Motherlode...Are you happy being a parent?-She is!

So...this is a discussion...but first, let me tell you-the photo to the right is NOT of a momma who didn't want to be a momma. This is Annalee...mother to Sten, wife to Michael and sister to Sam...the creator of Bedtime Bunny Tales. I don't think I know anyone who likes being a mom more in fact...but I digress. The family visited us last weekend and we had a ball...which included a trip to Universal Studios.

So...back to the discussion. While I was researching/reading the Motherlode blog by Lisa Belkin (The New York Times )I was intrigued by her most recent post. Someone had written to her about being a parent. This reader didn't know if she wanted to be a mom and was hoping others would give her the pro's and cons. Actually, she wanted to hear from parents who- if they could do it all again...would they?

This is kinda scary...but I think it's something very valuable. . I read sooooo many mommy bloggers and I have to say, things have changed in the past oh...maybe 5 years. People are being more open about the struggles they face, day to day as a mom. They share their misgivings and aren't so worried about being perfect. I think that's a step in the right direction. If you can help one person make the right decision about having kids, you're helping not only that person but the entire world. I think we take having children very lightly. Without sounding too cliche, children are the future and if you don't feel you have the time, resources, love and understanding, maybe you shouldn't be a parent?!? I don't know, what do you think?

I know there are a lot of good mommies and daddies out there-and plenty are searching for free apps for kids, apps for kids...apps for anything and everything having to do with entertaining and educating their kids-so someone out there in cyberspace is trying hard to figure this parenting thing out! Who knows if the world wide web is helping or hurting...but regardless it's here to stay. That was the driving force behind why we are producing apps for kids. We want to be a safe resource for parents...and hopefully a great place for kids to grow and learn!

Bedtime-Swaddling.

Our App for kids...Bedtime Bunny Tales, is just one of the many tools we hope parents will utilize when trying to get their toddler's on a routine...but just today I read something extraordinary about swaddling. I know swaddling isn't for a two year old, but I still wanted to share what I learned. For all of you who aren't familiar with the term...it's an ancient practice of wrapping your baby in a snug blanket so it feels more secure...kinda mimicking the womb.

First of all, a friend of a friend writes a blog called http://alittlegray.blogspot.com and I follow it. She was talking about her new born and how she found an old swaddling blanket. She wrapped her little bundle of joy up in it and she slept an extra two hours. Then, that peaked my interest. I did a little research...and according to some studies...the technique can help your baby sleep up to twice as long!! Wow...could you imagine!?!?!

Now, if only we can get our app for toddlers to do something miraculous like that??? Most of those who took our survey read the book to their children during the day...so we didn't get a good read on the Bedtime aspect of it! I will say, if you are looking for a beautiful looking story, we definitely have that end of it covered. Sam added another page to the book, so he is just finishing it up and whoa...it looks good! One of my very favorite illustrations is in fact...the bedtime page. Twinkles, Boomer and Banjo are all snug in their bed...dreaming of really good things and snoring!! If you haven't visited our website lately check it out. www.bedtimebunnytales.com

Grandpa Bunny in a Tombstone Pizza Commercial

Hello everyone...it's been a long time....and no, I do not have a good excuse.
Things have been quite busy and we can see a light at the end of the tunnel. Yesterday we recorded the voice of Grandpa Bunny with English Actor, Oliver Muirhead. You may remember him from the old Tombstone Pizza Commercials...he's a great guy and he's done a lot more than Tombstone...The social Network, Alvin and the Chipmunks, etc. Another Brit is helping us out too! Her name is Linda Gallagher and she has been a dream to work with! She's efficient and super nice and she sounds like a sweet little mommy! I do have to mention the best part of all of this. Another amazing friend of mine has the sweetest little guys who helped us with the voices of Boomer and Banjo. They will be the life behind the interaction and they both bring so much authenticity to the project...thanks Mario and Max!

After our last promotion with Freebies 4 mom we received a lot of feedback and we got almost 6o completed surveys. It's been such a blessing to work with Heather (founder of Freebies). She has sooo many followers that you are bound to get some downloads/responses. Thus...we changed the script a bit...tweaked some of the characters and added a scene. It's looking so nice and I can't wait to add the voice and score.

Pixels and graphics and coding (oh my!)

It's Friday at 6pm and I want to throw my computer out the window! I have been so wrapped up in pixels and graphics and coding that I have missed an entire day of sunshine.

Not to worry though. There's just enough left to catch a beautiful sunset. A phone call to my family who is far away, moments with my family near to me, and then it's bedtime. It's so funny, working on Bedtime Bunny Tales I am immersed in a dreamland all day. But it doesn't make my own sleep any less precious.

In fact, bedtime really is a respite from planning and typing. It's the minutes in between wake and sleep that my brain refuels.

It's my hope that Bedtime Bunny Tales does that for your little one, and you too! So here's to the sunset! And dreams!

Bedtime Bunny Tales...so beautiful!

I may be biased...but I just can't wait for you to see our book. Sam and his partner have been diligently working on the images. They are so cute and cuddly that your kids are just going to flip when they see them! We are including so many extras...like blowing into the speaker to extinguish the candle, and touching the windows in the tree house to turn off the lights. It's amazing. The picture to the right is a far off view of grandpa bunny's house at night.

Speaking of night...I want to talk about one of our central themes to Bedtime Bunny Tales...bedtime!! I remember when I was a kid...bedtime wasn't so peaceful. It was usually a fight amongst my parents and myself. I wanted to stay up late and watch television...my dad insisted that I go to bed and get some rest. Yes...this was when I was a little older...probably ten, but my sister has this problem with her 4 year old. He doesn't want to leave the party! That's the beauty of BTBT's, it is THE party. We are hoping that kids just can't wait to go to bed, because they get to have so much fun interacting with the characters!

Ok...so, I do believe there are other factors other than our book that will help you get your kiddo to sleep and one big one I take straight from the Dog Whisperer, Caesar Milan.
Wear them out!!! Exercise them!!!
He's talking about our four legged friend...but I think his advice applies here too.
Before you can train a k-9 it is of the utmost importance to run them until their nervous energy ceases...or at least diminishes. You can't get them to concentrate unless they are too tired to think about playing!

Try it...I think you'll agree.

Until next time.

Update on Promotion and all things Bunny Tales!

So...I believe the promotion was a success. If you didn't read the post below...we offered our game Hop 2 It, to everyone reading the blog "Freebies 4 Mom" free for five days. We received almost 17-hundred downloads in the first day...almost 800 the second and we'll see what happens by the end of the week. It's all about spreading the word concerning Bedtime Bunny and every time it's downloaded www.bedtimebunnytales.com shows up at the bottom.

So...now to Bedtime Bunny Tales. Since I started writing this blog...I had the independent app developer in mind. After meeting with the marketing guru last week she reminded me of my audience...moms! What was I doing? So...now I'm trying to revamp everything...and it's really difficult. I can't seem to take a step back and re-organize. I guess I'm just going to start talking about mom stuff...kid stuff...bunny stuff!

Sorry if you've been reading and want to know more when it comes to developing apps...but this is a learning process! Email me and I'll help you with whatever you are having trouble with. I love sharing knowledge...and let my mistakes keep you from doing the same.

Anyway...I want to say farewell to my app developer friends and hello to my mommy friends. It's Bunny Tale time!

Freebies 4 Mom...and for you!

Good afternoon! So...I can safely say, we are now live with Freebies 4 Mom. If you are a mom...or frankly anyone who likes a deal...she's got them! I found her on Facebook and then approached her about our iPad2 give away. At the moment we are giving away Hop 2 It....the video game.

And now a word from our sponsor...or, just me.

Freebies 4 Mom rocks. She constantly updates her site with free stuff...from a code for a blockbuster movie to a coupon for Tide. If you are the bargain looking kind...look no further. I was happy to find out she is extremely easy to work with and very on top of her game. We exchanged emails a couple of times and then voila...she posted our ad. Nice working with people who know their stuff!

I am also happy to report she will be handling our iPad2 give away. She already has a system...so we wont' have to worry about picking the winner...she'll do it randomly.

I think teamwork is a good thing...how about you?


http://www.facebook.com/Freebies4Mom