Wordless Wednesday: I'm a Toddler!

She's been telling us that she was ready for to ditch the high chair. Q-ball was so excited when I was "installing" and "building" her new booster seat- she held the instruction book for me and wanted to immediately jump into the seat.  Funny how she could instantly tell it was for her!

Wordless Wednesday: At the Park

It's hard to find a good playground for toddlers and walking babies.  But, we've finally done it!

This was not her favorite...

Wordless Wednesday: Using Utensils

As I explained a few weeks ago here, I have been focusing on introducing Q-ball to utensils.  This week she has taken quite an interest and will sit and practice with a spoon or fork uninterrupted for quite some time.  This should not be confused with eating solids, as that hasn't really been happening!

We tried the Montessori spoon activity. She's a little young, so beans were everywhere- we'll try again later!

Wordless Wednesday: Relaxing

Q-ball is really interested in pillows this week.  When she doesn't know I'm watching, I've seen her just lounging on pillows that are on the floor.  She's even used our fat cat as a pillow!  So, making the bed has been a treat!

Downward Facing Dog

Wordless Wednesday: Thirsty Baby!

Apparently, our kinda-sorta Montessori approach to drinking from a cup (described here) is working.  Last night this almost toddler must have tried to drink a gallon of water!

MORE, MORE, MORE!!!

Wordless Wednesday: Fenced In

She had a whole park to explore, but she wanted to stay by the fence and watch the people passing below!

Wordless Wednesday: Bike Ride to the Park

This past weekend Q-ball took her first bike ride to the park! It's true there was a bit of an adjustment period in the bike trailer, but once we got going, she seemed to enjoy it. And, she loved walking around the park- she'll just move out on her own!

Wordless Wednesday: I Am DONE!

I hadn't shown any recent pictures of Q-ball eating, so I thought I'd brag about her joining Mama and Daddy on our "real food" challenge by giving up Cheerios for oatmeal or steel-cut oats.  But, she had other ideas- instead she decided to demonstrate her new favorite expression. It has been used for happiness, exhaustion, playing, and anger. 

I'll let you decide what she's using it for here.

 

Wordless Wednesday: Q-ball's First Stock Show

Q-ball loved seeing, hearing, and smelling all of the animals at the stock show! There were so many wonderful hands-on experiences for her!

She's been dancing whenever she hears music!

She could have watched the chicks all day!

Wordless Wednesday: Hanging Out

Obviously, baby's first time in a swing was more fun for Mama than Q-ball...

Wordless Wednesday: Boxed In

Every time I turned around this week it seemed like Q-ball had crawled into this box!

Wordless Wednesday: Outside

Here are some more photos of Q-balls outdoor explorations!

Our yard has a bit of a slant- it's hard to stay balanced!

Wordless Wednesday: Beginning to Sort

 She got the idea to use her walking wagon as a cart, loaded up all her treasures, and took off!

Moving materials from one basket to the next.

She liked emptying all of the baskets this week!

Wordless Wednesday: First Trip to the Zoo!

Q-ball now knows what everyone is talking about when they call her a "monkey," and she might even understand why after getting to watch some of the monkey crawl all over their cages and throw all of their toys and food to the other side.  Or, at least this mama does.  But, throughout the trip, she seemed truly engaged- she loved listening to the sounds, smelling the many smells, touching trees and fences, and, of course, seeing the animals! 

She had this very concentrated look on her face most of the time.

Here are those crazy monkeys!

She's learned how to wave this week and practiced by waving to all of the animals!

Wordless Wednesday: Walking Wagon

Because I had observed Q-ball start to cruise around on the furniture last week, I decided it was time to introduce her new wagon.  Q-ball has loved walking around on her wagon.  Because ours is quite busy with a different game literally on every side, it's not exactly Montessori, although I as I've said before, we are not totally Montessori.  Here, my chief concerns are her safety and enjoyment.  And, we haven't had a hint of an accident, and she SUPER loves this thing.  Still, the wagon does meet all of the basic descriptors of a Montessori that are listed in The Joyful Child by Micheal Olaf:

A walker wagon (wooden, not plastic) will provide a opportunity for the child to pull up and practice walking at will, but it will usually require the adult to turn the wagon around when the child reaches the end of the path, and push and pull toys are great fun for the new walker.

 

She's now using everything as a wagon!

 Sources:

Olaf, M. (2010). The Joyful Child. Retrieved from http://www.michaelolaf.net/1JC1stCPS.html