Best iPad Apps for Toddlers

Harper is only 21 months old but he thinks and acts like he is two.The kid mastered my iPhone and iPad months ago. We had a few incidents with the iPhone (cracked screen, scuffed sides, food stuck in the home button) but the cell is still alive. I don't let the iPad out of my sight when he plays on it. He swipes the lock screen, goes straight to his folder, and starts playing his games. He mastered some of the games the first day he played them. I stay pretty entertained when I watch him on that thing. It amazes me how fast little ones pick up on technology. I think he could teach my parents a thing or two.

We have tried out a TON of kiddie apps. If we are riding in the car and Harper is screaming, I am more than happy to purchase a new app to keep him quiet. Some apps are better than others. I decided to make a list of my top 9 iPad apps for 2-year olds.

1) Peekaboo Barn
Inside a little bouncing barn, friendly farm animals are waiting to pop out and surprise your little one. This is the first app I purchased months ago on my iPhone. Harper still loves it and plays with it all of the time. It taught him how to say a few animal names and he loves making the animal noises when they pop out of the barn. One of my all-time favorite app purchases. This has provided me with hours of silence.

2) Farm 123
Harper loves farm animals so this was another big hit. After playing with this app he gets really excited when we count with him. The interactive features are fantastic and it is a great tool to teach kids how to count. They'll have hours of fun playing with cheeky farm animals: chasing them, putting them in the pen, and giving them a good wash!

3)  Moo, Baa, La La La! 
This is one of Harper's favorite books so I was excited to see it in the app store. The electronic version is SO COOL! This interactive book app has all the magic and appeal of a traditional pop-up book. Harper loves to hear individual words spoken aloud when they are tapped and hear the animals sounds. He likes to play with it again and again!

4) Dr. Seuss's ABC
The Huffman house loves Dr. Seuss. And I love this app! It is a great app for reading and alphabet practice! It is perfect for younger children still learning their alphabet. o promote reading in young children, individual words are highlighted as the story is read and words zoom up when pictures are touched.

5) PBS Kids Video

This app is my FAVORITE FREE app for kids! If I can't find a good show on TV for Harper I pull out the iPad and open this app. PBS KIDS Video features more than 1,000 videos from over a dozen top PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO! television series, including Curious George, The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That, Dinosaur Train, SUPER WHY!, Sesame Street and Wild Kratts. Think Netflix for kids but it is FREE!

6) Curious George at the Zoo for iPad

Is your child curious about animals? Harper sure is! And he loves Curious George so this app purchase was a no-brainer. The graphics are fantastic! Children can explore the zoo using a beautiful, interactive, 3D pop-up menu and listen to lively audio narration by the Man with the Yellow Hat. For 99 cents, this is a steal!

7) Starfall ABC's 
This is hands down Harper's favorite app. It seems very simple but he loves it and he started sounded out letters within a few weeks of playing with it. It is really helping him learn to make new sounds. This app allows children to see, hear, and interact with letters and sounds in words, sentences, and games. I think this app really teaches children phonics and how to read and write! 

8) If You're Happy and You Know It
Honestly, I wasn't thrilled with this app when I first download it. The graphics are mediocre in comparison to the other kiddie apps. But Harper is obsessed. This is one of his favorite songs to sing with us. So he plays the app, claps his hands, and laughs!  Each page presents an activity to see, touch, interact and even dance to. 

9) Potty Time with Elmo
Harper has an obsession with Elmo. Nana and Papa gave him a rock n' roll Elmo for Christmas. Now he smiles anytime he sees his fluffy red friend. I'm not sure if this app will have the same effect on other kids but Harper absolutely loves it. I think it will come in handy when we start potty training. The Potty Time with Elmo app is a fun way to ease the transition from diapers to big-kid underpants.

Big Scare

The worst call I received was when my sister called and told me my mom's cancer metastasized and she only had a few months to live. I was at dinner with Erik and had to get up and leave. I think Erik paid the bill real fast and ran after me. That was tough.

Yesterday I received my second worst call ever. I was in Greenville and kept getting calls. I was finishing up a photo shoot so I ignored them. My phone didn't stop ringing so I finally grabbed it. My dad was on the phone and informed me that Harper had a really bad fall and might need to go to the emergency room.  I almost threw up. My sister was babysitting Harper at our house. I called her. She was hysterical. Harper was screaming bloody murder in the background and all I could make out was "a lot of blood" "I am going to call 9-1-1" and "his tooth went through his lip." I could have passed out right then and there. I told her to try to stop the bleeding and call me back. I booked it home. Pretty sure I was driving 90mph, ran three stoplights, and drove down the median when I hit a bit of traffic. Not smart, I know but I was worried sick and all logic was out the window.

By the time I made it to Jenna and Harper there was still quite a bit of blood. He kept sticking out his little lips like a duck and he was screaming. I grabbed him and help him close and he just starred at me yelling, "Mama, mama, mama." My heart was shattered into little pieces. The bleeding eventually stopped. He didn't have to get stitches because the major cut was inside his little lip. But there is an indention on the outside of his mouth where the tooth punctured. We observed him all night to make sure he didn't have a concussion. I slept next to him and Jenna woke up every few hours to check his breathing. It was a rough night.

Today I kept him home from daycare. His lip resembles Mick Jagger. But he looks super cute. I think it is going to heal up just fine but I am going to take him back to the doctor next week and make sure there is no sign of infection.

When I think about a mother loosing their child it is really hard to comprehend. The grief and sadness I felt when my little man was hurt is unexplainable. It sucked! It was way worse than anything I have experienced in my life so far. My heart goes out to those parents. I really can't imagine how hard that would be. Parenthood sure is tough. And I know it is going to get harder. I pray my child slows down a bit and I don't receive any more of those phone calls ever again.

A Near Death Experience

Harper was hired by Buy Buy Baby to do another print ad. While we were on set, one of the men showed us this awesome iPhone app, Action Movie FX. 

We were amused, to say the least. Here are my boys in action:

And here is Harper's first ad. It was released this month. They were so nice and sent us a few copies in the mail. I actually went to Buy Buy Baby to purchase the water toy he was photographed with (he loved that thing!) and they were already sold out. I guess it was because of the cute models in the advertisement!

The Joys of Motherhood

Motherhood is rewarding, it is fun, it is incredible but let's be honest...it is tough! Little boys are noisy, they are wild, and they are messy. A silent home is a very rare occasion. Some days for my sanity's sake I go out to my car and sit in silence. I'm sure my neighbors think I am crazy but I need it. I need to hear myself think again. And I need to get away. I can't afford a luxurious spa vacation so I go out to my car. I listen to the radio, check e-mails on my iPhone, and then sit there in pure silence. It is fantastic! Sometimes Erik gets home from work and the first thing out of my mouth is, "Hey, will you watch Harper for a bit? I am going to go sit in the car for a few minutes." Oh the little things!

What do you other moms out there do for an escape? Anybody lock themselves in the closet? Haha! I think that could have crossed my mind at some point.


Tonight, Harper insisted on eating spaghetti and yogurt for dinner. What a strange combination! He likes to go to the fridge and pick out his own meals now. If he doesn't like what I give him he throws it down for Fender. He loves to feed himself. Watching him eat this particular meal was quite entertaining. I will leave you with some photos of the fun:

Splish Splash!

Harper's favorite time of the day is definitely bath time. He usually screams when it is time to take him out. I just started decorating his bathroom. It was all Lilly Pulitzer. But I decided it was about time to make it look like a little boy's bathroom. I wanted to frame some photos to decorate the walls. And I decided it would be fun to take photos of him taking a bath for decor. Here are a few: 

Dear Harper,

Dear Harper,

You light up my life. Every day you manage to do something that amazes me. You are the most independent, intelligent, and strong-willed baby boy I have ever come across. If you want something, you figure out how to get it. It is pretty incredible really. You can climb on top of the dining room table and place yourself in your seat. You can get up the rock wall on the swing set and put yourself down the slide. You have figured out how to hold your little tee ball bat properly and already have a great swing. You open the kitchen pantry, grab your treat of choice, open the box, and feed yourself. You really love Girl Scout cookies but who can blame you? (Your mama was a girl scout for 10 years.)

Every morning you wake up and I go grab you out of your crib. You reach up at me and smile with those incredibly adorable dimples and my heart just melts. I bring you into our room and we cuddle up and watch a "movie." Yes, any time you see a television you point, smile, and say "movie" over and over until we turn on a cartoon. And you can't be fooled... if we dare put on a show that we want to watch you know the difference and grab the remote and try to change it yourself.

Watching you grow up is so rewarding but I wish it would slow down a bit. You still have your sweet, quiet, and cuddly moments but for the most part you want to go, go, go! You have so much energy! If I sit you down at the park you usually want to run as fast as you can down hills and in the opposite direction I am going.

It is fun seeing parts of me and parts of your daddy in your appearance and personality. Most people say you have my big eyes and button nose and you have your father's beautiful curly hair, olive skin, and perfect lips. We both have dimples and you definitely have them too. You are stubborn and determined like your mama and you are observant and analytical like your dada. You love to figure out how things work and fit together. Nana bought you a toy that is a little farm with blocks. Each block fits into a different slot. The toy was meant for kids 3 and up but it is your absolute favorite. You will sit and figure out which slot each piece fits into. When you get stuck on a piece (usually the octagon) you let out a screech and try to force it in the hole. Your face turns bright red and I can't help but laugh.

You, my sweet child, have changed me for the better. I used to get caught up in the thoughts of having a great corporate job, a big house, and a fancy car but now I just want to figure out how I can spend as much time as possible with you. I don't care about the fancy job title or the wraparound porch and rather than a Porsche, I hope for a minivan. Yes, I said it. I want a minivan! I want one with automatic doors and a DVD player. Since your arrival I have turned into a big sensitive cry baby. I don't know what has come over me but I can't help but cry all of the time. Every time I think about sending you to full time daycare I cry, cry, cry! When I think about your first day of kindergarden I am an emotional wreck. If something happens to a little boy in a movie, I absolutely loose it. Hopefully I get over this cry fest soon. I don't want to be the sappy mom that embarrasses you all of the time.

Harper Michael Huffman, I love you more than your will ever know. I am so blessed to have you as my son. I love you with all of my heart and I am so proud to be your mama.

"I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, As long as I'm living my baby you'll be."

Love always,

Mom

Nursery Craft Project #1- COMPLETE

I made a fun keepsake frame for Harper's hospital hat. Harper's sweet Auntie Elaine gave this to Harper and he wore it all of the time. When I was sorting through his old stuff I couldn't part with it. I decided to buy a shadowbox frame from Michael's and make it a piece of art. The frame was less than $5. It was black so I decided to paint it white. I found a piece of scrapbook paper that matched his nursery decor perfectly. Then I tacked the hat down to the box. I added his full name, date of birth, and weight and I think it looks perfect. It is up on his wall right under his "little man" print. 

What do you guys think? It is a great sentimental piece for his nursery and it was super easy to make. 

Super Excited!

Exciting news! My favorite Etsy print shop is featured on Zulily today! I purchased some of Harper's   nursery artwork from this artist and his work is really incredible. The quality of the prints is amazing. They are very bright and vibrant! Most of the prints are on Zulily 50% off! They start at $9.99. This is an absolute steal. Make sure you check out trafalgar's square sale before they sell out! 

I think I am going to buy the dog print for Harper. His walls are pretty full but I think it could look great framed on his book shelf. And he loves to look in books, point to any dog, and then he barks. He will get a kick out of this print! 

Here are a few of my other favorites: 

The Ultimate Chase

We have entered a new stage of life. It is what I like to call, "The ultimate chase." My child likes to run away from me and does not like to be held for long periods of time. This is way different from the sweet cuddly baby I am used to. Harper likes to climb, he likes to run, and he likes to demolish things. Yep, he is all boy. I'm afraid this phase is going to be the end of me. I feel like I spend 90% of my day chasing him or picking up after him.

Yesterday we went to the park. Did he want to play with the other kids? Nope. Did he want to sit down and eat ice cream? Not a chance. He wanted to climb the gigantic rocks, the stairs, and anything else that looked remotely dangerous. So I spent my time CHASING him. He does not like to be chased. And he does not like to be removed from the things he is climbing. So we had lots of red faces and screaming all afternoon. Where did my sweet, easy, carefree child go?

And to make it even worse, he is actually REALLY good at climbing things. He figured out how to climb up the rock wall on his play set and go down the slide all by himself. This can't be normal for a 17 month old?! He has been going up and down our staircases at home for many, many months. He can even climb up into bathroom sinks.

Has anyone else had similar issues? How long does this phase last? Or is this completely normal for little boys? And what age is a good age to start to discipline him? He is too young to understand timeout or taking away privledges. I think he understands the word "no" but he does not listen to the word, it just pisses him off. Any advice would be appreciated!

Harper's Commercial Debut

Harper's first commercial was released on national television today. We had friends all across the state call us and tell us they saw it airing on NBC. We haven't seen it on tv yet but I am going to watch NBC until I do! I am so proud and excited for my boys. It was such a great experience and we absolutely loved the client. We just bought our couches from Rooms To Go. And I am obsessed with the "big boy" bedroom that they shot in. I especially love the bunk bed and the guitar lamp. Here is the commercial! Hope you like it.

Weekend Wrap-Up

We had a wonderful weekend. On most weekends we have a LONG to-do list. We rarely relax. This weekend was refreshing. On Saturday we slept in, even Harper! We took Harper to visit Mimi and Papi's house and left him there for the afternoon. Erik and I went shopping at Trader Joe's (and that is a FUN chore, I am in love with that place) and went home and watched a bit of the Senior Bowl. 

Then we met back up with Harper and the Huffman's at California Dreaming. It was delicious. It was nice having an entire day without a set agenda!

Today we met up with Brooke and Brice. It was so good to see the sweet engaged couple. Then Harper had a play date with his beautiful buddy, Saylor. Isn't Saylor the cutest name for a little girl!? I just love it. She is a doll and is so good with Harper. She would hold his hand and walk him around the park. Harper was overwhelmed with excitement. He wanted to run around like a crazy man. He managed to climb up the stairs and cross the bridge on the playground all by himself. I was impressed yet scared to death. The kid has no fear! 

After the park we headed straight to a birthday celebration. Our friend Octavious has two gorgeous twin daughters. They turned two today! They are identical and I really couldn't tell them apart. We had such a good time. I think Harper loves to be around children, especially kids that are older than him. Here are some photos:

Overall, it was a very successful weekend! It is nice to have some time to just enjoy ourselves. But next weekend, I am determined to finish some of my projects. Our guest room is very close to being complete. I will share some photos tomorrow! I love it so far.

It was a Very Merry Christmas (only a month late!)

December went by so fast! And now it is almost February. I think time goes by twice as fast when you have a baby. I never attempted to blog the week of Christmas. I just uploaded a ton of photos off of my camera and decided to go ahead and post some from the holidays.

We had a wonderful Christmas. We slept in... even Harper! We had so much fun watching Harper open up his gifts from Santa. After we showed him how to unwrap one gift, he helped unwrap the rest! It was adorable. And every time we pulled a gift out of the paper he would chuckle. It was one of the cutest things I have ever witnessed. We got it all on video, I am going to have to share that this week!

Erik's parents came over and had an early Christmas dinner with us. We had a wonderful time. Then we headed to my parents house and had another Christmas meal. The food was so incredible that we managed clear our plates twice! 

Here are a few photos from the day. Harper seemed to love all of his gifts. And boy was he spoiled. One of his favorite gifts was the Rock n' Roll Elmo. He still plays with it on a daily basis. 

Our tree. It has such a pretty shape it almost looks fake!

His new Pottery Barn chair and doggy puppet. 

With "Mimi and Papi"

He just started feeding himself with the fork recently...talk about a mess!

Loves to sing and play the keyboard with Elmo!

He always gives me sweet kisses. Love that baby boy!

These were the overflow of presents from his stocking from Santa.

Holiday Traditions

I browsed through my photos on my laptop and noticed how many important blogs I skipped over during the holiday season. Recently I started to feel like I don't have time for anything. And I am pretty sure most mother's feel the same way. Being a mom is incredibly challenging and I feel like you constantly have to figure out how to balance your life and your time. I am still learning this balancing act! Do any of you all have any tips or pointers? How do you have time for cleaning, cooking, working, your hubby, your baby, and even yourself? I think I need to start waking up SUPER early. But I am not a morning person, never have been and never will be. So I am sure my husband is totally down with my idea of waking up early... as long as he doesn't have to be around me! Haha!

I want more time to work out, read the Bible, have a girl's night, pull Harper around the block in his wagon.... yes it looks like a 5AM wake-up time might be inevitable.

One thing I really missed out on this holiday season was time for traditions. We really wanted to make our way to the NC Mountains and cut down a tree like we did last year. It did not work with our schedule so we ended up going somewhere local, which was still fantastic but I want to start traditions that we do with Harper each and every year.

What are your favorite holiday traditions? Which ones do your kids seem to enjoy the most? One thing we managed to do this year was bake Christmas cookies! I am so grateful that the Boland gang invited us over to bake with them. The babies had a blast and made a complete mess. By the end of the day they were down to their diapers because their clothes were covered in red and green icing.

Here are a few photos from the day: