Adelei's Favorite Apps

Adelei LOVES all things technology. Of course that's not really surprising, most kids do. But don't leave your phone [or iPod, or Nook, etc] just lying around. She knows how to turn them on and how to unlock the simple lock screen. Baby genius or the product of a tech savvy generation? I'll let you decide. Anyway, here are a few of her favorite apps! 

Zoodles 

I was introduced to this app by a friend who's kids used it and loved it! Being a free download, I wasn't really sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised. Not only does it have a ton of popular age appropriate videos, it also has an art studio, and a library [where you can record yourself reading for your child to hear!]. The best part, though? It's all in kid mode! Which means that once you get in the app, they can't get out! NO more random phone calls or asjdlkfjaks text messages! 

Netflix

I can't tell you how many times having this app has saved my sanity on a grocery trip. They have some really great shows on there that are not only fun, but full of learning! Some of Adelei's favorites include Sesame Street, Super Why!, and LeapFrog Phonics Farm.

Pandora

Every night at bed time, we turn on the nursery rhyme station on Pandora. We sing a little, dance a little, and before you know it, baby girl is fast asleep.

ABC Mouse

Adelei loves to 'play' ABC Mouse on the computer, but let's be honest, NO one wants to sit at the computer all of the time. Luckily, she can play a condensed version on the iPod. This definitely comes in handy on road trips!

Fisher Price Laugh & Learn

These apps have fun little songs to learn the alphabet, numbers, shapes, & more! It's a nice change of pace from flash cards and workbooks.

What are some of your children's favorite apps?

Snot Rockets and Sunshine

I know it's Halloween and I should have some really cool Halloween themed post, but that will have to wait.

I'm so far behind on blogging, it's ridiculous.

These last few weeks have been the most trying times I've had in a while. Maybe I'm being a little over dramatic, but in the past any time I needed a break or had so much to do, I would just take Adelei to Nanny's. I haven't had that here, so I've found ways to make it work. While I think it makes me stronger and more resourceful, it can be hard and frustrating at times.

Moving on...

Last Friday after play group, Adelei would not take a nap. Usually I just try to do activities that will make her tired [going to the park, playing outside, dancing, chasing the dogs around....you get the idea], but that day, everything was making her cry. She wouldn't eat anything to save her life. Even her favorite show was making her cry. I checked her temperature and it was only 99.8, but I decided to give her a small dose of Motrin anyway. I also gave her milk and rocked her, thinking that if she slept it off she'd be okay. Except she didn't sleep. And after 8 hours of fighting her trying to get her to eat or drink, soothing her a million times, and trying [but failing] to get her to sleep, we ended up at the ER.

Her temperature had gone from 99.8 to 102. They gave her a large dose of tylenol coupled with a large dose of motrin, and within the hour she was drinking all of her milk AND all of her water while eating some snacks. She was tested for strep throat, and we waited. And waited. And waited. And when we got home 3 hours later, the test had came back negative and they told us to take her to her pediatrician on Monday.

Awesome. Luckily they did give her some antibiotics, so we didn't have to go the whole weekend getting worse.

 

I called the doctor's office first thing Monday morning, and they called me back around noon asking me to bring her in. We got there and saw the doctor, and he was appalled. Apparently, babies this young aren't able to develop strep throat. Also, they told me that her ears looked fine [I told them she had been digging in them, which she usually does when she has in infection]. He looked and said that one was definitely infected, and looked like it was on the mend thanks to the antibiotics, but it was most likely infected when I brought her in Friday. He prescribed lots of medicine, suggested I buy a vaporizer, and sent us on our way.

I'm happy to say that, even though she still has a nasty cough, Adelei is feeling so much better. She's sleeping more normally, she's playing, she's eating [a little bit!], and she's pretty much back to her curious little self!

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I want to give major props to single moms, to moms whose husbands are gone for business or deployments. This is the hardest [but most rewarding] job I've ever had!

Can You Believe It?

My baby is walking.

WALKING!

It seems like just yesterday, we just sat around enjoying each other's company.

And now?

We're constantly on the move.

Have I told you how much I love this age?

Because I do.

Never a dull moment.

Old Habits Die Hard

I've fallen into a bad habit.

Since Adelei has started sleeping through the night again, and Aaron is going to bed early because he has to be up so early...I'm getting my 'me' time by staying up late at night.

It's not that I'm not tired, because I am...the time just sneaks up on me!

I've just been enjoying the quiet, stress free hours where I can catch up on blogs, catch up on t.v. shows, read, make meal plans, and most of the time? spend WAY too much time on pinterest.

It's a good thing baby girl likes to sleep past 9 am!

9 Months...

Can I tell you a little bit about my 9 month old?

She's smiling now more than ever.

Her favorite word is 'hey' and she likes to say it to everyone that passes her by.

She gets so excited when she sees the dogs, all she can do is scream & wave her arms.

She splashes the water in the bath on command.

She is pulling up and standing with support.

She would rather feed herself [fingerfoods!] than have Mommy feed her *tear*.

She dances.

Her face lights up when I read Chicka Chicka Boom Boom!

She has such a big, bright personality.

My heart is just overflowing with joy.

Staying Home

In case I failed to mention, I officially quit my job last Thursday.

I have been a stay at home mom for a whole 10 days now, and I love it.

This is exactly what I wanted [for now, at least].

What I don't love? Is when people ask me what I do all day.

LIKE being a mom isn't a full time job already.

When I read THIS article that had been floating around the internet, I laughed, I sighed, and although I have only one child, I felt the "pain" of it's author.

So the next time someone asks you [as a mother] what you do all day, feel free to let them know how time consuming motherhood is.