Let the Creative Juices Flow...

I bought Bella this cool table last week so she could have her own little creation station. It's the only one I have seen that can quickly change into an easle, which was the clincher for me. BUSTED!! This is the look we get when we tell her not to do something. It's like she is contemplating whether she wants to obey or not. To be totally honest...it's about 50/50 these days. I just informed her that playdough is not for eating..it's yucky. She's probably wondering how I know what she is thinking. See the next two pictures to see how she responds.
Well, mommy, I'd like to see if its yucky for myself, thank you, very much!

Let me get a real good taste.
Here's the table as an easle. My little artist.
Then, this is just her new trike from a couple weeks ago. She's slowly getting into it. It's still a little big for her.

Adventures Abound

Curtis and I are always trying to research different places to take Bella for family days out. Since the weather has finally gotten better, it has made a world of difference. On Saturday we ventured northwest about an hour to Pettitts Animal Adventure Park. It is a farm/mini-zoo/amusement park/park for under 7's. It had a petting zoo, miniature monkeys, birds, bunnies, guinea pigs, rides, games, tons of playground equipment, crafts, entertainment, a train, food, picnic areas, etc. It was so refreshing to see something like this geared toward young kids....Bella was able to do almost everything. It was an absolutely fabulous day! Oh, and we even got out of the gift store WITHOUT buying ANOTHER stuffed animal....picture perfect!

Bella has never met a slide she didn't love. It's getting increasingly difficult to pry her off the slide when play time is over. The girl is a slide fanatic....she has no fear.

The Alice inWonderland choo-choo train. Bella loved riding this around and pulling the bell over and over. Plus, saying train.

The Petting Zoo. Bella wasn't too interested in the animals this time around. This was probably because of all of the slides she had on her mind. There were a ton of animals (goats, chickens, pigs, etc.) but Bella would just get close enough to stare 'em downThe Flying Elephant ride. I wasn't sure Bella would even want to go on this ride at all. Yet, we ate lunch right next to it and all she did was watch it the entire time. So, sure enough we strapped her in and she loved it. I like going up da-da...push the button more, more, more!

This is a story in itself. You had to put in a pound to get these tractors going, but you had to press down on the green pedal to make it go. Well, I was very excited to ride this with Bella. But, basically we both couldn't fit and she did not want my lap. So, picture me trying to straddle the back just enough to press down on the gas pedal. It kept jerking. It was so funny and Bella wanted me off. So, Daddy tried to solve the problem. In the end, we just pushed her. Her thoughts--This tractor does not go fast enough nor does it interest me....let's go back to the slides.

Clear the roads people, I'm coming through. (Bella's first car ride..similiar to the ones at Disneyland on the track)

This slide, although short, was super, super fast. She was covered in bark after it shot her off the end. But, of course it didn't phase her one bit...she just got up (bark dangling in her hair and all) and went to do it again.

This is a picture of Bella being naughty. She did not want to leave the Thomas Engine slide. So, we did the "okay, bye" trick......look how good it worked this time.....she's pretty far back. Guess she showed us.

Lady P (licence plate) has arrived, let's get this party started. (Bella's first carousel ride)

No matter how I steer this thing, it still just goes around and around.
Hi da-da! Look, no hands!
Are you sure I can't keep the car?This place even has bunnies! Is this Heaven?

Backyard Busy Bee: Athlete, Discoverer, and Break Dancer Extraordinaire

Sunday brought more sunshine and fun......this time in the backyard. It started with a game of run around the yard throwing and chasing after the ball. This went on and on and on and on and on until mommy needed a break. It's a shame that my almost 18 month daughter is in better shape than me. I am just not sure what to make of her athleticism because she doesn't really enjoy kicking so that rules out soccer. She likes to throw but not to anyone in particular so that rules out softball, basketball and most other sports. She does like to run after it, pick it up and run with it...maybe a future rugby player....hmmmmm? Not sure? What I do know is she is fast and agile and has a might good arm.

So, when mommy quit, Bella proceeded to her new water/sand picnic table. On this particular day we only filled it with rice because it was a little too cold for water and we haven't got sand yet. It also has a track around it for her cars to "vroom-vroom-vroom" Anyhoo, she loves the rice. She concentrates on building mounds and filling up the boats. She covers the track and then carefully clears it when the traffic comes through. Plus, she really explores using some of her senses. I was able to use natural consequences when teaching her why she shouldn't put the rice in her mouth (exploring taste). She thought she was so naughty when she put it in her mouth. Within seconds she was trying to spit it out. Boy how I love when parenting strategies work out sometimes. Anyway, you can see how hard she is concentrating. I personally think she is counting the rice but I don't want to brag or anything.

Bella is extremely good at entertaining herself these days. She is always inventing new things to do. After she counted the rice (ha-ha), she started pacing around and then did something we hadn't seen before. It can only be described as BREAKDANCING! Yes, my little girl was bustin' a move on the back patio. Had we quickly gotten some cardboard and a little music, I am sure we would have witnessed a head spin or back spin. It was so funny. These are the moments where Curtis and I just look at each other and crack up in disbelief.....where does she come up with this stuff?












.......AND THAT'S A WRAP!!!!!!!!! Can I get a towel? drink of water? lemonade? jelly bean?

Spring Break Fun at the Park

The weather here over the last few days has been gorgeous. So on the first official day of Spring Break we took Bella girl to the park. At the park, she basically loves the slide and the swings. She also loves running around and around. After the park, we went and bought her a Radio Flyer tricycle and a sprinkler. It was a fun day as you can see from her smiles.










This is the position she gets in when you say, "On your mark, get set". I still have no idea where she learned it but apparently she has an Olympic gold for track and field in her future.

She made me (ya know...with whining..yes I caved) get this sprinkler out of the box even though she had no idea what it was. She kept trying to figure it out.