on motherhood // baking with stella

my eldest is turning into quite the lady.  since the welcoming of her little brother, she has turned a sharp corner into something resembling a pre-teen toddler.  whatever that is.  independence is her fierce request these days and instead of battling it head on we've turned it into an opportunity for creating and learning.  

it is so easy to do things like putting toys away or throwing dirty clothes in the wash by all by myself.  in fact, there are times i think about how much i could get done if i were all alone to do my daily chores.  but the truth of the matter is, teaching my babies how to do the everyday things, such as baking banana bread for a sick friend, is why i am a stay at home mama.  it is why our family foregoes a second paycheck and why we've chosen keep our babies out of daycare and in our home with their mama.  not that there is anything wrong with daycare, because we love our old daycare and kind friend trish, but this is what we feel is most valuable for our family in this season of our lives as young parents.  

i want to be the one to teach my daughter how to measure and pour and stir and make messes on our dining room table.  i want to be the guide that takes her hand and walks her ever so gently through beautiful experiences that will one day turn into magical memories.  so the other day we baked.  we smiled and got our fingers sticky with banana bread goo.  we grew, both as learner and teacher because let's face it, teaching a two year old how to bake is an adventure that requires a heavy dose of patience.  

since our afternoon baking, stella has brought it up nearly a dozen times.  she talks proudly about the bread she made and wants to nibble on it with honey just about every chance she gets.  our special time spent together while her little brother was napping is one i will forever cherish and continue to build on.  there will be many many more of these experiences carved into our ever-changing stone that is life.