Techie Toddler Stuff: My Favorite Apps

I have worked nights as a waitress for as long as I can remember.  Since college, I always found my way into a restaurant to make extra cash.  Now that I have my own young family, I found that working nights gave me the freedom to be able to stay at home with them during the day.

Being a waitress, I have witnessed many families with children and their methods of getting them to sit still to enjoy a decent meal... quietly.  As parents, we all know how much fun it can be to take our children into a restaurant to have a nice family meal out.  We imagine a sweet dinner with please and thank-yous and best of all, no dishes to be done at the end of it all.

I have my own methods of managing the restaurant meltdowns:  Crayons, coloring books and stickers.  Inevitably, I will have to dump out the contents of my purse for a lip gloss for Rosie to entertain herself with.  Bribes of ice cream.  Fifteen trips to the potty.  A few walks around the restaurant.  But when it gets ugly, I break out the big guns.  The iPad.

Now... don't judge.  Before I had rug rats of my own, I used to shake my head at parents that would break out their portable DVD players or tablets to distract their little ones.  But truth be told, it is quite possibly the best invention I've come across.  Hey!  A Mama has got to enjoy her dinner out once in a while.  Even gulp down a glass of wine.  The iPad is mostly used for long car rides and the prevention of public meltdowns.  I have to say it is a miracle worker in these situations.  I am pretty picky about what applications I download.   A great resource that I have discovered is Ipad Kids.  It is a website that recommends new and educational games.

Here are a few of my favorites!

Peek-A-Zoo by Duck Duck Moose

 This is a really fantastic application.  It teaches kids to identify different kinds of animals and recognize sounds, emotions and actions.

Itsy Bitsy Spider by Duck Duck Moose

 

Another awesome app.  Great interaction with the itsy bitsy spider.  It educates kids on the environment, weather and different animals.

Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood:  Play at Home with Daniel by PBS Kids

In this house we love everything Daniel Tiger.  This is such a great children's show on PBS.  It teaches many everyday lessons with songs to help remember them.  This app is a lot of fun.  It gives kids the chance to interact with Daniel and all of his friends.  Music, stickers, coloring, the works!

Watch Disney Junior 

This application allows you to watch all of your favorite Disney Junior shows.  A little Sofia the First or Jake and the Neverland Pirates always saves the day!

Disney Digital Books

A catalog of really awesome digital books of Disney classics.  Rosie loves to read the stories on her own.  A lot of them feature jigsaw puzzles and coloring pages as well.

Happy Ipad'ing!  And most of all... Bon Appetit!

What It Is All About

Snowed In

These are my favorite kind of days.  There is a blizzard happening all around us.  We are cuddled up on the couch with blankets and books.  Rosie is keeping herself busy making us "Foffee" in her little kitchen, in between pressing her little nose against the window and asking us if "Santa Claus is coming?"  I have homemade chicken soup simmering in the crock pot.  It's really just the best day.

When I was pregnant with Rose, I used to fantasize about having her home with us in a blizzard, all bundled up.  To me, there is something so soothing to me about being stuck inside with blustering, snowy weather outside.  I really am a true New England girl.  I love the fall and winter as much as I love the warm summer months.  It always baffles me to hear of people complain about the snow.  I think it is one of the best things about living in the northeast.  I've always loved this weather ever since I was a little girl.  And I'm really happy that Rose loves the snow as much as I do!  (Not that I haven't forced it upon her, because I totally have.  She really has no choice in the matter.)

Tomorrow, the plan is to make our first family snowman and teach Rose how to make snow angels.  I can't wait!  The three of us have been trying to make the most of our time together until the new baby comes into our lives.  Every day this week, I've found myself stopping what I am doing to just enjoy the little things with her.  When she comes into the kitchen and pulls on my leg to ask me to do something with her, "Come'ere, Mommy!"  I can't help but stop and just go with the flow.

While I know in my heart that the change of bringing a new little person into this family is going to be an incredible and wonderful experience, I can't help but feel a bit like I am losing something too.  For the past two years, Rose has been the exclusive light in my life.  We've spent every day together laughing, talking, learning and getting to know one another.  She is the first love of mine.  My heart is being pulled in so many different directions.  But mostly, I'm starting to feel excited about it all.

I've always been this way.  I get my heart set on something and then right before it happens... I panic.  It is everything I have always wanted, to see our family grow and thrive.  And suddenly, I am feeling so apprehensive about the way this will change our household.  How will Rosie adjust to this?  How will I handle this when Brian goes to work that first day and leaves me with my hands completely full?  And how I am going to balance myself between three people that I love so much, my husband and my two children?

Something tells me I'm going to look back at all of this and laugh.  I had many of the same fears before Rose came and as soon as she came, it was like she was here all along.  I truly don't remember what I did with myself before she was here with us.  Our lives just revolve around her and the happiness and laughter that she brings.  We are about to double that love by bringing another little being into our circle.  I can't wait to see who this little personality will be.

We are officially twelve days before my guess date.  Yesterday was my 38 week appointment.  I wasn't dilated at all but my doctor told me that my cervix is very thin.  Her exact words were, "Don't be surprised if it happens this weekend."  I've been having strong surges and pressure all day today.  Nothing too unbearable, but enough to let me know that this in fact happening soon.  Bags are packed, the bassinet has fresh sheets and blankets and the teeny tiny outfits have been washed and folded.  It's almost time to take another turn in our family adventure.  And I'm starting to really love the idea.

Giggles, Girlies & Goodness

One of my very best friends Stephanie and her daughter Charlotte came over for dinner the other night.  (Charlotte is also my Goddaughter, so she is very special to me.)  Stephanie and I haven't seen each other in quite some time, just because of how crazy busy our lives have been.  It was so nice to sit and catch up with one of my favorite people in the entire world. 

However, the best part was listening to our little girls play together.  They were like little tornadoes of laughter, running all over the place.  Every single toy was pulled out and played with.  

To try and get them to sit still for two seconds, I pulled out some crafts.  (AKA - Michaels' Dollar Aisle Goodies.)  

The girls got their creative juices flowing by making some Christmas trees!

There were plenty of glittery ornament stickers to decorate their trees.

And maybe a few giggles too.

Okay... lots of giggles!

Did I mention they had fun?

Love these two little pipsqueaks.  It was really awesome to have the girls together.  They really adore one another.  I can't wait to see what the future brings with these two.  I have a feeling they are going to give us a run for our money!

Handprint Christmas Tree

We did a really fun arts & crafts project today.  Daddy was home from work so we made him help out!  (I don't know who was more excited, Daddy or Chicken.)

We got on our fancy new artist's smock.

We painted our hands green.

Then we made our Christmas tree.

Painted a yellow star on top... and Wala!

Then it turned into a painting free-for-all.

And well... We ended up in the tub.  Happy Friday!

PS:  Found this great idea on Pinterest!

Finger Painting 101

There's a first time for everything.  We tried finger painting this morning and it was really fun.  We put on some Ziggy Marley and rocked out with some fancy washable Crayola paints.  She just loved it!

We started with a paintbrush and a few colors.  She was very serious about her work!  

She kept asking for different colors to try.  "Mommy, purple peeease!"

It then turned into finger painting... I mean really, who needs a brush?

And finally... full blown body painting.    

 Maybe too much Ziggy Marley?

Needless to say, Rosie had a great time and it was a fun way for her to use her colors.  It may be time to invest in an easel for our little artist.  Or a full body smock.  Stay tuned!