Helping in the Kitchen

Daniel wants to be known as a good helper.  He helps me as much as he helps his father. I think its because Thomas the Train always talks about being a Really Useful Engine / Really Helpful Engine. 

On this morning, I had planned for Elsa to be the one to do the waffle mix stirring, but Daniel came up to help, too.

Helping Make Baby Shood

Daniel really likes this food mill, as well as the process of making baby food for his sister.  Here are some photos of the first time he helped make her some applesauce.  Since these photos were taken, he's helped prepare what he calls "baby peas", "cereal", carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, and peaches.  Nearly every day he wants to make baby food with me, but often he is satisfied by just assembling the food mill and pretending to make some.  He gets pretty excited when she eats some of the food he's made for her, too.

  

This is my favorite shot.  He still shows some of of the soft and calm that have all but disappeared from babyhood.

Little Laundry Helper.

Daniel can hear the words "wash" or "laundry" or "dirty clothes" from any room in the house.  He even picks up on these terms when they are used differently, like 'Wash my hair" or "We need more laundry soap" or  "Your clothes are dirty from the chocolate pudding".

He will run into the laundry room and shout, "UP!".  He will also make washing noises and say "Wsh".  He wiggles his hips and moves back and forth, a lot like The Twist, but we call this dance the Washing Machine dance instead.

His helping tower was in the laundry room, and it helped him perfectly reach to dump clothes in the washing machine.  He is also able to put only one full scoop directly into the machine, no spills (a lot of practice!).

Usually these days we don't have to watch an entire laundry cycle, but we do need to check in on the laundry a few times when he hears the rinse cycle or spin cycle begin.

Helping Out Around the House

Dan cleaned out the clogs in our bathroom sink and I cleaned out the assortment of clutter that collected during the past five years.  

Daniel watched us do this task and later climbed in to help out, too.  He was really quiet and curious in there! He seemed pretty happy with his adventure.