Sterling Silver Teething Jewelery
Sterling silver teething jewelry by Momma’s Jewels. Babies like to chew on something firm and cool as they are teething. Sterling silver is inherently cool to the touch and naturally soothing to baby’s gums while they’re teething. From Once Upon a Time in Homewood and Crestline

Pixie Lily Cotton Knit Pajamas
Now baby isn’t the only one with irresistably soft cotton pajamas. Once Upon a Time in Homewood and Crestline

Hotslings
Hotslings are an easy, hands free way to carry baby. Available in many great prints, with adjustable sizing.  Works with babies, up to 30 pound toddler. Adjusts as your baby grows. From the Swanky Stork in Homewood.

Ghirardelli Gift Basket
A variety of gift basket options available at Ghirardelli at the Shops of Grand River Outlet Mall in Leeds.

Keurig Coffee Maker
A perfect solution to allow mom to have a little me time before the hustle and bustle of the day. Available from the Kitchen Collection at the Shops of Grand River Outlet Mall in Leeds.

Book Gift Basket
Mom can put the kids to bed and snuggle in with some of today’s hottest bestsellers from Book Warehouse at the Shops of Grand River Outlet Mall in Leeds

Super WHY Live vibrantly brings to life Super Why, Alpha Pig, Wonder Red, Princess Presto and their puppy pal Woofster, who each take children on larger-than-life, imagination-stimulating adventures. With help from the audience, the characters embark on magical, out-of-this-world journeys to explore what they’ve always wanted to be – from a ship’s captain to a rock star and more! While singing, dancing and interacting with the characters on stage along the way, pint-sized fans (and parents, alike!) discover who really has the power to make dreams come true!

**The Super WHY TV series consistently ranks as one of the top-rated programs among parents and children and is the only preschool property created specifically to help kids learn the fundamentals of reading through interactive storybook adventures.

Tickets are on sale now at superwhylive.com

The Alabama Baby & Child Corks & Chefs ticket winner will also be entered into the drawing for the Patron VIP Prize Package worth approximately $500. There is a 1 in 9 chance of winning the VIP package.

VIP Patron Prize Package prizes:

· A one night stay at The Tutwiler Hotel overlooking Linn Park

· $100 Gift Card to fine dining at Century Restaurant and Bar at the Tutwiler

· Two Tickets to the Corks & Chefs Food and Wine Tasting Event, April 28 & 29

· $25 in Art Money to spend on an art purchase at the Festival

· BBVA Compass NBA Team. Works. On Tour Prize Pack

o Draw String Bag
o T-Shirt
o Spray Fan
o Sunblock
o Sunglasses
o Slap Bracelet
o Signed Photo of Visiting NBA Legends: Otis Birdsong or Robert Horry

· Festival Catalog

· 2 Festival Drink Vouchers

· Hospitality tent access

· Pair of Tickets to any Red Mountain Theatre Company performance of Singing in the Rain, which runs May 3-30, 2012

· One year subscription (12 issues) to Birmingham Magazine

· One year subscription (12 issues) to B-Metro Magazine

Alabama Ballet’s triumphant 30^th anniversary season closes with the world premiere of Roger Van Fleteren’s Alice in Wonderland, with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra performing an original score composed by the Ballet’s music director, Les Fillmer.

Created with the whole family in mind, Alice in Wonderland features storybook costumes and sets and accessible choreography that parents and children alike will enjoy. All the favorite characters are there: Alice, the Mad Hatter, the March Hare, the Cheshire Cat and the Queen of Hearts, along with roses, butterflies and dragonflies.

To purchase tickets, call the Alabama Ballet’s box office agent at 205-975-2787, or visit us online at www.alabamaballet.org. Use code ALBABY to receive a 15% discount on tickets.

Day Out With Thomas™: Mystery On The Rails Tour 2012 offers little engineers and their families the opportunity to take a ride with a 15-ton replica of Thomas the Tank Engine, star of the popular Thomas & Friends™ series.  Children will take a 25-minute ride along with their favorite engine friend on his latest adventure and participate in Thomas-themed activities.  

 Tickets are available by calling Ticketweb toll-free 866-468-7630, or by visiting www.ticketweb.com/thomas.html or www.HODRRM.org.  Ticket prices are $18 for ages 2 and up (service fees may apply). Use discount code THOMAS for $2 off tickets.

WIN A FAMILY 4-PACK

Post your children’s ages and what you love about The Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum for a chance to win 4 tickets to SUNDAY, APRIL 15 with a train departure time of 12:45. Winners will be announced on Monday – April 9.

KAROL LEGGETT started sewing custom children’s clothes for Kidz Closet, located in Vestavia Hills, before buying the shop in 2007 and changing the name to Kidz Closet & More. In addition to a large variety of consignment clothes for children of all ages, the shop also offers a custom clothing line, Kidz Closet Designs, as well as gifts and on-site monogramming.

ALABAMA BABY & CHILD: Can you tell us a little about your family?
KAROL LEGGET: [I’ve been] married 11 years to Creg Leggett, and have two daughters, Emma (9) and Tessa (7).

ABC: Where were you born and what part of town do you live in now?
KL: [I was] born in Honolulu, Hawaii, and attended Troy University. I moved to Birmingham in 1996, and have lived in Vestavia since 2000.

ABC: Can you give us a brief history of Kidz Closet?
KL: Before I owned the store it was mainly consignment, with monogramming and small gifts items. After I purchased the store I expanded it from 1,200 square feet to over 3,000 square feet. We improved the quality of the consignment clothing, and began accepting teen and maternity consignment as well. We added new clothing and gifts for moms, teens, and children of all ages, as well as a custom clothing line that is exclusive to Kidz Closet & More. We continue to do on-site monogramming and appliqués, and added more toys and birthday gift items to the store, as well as children’s shoes. We
pride ourselves on listening to what our customers want and do our best to find these items at the best price.

ABC: What do you hope your customers take away from the store?
KL: We want our customers to find a unique store that meets their needs. We want to offer the customer who is consigning their clothing a fast and easy consignment process, where they can make the most for their clothing. We also want the shopper to find excellent consignment clothing at a fair price, in a clean, easy to manage store.

ABC: What’s your favorite item you carry?
KL: That’s a tough one . . . for kids, it would have to be our new Monkey Toe Shoes, and for Mom it would have to be our Reverse-a-Purse.

ABC: If you didn’t own the store what would you be doing?
KL: Probably own some other kind of store, or helping other store owners to grow their business.

ABC: What’s your favorite place to eat in Birmingham?
KL: Sekisui Sushi in Vestavia City Center.

ABC: What’s your favorite app or internet resource?
KL: Facebook—it’s the only way I have time to keep up with friends.

Kidz Closet & More
640 Montgomery Hwy
Birmingham, AL 35216
(205) 979-0707
www.kidzclosetonline.com

A long time ago, in the faraway town of Bethlingham, roved a band of merry men, led by the fearless Robin Good. Their mission: to help people by fundraising from the rich and giving to the poor!  But when a greedy Prince starts stealing the townspeople’s hams, donations are down and Robin’s friends take off and decide to give robbing from the rich a try. Feeling rejected, Robin thinks things can’t get any worse, until he finds out that the ham-hoarding Prince has also captured his friends. Can Robin overcome his own hurt, rescue his friends and restore the townspeople’s hope?  Find out in this fun Veggie story where kids learn that there’s no hurt too big for God!

VeggieTales: Robin Good and His Not-So-Merry Men  is a fun parody that features plenty of high-energy, family-friendly music, including a new Silly Song with a theme that was selected through a recent online fan contest. The episode also includes the animated short, “Lenny & the Lost Birthday,” which also helps teach lessons about handling hurt and forgiveness. You can check out the DVD trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDd-PrisTZQ.

To register to win a copy post a comment below with your child’s age and favorite Veggie Tales character.

Children will hop aboard the train for a trip to Peter Cottontail’s meadow for an Easter Egg Hunt and fun activities! Find the lucky egg and they could win a prize!

HEART OF DIXIE RAILROAD MUSEUM
1919 9th St, Calera, AL
For info and tickets
www.HODRRM.org
205.757.8383

To register to win a family 4 pack by posting a comment below of your child’s age and why you think they would love to go.

Photo by Laura Player

Because the pace of change seems ever to increase in the modern age, the few institutions that manage to endure become even more beloved. That’s certainly the case with Sikes Children’s Shoes in Homewood. Owner Frank Youngs has been with Sikes selling children’s shoes since 1968. He has served generations of children, and continues the store’s original mission of providing quality shoes that are fitted properly (Sikes is one of the few children’s shoes stores left that actually measures a child’s feet and fit them with shoes).

Nick Peters and Fred Sikes opened the shop, then called Sikes & Peters’ Shoes, in 1955. The original shop was located next door to its present location, selling shoes for all ages, until Peters left the business in 1959. Sikes changed the name of the store to Sikes’ Shoes and began selling only children’s shoes.The hallmark of the shop was personal attention and a proper fit.

A few years after the store opened, Sikes’ Shoes moved into a new, larger retail space that opened next door. Mr. Sikes recognized an opportunity to increase traffic to his store by joining forces with a nearby children’s clothing retailer, Jack n’ Jill Shop, then located across 18th Street. He approached the owners, Eddie and Jeanette Burman, with his idea of moving Jack n’ Jill into the space next to his, and sweetened the deal by offering to build a doorway from his shop to theirs inside his store. The Burmans agreed and moved Jack n’ Jill across the street next door to Sikes Children’s Shoes, creating a sort of “one-stop shop” for local parents. To this day, the stores remain neighbors.

Sikes’ daughter Nancy met Frank Youngs while attending the University of Alabama. Youngs grew up in the Norwood and College Hills areas of Birmingham, where he attended Woodrow Wilson School, McElwain Elementary, and Shades Valley High School before enrolling in the University of Alabama, where he earned a degree in marketing and advertising. Youngs and Nancy Sikes married in 1962, and Mr. Sikes asked Youngs to join the family shoe business. In 1968, Mr. Sikes and Youngs opened Sikes & Youngs’ Shoes in Vestavia Hills, which Youngs operated. When the shop’s sign needed to be replaced, Youngs suggested changing the name to Sikes Children’s Shoes, which he thought would better communicate to potential customers that the store only sold shoes for children. In the late 1960s the store’s name officially became Sikes Children’s Shoes.

Youngs bought the Homewood Sikes location from Sikes’ son Wayne in 1991. In 1993, Youngs closed the Vestavia Hills location, feeling that the two stores were too close and drew customers from the same areas of Birmingham. In 2002, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Blitz, who owned the Jack n’ Jill Shop, decided to retire and sold their store to Youngs. Youngs says he bought the Jack n’ Jill Shop because he didn’t want any other type of business moving in next door to the shoe store. Plus, with the interior doorway from one store to another, it made sense that the same person should own both stores.

Youngs has led a full and fulfilling life, raising four sons with Nancy, and later becoming stepfather to a son and daughter when he married his wife Karen. He now has two grandchildren and three step-grandchildren to keep him busy, but continues to work in the store, no longer fitting shoes, but telling riddles and performing yo-yo tricks for the newest generation of customers. Laura Player, manager of Jack n’ Jill, who has worked for Youngs for 21 years, says, “Not many stores can say that they have third and fourth generation customers shopping with them. In fact, it’s quite a tradition for families to stop by Jack n’ Jill, purchase an outfit, head to Sikes Children’s Shoes for their matching shoes, and swing into Savage’s Bakery for lunch or a special treat.”

Sonya Yarborough, manager of Sikes Children’s Shoes, says, “Frank is so passionate about maintaining the tradition that we have of being a “sit-and-fit” store that gives awesome customer service. He loves to interact with the children and it brings such joy to him to meet people out in the community that he fit in shoes as children. He is truly one of a kind.”

Sikes Children’s Shoes
2920 18th Street South
Homewood, AL 35209
205-879-3433

Jack n’ Jill Shop
2918 18th Street South
Homewood, AL 35209
205-879-7681

The outstanding rookies include Paul “Tiny” Sturgess, the world’s tallest pro basketball player at 7-8, Jonte “Too Tall” Hall, the shortest Globetrotter ever at 5-2, and Fatima “TNT” Maddox of Temple University, the team’s first female player since 1993 and ninth female in team history.

Tickets to see the world’s most famous basketball team are on sale now. Tickets start at $19.00 and are available at www.harlemglobetrotters.com, www.TicketReturn.com.

TICKET DISCOUNT

Receive $7 off tickets (not including courtside or VIP). Use code ALBABY (must type all caps)

Phineas, Ferb, and the whole tri-state area gang embark on a bold escape jumping out from behind your TV and onto the stage in a live action adventure – right in your hometown! And, before you can wonder, “Hey, where’s Perry?” the beloved pet platypus shifts to his secret double life as Agent P to foil another one of Dr. Doofenshmirtz’s evil plans. Musical madness abounds in an escapade so awesome that even Candace can’t help but join the hilarious hijinks. It’s the ultimate end to summer vacation, so seize the day ’cause Phineas and Ferb are gonna do it all!

TICKET DISCOUNT

Use code FERB15 for Phineas and Feb for $15 tickets for all non-premium seats. (non VIP Gold or VIP seats). Ticketmaster feels will be added. Mention that code at the BJCC box office our use at Ticketmaster.

Birmingham Children’s Theatre
Ages Pre-K – 8th Grade
March 19-23
Registration Deadline: Monday, March 5

Spring Break Intensive
Children from across the state can enroll in a one-week theatre intensive taught by our highly-qualified, nurturing instructors of working theatre professionals. During the Spring Break Intensive, your child will be immersed in theatre for one-week focusing on acting, dancing, and puppetry.

Tuition – Pre K-2nd Grade – $150, 3rd Grade-8th Grade – $275

To register: Download the application HERE and return it by mail or fax. You may also call Stephen Pierce at 205-458-8185 or e-mail Dane Peterson for detailed information

Birmingham Museum of Art
March 20 – 23

The Museum is offering a variety of activities during Spring Break

Bart’s Books: Each day at 11 a.m.

Children’s Film Series: A different family-friendly film every day at 1:00 p.m. Films include Dolphin Tale, Puss in Boots, and Operation Dumbo Drop

Doodle for Google: The BMA has been invited to participate in the annual contest of designing a colorful Google logo. The contest is open to children, who will be led through the doodling exercise by BMA staff and Google representatives from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The theme will be to design a Google logo around the the phrase, “If I could travel through time, I would…”

Special events will include a troupe of Vietnamese dancers called the Melodi Dance Group out of Atlanta (March 23)

Local Birmingham artist Heather Spencer Holmes, the first community artist who will have her work installed in the ArtVenture community art gallery, will demonstrate how to make jellyfish similar to the ones she will have hanging in the gallery space when ArtVenture! opens.

Other art activities include making Bart the Art Bat sculptures out of cloud clay, Vietnamese Dragon puppets, watercolor marker “brush” painting, paper fans.

Each day will have a different theme: Google Day, Fly Away with Bart, Underwater Day/Swim the Seven Seas, and Dragon Day.

Birmingham Zoo
8:30a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
4K – 5th Grade

$45 for members / $55 non-members

Each day campers will learn about different animals and topics. There will be fun activities, crafts and tours every day and campers will meet and see some of the Zoo’s animals up-close during camp. Campers may even bring their bathing suits to play in the water fountains provided the weather cooperates.

Other activities will include:
* Train and/or Carousel Ride (as weather permits)
* Behind-the-Scenes Tours
* Mid-morning and Mid-afternoon Snacks
* Live Animal Demonstrations
* Animal Artifacts (Biofacts)

Register online at www.birminghamzoo.com/education or call 205-397-3877

McWane Center
March 19 & 20
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Pirate Days
Dress like a pirate and set sail for an educational voyage during the Pirate Party at McWane Science Center. Join our crew as we explore the museum and aquarium on a treasure hunt with fun activities. As you navigate your way through the aquarium discover an octopus, touch a shark and see a horseshoe crab up close during exciting programs!

COST: Included in cost of admission to the museum, FREE for members

Visit www.mcwane.org or call 205-714-8300 for more information.

Red Mountain Theatre Company
March 19-23
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Ages 7-10

Spring Workshop
The Spring Workshop will feature in-depth instruction in the three disciplines of musical theatre: music, acting and dance. Children will learn introductory acting ensemble work, stage and body positions, acting as story-telling with the full body and voice, and how to be a good audience member. They will also learn the basic positions of dance, as well as basic steps. Vocally, students will learn techniques to make every song their best, auditioning tips and how to pick the best songs for their voices.
Cost: $300

To register for this workshop, please contact the RMTC Business Office at 205-324-2424.

Ruffner Mountain
March 19-23
Ages K – 5th grade
9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Spring Break Camp
Spring Break Camp is the perfect place for your child to stay active and learning during their break. Each day we will focus on a different theme. Every day will be filled with activities, art projects, games, and outdoor adventure. All camps include two snacks.

Cost: $40 day, $30 day (member)

A 10% discount will be given if you sign up before March 1.

Extended care is available from 7:30 AM – 9 AM ($5/day) and 3 PM – 5:30 PM ($5/day). Sign your child up for one day or multiple days.

Visit www.ruffnermountain.org or call (205) 833 – 8264 for more information.
Villager Yoga
March 20 – 22
Ages 5-12

Spring Break Mini-Camps
VY yoga camps allow kids to find their inner and outer strength, while being creative and expressing themselves. Group exercises and games teach considerate peer interaction and leadership skills in a non-competitive environment. Children will find a calm mind and body and learn self-soothing techniques through mindfulness activities and relaxation. Yoga poses will be introduced around a theme and camp will include the thoughtful preparation of a healthy snack, group game time, a creative art project and mindful breathing and visualization exercises.

5-8 years old | Tuesday, March 20, 3:00 – 5:00 pm |Yoga Trails
5-8 years old | Wednesday, March 21, 3:00 – 5:00 pm | Yoga Adventure
9-12 years old | Thursday, March 22, 3:00 – 5:00 pm | Yogi Knows

$35 per camp |View agendas & register

YMCA
Ages 5-12
7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Spring Break Camp
Spring Break Camp is an all-day program and camp when school is out. Children will participate in organized games, swimming, playtime (WII, basketball, etc.), and go on daily field trips. Grades will be divided into groups led by a counselor. Parents may choose for child to participate by day or by week.

Daily Fee: Member- $25, Non-Member – $38
Weekly Fee: Member -$94, Non-Member – $128

Visit www.ymcabham.org to find a camp at your closest YMCA

Mud pie Baby Crocheted Headband or Hat
The Babytalk Store

Ty Inc
Monstaz Collection
Featured is Trixie, an awesome plush toy from the new Monstaz Collection from Ty. Trixie “talks” when you push her heart.
Learning Express Toys

Ty Inc
The Beanie Boo Collection
You had me at Beanie. This little puppy is irresistable.
Learning Express Toys

Melissa & Doug
Decorate Your Own Heart Mirror
Ages 4+
Learning Express Toys

Peaceable Kingdom Press
Boy Themed Valentine’s Card Kit
20 Valentines in 4 styles (box can be used as carrying case to take them to school)
Homewood Toy and Hobby

Creativity for Kids
Opti Art Gemstone Jewelry
Make 15+ accessories
Ages 7+
Homewood Toy and Hobby

If you are hosting a baby shower for a little boy, check out this Nautical Boy party package by nothing{2}something on Etsy. This classically inspired party set includes an invitation featuring an adorable sailboat, nautical party circles which can be used for cupcake toppers or favor tags, a coordinating thank you card and calling cards.  This party package is customizable and is a great way for you to make the expecting mother’s day extra special.