Creativity and learning

For fun indoor activities like reading and writing, I keep a pink basket in our living room filled with supplies. Beli knows she can find puzzles, crayons, construction paper and some of her favorite books. One of them is this fun poetic book titled, How does Antuntun live?

Now that she is 27 months old I have noticed she is more interested in 'reading'. Before she would turn the pages and tear some in the process and not really paid attention to the characters in the books. But now, when hubby reads to her, Beli pays attention and wants to know what Antuntun, the main character is doing.

She also likes the Dora book, she mimics the action of Dora and the monkey by putting her hands on her face and saying 'I know."

This is also a fun book about a little girl named Ana, this is Beli's favorite page because the policeman is saying, "STOP." She knows this word very well because everyday when we leave the apartment and exit to the parking garage to access our car we say, "Beli stop, are there cars? look to your left now to your right." She thinks it's fun to stretch out her hands and scream "STOP!"

Coloring at grandma and grandpa's home with her frog and puppy dog. Hmmm, I just noticed she doesn't have any medos nearby.

And when Beli is not writing or coloring she loves helping out in the kitchen. A few days ago, I tried, for the second time in my life, to make flour tortillas. I gave her some dough and she was entertained for at least half an hour. She made circle and star shaped tortillas while I worked on stretching out my irregular round tortillas. Here she is showing off Mommy's not so round tortilla. I think after my 10th try I should have the technique just right.

As a new parent I'm loving this new stage of her life, who knew that coloring would teach her the concept of sharing or that reading Dora's bedtime wishes would help with expressing her emotions.

Coloring on the walls

Mama, dai shoes, Mama? Mama!!..MAMA!!!!!! huh? what? I mumbled as I opened my eyes. Oh, it's Beli, waking up early, as usual. She climbed out of her bed, jumped into ours then grabbed my shoes and placed them in my face, as if saying, I need you, please wake up. I walk to the kitchen, half asleep, fill the kettle with water to prepare coffee for Hubby and I, for her, a cup of strawberry-vanilla tea. I walk over to the balcony, open the windows and take a peek outside. "It's raining" I inform Beli, who seems lost in her world of toys and books and ignores me.

This is our morning routine, with a few surprises now and then, because with a 22 month old in the house it's unpredictable what they will do. This morning for example, as I prepared coffee, still half asleep, I turned my back for a few minutes to find this on the wall.

Looking at it very close, it's actually artistic. What do you think?


Around the corner another scribble.

Beli, ne usta! Don't put that crayon in your mouth!

Hiding from Mama.

I tried distracting her, Wow!! Beli look, it's elmo! speaking in a loud and enthusiastic voice. Kids like that right? She scribbles in her coloring book, then looks up at me, grins then she takes off running! And there I go, chasing after her!

And here she is, working on another masterpiece. Oh, there is never a dull moment in our home. How do you spend your mornings? Do you have a certain routine you follow?

My little Artist

Isabela is a little energy bunny since she got her appetite back after two weeks of flu-like symptoms. I couldn't be happier to see her eat a full bowl of soup!!! After seeing the weather forecast, which I might add is actually right 99.87% of the time:rain, rain, and more rain I had to come up with ideas to distract Isabela and myself. I cleaned the kitchen with her help, she took every single piece of silverware minus the sharp pieces of course, and licked each one saying "Ummm,PAPA." Who can resist saying no to this face right? Just so you know I did wash all the silverware afterwards, in case you were wondering.

Next activity coloring. At first she was very concentrated on her work.

Afterwards she got tired and found a new workplace to color

Then she started coloring items within her reach, I had to follow her around because she wanted to draw on the walls. Then I found this great idea on the web, designate a wall for your child to draw on by taping a poster board on the wall and let her know that one wall is permitted to write on. Hmmm..., might work for a while but she is so stubborn (yes takes after both her parents) that it could be difficult to explain to her that no other walls are permitted to be painted on. Maybe I should skip this idea?? What do you think??

Her Masterpiece. Yes I will be framing it and making photocopies and giving one to each of the grandmas. Who knows we might have a little artist on our hands!