Little Miss Big

For those of you who don't already know, each and every mealtime is a glorious occasion for our little girl. Until recently, Brooklyn has been allowed to sit at her own little table. (See it in the background?) Last week, however, she let us know that she really wanted eat dinner with us at the big table. After making the necessary preparations: two plastic placemats, booster seat strapped onto chair, and food cut into bite-size pieces, she finally got her wish! As you can see, she was all smiles during the meal because she liked feeling included and grown-up!

Her table is also the right surface for dry-erase markers. So we had to test that out and fully utilize all features of this fabulous table. Now we just have to teach her that all tables are not blank tablets awaiting her next masterpiece!
After her art session ended, she apparantly needed a work out and decided to move her table all around our "huge" kitchen.
Other table manners she's cooked up lately include:

Selecting and dressing in her bib of choice (usually the smallest one that doesn't even reach her belly, but has a cute giraffe on it!) (Pretty much all of her bibs except one, are the same ones she's been sportin' since birth. I think it's time to get her some new functional ones!)

Saying thank you (sometimes repeatedly) when her food is served.

Peeling her own orange (just the small size oranges that have the loose peels - but still, I was impressed!)

Clearing her plate from her table and trying to put it in the sink when she's done. Or, she asks me, "all done?" and then tries to take my plate.

As soon as she sees non-edible food, wrappers, or empty ziplock bags, she asks, "trash?" and then immediately throws them away. She is very anxious to tidy up - I don't know where she gets this from...she can't even wait until the orange is completely peeled to throw away the seeds and peel. She even threw away the zip-lock bag I was keeping her crayons in.

We are also working on changing her begging tone to a polite asking one when she wants food or more of it. Instead of her saying "AAuun moo" for 'I want more,' we're working on "may I please have..." which usually is just a slow "I - Pease." We'll give it some time!