphy Ave., Fairhope 251-947-4922 Breast pumps, maternity apparel, and other medical supplies and equipment.

Fairhope Health Foods Organic Food and Supplies 280 Eastern Shore Shopping Center, Fairhope; 251-928-0644 www.va-fairhopehealthfoods.com Offering Fairhope’s most extensive selection of organic baby supplies. Formula, diapers, produce, groceries, vitamins, bath and body care, herbs, books, homeopathic remedies and much more. Caring and knowledgeable staff are there to assist you and your family in your efforts to lead a healthier, happier lifestyle! ESP Eastern Shore Parents I February 2013

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Eastern Shore Parents I February 2013

Everything Has a Place

by Marla Cilley

We want a home that hugs us! But where do we start? This has been the underlying question that causes us to procrastinate. I have an answer. We start with shining our sink.

That is the absolute first habit to establish is keeping our sinks clean and shiny. Then we declutter. That’s when the question comes up again, “Where do I start?” I have been thinking about this and sometime we put the cart before the horse. Here is the reason we have to address our clutter issues.

1. Clutter waste time 2. Clutter makes our house look messy 3. Children pull out everything; less to pull out = less mess.

4. Too many clothes makes laundry hard to do and to put away.

5. Clutter causes us to feel overwhelmed and tired. It zaps our energy.

6. We want peace in our lives and with clutter around there is no peace.

Eastern Shore Parents I February 2013

Back to the question of the day: Where do I start? Chicken or the egg syndrome once again; do I declutter the flat surfaces or the cubby holes. I have the answer. BOTH! Now don’t get upset! We are not going to do it all at once. I am going to walk you through this one baby step at a time.

The reason your flat surfaces are piled high is because you do not have a place for the items in your hotspot. The easiest way to save time is to have a place for everything and everything in its place. Didn’t your Granny teach you that? Our problem is that we don’t know where to put anything because all of our storage places are cluttered.

Here is my story...I had telephone and computer stuff in lots of places. When I needed something I spent a lot of time searching for it. I had to decide where I wanted to keep my geek toys. For me, they had to be easily accessible when I wanted something. I decided that I would keep them in a Rubbermaid sweater bin that would slide under my extra bed. But wait! My memorabilia was in one of those bins and the other one was full of tote bags and zipper bags. Here is what to I had to do.

I chose my cedar chest to hold my keepsakes. It had a pillow, two sweaters, a small comforter and other memorabilia; the pillow got donated along with the two sweaters and the comforter is being washed to give to a precious little girl. That made room for

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the bin of keepsakes. I picked up the bin and just poured it into the cedar chest. I didn’t get sidetracked by sorting this box of magazines and other papers. That was not my goal. Now the bin was empty. I was still collecting all the geek toys into one place. I took the other Rubbermaid sweater bin and pulled out all the totes and zippered bags, put them all in one bag and decluttered the ones I didn’t like.

I placed that in the top of my closet with my other tote bags and purses. Now I had two bins empty. I took the declutter items to the car and put the trash in the garbage can.

Now I was ready to start sorting my geek toys into one bin, with my trusty declutter kit right beside me--Give away, Put Away and Throw away. Now the laundry basket is empty. The Rubbermaid bin is labeled and ready to roll under the bed and I have one empty one. As a result of just collecting my geek toys, I have consolidated my memorabilia, my purses and tote bags and I have one empty storage container. Everything having a place and everything in its place makes for a peaceful home.

For more help getting rid of your CHAOS, see her website and join her free mentoring group at www.

FlyLady.net. Also check out her books, Sink Reflections, published by Random House, and her New York Times Best Selling book, Body Clutter, published by Simon and Schuster. Copyright 2013 Marla Cilley.

Used by permission in this publication.

Advertising: 251-929-2099

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Eastern Shore Parents I February 2013

6 Ways to SAVE BIG on

Baby Gear

by Sandra Gordon Those calming breaths you may have practiced in childbirth class?

They’ll come in handy in the baby superstore aisle, too. That’s because baby products are a 9.8 billion industry in the U.S. with hundreds of new products added to the line-up each year.

With an increasing range of choices and seemingly endless options of baby gear online and in stores, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, buy more than you need and overspend. Keep in mind, though, that you can get good value and buy high-quality, safe products for your baby without bruising your bank account—or feeling deprived.

For starters, breast-feeding will save you $2,000 during your baby’s first year, which is the money you’d otherwise spend on infant formula.

You’ll shave another $2,000 off the tab by using cloth, a.k.a. “reusable” diapers, compared to the cost of disposables. These days, reusable diapers are almost as easy to use as disposables and, of course, they’re great for the environment, too. Skip the designer Eastern Shore Parents I February 2013

clothes. Sure, they’re cute. But it’s silly to spend $75 on a super-stylish romper if your baby will outgrow it in a month or two. Want other ideas? Here are six more smart ways to save on baby.

Go with store-brand infant formula. Of course, breast is best. But if you want or need to use infant formula for whatever reason, definitely go with the store brand. Store-brand infant formulas, labeled with the names of retail-store brands, such as Target (Up & UP), Wal-Mart (Parent’s Choice), CVS (CVS brand), Babies R Us (Babies R Us), Sam’s Club (Simply Right), Toys R Us (Babies R Us), and Walgreen’s (W), have to be as nutritionally complete as national brand formulas as per FDA regulations, yet cost up to 50 percent less, which can add up to a savings of $1,000 or more per year if you formula feed your baby without supplementing with breast milk. Skeptical?

Compare nutrition information on the labels of brand name and store-brand infant formula and see for yourself.

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Stock up November through January. The fall and early winter are when baby product retailers slash prices on inventory to make room for next year’s merchandise. So what if you buy a 2012 stroller? Chances are it’s not much different than the 2013 model, aside from a fabric update. If you’re in a store where there’s room to haggle, such as your local baby boutique, be sure to ask: “Is that your best price?” or “Would it be possible to mark this down even more?”

Meanwhile, shop mid-week.

Shoppers tend to flood stores on the weekends due to work schedules. But you’ll often find the best deals on baby gear during the week because retailers want to generate consumer traffic. Get on the e-mail list of your favorite baby stores, such as Babies R Us, and keep your eyes peeled for notices of cyber and in-store sales. Like grocery shopping, though, stick to your list. Impulse buys on stuff you really don’t need can wipe out your savings.

Advertising: 251-929-2099

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Do the legwork. Don’t just register online, products unseen. Go to stores and get familiar with strollers, car seats, cribs and gliders so you really know what you’re selecting. Be sure to list practical items too, like diapers in the upper size, wipes, infant formula, breast shields and refills for the Diaper Genie. They may not seem gifty, but they can save lots moola down the line.

For an idea of baby brands and products to avoid, check out www.saferproducts. gov. There you’ll find reports from other parents about baby products they’ve had bad experiences with, which can be helpful.

Use a stroller frame for your baby’s first stroller. Instead of shelling out hundreds for a stroller, snap your baby’s infant car seat into a barebones stroller frame, such as the Baby Trend Snap ‘n Go (around $50). The carrier frame will do the job until your baby outgrows his infant car seat (at about a year). It’s compatible with most brands of infant car seats. A stroller frame will buy you time, saving you from having to pair your baby’s infant

car seat with a traditional coordinating stroller from day one. You’ll know so much more about your stroller needs once you’ve got some parenting experience under your belt.

Rent baby gear for travel. Instead of lugging a car seat, stroller and play yard or making Grandma shell out for her own set of baby gear, why not rent everything you need to keep you and your little one safe and content?

These days, you can lease a crib, play yard, high chair, booster chair, car seat, stroller and even toys at a weekly rate that’s typically less than it would cost to check them at the airport. A basic Pack ‘n Play, for example, which can multitask as a crib, changing table and play pen, typically costs around $60 new to buy and $100 to $130 to check at the airport. To rent one, you can expect to pay around $7 per day or $35 per week, though fees vary per rental agent.

Besides the cost savings, renting is a sanity saver. It takes the hassle out of traveling, which is difficult enough for adults these days. But as you may

know, when you’ve got little ones and all their stuff, it can be a nightmare.

Before renting baby gear, ask about safety and cleanliness. How have the products been cleaned? How old is the car seat? What happens if you lose or break something? Most rental contracts will stipulate that if the product is damaged, lost or stolen, you’re responsible for replacing it. To rent baby equipment and have it go smoothly, coordination is key. It’s great if the rental agent can meet you at your car rental or at the airport or pre-assemble the products where you’ll be staying, such as a vacation rental. Check Baby Travel Pros for links to baby gear rental companies in the U.S. and Canada as well as Mexico, France and Argentina. Baby Travel Pros members are committed to cleanliness, quality, and safety and follow the industry best practices. Rental prices, products and rental agreements vary per vendor.

Sandra Gordon is an award-winning writer who delivers expert advice and the latest developments in health, nutrition, parenting and consumer issues.

Gordon’s most recent book is Save a Bundle: 50+ Ways to Save Big on Baby Gear. She also blogs about baby products at www.babyproductsmom.com.

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Public Library Activities Daphne Public Library

Fairhope Public Library

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2607 US Hwy 98 251-621-2818

501 Fairhope Ave. 251-928-7483

Hours Monday - Thursday 9 a.m. - 8 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Saturday 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Hours Monday & Tuesday 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Wednesday 1 - 6 p.m.

Thursday 9 a.m.- 8 p.m.

Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Saturday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Storytimes, Activities, & Crafts

Lapsit (ages 2 and under), Tuesdays 10:30 a.m.

Preschoolers (ages 2-5), Wed. 2 p.m., Thurs. 10:30 School Age Story Time (ages 5-8), Thursdays 10:30 a.m.

After School Kids Story Time Thursdays 3:45 p.m.

Santa Stories. Thurs., Dec. 13, 5-7 p.m. Hear Santa read stories, drink cocoa, eat cookies. Bring your camera!

Christmas Gift Make and Take Session. Fri., Dec. 14, 12-5 p.m.

Rock in the New Year Rock painting for children. Fri., Jan. 11.

Storytimes and Activities

Lapsit Storytime (ages 2 & under with caregiver present) Mondays and Thursdays, 10 a.m.

Preschool Storytime (ages 3-5 with caregiver present) Mondays and Thursdays, 11 a.m.

Scratch Club (Ages 8-12) Tuesdays, 4 - 5 p.m. Tweens are invited to enjoy animation building, stories, and games!

Tween Tuesdays (Ages 9-11) Tuesdays, 4 p.m.

Teen Night (13 & Up) Mondays, 4:30 p.m.

Teen Program (Ages 12+) 4:30-5:30 p.m. Teens can enjoy awesome activities geared for their age group. Mondays and Thursdays.

Spanish Storytime - Saturdays, 10:30 – 11:15 a.m. Join Ms. Carolina for Spanish Story Time in the Youth Activity Room.

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Daphne Teens

Teen Advisory Board Meetings - 2nd Tuesdays, 3:45 – 4:45 p.m.

The Daphne Teen Book Club - Thursdays from 3:45 – 4:45 p.m.

Adults

Jubilee Book Club – 3rd Wed. of every month, 10 a.m.

Mystery Book Club – 2nd Thurs. of every month, 6:30 p.m.

Library Board Meeting – 1st Thurs. of every month, 4 p.m.

Craft Exchange & Tutorials – 1st Thurs. of every month, 5 p.m.

Local History Forum – 1st Wed. of every month, 2 p.m.

GED Classes – Every Mon. and Wed. at 4:30 p.m., hosted by Faulkner State Junior College.

www.fairhopepubliclibrary.org

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Library Orange Beach Public Library 26267 Canal Road 251-980-2360 Hours Monday, Tuesday, Friday 9-6 Wednesday, Thursday 9-8 Saturday 9-3

Storytimes and Activities

• Preschool Storytime, every Tuesday, 10 a.m. • Download books & more...

The Digital Bookmobile will be at the library on Nov. 6 & 7 from 10 a.m.

- 4 p.m. Featuring Gadget Gallery with Kindle, iPod touch, Android, Nook, and more; interactive computer stations; instructional videos. www. digitalbookmobile.com

Foley Public Library 319 East Laurel Avenue 251-943-7665 Hours Monday - Wednesday 9-8 Thursday - 1-8 Friday - 9-5 Saturday - 9-5

Storytimes Tuesdays and Wednesdays 10 a.m.

(Wednesdays are repeat programs) We have approximately 30 minutes of great fun for pre-school age children, their parents, grandparents and caregivers! We read a book together, have a short time for crafts or special events (such as Halloween, Fire Prevention Week, Christmas, Easter, etc...) and learn to love reading!

Visit www.EasternShoreParents.com

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Eastern Shore Parents I February 2013

10 Winter Indoor Activities

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by Kerrie McLoughlin I’m guilty of it, and I admit it. When I’m too overwhelmed or busy or tired to think up an activity to keep my kids busy while I cook dinner, fold laundry, do dishes or those other 1,000 things it takes to keep a household running, I turn on the TV. While that’s fine sometimes, I don’t want them watching TV all day during the cold winter months! Here are some ideas I’ve found for keeping kids happy indoors when it’s too cold (or too hot, or just plain rainy) to send them outside.

1. Have a carpet picnic or tea party. Grab a blanket to lay on the

floor (makes it seem like a real picnic plus you save the carpet or floor!). If you have a play tea set, that would work perfectly. If not, just use small cups and Eastern Shore Parents I February 2013

plates. We like to have peanut butter and jelly sandwiches that we cut into small pieces or make chocolate chip cookies just for the tea party. You could have the carpet picnic for lunch or dinner for something different and also do a tea party on the same day!

2. Build a fort or set up an indoor tent. Fort-building is a blast!

Find some parent-approved sheets and blankets and start scouting out the perfect spot. Drape sheets over a large table for a simple fort or get crazy using chairs, other furniture, couch cushions and more. For easier cleanup, of course, the indoor tent is a good choice and is just as much fun. The kids feel all hidden and cozy and may even want to sleep in there for naptime or bedtime.

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3. Draw pictures, create crafts, write or tell stories. This is the

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4. Write out plays to act out later or have a talent show. The kids

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perfect time to drag out the craft box full of pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks, markers, glitter, glue and more. Older kids might want to make up their own story, illustrate it and – voilá – they have their very own book!

might want to write up a play of their own creation or something mimicking a movie.

They’ll have fun coming up with costumes and props and running their lines. They can open up the box office to “sell” tickets, set up the theatre and put on their play for you and your video recorder!

5. Throw a dance party. Sometimes it’s just easy and fun to turn Advertising: 251-929-2099

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on some music and get goofy. Dance around the house to any kind of music at all. Go up and down the radio dial looking for new songs to move to, or use music you already have loaded onto a computer or iPod set to “shuffle.”

6. Play “store”. Have the kids make their own play money or buy some at a dollar store. Each child can make their own store, and they buy items from each other. Items can include toys they no longer want, trading cards, pictures they have drawn, anything.

7. Set up a cardboard box village. Grocery and other stores often

have lots of leftover boxes in all shapes and sizes. Grab a bunch and you have an afternoon of entertainment for the kids.

They can decorate the boxes however they like then set them up as homes or stores or let their imagination run wild!

8. Play hide-and-seek. Simple, but it always works. Kids just love hideand-seek and can play one-on-one or in teams or one-on-everybody-else. There’s even reverse hide-and-seek, where everybody else hides and one person goes to find them all. The first person found is the next “it”.

9. Bake away the boredom.

Whip up a batch of sugar cookie dough and when it’s time to roll those babies out, you know the kids will come runnin’! Cut them out in all shapes and sizes, bake them and later the kids will enjoy frosting and decorating their own creations to take pictures of and eat.

10. Play school. Another classic, but kids always love this one. They can all sit at the dining room table or drag smaller tables out to make desks. The kids take turns playing the teacher, and assignments are given using old worksheets or workbooks or just simply by having the kids draw something for the teacher.

If all else fails, put on one of your exercise DVDs and attempt to work out with the kids in the room. They will get a good laugh and you all might get some exercise indoors! ESP

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Kerrie McLoughlin writes about all things kid at TheKerrieShow.com.

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Eastern Shore Parents I February 2013

A Page in a Book

by Paige Gardner Smith

Princesses of Every Kind Every little girl is entitled to her measure of royal treatment as a little princess, but not all young ladies are cut from the same royal purple cloth. Some may want to wear the ermine-trimmed gown, while others prefer to chase the ermine through the woods, catch it and tame it. The following titles introduce princesses who break the mold (a bit) from the gently-reared stereotypes of pampered, gently-spoken damsels in distress. Introduce your young reader to princesses who cut through the princess fluff and make their own way, on their own terms with royal flair!

The Princess and the Packet of Frozen Peas

by Tony Wilson and Sue deGennaro (Peachtree Publishing) Prince Henrik knows he must someday marry a princess, but he doesn’t know how to find the right one. His married brother suggests placing a pea under layers of mattresses and inviting candidates to sleep upon them. He says only the most sensitive and delicate of princesses will detect the pea underneath. But Henrik’s brother’s princess wife appears to be merely thin-skinned and touchy. Henrik wants to find someone who is just the opposite; a princess who likes camping and hockey, a girl who smiles and is resourceful and kind. So Henrik tries his own variation on the “pea” method on visitors to the castle. With a thin sleeping bag and a packet of frozen peas, Henrik hopes his test may just weed out the ‘delicate’ princesses from the one who is tough enough to be a real princess. Whimsically illustrated with collage, gouache and pencil, this light-hearted approach to match-making will delight princes and princesses alike.

You Can’t Eat a Princess

by Gillian Rogerson and Sarah McIntyre (Price Stern Sloan / Penguin) Every kind of amazing chocolate dessert is being laid out for Princess Spaghetti’s party when she discovers that her father, the King, has been abducted by aliens from outer space! She asks for the royal guards to help with a rescue mission, but they are not brave enough to go. The princess takes matters into her own hands, going after her father with a plan to get him back before he becomes the aliens’ main course. Using every bit of the authority and diplomacy that comes with her role, Princess Spaghetti takes the lead on the King’s rescue, finding a sweet solution that will keep him off the aliens’ menu in the future. Putting the lie to the damsel in distress, ‘You Can’t Eat a Princess’ is a delicious addition to every little girl’s book menu.

Dangerously Ever After

by Dashka Slater, Illustrated by Valeria Docamp0 (Dial / Penguin) From pet scorpions and brakeless bicycles to her collection of broken glass and daggers, Princess Amanita’s tastes are a bit edgy among young royalty. Her garden is lush with stink lilies, swinging mace vines (look out!) and needled cacti. But when young Prince Florian rolls by on his bike, he’s not put off by her dangerous garden. He wants to make friends, so he gifts her with a lovely bouquet of roses from his own garden. Without a terrible odor or razor-sharp leaves, Princess Amanita puzzles over the roses… until she discovers the thorns. She asks Prince Florian for rose seeds to plant in her own garden, but instead of roses, Princess Amanita gets a crop of ‘noses’ that sniffle, snore and disturb the whole castle. Hitting the road to return the troublesome blooms to Florian, Amanita gets lost and only something that ‘smells good’ can help her find her way. With lush and capricious illustrations, ‘Dangerously Ever After’ is a delightfully unconventional princess story!

Find more A Page in a Book recommendations at www.PageBookReviews.com.

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Eastern Shore Parents I February 2013

Family Calendar Ongoing

American Sport Art Museum and Archives Located on the campus of the United States Sports Academy in Daphne, dedicated to the preservation of sports history, art, and literature. Exhibits spotlight visiting artists on a rotating basis, as well as our permanent collection of prints, sculpture, original paintings, photographs and other arts media. Free admission. Hours are 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. 1 Academy Drive, Daphne. For more information call 251.626.3303 or visit www.asama.org.

Big Brother / Big Sister Mentors Needed At-risk children at Summerdale School need volunteer Big Brother Big Sister mentors. “Bigs” have fun with a child one time a week, for one hour, on school grounds, during the school year by reading a story, working puzzles, playing catch, drawing, or just being a friend. Professional training and support are provided by Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Alabama YMCA, Inc. For more information or to volunteer, contact Polly at 251-344-0536 ext. 104.

Eastern Shore Art Center A non-profit arts organization located in beautiful downtown Fairhope. The Art Center houses four galleries with exhibits that change monthly, as well as a gallery featuring member artists’ work for sale.

Admission is free. 401 Oak Street, Fairhope. For more information call 251.928.2228 or visit www. easternshoreartcenter.com.

The Exploreum The Exploreum is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon until 5 p.m. For tickets or more information visit www.exploreum.com or call 251208-6873. 65 Government Street, Mobile.

Fairhope Museum of History The museum is full of artifacts from old Fairhope.

You can see displays on Clay City, the Single Tax Association and the Civil War. You can also see personal belongings from some of Fairhope’s first families. The museum is located in downtown Fairhope at 24 North Section Street. The museum is open Monday - Saturday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. For more information, call 929-1474.

Marietta Johnson Museum This museum was founded to preserve the oldest school building in Baldwin Country, which was founded in 1907 by famed educator Marietta Johnson. Known as one of the first progressive schools in the world, the museum includes historic letters, documents, and artifacts from the school’s heyday, as well as biographical information about Marietta Johnson. To learn more, visit www. mariettajohnson.org. Open Mondays-Fridays from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Admission is free. 440 Fairhope Ave. 990-8601.

Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve The Weeks Bay Reserve has a free educational interpretive center and two boardwalks. The Interpretive Center houses a multitude of exhibits, habitat models, specimen collections and a diorama giving the visitor a better understanding about the value of estuaries, diversity of coastal wetlands, and a close-up look at living plants and animals of coastal Alabama. Admission is free. Hours are Monday – Saturday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 to 5 p.m. 11300 US Highway 98, Fairhope. For more information call 251.928-9792 or visit www. weeksbay.org.

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Classes/Meetings

Alabama Pre/Post Adoption Connections (APAC) Offering Adoptive Family Support Group Meetings in Baldwin County the 3rd Monday of each month.

The meeting is held at Eastern Shore Church of Christ, 1209 Daphne Ave, in Daphne from 6-7:30 p.m. Parent, Youth/Teen group and childcare is available. Topic discussions by adoption professionals and ceu’s for foster families are offered.

For more information call 251-460-2727 or 1-800489-1886 or www.childrensaid.org. APAC also offers free counseling services to adoptive families.

Celebration MOPS Fairhope A new MOPS group has been formed that meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. at Celebration Church, 8180 Dyer Road, Fairhope. Childcare is provided and is included in the fees. There is an annual $23.95 MOPS International membership fee and $5/meeting.

Check us out on Facebook at Celebration MOPS Fairhope or contact coordinator Lauren Beck at celebrationmopsfairhope@gmail.com.

Fairhope MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) We meet 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. every 2nd & 4th Monday at Fairhope United Methodist Church.

All mothers of young children are welcome. Email fairhopemops@yahoo.com for more info.

Moonlight Chasse’ Ballroom Dance Society Dance lessons from 7 – 7:30 p.m., and Dancing from 7:30 – 10 p.m., first and third Monday of every month, at Fitzpen Place, 1 mile east of Eastern Shore Mall. No partner necessary. $10 per person includes dance lesson. $7 with membership, includes dance lesson. Live music, cash bar. www.FitzpenPlace. com. www.Moonlightchasse.com. For more information, call 251-621-6665 or 251-377-4069.

MOPS on the Eastern Shore We meet at Faith Family Fellowship in Spanish Fort on the 2nd Thursday of each month, from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. The evening meeting meets on the first Thursday night of the month from 6 - 8 p.m. September through May. MOPS is designed to nurture mothers and it is for all mothers from all walks of life who have children birth through K-5. Each meeting provides an inviting environment where women can come - just as they are - to build friendships, be encouraged, gain practical parenting strategies and have fun all while their children are lovingly cared for in the MOPPETS program. A typical meeting includes sharing a meal together, listening to a speaker that is of interest to mothers with young children, participating in a roundtable discussion, or doing a creative craft project. The children’s program includes care for infants as well as classes for toddlers through kindergarten. There will be regularly schedule playdates during the year as well. New website: http://mopsontheeasternshore.shutterfly.com/ .

PUMC Caregiver Support Group A new support group for caregivers of aging parents and others is discussing “boundaries” at monthly meetings open to the community. The public is invited to be a part of this support group, which meets monthly at Providence UMC, located between Spanish Fort High School and Middle School at 32200 Jimmy Faulkner Dr. For more information about the new support group, call the church office at (251) 626-2510 or email pumc.office@bellsouth. net. For more information about Providence UMC, call the church office or visit the website at www. providencemethodist.org.

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The Responsible Fatherhood Program (RFP) Part of a nationwide effort to support fathers in the important and special role they play in the life of a child. Quenching the Father Thirst class held Mondays from 5:30-7:30 p.m., 12-wk rotating series (begin at any time once intake is complete) at The Family Center of Baldwin County, 27365 Pollard Rd, Daphne. Case management services also offered.

Family Time supervised visitation coming soon.

Call 251-626-1610 for more information and to take classes in Daphne. RFP classes require intake appt.

IN ADVANCE. www.familycentermobile.org or www.Facebook.com/FatherhoodMobile. Services available to all eligible persons regardless of race, gender, age, disability or religion. All classes at The Family Center in Mobile and Daphne are free and offer free childcare WITH 24-HR RESERVATION. Shepherd’s Place (Christian Life Center) Ministry for memory & physically challenged.

Mondays & Wednesdays 8 a.m. – 3 p.m., Tuesdays & Thursdays 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Fairhope United Methodist Church, 155 South Section Street, Fairhope. 928-1148.

Tango by the Bay ~ Argentine Basic classes are held every Tuesday from 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. in Fairhope at Southern Edge Dance Studio, located behind Pizza Hut across from Thomas Hospital. 251 South Greeno, Fairhope. $5 per class (fee may be higher with special guest instructors).

For more information Contact Ben Samel at 6052657 or Cassie Fishbein 377-4069, cassief13@aol. com.

South Baldwin Regional Medical Center offers the following classes: Your entire family can take part in several informative classes designed to help moms and dads welcome their special new addition to the family with more confidence. Classes cover topics including: Having A Healthy Pregnancy Nutrition, discomforts of pregnancy, warning signs of complications, and relaxation exercises. One session.

Cost: $10.

Prepared Childbirth Classes (Once a week for four weeks). Cost: $30 Week 1: Begin the Stages of Labor: The labor and delivery process, signs and stages of labor, options for coping, pain management, vaginal delivery, and relaxation exercises.

Week 2: Delivery and Cesarean Birth: A review of complications that may arise, use of special equipment, complete the stages of labor, cesarean delivery, and relaxation exercises.

Week 3: New Born and Postpartum Care: Newborn appearance, caring for the newborn, infant safety, recognizing complications, relaxation exercises, and choosing a pediatrician. What to expect after delivery, understanding the physical and emotional changes to your body, and relaxation exercises.

Week 4: The Art of Breast Feeding: The benefits of breast feeding for mother and baby, anatomy and physiology of the breast, how to breastfeed, and common difficulties. One session.

• Tiny Toes members may enroll in Yoga, Water Aerobics and Expectant Mother Exercise classes through the Snook Family YMCA. The fee is $5 a class. There is a $3 fee for child care. There is no fee if you are already a member of the YMCA. All classes are located at South Baldwin Regional

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Medical Center–1613 North McKenzie Street Foley.

Tuesday evenings 6:30-8:30 p.m. Classroom A. Located just off of the main lobby.

• Please plan to attend the Healthy Pregnancy Class during your first trimester and the Prepared Childbirth Classes anytime after your 24th week of pregnancy. For more information or to enroll please call the OB Educator at 949-3676 to schedule. We look forward to sharing this special time with you!

Method of payment accepted: Visa, Master Card, Discover, AmEx, Debit Card Gift of Life The Gift of Life is a required maternity care program for Medicaid patients or Medicaid-eligible patients.

The Gift of Life Program provides a caring system of prenatal services; education and care coordination for expectant moms and their babies. For additional information please contact 949-3781.

Thomas Hospital offers the following classes: Breastfeeding Class Thomas Fitness Center (Fairhope). Monthly, first Tuesday, 6-8 p.m. Free.

Infant CPR and Safety Class Thomas Fitness Center (Fairhope). Pre-registration required. To register call 279-1373.

Saturdays, 4-6 p.m.

Moving Through Labor Childbirth Classes Three or four-week prepared childbirth class series which prepares the mother-to-be and her support partner for the labor and delivery experience. $30 fee for the class series.

Thomas Fitness Center, (Fairhope) Mondays, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Thomas Fitness Center (Fairhope) Saturdays, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Thomas Medical Center (Daphne) Tuesdays, 6-8:30 p.m.

Thomas Medical Center (Daphne) Thursdays, 6-8 p.m.

Pre-registration required. Call 251- 279-1373 or visit www.thomashospital.com for upcoming classes and registration.

Natural Childbirth Classes, Fertility Awareness, Mother’s Comfort, Exercise and Nutrition For class schedule or more information call Geralyn Piizzotti, 251- 928-9396. Yourbodyyourbirth@ bellsouth.net.

Newborn Basics Class Held on the second Monday of every month from 6 – 8 p.m. at Thomas Medical Center in Daphne. Free.

No Pre-registration required.

Pre-admission Sessions 6 p.m. at Thomas Medical Center in Daphne. Preregistration required.

Sibling Class Thomas Hospital Fitness Center (Fairhope). Preregistration required. To register call 279-1373. 1011 a.m.

Thomas Hospital offers the following support groups for the community: Alanon (Alcoholics Anonymous) Meetings are held every Wednesday from 7 to 8 p.m. at The Harbor at Thomas Hospital. Call 800-4771104 for more information.

Alateen Meetings are held every Wednesday from 7 to 8 p.m. in the Morphy Conference Room East Tower meeting room at Thomas Hospital. Call 391-1152 for more information.

Alzheimer’s Support Group Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of every month from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Thomas Medical Center. Call 345-7645 or 438-9590 for more information.

ALS Support Group Meetings are held on the second Thursday of every month from 11 a.m. to noon at Thomas Medical Center. Call 205-937-4415 for more information.

Bosom Buddies Breast Cancer Support Group Meetings are held on the second Monday of each month from noon to 1 p.m. at the Thomas Hospital Health Resource Center located at: 308 S. Greeno Road, Fairhope. Call 928-8650 for more information.

Cancer Support Group-Family Connected by Ribbons Support group for cancer survivors, friends and family. Open to any types of cancer. Every first Thursday of every month from 6 - 8 p.m. Morphy Conference Room (Old ER entrance) at Thomas Hospital, Fairhope. Preregistration not required. Call 209-1229 for more information.

Cancer Support Group for Women Meetings are held the first Thursday of every month from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Morphy Conference Room.

For more information, call Patti Huval at 209-1229.

Diabetes Support Group Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of every month from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Thomas Hospital Diabetes Center. Call 279-1700 for more information.

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Support Group Meetings are held every Thursday night from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at The Harbor at Thomas Hospital. Call 251-

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Eastern Shore Parents I February 2013

Family Calendar 965-6264 for more information.

Parkinson’s Support Group Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of every month from noon to 1 p.m. at Thomas Medical Center. Call 251- 455-9919 for more information.

Traumatic Brain Injury and Spinal Cord Support Group Meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month from 10 to 11 a.m. at Thomas Medical Center.

Call 251- 626-6337 for more information.

Friday, February 1

Mardi Gras Parades 6:30 p.m. - Order of Inca (Mobile, Route A); 6:45 p.m. - Apollo’s Mystic Ladies (Daphne).

IMAX Film: Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag Experience the thrill of flying at 800 mph over the Nevada Desert. Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center, JL Bedsole IMAX Theater (65 Government St.) Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m., 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., and 4 p.m. Sundays at 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., and 4 p.m. Nonmembers: $8.75 for adults, $7.25 for youth and seniors, and $6.50 for children.

Members: $6.75 for adults, $5.75 for youth and seniors, and $5.25 for children. 208-6880. www.exploreum.com/www.imax.com.

Fairhope First Friday Art Walk Artsy and fun-filled night with an evening of exhibit opening, guest artists and live entertainment.

Refreshments at participating galleries and downtown businesses. 6-8 p.m. 928-2228. www.esartcenter.com.

First Friday Author Round-Up at Page & Palette Page & Palette presents First Friday Author Round

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Up with local author Eric D. Grizzle to sign Frederic: The Transforming Power of a Storm. 6 p.m. www.pageandpalette.com.

7 p.m. - Order of Isis (Mobile, Route A).

IMAX Film: Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag See February 1 for details.

Saturday, February 2

Monday, February 4

Groundhog Day Mardi Gras Parades 3:30 p.m. - Mystic Mutts of Revelry; 2 p.m. - Mobile Mystics (Mobile, Route A); 2:30 p.m. - Mobile Mystical Revelers (Mobile, Route A); 6:30 p.m. - Maids of Mirth (Mobile, Route A); 6:45 p.m. - Knights of Ecor Rouge (Fairhope); 7 p.m. - Butterfly Maidens (Mobile, Route A); 7:30 p.m. - Krewe of Marry Mates (Mobile, Route A).

IMAX Film: Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag See February 1 for details.

Home Depot Kids Workshop-Build a Valentine Card Holder Free hands-on workshops designed for children ages 5 - 12 offered the 1st Saturday of every month at all The Home Depot stores between 9 a.m.–12 p.m.

Sunday, February 3

Super Bowl Sunday 5 Rivers Sunday Matinee Come out and join us every Sunday for a free, family friendly film. The films play throughout the day.

This week’s film is a documentary on a well-loved book and author, and is called Hey Boo; Harper Lee and to Kill a Mockingbird.

Mardi Gras Parades 6:30 p.m. - Neptune’s Daughters (Mobile, Route A);

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Mardi Gras Parades 6:30 p.m. - Order of Venus (Mobile, Route A).

Tuesday, February 5

5 Rivers Outdoor Adventure Night Free, everyone is welcome. Meet and mingle with local outdoor enthusiasts and enjoy monthly programs. 6-7 p.m. Alabama Hiking Trail Society; 7-8:30 p.m. Mobile Bay Canoe and Kayak Club; 7-8:30 p.m. Mobile Bay Sierra Club.

5 Rivers StoryTime The 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month is StoryTime at 5 Rivers. Children under the age of 6 are welcome to stop by for a free reading of a nature based story followed by arts and crafts. 10-11 a.m.

This week’s story is Bugs Galore by Peter Stein.

Live Bluegrass, Gospel and Classic Country Music at Wales West Tuesdays and Fridays 7-9 p.m. Located on Co. Rd. 9 outside Silverhill, 1.5 mi. south of 48 and 2.5 mi. north of 32. $5 donation, free refreshments and train ride. Great music and fellowship. 1-888-569-5337. www.waleswest.com.

Mardi Gras Parade 6:30 p.m. - Order of LaShe’s (Mobile, Route A).

IMAX Film: Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag See February 1 for details.

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Wednesday, February 6

Mardi Gras Parades 12:30 p.m. - Mystics of Ashland Place (Lanier Avenue).

IMAX Film: Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag See February 1 for details.

Thursday, February 7

Mardi Gras Parades 6:30 p.m. - Mystic Stripers (Mobile, Route A).

20th Annual Alabama Lifestyles Expo Residents and visitors can learn about living in Alabama Communities, including places to see, things to do, and healthy living--Something of interest for all ages. Caribe Resort. Orange Beach.

8 a.m.-2 p.m. 800-235-4757 or 205-222-2862. www.alabamaadvantage.com.

IMAX Film: Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag See February 1 for details.

Friday, February 8

Mardi Gras Parades 6:30 p.m. - Crewe of Columbus (Mobile, Route A); 6:30 p.m. - Mystical Order of Mirams (Orange Beach); 6:30 p.m. - Maids of Jubilee (Fairhope); 6:45 p.m. - Mystic Order of Persephone (Daphne).

IMAX Film: Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag See February 1 for details.

Live Bluegrass, Gospel and Classic Country Music at Wales West See February 5 for details.

Visit www.EasternShoreParents.com

Saturday, February 9

5 Rivers Saturday Adventure Bundle Up! Mammals. Adults and children alike are welcome to join us as we look at what makes a warm and fuzzy critter a mammal. Also get a chance to meet some our resident mammals up close! The talk is free and everyone is welcome to join us. 1-2 p.m. For more information, visit us online at www.

Alabama5Rivers.com, check us out on Facebook, or give us a call at 251-625-0814.

Mardi Gras Parades Noon - Floral Parade, Knights of Mobile, Mobile Mystical Ladies, Order of Angels (Mobile, Route A) Noon - Krewe of Goats Parade (Prichard) Noon - Mystic Revelers (Bay Minette) 2 p.m. - Krewe of Mullet Mates (Mullet Point) 5:30 p.m. - Mystics of Pleasure (Orange Beach) 6 p.m. - Mystics of Time (Mobile, Route A) 6:45 p.m. - Shadow Barons (Daphne) Chinese New Year Parade-Children of the World This is the year of the SNAKE! Line the streets of Fairhope to celebrate with Children of the World.

Children will be wearing traditional dress of their birth country. 2 p.m. 990-3550. www.childrenoftheworld.com.

IMAX Film: Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag See February 1 for details.

Lowe’s Build and Grow - Wheel of Love Valentine’s Day is right around the corner! Bring your child to Lowe’s and they can build this Wheel of Love! Free workshop begins at 10 a.m.

Michael’s Kids Club-Valentine Love Bug Bag Create a cute bag to collect your Valentines!

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Sessions begin every half hour from 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Cost is $2 per child.

Sunday, February 10

Joe Cain Day 5 Rivers Sunday Matinee Come out and join us every Sunday for a free family, friendly film. The films play throughout the day.

This week we enjoy local author Watt Key’s work in the film Alabama Moon.

Mardi Gras Parades: 2:29 p.m. - Loyal Order of the Firetruck (Daphne); 2:30 p.m. - Joe Cain Procession (Mobile, Route A); 5 p.m. - Le Krewe de Bienville (Mobile, Route A).

Michael’s Free Family Craft Time Bring the whole family in to create an embellished wood frame. One per person. 1 p.m.-3 p.m.

Monday, February 11

Mardi Gras Parades: Noon - King Felix III and Floral parades (Mobile, Rte A) Noon - Prichard Mardi Gras Association Parade (Prichard) 3 p.m. - MLK Business and Civic Organization (Mobile, Rte D); 3:30 p.m. - MLK Monday Mystics (Mobile, Route D) 4 p.m. - Northside Merchants (Mobile, Route D); 6:30 p.m. - Infant Mystics (Mobile, Route A); 7:00 p.m. - Order of Mystic Magnolias (Fairhope).

Michael’s Free Family Craft Time Bring the whole family to create a painting with lots of love. One per participant. 5 p.m.-7 p.m.

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Tuesday, February 12

Fat Tuesday 5 Rivers Outdoor Adventure Night Free, everyone welcome. Meet and mingle with local outdoor enthusiasts and enjoy monthly programs.

Hunter’s Education Course 6-9 p.m. (registration required, call 626-5474); Mobile Bay Audubon Society 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Mardi Gras Parades: 10 a.m. - Gulf Shores Mardi Gras Association (Gulf Shores) 10:30 a.m. - Order of Athena (Mobile, Route A) 12:30 p.m. - Knights of Revelry (Mobile, Route A) 1:30 p.m. - Comic Cowboys (Mobile, Route A) 2 p.m. - Orange Beach Parade (Orange Beach) 2 p.m. - MAMGA Mammoth Parade (Mobile, Route B) 6 p.m. - Order of Myths (Mobile, Route C) Michael’s Free Family Craft Time Bring the whole family to create a free origami bookmark that will show heats and mark the spot for the one you love. One per participant. 5 p.m.-7 p.m.

and learn to build your very own pirate ship! Grades 2nd-4th are invited to attend. 4 p.m.

IMAX Film: Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag See February 1 for details.

Friday, February 15

Tuesday, February 19

IMAX Film: Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag See February 1 for details.

Live Bluegrass, Gospel and Classic Country Music at Wales West See February 5 for details.

Saturday, February 16

IMAX Film: Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag See February 1 for details.

IMAX Film: Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag See February 1 for details.

Michael’s Kids Club: Love Your Pet Create a Duck tape pet food mat for the love of your pet. Sessions begin every half hour from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Cost is $2 per child.

Dental Health Month Family Fun Day 10am – 2pm at Daphne Pediatric Dentistry 7058 Professional Place, Daphne Face Painting, Popcorn, Bounce House, Activities and more including author Sheila Booth-Alberstadt presenting her newest book, “Maggie McNair had Sugar Bugs in There”.

Thursday, February 14

Sunday, February 17

Wednesday, February 13

IMAX Film: Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag See February 1 for details.

Page & Palette presents Pirate Day Come dressed as a pirate and listen to Mr. Wayne Miller read his story, Black Dog, The Reluctant Pirate

5 Rivers Sunday Matinee Come out and join us every Sunday for a free, family friendly film. The films play throughout the day. This week discover the secrets behind a notorious ant in the film Fire Ants.

Feed an alligator!

Call for details.

See over 200 alligators up close!

5 Rivers StoryTime The 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month is StoryTime at 5 Rivers. Children under the age of 6 are welcome to stop by for a free reading of a nature based story followed by arts and crafts. 10-11 a.m. This week’s story is Little Owl’s Night by Divya Srinivasan.

IMAX Film: Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag See February 1 for details.

Live Bluegrass, Gospel and Classic Country Music at Wales West See February 5 for details.

Wednesday, February 20 IMAX Film: Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag See February 1 for details.

Thursday, February 21 IMAX Film: Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag See February 1 for details.

Friday, February 22

IMAX Film: Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag See February 1 for details.

Live Bluegrass, Gospel and Classic Country Music at Wales West See February 5 for details.

Get up close and personal with our alligators!

“Mighty Max” “Prince Eric” “Crunch” “B.A.” and

“R.J.”

Nature walk on elevated boardwalk.

View alligator feedings.

Field Trips/Birthday Parties available.

Fun for the entire family!

Safe for kids!

1-866-99-GATOR 19950 Hwy 71 • Summerdale, AL Visit www.EasternShoreParents.com

Have the best Birthday Party ever here at Alligator Alley!

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Eastern Shore Parents I February 2013

Family Calendar

February2013

Lowe’s Build & Grow - Monster Jam®, featuring Grave Digger® Your child will love the Monster Jam® kit featuring Grave Digger®! Bring them to Lowe’s this weekend to get closer than ever to one of their favorite Monster Jam superstars! Free workshop begins at 10 a.m.

Michael’s Kids Club: Showered with Love Create a beautiful hearts of love mobile using paint and paper to share with someone you love. Sessions begin every half hour from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Cost is $2 per child.

Saturday, February 23

5 Rivers Road Show: The Mobile Boat Show Stop by and say hi as the critters and staff join the Mobile Boat Show.

5 Rivers Sunday Matinee Come out and join us every Sunday for a free, family friendly film. The films play throughout the day.

This week’s film takes a closer look at one of our most common and use domesticated animals: Holy Cow! IMAX Film: Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag See February 1 for details.

Carnival of the Animals Presented by Mercedes of Mobile, benefitting Thomas Hospital’s Birth Center. An evening of ballet, Broadway and opera, the event features performances from Andrew Lloyd Weber’s Cats and Saint Saen’s Carnival of the Animals. Guest artists include Mobile Opera’s Scott and Sarah Wright and Mobile Ballet’s Lauren Woods. 7:30 p.m. at the Saenger. For tickets visit PMIart.com or call 610-8902.

5 Rivers Road Show: The Mobile Boat Show Stop by and say hi as the critters and staff join the Mobile Boat Show.

City of Daphne Arbor Day Tree Give-Away 3,700 trees - 20 species will be given away at the Daphne Civic Center, 2605 Highway 98. 7 a.m.-7 p.m. 621-9000.

Orange Beach Seafood Festival and Antique Car Show Tasty Alabama seafood is the draw at this festival. You’ll also find local artisans offering handmade wares for sale, along with an impressive auto show showcasing classic cars, hot rods and newer models. This festival is the major fundraising event for the Orange Beach Sports Association to support the city’s youth sports activities. Orange Beach Sportsplex, William Silvers Pkwy., off Canal Rd. 10.m.4.m. 981-1524.

IMAX Film: Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag See February 1 for details.

Eastern Shore Parents I February 2013

Sunday, February 24

Tuesday, February 26

IMAX Film: Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag See February 1 for details.

Live Bluegrass, Gospel and Classic Country Music at Wales West See February 5 for details.

Wednesday, February 27 IMAX Film: Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag See February 1 for details.

Thursday, February 28

IMAX Film: Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag See February 1 for details.

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Page & Palette presents Sheila Booth-Alberstadt Maggie thinks she has no time to brush her teeth. She would much rather play. But one night she wakes up with a pain in her mouth. An embarrassing trip to the dentist teaches her about the sugar bugs that have made a home in her tooth. Sheila Booth-Alberstadt will be in Fairhope to sign her latest book in the Maggie McNair series, Maggie McNair Has Sugar Bugs in There, at 4 p.m. For more information go to www.pageandpalette.com.

David Wilcox Live at the Pavilion 7 p.m. $20. The Pavilion at Church of the Apostles, 7159 McIntyre St., Fairhope.

Looking ahead...

March 1. Fairhope First Friday Art Walk See February 1 for details.

March. 1. First Friday Author Round Up at Page and Palette George Tate, Tom & Mary Ann Fitzmorris 6 p.m.

For more information go to www.pageandpalette.com.

March 15, 16, & 17. 61st Annual Arts & Crafts Festival in Fairhope Over 230 fine arts & crafts exhibitors. Live local entertainment. Unique festival food. BRATS shuttle service from shopping centers at Greeno Rd. & Fairhope Ave. for $2 each way (3 minute ride). This an Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce event. www.eschamber.com/artscrafts.

We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of these calendar events. However, you should call ahead to confirm dates, times, location, and other information.

Advertising: 251-929-2099

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Eastern Shore Parents I February 2013

Mama

The Impossible MPAA Rating: PG-13 Overall: AViolence: BSexual Content: C Language: B+ Alcohol / Drug Use: B The MPAA has rated The Impossible for intense realistic disaster sequences, including disturbing injury images and brief nudity.

On December 26, 2004 an earthquake in the Indian Ocean spawned a tsunami that struck South Asian coastlines with an incredible wall of water, leaving over 200,000 people dead in its wake. Around the world, people watched the news reports with a sense of dismay. But for those at the center of the disaster, the horrors only grew after the water receded. The Impossible, directed by Spanish filmmaker Juan Antonio Bayona and based on the real life experiences of Maria Belon and her husband Henry, tells the story of just one of the thousands of families swept up in the events of that day.

Henry and Maria (played by Ewan McGregor and Naomi Watts) arrive at an idyllic shoreline resort in Thailand for a relaxing Christmas vacation with their boys Lucas (Tom Holland), Thomas (Samuel Joslin) and Simon (Oaklee Pendergast). Then, without warning, a tidal wave of churning, dirty, debris-filled water crashes down on the resort battering the guests and employees as it plunges over them. When she finally fights her way to the surface, Maria is cut, bruised and partially unclothed from the force of the water. In the distance she catches sight of Lucas rushing along in the current.

Finally, the two of them latch on to the trunk of a floating tree. But the rest of their family is nowhere to be seen.

Rescued by locals, the pair eventually ends up in an overrun hospital where Maria’s injuries worsen each day as the staff deals with an evergrowing patient load.

Meanwhile, a shoeless and blood-covered Henry, still in a state of shock, leaves Thomas and Simon in the care of a stranger (Nicola Harrison) and begins searching for his missing wife and son.

Because many of the extras in the film are actual survivors of the tsunami, there is a sense of authenticity to the emotional shock that follows the watery event. Still in the middle of unbelievable devastation and mayhem are incredible moments of courage and compassion. These heroic moments become the redeeming elements in this story of incredible survival. While the terrifying depiction of the tidal wave and the resulting devastation make this movie inappropriate for young viewers, adults and the oldest of teens will likely be inspired by the tenacity of the human spirit that still surfaces in the face of unimaginable calamity.

MPAA Rating: PG-13 Overall: CViolence: CSexual Content: B Language: D+ Alcohol / Drug Use: BThe MPAA has rated Mama PG-13 for violence and terror, and some disturbing images and thematic elements.

Maybe it’s the arrival of the post spending spree credit card bills, or the lack of sun or a shortage of general goodwill after the holidays. Whatever it is, January can be a dismal time of year even in movie theaters--unless of course you like horror movies.

Five years after disappearing, two young girls (Megan Charpentier and Isabelle Nélisse) are found living in a deserted cabin in the forest. It’s evident a 5-year-old and baby couldn’t have survived on their own, so the only question is: Who else was in the cabin?

Behaving like wild animals when they are rescued, the siblings are put under Dr. Dreyfuss’ (Daniel Kash) care until he deems them fit to live with their Uncle Lucas (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and Aunt Annabel (Jessica Chastain). Lucas eagerly commits to raising his dead brother’s children.

But, Annabel, a tattooed guitarist in a rock band, isn’t so sure she is ready to exchange life on the road for motherhood. She is even less sure when Lucas is rushed to the hospital after inexplicably falling down the stairs. Left alone with the two feral children, Annabel begins to see fleeting shadows and hear strange noises coming from her nieces’ bedroom.

Jessica Chastain and the two young actresses (who scurry around the house on all fours, gorge on moths and grunt out inarticulate sounds) do their part to create the eerie atmosphere in the opening scenes of this film. But like so many movies in this genre, the fright factor plummets once we see the ghastly and ghostly Mama. The script also wanders off on unresolved tangents introducing storylines that it fails to follow up. Along with the mandatory jump scenes introduced with screeching stringed instruments are the-to-beexpected elements of dark rooms, flickering lights and blood oozing from the wall. However the depiction of a distraught father readying himself to shoot his child is a disturbing portrayal of domestic violence, especially in a fictional film created strictly for entertainment.

Given the dearth of choices in theaters right now, Mama will likely lure in more than a few viewers. But don’t expect any redeeming qualities from this obsessive maternal apparition. She makes Snow White’s evil stepmother look like a fairy godmother.

What Parents need to know about The Impossible...

Violence: Sounds of a gunshot are heard. A man points a gun at himself and later at his child but is stopped before he can kill her. A character is in a coma after being pushed over a railing and falling down a flight of stairs. A woman repeatedly stabs another woman in the chest. Blood injuries are depicted several times. Characters are chased and attacked by a ghost like character. Blood runs down the wall. Numerous moments of peril and jump scenes occur.

Sexual Content: A couple becomes amorous and begins kissing. A woman is relieved to discover she is not expecting after taking a pregnancy test. A woman wears low cut tank tops.

Language: The script includes numerous profanities, terms of Deity and one strong sexual expletive.

Alcohol / Drug Use: Characters are briefly shown drinking. A man is distraught after running out of his prescription medicine.

What Parents need to know about Mama...

Violence: A dirty, churning wave of water engulfs the guests and employees of a resort. Debris in the water causes serious injuries. Numerous bloody wounds, bruises, gashes and cuts are depicted. Dead bodies and large-scale destruction caused by a tsunami are shown. An injured woman is dragged through debris by her rescuers. Women choke, coughing up blood and refuse from their lungs. Bloody or injured characters search for their missing loved ones. Other scenes of death and devastation are portrayed.

Sexual Content: A woman’s breast and nipple are exposed as she changes clothes. Later her breast is exposed when her shirt is torn off during her struggle in the water and when her clothes are cut off in the hospital.

Language: Contains only a handful of mild profanities and terms of Deity.

Eastern Shore Parents I February 2013

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