Olivia's Pick--1 February 2009

Blueberry pancakes. Oatmeal raisin cookies. Bundt cakes. Muffins. This week, Olivia has proudly taken on the mantle of Assistant Baker in this Mama's kitchen. Whatever I'm cooking up, she wants in. And the messier, the better.

Of course, I'm careful to steer her away from the hot stove or oven. But, as we've both discovered, there's much for her to do in an active kitchen. She stirs. She cradles smooth, rosy eggs in her tiny, perfect hands. She adds sugar and flour. She stirs some more. Perched on a chair, she helps me rinse blueberries. Sprinkled with flour, we explore texture, mixture, temperature. Her perfect curiosity is a delight to entertain--and encourage. And her sense of accomplishment, when we share a cookie she helped bake is simply beyond compare.

Every minute in her 2 1/2-year-old life is a learning experience. What a privilege, to bear witness.