Chef in the making

 Ever since Hannah was tiny, she's loved being in the kitchen with me. When she was an infant, she'd sit in her little chair watching me as I worked. When she was a little older, she'd sit on the kitchen counter watching, and either helping where she could or doing her "work to do," which was "writing" with a pen and paper on the counter nearby. Yes, I realize that she mainly just wanted to be near Mommy, but she also seems fascinated by everything that happens in a kitchen.

Our little mixer and baker

Now that she's almost three, she wants to be helping. With everything! Washing, chopping, mixing, frying, etc., etc., etc. At Christmas we got the kids a set of child-safe knives that they can really use to chop things (a strange gift you may say, but our kids all really like to help in the kitchen). So now when Hannah sees me pulling out the cutting board, she will often run to get "her" knife so she can help. She's finally gotten strong enough that she can cut through a cucumber. And though we still end up with very thick slices of cucumber, she is learning and is very proud of herself!

Our happy chopper!