LJ icons, Christmas season over, Erika as a budding chef
Just noticed that my LJ default icon is from my 29th birthday; and I'm turning 32 in a week. Maybe it's time to update...
We're taking down our Christmas tree today. I told Erika, and I think she misunderstood, because she became excited and started talking about putting the pretty tree outside, so we can see it when we go outside to walk the dog. Now she's seen decorated Christmas trees outside since the holiday season does get overdone around here, so then I had to explain taking off all the ornaments first and throwing the tree away, and she was deflated about that, but still excited to help.
Erika has always been a good eater (finishing about 70 - 80% of the food we provide her), but this past week she has finished 100% of the food! Want to know our secret?
I made her into my assistant chef! She has a chef apron and a chef hat, and I put on my chef apron, and she gleefully says: "Erika Apron same Mommy's!" She gets her step stool from the bathroom and puts it next to the kitchen sink, and she washes all the vegetables-- potatoes, mushrooms, bell peppers, tomatoes, green beans, brussel sprouts, broccoli, onions.. actually she washes anything she can get her hands on. Sometimes she's happy to help me wash the plastic utensils or bowls. I tell her that Mommy does all the knife-work and frying (note her study desk in the kitchen.. she can work on her ABCs while I'm busy.. hahaha), but once everything settles down, she helps with the stirring. She loads the potatoes into the Pyrex dish and I stick them in the oven. She carefully places the frozen appetizers on the baking tray, and I stick those in too.
When Brian gets home, we run to give him hugs and kisses at the door, and she proudly says "Erika cook dinner!" (Once I told her that we needed to go home so I could cook dinner, and she corrected me with: "Mommy no cook dinner. Erika cook dinner. Mommy help Erika." Hahaha! Oh boy.) And when dinner's served? SHE EATS EVERY LAST BITE! Spinach, mushrooms, carrots, chicken, pork, beef, broccoli, you name it!
I know this won't work with all toddlers. Some dont have the temperament, the personality, the patience, or the interest, to participate. Some might delight in eating raw food, grabbing the knives, or throwing the pot of hot food on themselves. But Erika loves the responsibility and says: "Erika no baby. Erika big girl" while nodding her head for emphasis.
She also washes her milk bottles and cleans the floor when she makes a mess:
We're taking down our Christmas tree today. I told Erika, and I think she misunderstood, because she became excited and started talking about putting the pretty tree outside, so we can see it when we go outside to walk the dog. Now she's seen decorated Christmas trees outside since the holiday season does get overdone around here, so then I had to explain taking off all the ornaments first and throwing the tree away, and she was deflated about that, but still excited to help.
Erika has always been a good eater (finishing about 70 - 80% of the food we provide her), but this past week she has finished 100% of the food! Want to know our secret?
I made her into my assistant chef! She has a chef apron and a chef hat, and I put on my chef apron, and she gleefully says: "Erika Apron same Mommy's!" She gets her step stool from the bathroom and puts it next to the kitchen sink, and she washes all the vegetables-- potatoes, mushrooms, bell peppers, tomatoes, green beans, brussel sprouts, broccoli, onions.. actually she washes anything she can get her hands on. Sometimes she's happy to help me wash the plastic utensils or bowls. I tell her that Mommy does all the knife-work and frying (note her study desk in the kitchen.. she can work on her ABCs while I'm busy.. hahaha), but once everything settles down, she helps with the stirring. She loads the potatoes into the Pyrex dish and I stick them in the oven. She carefully places the frozen appetizers on the baking tray, and I stick those in too.
When Brian gets home, we run to give him hugs and kisses at the door, and she proudly says "Erika cook dinner!" (Once I told her that we needed to go home so I could cook dinner, and she corrected me with: "Mommy no cook dinner. Erika cook dinner. Mommy help Erika." Hahaha! Oh boy.) And when dinner's served? SHE EATS EVERY LAST BITE! Spinach, mushrooms, carrots, chicken, pork, beef, broccoli, you name it!
I know this won't work with all toddlers. Some dont have the temperament, the personality, the patience, or the interest, to participate. Some might delight in eating raw food, grabbing the knives, or throwing the pot of hot food on themselves. But Erika loves the responsibility and says: "Erika no baby. Erika big girl" while nodding her head for emphasis.
She also washes her milk bottles and cleans the floor when she makes a mess: