Eliza Brooks! Eliza wins a family four-pack of tickets to Disney On Ice presents Disney/Pixar’s Finding Nemo, which will be playing at Savannah Civic Center November 5-8!

Thanks to everyone who entered to win by sharing fun child’s birthday party tips. Check out the tips in the comments section below the giveaway annoucement post and on our Facebook page here. Be sure to become a fan of SouthernMamas on Facebook while there.

Join the ocean-sized adventure of the curious clownfish Nemo, his overprotective father Marlin and their absent-minded yet lovable pal Dory as Disney On Ice immerses you in a vibrant aquatic world in Disney On Ice presents Disney/Pixar’s Finding Nemo.

Follow alongside Marlin and Dory on a daring search of the big blue. Ride the current with “super-dude” turtle Crush and make waves with Nemo’s new friends – the Tank Gang – as they plot an escape from the dentist’s aquarium in this whale of a tale full of laughter and fun!

Tickets are on sale now @ etix.com OR 1-800-351-7469

EmmAva Photography is offering a special Christmas portrait studio sessions just in time for the holiday card season.

The 30-minute sessions for $30 will be 1:30-5:30 PM Nov. 7 and 9:30-2 PM Nov. 14.

To book your session, email EmmAvaPhotography@yahoo.com or call 912.429.7454.

Click here to view more photos by EmmAva Photography, which also is available for newborn, children, family, engagement, bridal shoots and weddings

Historic Grayson Stadium is hosting the 7th annual Sycamore at The Stadium FREE baseball camp for boys and girls ages 8-12.

The two day camp begins Sat. Nov. 14 at 8:30 AM and goes until 1 PM; On Sunday camp will start up at 1:30 PM and end at 4:30 PM. For more info, contact Jason Rockwell: 912-631-0351 Jrockwell23@comcast.net

Elaina Redick, the 4-year-old daughter of Dr. Kimberly Redick, a Rincon dentist, and David Redick, died Sunday. The Richmond Hill child’s daycare/preschool at the Savannah Christian Preparatory School closed Monday and today.

Elaina fell ill with nausea early on Saturday morning. She was taken to Memorial University Medical Center on Saturday and passed away early Sunday afternoon. Doctors have not yet determined the cause.

Local health officials also are hesitant to say H1N1 was the cause.

Here’s the link to the letter about this heartbreaking case on the Savannah Christian Preparatory School Web site.

Does this unspeakable loss make you more concerned about the H1N1 threat, even though this is not a confirmed case of the swine flu? Does it make you want to take advantage of the availability of the H1N1 flu mist vaccine at the Chatham County Health Department?

Novel H1N1 flu has claimed the lives of 86 children in the U.S. since the outbreak began in April, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About two-thirds of those deaths have been in children with underlying medical conditions such as muscular dystrophy or cerebral palsy. A typical flu season sees about 50-100 pediatric deaths.

What are you doing to keep your young children healthy during this frightening time? Here’s the link to the CDC page on H1N1 and the seasonal flu.

See readers’ responses on our SouthernMamas Facebook page here.

This week a very lucky SouthernMamas reader will win a family four-pack of tickets to Disney On Ice presents Disney/Pixar’s Finding Nemo, which will be playing at Savannah Civic Center November 5-8!

Check out the rules below to enter to win:

Join the ocean-sized adventure of the curious clownfish Nemo, his overprotective father Marlin and their absent-minded yet lovable pal Dory as Disney On Ice immerses you in a vibrant aquatic world in Disney On Ice presents Disney/Pixar’s Finding Nemo.

Follow alongside Marlin and Dory on a daring search of the big blue. Ride the current with “super-dude” turtle Crush and make waves with Nemo’s new friends – the Tank Gang – as they plot an escape from the dentist’s aquarium in this whale of a tale full of laughter and fun!

Tickets are on sale now. For those who can’t wait for the giveway, tickets are available @ etix.com OR 1-800-351-7469

Pumpkins? Check. Costumes? Check? Gourd decorations worthy of a Real Simple magazine cover? Check.

A family photographer who specializes in natural light to document how much your children are loving autumn this year? OK, so maybe you need a little help in that area.

Fortunately, SouthernMamas sponsor LeeAnn Ritch Photography is offering a fall special: a photo session, online proofing and a high resolution CD for $250 ( a $575 value)

LeeAnn’s shoots aren’t about poses. Think of her as an invisible observer of your family, recording both the ordinary and the extraordinary (because the ordinary will one day be extraordinary).

So capture your little ones as they are this fall. Before it’s over.

LeeAnn Ritch Photography, 912.308.9327 or email leeann@leeannritchphotography.com

Leave it to moms groups to put the fun in fundraisers.

The very active and popular Pooler MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group has two fun fundraisers coming up. By supporting Pooler MOPS, you help the group achieve their mission “Better MOMS make a better world.”

5-8 PM Thurs. Oct. 29. Chick-fil-A Restaurant Raid at the Chick-fil-A on Pooler Parkway. Pooler MOPS will get a percentage of the sales from everyone who fills out a form at the front door. Free face painting, balloons and COSTUME CONTEST (non-scary please).

10 AM-3 PM Sat. Nov. 7. MOPS Holiday Vendor Fair and Silent Auction. Shop for all of your holiday gifts early and support the Pooler MOPS group. Shop from your favorite at-home businesses and local artisans under one roof. A silent auction with lots of items including themed gift baskets and two weekend stays at a cabin in the Smoky Mountains. Food concessions and activities for the children.

For more moms groups, visit our Moms Group category here.

The slow foods movement is coming to Wilmington Island.

St. Andrew’s School will host a slow foods dinner on Sat. Nov. 14 from 6 – 7:30 PM on the Wilmington Island campus. Proceeds from the dinner will support the school’s green garden, an outdoor classroom promoting whole foods, community service and environmental stewardship.

The goal is to celebrate local cuisine, teach young people gardening skills and enjoy wonderfully prepared foods by Brighter Day, Cha Bella, Local 11 Ten, The Sentient Bean, Thrive and our own St. Andrew’s cookbook crew – First Come, First Served.

For tickets or more information, please call 912.897.4941. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students.

Laura Numeroff, award-winning author of “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” and “If You Give a Pig a Pancake,” is among the many talented guests in this year’s lineup at the 2009 Savannah Children’s Book Festival.

The festival – one of the best local kids’ events – is set for 10 AM-4 PM Sat., Nov. 14 at Forsyth Park in Savannah. This beloved event celebrates the joy of reading, the power of the written word and the magic of storytelling with children’s book authors and illustrators from around the country.

The festival will also include dozens of Low Country authors, arts and crafts, food vendors, a variety of entertainment, costumed characters, and much more. The Savannah Children’s Book Festival is presented by Live Oak Public Libraries and the City of Savannah.

Rain location for the event is the Savannah Civic Center.

For more information, call 912-652-3689 or click here.

Other guests at the festival include:
David Biedrzycki, “Ace Lacewing”
Bruce Degen, “The Magic School Bus”
Dr. Jean Feldman, “A Survival Guide for Preschool Teachers”
Patrick Jones, “Chasing Taillights”
Doc Neal, “What’s in a Doctor’s Bag?”
Kyle Puttkammer, “Galaxy Man”
Charles R. Smith Jr., “Dance with Me”
Mike Thaler, “Teacher from the Black Lagoon”
John and Danita Thomas, “The Ultimate Book of Kid Concoctions”
Michael P. White, “The Library Dragon”
Mrs. Rosa, host of “PBS Kids”

Join mothers from around the world during a worldwide day of prayer for children and schools, 9 AM-1 PM
Nov. 14

Moms In Touch International is hosting the Arise! Cry Out! day of prayer at The Sycamore Church, 1914 E. 52nd St., Savannah.

Register now to partake in this worldwide event by clicking here. Contact Stacy Cerone, 912-228-4270, scerPM@comcast.net, for more information.

Alison Zielenbach!

Alison wins a $25 gift certificate to SproutBaby, an online source for organic, affordable baby food and products for eco-conscious parents.  SproutBaby sells Sprout Foods, the organic baby chow created by celeb chef (and dad) Tyler Florence.

Thanks to everyone who participated. There’s also another to chance to win big from  SproutBaby,

To celebrate SproutBaby.com’s first birthday, the online store is kicking off  its new referral program with a $2,500 giveaway.

SproutBaby.com will award one lucky winner a $2,500 cash prize in a random drawing for all customers making purchases between Oct-15 (today) and Dec. 15.

SproutBaby.com is also launching a new referral program for parents and families to earn unlimited cash back for referring their friends, relatives and colleagues. For more information, contest rules and referral program guidelines, please visit: store.sproutbaby.com/birthday and store.sproutbaby.com/referral

Next time you’re in Atlanta, make plans to check out the new Curious George: Let’s Get Curious! exhibit at Imagine It! The Children’s Museum of Atlanta.

Explore life-sized buildings from the Curious George books and TV series, design buildings at the construction site, play mini-golf and more. The exhibit presents key concepts in science, math and engineering, which are woven and layered throughout the exhibit. Activities invite children to learn like George – through direct experience and problem solving.

The exhibit runs Oct. 10-Jan. 24, 2010. Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sat.-Sun., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Click here for more information. Adults and children older than 2, $12.50.

A new group called Spectrum and More Support (SAMS) in Effingham County is for those diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum, anyone experiencing social difficulties – with or without a clinical diagnosis – and for their family and friends. The goal is to provide an informal social and inter-personal networking opportunity.

The next group’s meeting will be 3-5 PM Sun., Nov. 8, at the Holiday Inn Express, 7210 Hwy 21 at I-95 N, Exit 109 in Port Wentworth. The guest speaker will be: Ruthie-Marie Beckwith, Ph.D., Executive Director of
Tennessee Microboards Association.

Ruthie-Marie Beckwith, Ph.D. a consultant with Employment First Georgia will show ways that individuals can turn the need for a product or service in their local communities into their own self-employment opportunities. Basic tips on how to get started will be provided along with info on where to obtain additional support in Georgia.

For more info., contact: Vicki Wilkerson at 912-661-1418 or Janet Corbett at 912-728-4616

This week, a lucky SouthernMamas reader will win a $25 gift certificate to the new planet-friendly online shop SproutBaby, which sells Sprout Foods, the organic baby chow created by celeb chef (and dad) Tyler Florence.

Check out the rules below to enter to win:

•Visit SproutBaby.com, click on Shop and tell us what product you’d love to buy by commenting below this post.
•Entry period closes 9 pm Thurs. Oct. 15. Please tell us your name. We’ll pick a name at random and announce the winner Fri. Oct. 16.
•You have to be a SouthernMamas subscriber to participate. Subscribing is free. Click here to subscribe.

SproutBaby.com is the brainchild of parents and professionals that saw an unexplored area of parenting and shopping and wanted to bridge the gap between making healthy choices and making easy choices.

As SproutBaby.com grows to include more options to fit more needs, the company will provide comprehensive, eco-conscious, e-commerce and social shopping which is centered around making it easy to make mindful decisions about the products parents choose to put on, in and around their children and families.

Love your baby. Love the planet.

Make A Joyful Noise early childhood music classes has a new class:  “Altogether Now: Twist & Turn”  for babies to 5 year olds

Think singing, dancing, and instrument playing, listening and imaginative play.  The unique Music for Movement compositions on the CDs will enable children to explore walking and jumping (Jack be nimble, Jack be quick, Jack jump over the candlestick), twisting and turning and many more concepts which are just right for your movers and shakers.

Attend the Make A Joyful Noise FREE preview class 10:15 AM Mon. Oct. 26 on the campus of Savannah Country Day School: Modular Village E2

Home materials include a CD and songbook, as well as a different manipulative each semester (i.e. rhythm sticks, beanbag, etc.), allowing the learning and fun to continue at home.

10 Mondays (Nov. 2, 2009 – Jan. 25, 2010; No Class December 21, 28 or Jan 18)
10:15 – 10:55 a.m.
$120 Tuition & $24 for Home Materials.

Mention SouthernMamas and receive a discount of $5 if registering before the 26th or at the Free Preview Class.

Contact Vicki to pre-register for the free preview class. 912-920-6542 or email MakeAJoyfulNoiseMusicStudio@comcast.net. Click here for more info.

In this new class, opportunity abounds for exploration and interaction with babies and movement for toddlers, while three year-olds and older will learn language skills and use their imaginations in fun new ways. This is a great opportunity for families with siblings in different age groups to make music together.

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.