crafts and activities

Since I pouted about the terrible twos, Elinor has been awesome. I know it's always in waves but the last few days have been so much fun. She is extra snuggly and communicating more. When little fits start to come up, I tell her she can do what I'm asking her by herself or I will help her do it. Usually she jumps up saying "I do it myself, Momma". We will see how she does at her classes this week.

Something surprising happened a few days ago..

Elinor started drawing people! She told me this one is a princess walking. It blew my mind that she made a face, arms and legs. 

 She made this little guy and told me he is very mad

We have been trying to do more activities during the day too. I'm usually pretty good until after nap and then I run out of things to do. I've been planning special little things with after nap in mind.

 washing her animals was a big hit. This lasted for a long time. She also insisted on drying each one and admiring how clean it was.

 I always have a ton of yarn scraps around. I made a big yarn heart for Elinor to glue little pieces inside of. She was more into painting the glue on.

Also listening to the Frozen soundtrack on repeat. Those songs seem to put her in a great mood. She sings her little heart out while dancing around the house. Anyone else singing these songs to themselves all day? even during nap time? 

mama and baby crafts

How is it that I'm home so much more than ever but I can never get anything done? I was able to keep up on here, a little on pint size style, plus working fulltime and taking care of Elinor. I'm trying to crochet more and plan more activities with Elinor lately. Both are going well but crocheting is taking forever since I'm trying out new things and activities with Elinor take a lot of time planning for 10-15min of play.

I just finished a hooded cape for the shop but after trying it on Elinor for pictures, I want to keep it for her. But I think I will go ahead and sell it(look for it this week if interested) and possibly make a new one for her. I'm now working on a new hat that I've taken apart 3 times already.

Elinor loves the sensory bowls I've put together. The rice/corn/pasta is her favorite. After work, Dave even gets it out with her again. Yesterday we did water play (thanks Sarah for the suggestion!). I laid down towels with bowls of water, rubber ducks, stacking cups, spoons and measuring cups. She mostly liked moving the ducks from one bowl to the next as I counted and dipping the measuring cups in to get a drink.

Ashleigh had left a comment with a link to Second Story Window. I've never seen this blog but there are a lot of good ideas with sensory bins and crafts for little ones. I'm going to make a list and head to the dollar store soon.

planning

While being a nanny, it was so easy to make plans for our days. Being a mom I don't have as much (any) time alone to find different local activities. The town that I nannied in I knew every story/sing along. I knew where every playground was and where every kid friendly store/restaurant is. In our town there isn't as much to do. We do have a local library with a story time that we have been going to. I hope to find some playgrounds when it gets a little warmer. Plus we are walking distance to the beach.

wearing her scarves and reading her books with no pants on.

Right now I feel guilty. I want to be doing so much more with Elinor.  I may have even wrote about this before. She loves being out and around other children. Her whole little life so far we have been on the go and barely ever home. Now we are inside most the week. I know once the weather gets nicer it will be much easier to get out.

I need to be better about inside activities like crafts. She doesn't show interest in them so sometimes I give up. I know if I keep trying she may eventually want to try. Her favorite thing to do now (besides throwing the remotes at me trying to get me to turn on the tv) is putting things inside of boxes or bags and taking them out one by one. We do that 20 times a day with anything from blocks to scarves to clothes in her drawers. Anyone have any good crafts or activities for a busy one year old??

and seriously we need to start hiding the remotes!