Color Me Happy

So, here's my confession.  I got the "teacher bug" since school has started back.  I'm a teacher at heart.  Always have been since the days of "playing school" with friends and helping my brother with his math homework when he was in school.  Man, that was fun!  So...Millie Janalee and I are about to embark on a semi-structured "toddler time" during the week.  Don't go crazy!  It's still one-year-old appropriate...and basically just fun!  But, it gives us some structure to our stay-at-home days.  And it's fun for me!  It basically involves reading, singing, arts and crafts, and other fun toddler stuff. 

I plan to start September 16.  I'm a bit OCD and like to have a plan.  Don't make fun!  I know you want to.  After Millie Janalee woke up from her nap today, I thought it would be fun to try a little "coloring time" with Millie Janalee and see what she could do.

Or if she could even hold a crayon at all!

I set it up at the kitchen table and used her booster seat (we never use this!).  I taped the corners of the paper down and picked four crayons for her choosing.  I turned the TV off and played some of our Bible songs for our background music.  She woke up so happy!  And we danced a bit in the living room before coloring. 

Then it was time!  I was so excited to see what she did.  At first, she liked the sound of them tapping together.  I used my finger to show her how to scribble on the paper.  She basically just copied what I did.  And she made marks!  She colored!  I didn't correct the way she held the crayons.  We can work on that later.  I just let her play and have fun.

Most of her artwork stayed on the paper.  She liked to color outside the lines occasionally, and I just let her.  In fact, the green crayon art is still on my kitchen table.  I'm thinking it should just stay there.  I can't wash it off.  Is that teaching her to graffiti things?!  I just think it's so cute, and I know one day I'll miss seeing these sweet marks.

(This reminds me of the time my brother graffiti'd the church nursery with a black Sharpie.  Hmmm.  Maybe I'm not teaching her the best habits.  Oh well!  We'll worry about that later.)

Crayola crayons are non-toxic right?  Because there must've been something quite yummy about that green crayon.  The little teeth marks left behind are precious!  And the green crayon shavings on her lip were pretty funny too.  I did make her stop this.

But not before I took a picture.

You can see that Mama got a little involved too.  I've always been a sucker for a good crayon!  I tried to show her how to draw circles.  She was more interested in trying to pick up the circles than drawing her own.  Haha!  We colored together and made a fun memory.  You can probably pick up on the drumming of the green crayon from the evidence in her picture...

What else would I do with beautiful artwork created by my sweet little bit!?  Hang it on the refrigerator of course!  For all to admire.  Millie Janalee even enjoyed walking around and stopping to look at it.

She was so proud!  And is getting so big!

She just colors me happy!