Coolest iPhone app for kids EVER: Talking Carl

My little friend, Carl.

I'm an iPhone junky.

I was a total skeptic at first thinking, "What the hell do I need internet for on my phone? Games? 'Apps'?? I just need something that makes calls and I'm good."

Oh, how naive I was.

Hollis was born in October of '07. Shortly after that I inherited Anthony's first generation iPhone. I graciously accepted it and was eager to use the camera feature, but really nothing else.

To my own (great) surprise I used that phone CONSTANTLY - mostly while I breastfed - and I breastfed everywhere, all the time: in the car, in the store, in the Nordy's "sitting room," in the vet's office, in the doctor's office, at my mom's house, friends' houses, parks, coffee houses, whatever, whereever, and whenever. You get my drift.

And as romantic as it might sound that a mother should stare peacefully and contentedly at her innocent babe suckling her breast, that was about 30 seconds of each nursing. Then I was looking for something to occupy myself... with one hand. (As all you breastfeeding mothers know, one-handed entertainment is hard to come by with a wee one attached to your chest.)

Enter the iPhone's many amusing features including (and espectially) the internet and games.

So that's my history. I'm hooked. Anthony's hooked. Just about everyone else I know is hooked, too.

And now, I'm a little ashamed to admit, Hollis is hooked, too.

We started out slow with toddler puzzles and cute games that helped him to listen to instructions and learn object names, etc. I only used them as a last resort crutch in restaurants or while visiting with a friend whom I wasn't quite ready to say good-bye to, yet. I never just handed him the phone so he'd fade into the background din of my surroundings. Therefore, the iPhone is a very special treat to him and each time I hand it to him there's a new, amazing thing for him to mess with for toddler-eternity.

Today, I found the pièce de résistance of toddler games: Talking Carl. It echos back anything it "hears" in a little elfin voice. You can also tickle him and he giggles; poke him and he exclaims; and pinch him and he growls.

I'm telling you, Hollis played with Carl for 2 hours. TWO HOURS, people!! That's like 14 lifetimes in Toddler Time. And the laughter it evoked! The sheer amazement and thrill! Holy crap, it was like he was being tossed in the air, tickled, and eating a lollipop all at the same time!! He "poked Carl" and "talked with Carl" and begged to "Poke Carl more!" as soon as he was finished eating breakfast.

Anyhoo, go download Talking Carl. I swear even you will love it.

Hollis workin' old Carl (and Anthony snoring).