Play-at-Home

So, I'm new to the whole "mom" scene. Only been doing it for 16 months now (but seriously, already sixteen months?!?!)...so, I just recently heard the phrase "I am not a stay-at-home mom, I'm a play-at-home mom." As cliche as that is, I love it. Amidst the house chores, showering, cooking, working, checking blogs :), etc...I sometimes find that an entire day will go by and I didn't just SIT down with my little girl (who is growing up too quickly) and just play with her. Of course, I'm with her all day...running errands, walking out to the mailbox, driving Daddy around, and even sometimes as I'm sitting and playing with her, I'm thinking in my head what I need to do next on my to-do list. Which means, I'm STILL not really "there" with her.

So over the last couple of months, I have been researching a lot of different toddler "self-directed" activities for this little one and have tried to do at least 1 activity a day (thank you, Pinterest!). (note: I have fallen short of that goal...some days are just too packed) But, on my BEST days....I am spending time just sitting, and watching this little girl try to master every little thing she tries. Some recent things I want to log on the ol' journal:

-I sing this marching song for Tenley (did anyone else grow up listening to the Brite Music tapes?) "Left, right, marching along pum pum pum pum"....I hold Tenley's hands and we march all over our apartment (not a lot of marching space, I tell ya). The other day, I decided to time her and see how long she would want to "march" before wanting to move onto something else = 26 MINUTES of MARCHING. I think she could have even gone longer, but I was seriously so bored...and out of breath...and sore the next day. Pathetic.

-I took an old formula can and cut a slit in the lid...she loves to put things in the can and then take the lid off and pull everything out.

-She loves to bake and so when I'm cooking, I will put a towel in the sink and have her sit in the sink and "help".

-Here are some pictures of the newest activity she LOVES to do....buttons and muffin pans. This kept her busy for at LEAST 30 minutes...and I just sat there and watched her little facial expressions and those little fingers grasp the buttons and then shake the buttons all over the place.

Simple moments....but at the end of the day, it's those moments I love the most with this little girl of ours.