Tracy Cummings wins a Savannah Square Platter, from the Savannah Collection at The Dish.

The black and white china platter brings the beauty and history of Savannah to the table, featuring hand-drawn illustrations of 15 of Savannah’s squares. Franklin Square, Calhoun Square, Oglethorpe Square and Forsyth Park are among the places chosen to reflect the spirit of Savannah.

Savannah native Susan Wimberly – owner and designer of the Atlanta-based company The Dish – created the Savannah Collection, which consists of the square platter in the giveaway as well as an oval platter, salad plate, small square plate, coffee mug, wine glass, ornament, tea towel, tote bag, and apron. Items are sold separately or in sets, and prices range from $17.95 to $42. The china is dishwasher and microwave safe and available locally at Kitchens on the Square, Missing Pieces, Kitchenware Outfitters, Cadre Shops, CJ’s Hallmark and at www.mulberrygirls.com.

The Dish offers collections for more than 40 cities and 20 states, as well as six universities.

In my newspaper column this week entitled “How baby Mary met her parents”, I write about how the recession is impacting adoption.

Some couples who can’t afford private adoptions – like Ryan and Josh Lee of Savannah (pictured here with their adorable daughter Mary) – are opting for the less expensive option of independent adoptions.

Read about the Lee’s story of struggling with infertility and finding peace through adoption here.

Find out more about all types of adoption and get information from local resources and organizations who want to help place children in loving homes at an Adoption Forum at Savannah Christian Church
6:30-9 PM Thurs. Oct. 15. The forum will be at The Link at Savannah Christian Church’s Henderson Campus, 55 Al Henderson Blvd. For more info: 912-629-4721 or email jzauche@savannahchristian.com

Savannah Christian Church also has an infertility support group for couples struggling with infertility meets every second Saturday of the month at 6:15 PM in Room 250 at Savannah Christian Church.

You can help the Friends of Oatland “Bring Back a Bear” to the Oatland Island Wildlife Center

A campaign is under way to bring a bear to Oatland after Oatland’s bear died earlier this year. Come to a cocktail party to benefit the bear campaign Wed. Oct. 21  5:30-8 PM at First City Club, 7 East Congress Street (2nd floor)

A cash bar will be available for attendees that aren’t FCC members. Email Sandi Roth to RSVP or for more info: friendsofoatland@gmail.com

Donations will be accepted throughout the event, plus raffles, a silent auction and other prizes. To ensure your donation is tax deductible, please make your donation to Friends of Oatland Island, Inc. (FOO) – a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

The new book “NurtureShock: New Thinking About Children” is getting a lot of attention for challenging the conventional wisdom about child rearing. I’ve caught snippets of co-author Po Bronson on NPR, Campbell Brown and Babble.com.

It sounds like a jolting compilation of scientific research about children and child rearing over the past 10 years. 
Topics include how babies develop language, whether intelligence tests in kindergarten are accurate predictors of future academic success, why siblings fight, why sending kids to ethnically diverse schools is not enough to ensure that kids will form friendships across racial lines and why modern, involved parents are not producing nicer children.

Perhaps the most important is the impact of sleep deprivation on kids (getting less than eight hours of sleep doubled the rate of clinical depression in high school students nationally) and the effects of letting children stay up even 15 minutes past bedtime.

Read more here.

Island Child – a sponsor of SouthernMamas – is offering free shipping on all Lemon Loves Lime orders over $100. No code needed. Just place your order at the online Island Child store.

Check out the Holiday 2009 Lemon Loves Lime collection at the Island Child Web site here. The line includes Swan Lake Holiday (pictured here).

Island Child is in the Village at Wexford on Hilton Head Is.  1.888.705.5437 or 843.686.5437.

Island Child – owned by children’s clothing gurus Steve and Senny Powell, who have seven adopted children and have fostered seven children – has been dressing Lowcountry tykes for 25 years.

Cookie, the upscale parenting magazine, will cease publication.

The over-the-top magazine – that was known for pushing toys and diaper bags that cost more than your child’s college education – is on the Conde Nast Publications chopping block along with Gourmet magazine, Modern Bride and Elegant Bride.

But as Babble points out, Cookie wasn’t just about pricey kids’ stuff. The magazine also had worthwhile essays, interesting dinner ideas and quality children’s book selections.

The swine flu vaccine is here.

The Coastal Health District in Chatham County has received an initial shipment of 3,200 doses of the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine. The shipment was part of the initial batch of 54,800 doses of H1N1 vaccine received by the state of Georgia. The doses are being distributed throughout the District’s eight counties which include Bryan, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, McIntosh, Liberty, and Long.

The first shipment is in the form of a nasal spray which contains live attenuated influenza vaccine (live virus). The spray cannot cause the H1N1 flu; however, as with seasonal flu vaccine, some minor side effects could occur including a low-grade fever, runny nose, nasal congestion or cough.

Because the first vaccine allocation is small and consists of the nasal spray only, the Coastal Health District is following recommendations by the state of Georgia to target young children (primarily ages 2 to 4) with the initial vaccine doses.

Health departments will not charge for the vaccine; however Medicaid, Medicare and some private insurance can be billed for a nominal administration fee.

Click here for more info.

Help is available for Chatham County parents of children who wander due to autism.

At this month’s Autism Support Group Meeting, representatives from the Chatham County Sheriff ’s office
will demonstrate how Project Lifesaver works, give you information on how to enroll your child or loved
one in the program and answer any other questions about the Project Lifesaver Program.

The primary mission of Project Lifesaver is to provide timely response to save lives and reduce potential injury for adults and children who wander due to Alzheimer’s, autism, and other related disorders.

Citizens enrolled in Project Lifesaver wear a small LoJack® SafetyNet™ personal transmitter around the wrist or ankle that emits an individualized tracking signal. If an enrolled client goes missing, the caregiver notifies their local Project Lifesaver agency, and a trained emergency team responds to the wanderer’s area. Most who wander are found within a few miles from home. Search times have been reduced from hours and days to minutes.

The Project Lifesaver demo is 6:30 PM Tues. Oct. 13 at Kicklighter Academy, 7219 Seawright Dr., Savannah. Childcare will be provided on a fi rst come first serve RSVP basis. RSVP for childcare to Jessica Allshouse at 912-667-9060 or by email at savannahgaandautism@yahoo.com.

This week, a SouthernMamas reader will win a Savannah Square Platter, from the Savannah Collection at The Dish.

The black and white china platter brings the beauty and history of Savannah to the table, featuring hand-drawn illustrations of 15 of Savannah’s squares. Franklin Square, Calhoun Square, Oglethorpe Square and Forsyth Park are among the places chosen to reflect the spirit of Savannah.

Check out the rules below to enter to win:

• Visit the ongoing online “Ferst Things First” auction for childhood literacy here. To enter to win the Savannah Square Platter, just click on comments below this post to share which auction item you’d like to bid if you decide you want to take part in this online auction to raise funds for the Chatham County branch of the Ferst Foundation. Funds raised in the auction go towards providing registered children with a FREE, age-appropriate book mailed to their home EVERY MONTH from birth to age 5.
• Entry period closes 9 pm Thurs. Oct. 8. Please tell us your name. We’ll pick a name at random and announce the winner Fri. Oct. 9.
• You have to be a SouthernMamas subscriber to participate. Subscribing is free. Click here to subscribe. . 

Savannah native Susan Wimberly – owner and designer of the Atlanta-based company The Dish –
created the Savannah Collection, which consists of the square platter in the giveaway as well as an oval platter, salad plate, small square plate, coffee mug, wine glass, ornament, tea towel, tote bag, and apron. Items are sold separately or in sets, and prices range from $17.95 to $42. The china is dishwasher and microwave safe and available locally at Kitchens on the Square, Missing Pieces, Kitchenware Outfitters, Cadre Shops, CJ’s Hallmark and at www.mulberrygirls.com.

The Dish offers collections for more than 40 cities and 20 states, as well as six universities.

Here’s a chance to instill a love of books in preschoolers by making sure all Chatham County children have quality children’s books in their home.

Bid on enticing items in an online auction that’s currently under way here. Proceeds benefit the Chatham County branch of the Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy. The goal of Ferst is to provide all Georgia preschoolers with a free, age-appropriate book to a registered every month until the child’s fifth birthday.

The “Ferst Things First” online auction to promote childhood literacy will be going on until Oct. 14. But bidding on the first round of items ends this Wed. Oct. 7. Then the second round begins.

The Georgia foundation’s goal is to eliminate the key reason why parents don’t read to their children: the lack of quality books in their home.

Anyone who wants to improve a child’s ability to read can do so by bidding on enticing auction items here.
Bid any time of the day on donated items including a log-cabin weekend rental in North Georgia; gift cards; cooking and music classes; autographed books and CDs’ custom pet portraits; professional photography sessions; restaurant gift certificates; customized jewelry; artwork and pottery.

Participants can even bid on a book club visit from author Jonathan Rabb to discuss his most recent novel Shadow and Light and an autographed copy of the book.

Start bidding here.

Learning to play a musical instrument can bring great joy and endless hours of pleasure to a child, but research shows its benefits go far beyond the enjoyment factor.

Musical instruction instills in students the habits of mind that last a lifetime: critical analysis skills, the ability to solve problems and deal with ambiguity, perseverance and the drive for excellence. In short, skills for a classroom and for a lifetime.

Kelly Burke of Burke Music Studio in Savannah has been developing those skills among young people in Savannah for over 25 years as both a violin and piano teacher and a private school administrator.

“I had wonderful teachers who understood the importance of combining classical training with lots of opportunities for playing fun, popular music that I recognized and loved,” says Kelly. She uses this same approach with her students to keep them motivated and develop self confidence. Whether dressing up in costumes for a Halloween Master class or playing Christmas songs in a candlelight recital in Bethesda’s Chapel, students have many opportunities to perform, have fun and form friendships with other student/musicians.

Kelly enjoys teaching girls and boys, but as a long-time principal of boys’ schools, she has a special appreciation for working with young men. “It can be difficult to find a teacher who understands boys’ unique attributes and channel that into good music-making.”

In addition to teaching school-age boys and girls, Kelly often works with teenagers, particularly those who are currently attending or are interested in attending a magnet academy. Many of her seniors prepare a recording of their playing to include with their college applications, even if they are not pursuing a degree in music. “Giving evidence of the ability to play a musical instrument demonstrates to college admissions offices that a student has self-discipline, motivation, and a creative nature. This sets their application apart.”

To get your child started on the road to the many benefits of musical instruction visit Burke Music Studio by clicking here or call 912.398.7280.

Here’s yet another reason to love Savannah Celtic soccer league.

Savanah Celtic has a vision and that vision is for ALL to learn and love the game of soccer, no matter the age, gender, color, creed or ability. As part of their ‘Celtic in the Community’ program, Savannah Celtic is starting up something new: program for children with High-Functioning Autism/Asperger’s Syndrome.

This is a 6 week program where children with HFA/Asperger’s Syndrome have the opportunity to get involved in the worlds most popular sport. Coaches and volunteers will work with the children as they learn some of the basic’s of the game and do so in a fun and safe enviroment.

Let your child have the opportunity to be a part of something they can call their own. The current session is for children ages 8-14. The children should be able to work in small groups and be able to follow one-step directions.

Start Date: Fri. Oct. 16
End Date: Fri. Nov. 20
Time: 6-7 PM
Place: 3000 Bee Rd. At the rear of the Salvation Army, adjacent to Daffin Park, Savannah.
Cost: $50 (includes practice shirt), scholarships are available for suitable candidates.

Contact: David Laing, 912-247-8889, or email davidmlaing@gmail.com

As mothers enter the school years, new challenges and issues arise,  but the need for community and hope remains. MOMSNext is a group for mothers with children in grades K-12.
 
On Mon., Oct 5, the first MOMSNext (Mothers or School-aged children) meeting will be at the Islands YMCA, 10-11:30 AM in the meeting room to the left after you go past the front desk. Moms are welcome to attend to share successes, concerns, resources, and grow in the parenting journey.

Childcare free to YMCA members, $5 for non-members. Please RSVP Childcare needs to 898-4344 or gbcon2@comcast.net.

Monthly meetings are the 1st Monday of each month 10-11:30 AM starting this October at the Islands YMCA. Contact Connie at 898-4344 / gbcon2@comcast.net or Jen at 210-0491 for more information and to register.

The winner of the Playhouse Disney Live! family-four pack of tickets is Megan Hulsey. Congrats Megan! Thank you to everyone who entered.

Monkey Joe’s Savannah  – a sponsor of SouthernMamas – is just days away from opening at 311 Eisenhower Drive.

The first official day of business will be Fri. Oct 2. Then the GRAND OPENING festivities will be Sat.
Oct. 3. 

The new indoor playground and birthday spot offers bouncing, sliding, and jumping fun for kids 12 years-old and younger.

The Monkey Joe’s party coordinator will be available Friday, Saturday, and Sunday  – ALL DAY! – to book parties and answer questions. Swing in and let your kids go BANANAS!

912-349-2528. For Monkey Joe’s Savannah business hours and more info click here.

Hooray! Your tot’s finally hit the birthday circuit. Too bad gifting is now a never-ending chore.
Make it fun with a visit to Four Kids, Savannah’s hippest new store for children.
Toy connoisseurs Doug and Debbie Haupt pack the store at 10 Whitaker Street in downtown Savannah with everything from wooden toys to dolls, shoes and accessories.
There something for everyone on your list – even some “green” product toys and classic toys.
Hurry before the holiday rush.
Mention you saw Four Kids on the Southernmamas and receive a 10 percent DISCOUNT before Dec. 31, 2009 (Sale items are excluded).
912.238.1919

Playhouse Disney Live! has two shows at the Savannah Civic Center this Sunday, Oct. 4, 12:30 PM and 3:30 PM.

You can win a family-four pack of tickets to the show and blast off to adventure with the Little Einsteins and all your child’s  favorite Playhouse Disney friends from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, My Friends Tigger & Pooh, and Handy Manny.

Because the show is Sunday, there isn’t enough time to get the tickets to the winner. So the show’s promo folks will leave the winner’s name at the will-call at the Savannah Civic ticket office. If that’s cutting it a little close for you, this might not be the giveaway for you. However, if you’re OK with that, then read on…

Check out the rules below to enter to win:

 Join the fun with Handy Manny his Tools, and your child’s favorites from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, My Friends Tigger & Pooh, and Little Einsteins. Playhouse Disney Live! tickets range from $14-$40. To order tickets: 912- 651-6556 or click here

Jingle bells, twinkling lights, blah blah blah.

Every holiday season you pray for a little gift-giving inspiration, only to buy another boring CD for Dad, another book for Mom.

Here’s a solution: Savannah photographer Britt Anderson – who specializes in newborns, children, teens and families – is offering special holiday sessions. Find out more about the specials on Britt’s Web site here.

Mention that you read about Britt on SouthernMamas and you will receive a free 8 x 10 portrait of your session.

Britt is an on-location phographer who enjoys photographing at the beach, local park or at the clients’ home. As a mother and photographer, Britt seems to tell an entire story through each picture. As you can see from her photos, Britt’s work is hardly one-dimensional.

To keep up to date on Britt’s regular photography specials, become a fan of Britt Anderson photography on Facebook here or visit her Web site

A lovely photographer, a free portrait and special gifts for all.

The perfect thing to make holiday gift-giving a little less blah.

Contact Britt via her Web site.

In one of my favorite books, Anne Lamott’s “Bird by Bird,” Lamott tells a story about her then preschooler son Sam’s cursing. One day Sam pretended to lock himself out of the house, and then proceeded to try to unlock the door with his toy keys.

When he couldn’t fit the keys in the lock, she heard him say, “Sh-t.”

She made the silent Munch painting scream and then told Sam that both of them absolutely had to stop using that word right away.

He said, “OK,” but then asked, “Mom, do you want to know why I said ‘sh-t’? It was because of those f-ing keys.”

I know how Lamott feels. In my newspaper column today, I write about what happens when my toddler starts mimicking Mommy’s verbal indiscretions. Read the column here.

Thanks to all the SouthernMamas readers who shared their cursing kids stories!!

When the ultimate SouthernMama Paula Deen appeared on “The View” on ABC Tuesday, host Barbara Walters questioned her about pushing fattening food for children. Deen was on the show to plug her book, “Paula Deen’s Cookbook for the Lunchbox Set.”

“This is a cookbook for kids. Obesity is the No. 1 problem for kids today. Everything you have here is enormously fattening,” said Walters as she sat by the famous chef. “You tell kids to have cheesecake for breakfast. You tell them to have chocolate cake and meatloaf for lunch. And french fries. Doesn’t it bother you that you’re adding to this?”

All things in moderation, counseled Deen. “No, I’m not saying they should eat like this every day,” she said.
Walters said Deen’s book is hardly a lesson in moderation. “Not when you’re giving them this!”

Sounds rough. But if you actually watch the clip, Barbara’s comments don’t sound nearly as scolding. Still, some are making a big deal out it and saying Walters accused Deen of contributing to childhood obesity.

Perhaps Barbara was just using the childhood obesity questions as a way to pick on our homecooking queen for another reason: the report that Paula Deen shot the pilot for an in-the-works syndicated talk show that will have a format similar to the “The View,” but with a focus on parenting and motherhood. Paula is supposed to be in the matriarch role on the show, similar to Barbara’s role.

What do y’all think?
Was Barbara right to ask some tough childhood obesity-related questions?
Or did Barbara appear a little bit hungry and perhaps a tad jealous about the possibility of having Paula Deen as a daytime talk-show host rival?

Are you a SouthernMamas fan on Facebook? If not, you’re missing out on helpful tips and comments from other SouthernMamas readers.

For example, recently an out-of-town reader asked for suggestions for a Savannah spot where she can host a baby shower for a friend. What follows is an interesting conversation about restaurants that are good for a baby showers and ones that aren’t.

Read that conversation and others by becoming a fan of SouthernMamas on Facebook. Click here to do so.

Here are a few of our readers’ suggested spots to host a baby shower:
45 Bistro inside of The Marshall House
Vics on the River
Lulu’s Chocolate Bar
Cha Bella.
Soho South Cafe

Time to start indoctrinating your kids with your love for all things Star Wars.

Star Wars: In Concert – a multi-media event featuring music from all six of John Williams’ epic Star Wars scores – will play 7:30 PM Oct. 29 at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena.

Tickets for the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena go on sale Fri. Sept 25 at 10 a.m. (tommorrow!) at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena box office, by phone at (800) 745-3000, and online here.

Narrated live by the actor who portrayed C-3PO in all six films, the production features a full symphony orchestra and choir, accompanied by specially edited footage from the films displayed on a three-story-tall, high-definition LED super-screen.

Accompanying the concert is an exhibit of Star Wars costumes, props, artifacts, production artwork and specially created behind-the-scenes videos from the Lucasfilm Archives.

When photographer LeeAnn Ritch read about little Cora Garola’s battle with leukemia, LeeAnn immediately wanted to reach out to Cora’s parents, Rob & Mandy Garola of Isle of Hope.

LeeAnn offered to donate a photo shoot of the Garola family. LeeAnn gave the Garolas a free shoot and CD once a year indefinitely. How sweet is that?

Pictured above is just one of the lovely results of LeeAnn’s first of many portrait sesssion with the Garolas. See more photos of Cora and her family on LeeAnn’s blog here.

As you can see, Cora is doing really well and looking as adorable as ever! You can follow Cora’s progress here, where Cora’s mom is beautifully documenting their family’s fight against leukemia.

The winner of this week’s SouthernMamas giveaway, a free session of Savannah Celtic’s  Early Goals soccer program, is Allison Maher!

Congratulations. Allison wins a free season of toddler soccer for her little one.

 Savannah Celtic’s  Early Goals soccer program is for players ages 2, 3 & 4.

The toddler soccer session starts next week, the week of Sept. 28, and runs through Nov. 2.  

The $50 registration fee includes a 6 week program, practice t-shirt, end of the season finale with a medal and certificate.

All session will be held at the Salvation Army fields on the corner of Washington and Bee Rd. (3000 Bee Rd). All practices are approx. 30-45 minutes. Early Goal players will attend one practice session a week. Days to chose from:

5 PM Mondays
9 AM Tuesdays
5:30 PM Tuesdays
5:30 PM Thursdays

To register your toddler for Early Goals, contact Michell Laing michell@savannahceltic.com, call 912.495.9996
or click here.