drawing with Nana

Sometimes to keep Jordan occupied for a little while I give her a huge pad of paper and one crayon, but I kept finding that it never actually would entertain her for long.  I usually like to write her name and date at the top and finally realized that there were always more scribbles around that than anywhere else on the paper.  That really got the wheels turning so I got down and drew several pictures on her pad of paper and that seemed to make her happy.  She colored every picture I drew (duh!  I really should have thought of this sooner!)!

Later the same afternoon that I made this discovery, Nana came over.  Jordan showed her the coloring she had done and wanted Nana to color with her.  Nana is a wonderful artist and drew an entire scene for her!  She loved and still loves it!  She will pull out the pad and just look at that picture signing everything she sees.

I just love the way she is laying while they draw and color together!  Jordan has found this new position and lays like this all the time nowadays.  One day I looked over and she had somehow figured out how to get the graham crackers off the table (ha!  I know exactly how!  This kid is such a climber these days.) and was laying on the floor like this with her snack, watching a movie.

That reminds me, we have recently begun letting her watch movies (Sesame Street) and while we have major restrictions as far as how much she can watch, it has become a major life saver!  Jordan is quite a quality time girl and wants my constant attention all day long.  I have tried many other approaches but so far nothing has been too successful.  But this movie watching thing has really come in handy!  I can actually step over the gate to do laundry without her having a meltdown on the other side!  I am now able to make dinner without a little girl pulling and crying at my ankles!  Sometimes I can even sit on the couch and get a tiny refresher of a nap or even some reading done in a book!  It's amazing!