FrootDrop – iPhone App

FGooseRhymes Designs.

FrootDrop: $0.99*

*price at time of this writing.

The Fuzzy Fierce Peach – iPhone App Story

TGooseRhymes Designs. You can see a video about the storybook here.

The Fuzzy Fierce Peach: $1.99*

*price at time of this writing.

Are we there yet?

I have to start by saying that I absolutely adore my son. I love him with every fiber in me. But… (you knew it was coming, right?) I feel like we’ve been in a phase with him that has been never-ending. I know he’s not the worst behaved kid in the world, but he is far from one of the better behaved kids. It’s like we’re walking on egg-shells – anything can set him off, and once that happens he will range from either just being generally whiney to on-the-floor tantrum. Keeping him happy is really hard work and he’s extremely high maintenance.

After the presents were opened on Christmas, we spent the rest of the day trying to prevent the kids from killing each other. I read tweets from other people who were “spending a quiet afternoon with their family”… how exactly does one do that? If the kids are home, especially if Zach is home – there is no such thing as a quiet afternoon.

This weekend I took the kids to see The Princess and The Frog (which I LOVED by the way. Great movie! Yes, scary in parts, but not as bad as some other Disney movies I’ve seen!) Long story short – Zach basically had a total screaming meltdown after the movie that lasted a good two hours and ended up making me sick with a migraine.

We are trying to figure out how to restrict his access to the house overnight – otherwise he will literally ransack the place. He gets into and empties out cabinets he knows he’s not allowed to get into (this includes breaking through “childproof” locks), he gets things out of the fridge and leaves them all over the house. I don’t know if it’s a sleep-walking thing, but because he seems so proud of himself when we wake up and discover what he’s done, I’m not sure.

I joked on Twitter the other day that I wondered if there really was a Nanny911. I’d love for them to come in and help me out. I’m not talking about going to one of those “Love and Logic” seminars – or following the advice of a book (I’ve read a bunch). I’m talking about someone coming in and seeing our specific problems and coaching me on how to deal with it. The things that happen in my house never seem to follow the examples in the books or seminars. I need a Nanny911!

There’s so many cute things that go along with a child who is 4 years old, but there is so much going on with him that makes me can’t wait until this phase is over. (Please let this all just be a phase). I read about other moms who get so upset watching their kids get older – meanwhile, I’m the complete opposite. And at the same time I feel like I’m missing out on something. Why is this all so difficult? Why can’t it all be just games and fun and snuggling. I mean there is that too, but it’s overshadowed with so much whining and tantrums and bothering his sister for no reason at all…

I know it’ll get better. But sometimes I’d like someone to tell me how much longer. Are we there yet?

Added after: Ironically, I was talking with my mother about my nephew who is just a month older than Zach, and his behavior recently is apparently just about the same as Zach’s. So hopefully that’s some proof that it’s not just ME/MY FAULT he’s acting this way and it’s more to do with his age and he’ll grow out of it. Eventually. Heh.

If little boys are made of frogs and snails and puppy dog tails, what are *squirrels* made of?

T
he other morning, before dropping Zach off at daycare, he asked me “what squirrels were made of.”

The things is – he sometimes asks me questions like this when he already has an answer in his head. When I mentioned Zach’s question to my Facebook friends, my friend Jamie replied that when she asked her son the same question to see what he would say, he said “Skin and Fur” – but I know that wasn’t what was in Zach’s mind. I explained it was as if he expecting me to say that squirrels were made of chicken or something…

To which Jamie gave me this reply:

Speaking of chicken, Alex was eating a chicken nugget the other day and asked me what chicken nuggets were made of. I told him chicken of course and I guess it was the first time he ever realized he was eating an animal, his eyes got huge and said, “a bock bagock chicken?” “Yep” “The kind with feathers?” “Yep” “So there’s a chicken in my belly?”…. at which point the conversation got really weird and uncomfortable trying to explain how it’s ok to eat animals that are raised for food, but not ok to bite his brother…

ROFL!!! I’m still cracking up over that.

Later that night, I asked Zach to tell me what he thought squirrels were made of. His answer? “nuts“

I guess you are what you eat…

Little Cook Photo Contest

Awhile back you may recall I reviewed an iPhone application called “Little Cook” – I thought you might like to know that they are holding a photo contest. Here are the details:

Little Cook, a featured iTunes App Store game for kids is announcing a new contest to find the cutest Little Critic! The first prize winner will receive a $50 iTunes gift card and a free copy of the Little Cook iPhone application. Additional winners will also receive iTunes gift cards, along with the Little Cook app. To enter, visit the Little Cook Contest web page to upload your favorite funny photo of your child enjoying their favorite meal!

You can also just pick up a copy of Little Cook (currently priced at $.99) on the app store. (My kids still enjoy playing this game)