As many of you know, I’m a baker and a crafter and this weekend, I got to share both passions with Curly. About a year ago, I bought a little over a yard of a fantastic banana printed cotton remnant. Crafty people will understand what I mean when I say I just couldn’t pass it up. I finally decided to make 2 toddler sized aprons with it (one for Curly and one for a friend). I backed it with some royal blue cotton that I had in my stash.
I had mostly finished the project up on Thursday in anticipation of a trip out of town this past weekend to visit the family of the other little boy. When that trip had to be canceled last minute, I told Curly that we could bake cookies together instead. He kept pointing to the little apron hanging on the back of his chair and saying “You made that?” I gave him my Cookies for Kids Cancer cookbook and told him he could pick out any recipe he wanted. Much to our surprise, he picked out the classic NYC bakery staple, Black and White cookies, which to our knowledge he’s never had before. I guess the picture was compelling.
On Saturday afternoon when he woke up from his nap, I was all set up for baking on the dining room table. He was SO fascinated and helpful. I measured, then let him pour. I even got out my rarely used 1/8 cup measure so that I’d need 5 scoops to make up the amount needed for an ingredient. Then together, we counted. I even let him taste the dough, which has always been part of the process of baking for me, although I think he’s a few years away from full on licking the beater clean.
It was a very nice “full circle” motherhood moment for me. I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t helping my mother in the kitchen. Those childhood memories are warm and sweet. They smell of chocolate and vanilla and cinnamon and are full of love. I want those memories for Curly. And I look forward to many more sweet hours of him wearing the banana print apron as we whip up tasty treats to share.
Oh, and the cookies were just ok in my opinion, although Strawberry loves them. Curly enjoyed one but they didn’t seem to stick in his memory and he hasn’t asked for another.
1 In Vermillion 
So glad you could do that with Curly and carry on a great family tradition. I baked and still bake with my mother. You also were always helpful, except for the time you “helped” me by reaching for the dried oregano and poured it into the “dry” ingredients. When I yelled “nooooo:, you looked up and me and said “I go play now”. I learned a great lesson that day. Keep only what you want in your recipe within reach! We need to have a family bake day at my house.
I love this post (and the apron)!
Love it! And that apron is so cute 🙂
Sweet 🙂
The apron is fabulous! I have been wanting to make one for BG. For now, he wears one that was my great-grandmother’s.
I absolutely know the feeling you describe. It is one that I share every time I bake with BG, and we bake often. It’s the best feeling to know that we’re building a foundation for many kitchen memories to come. And there’s SO much learning that happens to boot! Glad you got to have this experience. 🙂
Very sweet! HP loves to bake/cook as well. It’s so fun 🙂
This was a very sweet post to read. And stories like this help me to be excited for the turtles to get older and able to do things like this with me (and not so sad that their babyhood will be over.)
So special.
I remember baking with my mom and my Opa (grandpa) when I was little. I still love baking. Hopefully The Bean will enjoy it someday too. For now he just enjoys the end product. 😉
I’ve been wanting to try the Smitten Kitchen black & white cookie recipe.
I hope that someday we will all get to bake together.
omg, you are so crafty! i love the apron!
So cute. Love the apron.
I love the apron, I especially love the apron your wearing! Did you make it or buy it? I want some fabric like that!
That apron is adorable and I love the look of concentration! What a sweet interlude. Many more to come, I am sure.