Podcast Episode #42: "Redshirtin’, Tantrum-Throwin’, Art-Makin’, iPad-Lovin’ Kids"

The MommyBetas discuss holding kids back from Kindergarten, dealing with tantrums, what to do with all that art, and if it’s ok for LO to play with the iPad during dinners out. 

Listen to the podcast here.

A New Woogie

There's a new Woogie in town! Meet the Woogie 2.

If you have a small child that loves to play with your smartphone, you need to know about the Woogie. It turns your phone into a stuffed animal by stuffing it into a soft smooshy toy.

Baby Mo has the original Woogie in green. At first he was a little annoyed because he saw it as an obstacle to tossing around my iPhone like he wants to. But once he realized he could still use the touchscreen and hear the music, he grew accustomed to it. And Mommy likes it because I can trust that my phone won't be smashed around and cracked like a chew toy.

The Woogie has speakers that plug into the headphone jack so your child can still hear games and music. The Woogie 2 also has legs that can be propped up for viewing videos as well.

The Woogie 2 costs $19.99 and can be purchased here. I wish it came in iPad size too! Or as Baby Mo likes to call it, "Pad Pad."

Father's Day Gift Ideas From The Horse's Mouth

Clayton picked some of his favorite gadgets as suggestions for Father's Day gifts on Fox & Friends. A few of them are a little extravagant but it is his first Father's Day. Let him dream!

Also, notice the video and photos of Baby Mo and me in this segment! My little man is always ready for his close up. Just like Daddy!

Win It! NOOK Color

I gushed about it in my review, I ooohed and ahhhed in the podcast, and now it’s time for you to have one of your own.  That’s right.  We’re giving away a NOOK Color from Barnes and Noble! 

For those who don’t know, the NOOK Color is like an iPad/Kindle hybrid that will rock your world.  You can read books and magazines, you can do crosswords, you can surf the Web.  It will also entertain your kids—with stories, games, and other touch-screen fun!  It retails for $249, but you can have it for nada.

Without further ado, enter now!

• Like us on Facebook.
• In the comments section of this post (not on Facebook), tell us what book you enjoy reading to your child the most.
• For brownie points (not required for entry), like the NOOK on Facebook to see what’s new for the platform.

Contest rules are here. This contest ends on Thursday, June 10, 2011, at 11:59 p.m. EDT.  Note: We're trying out two-week contests.  What do you think?

Update on Friday, June 10, 2011 at 12:43PM by Nathalee

Congratulations to faithful MommyBeta reader Brooke!  She won the random drawing for the NOOK Color!  Here's her response about her favorite children's book:

My son Benjamin loves a book called Benny's Chocolate Bunny. He loves hearing his name read in the book. I let him (he's 11 months) turn the pages for me as I read it to him. Usually, I have to read it at least 2-3 times to him and he reads it to himself afterward. We talk about each page by looking for different items in the pictures and I ask him questions about the story.

Win It! Pandigital Photo Mail Digital Photo Frame

Update: Our winner has been chosen! Thank you to all who entered. Be sure to check for new giveaways every Friday!!

Our giveaway this week is the Pandigital Photo Mail Digital Photo Frame. It is one of the best gifts you can give yourself or family members when a new baby comes into the family. Believe me on this one! We gave similar frames to each set of grandparents when Baby Mo came along and they love, love, love them!

The beauty of these frames is that you can email photos to the display from anywhere. No uploading from an SD card or USB. You assign an email address to the frame and then when you want to send a new photo to the frame, you just email it to that address. The photos are delivered quickly over the AT&T network. It is simple and instantaneous! Watch this video for a demonstration.

Clayton and I gave my mom and mother-in-law frames like these when Baby Mo was born and they LOVE them. My mom keeps hers by her bed. Every morning, she wakes up and rolls over to watch the photos of her beloved grandson. Sometimes she'll watch the entire photo collection all the way through twice! My mother-in-law keeps hers in the living room and does the same thing at night before bed. In fact, when I text her a cute photo of Baby Mo, she texts back, "So cute. Can you send it to the frame?"

We are giving one of these frames away for this week's contest. No children required. Here is how to enter:

• Like us on Facebook
• Post a comment in the comments section of this blog post (not on Facebook) about your favorite way to share family photos. A link to one of those photos is also appreciated because we like cuteness too! Not required of course!

Contest ends on Thursday, March 24 at 11:59 p.m. EST. Good luck!