Little Helper - Part 2

One thing that I love about being this girls Mommy is how much she loves to help.  It doesn't matter what is asked of her - she does it.

Lily especially loves to help out when it comes to Marco.  She wants to make sure that he is included or that he is getting enough attention.  Often times she ends up smothering him and he cries, but then there are such tender moments with these two that I can't help but want to record and remember these memories forever.

Here Lily is putting her socks on Marco because she was afraid his feet would get cold.  Lily is a child after my own heart because she loves to wear socks: with shoes, without shoes, in the rain, etc.  Since this is something she loves doing, she wanted to make sure that Marco was included and will become as passionate about socks as she currently is.

In order to keep Lily from smothering her baby brother during 'tummy time', I've been having her help me "teach" Marco things.  I've been having her help me teach him how to hold his head up real high, how to roll over, and scoot around.  When I give her an assignment, she fulfills it.  It's a win-win situation.  She feels like she is helping Marco (and me) and I'm just grateful that she's not on top of her brother - hugging him!

In addition to making sure that he's not left out and that she teaches him things - she also likes to play with him or show him how different toys work.  That's tricky because I want to enforce good sharing principles - without her just taking Marco's things away... but it's hard when she honestly feels like she is showing him how to "work" a certain toy.  So we have gotten quite creative at playing together and the bouncer is perfect for Lily not being able to "take anything away" from Marco, but rather, showing him how to play with what's in front of him.

There are countless other examples of how Lily likes to be involved and feel like she is helping out.

~ Opening Mail ~

~ Taking the trash out with Daddy ~

~ Organize and fill up the shopping cart ~

~ Packing ~

~ Picking (and shelling) peas (or raspberries, strawberries, etc.) from Grammy's garden ~

I love that this little girl loves to help.  She always cleans up after her mess (or tattles on whoever makes a mess: "Mommy made a mess.") and I've caught her singing "Clean up. Clean up. Clean up." when she picks up after herself.  I really got lucky to have such a great little helper and hope that she always has such desire to help me... even if it kinda, sorta, sometimes gets in my way.