Magna Doodle

Does anyone remember playing with the Magna Doodle when you were a child? Well, I remember loving mine! So much, that I almost bought it for my nephew and best friend's son for Christmas. I didn't though because I wasn't sure if I had really loved it or if just seeing it at Target brought back fond memories of toys the way they used to be.

So, anyhow, Nonnie gave a miniature generic one to Annabelle on Christmas Eve in her stocking. Since Christmas Eve, all of Nonnie's Christmas presents to Annabelle have been in the trunk of the 4Runner. I finally brought them in today, and before I could move them out of little hands' reach, the little hands found the Magna Doodle!

Just for the record, I had planned to pack the miniature Magna Doodle away with the Christmas stuff until next Christmas because it came with a quarter sized circle to use for drawing. I didn't even realize that it had the pen. Just recently, Annabelle has gotten into a bad habit of putting things into her mouth again, so I am really having to watch what she plays with, more so than I even did when she was a baby (or so it seems)!

Just as an example, we took hubby to Marta the other night for him to take the Marta train to the airport. When I pulled back in the driveway and started getting Annabelle out of the car seat, after dropping him off, she opened her mouth for me to see her new found prize. She had been playing with some very small magnets earlier in the day (probably only an inch long). Well, apparently, she had picked them up on the way out the door to take her Daddy to the "choo choo chain," and hubby didn't notice. I found several more in her car seat. Thank goodness she didn't swallow one! Magnets are very dangerous!

So, anyhow, I immediately took away the circle shape that she was playing with without even a fuss. I did show her the pen though because I saw it just as I was taking away the circle.

She immediately ran over and picked up a picture of her birthday cookie cake that she had been playing with earlier in the day. It had a picture of a horse on it, and she immediately told me, "Daw horse Mommy!" Translation: Draw horse Mommy!

I don't know if Grandmama has been teaching her to look at another picture when she tries to draw something, but if Grandmama hasn't, then I think we most definitely have a future artist on our hands! And, she didn't get that from her Mommy! I was very surprised that she thought to look at another picture to try and draw it. I don't think I've taught her to do that, but maybe I have?

She drew her version of a horse to begin with, and then she wanted me to draw my version of a horse. I drew my version of a horse, and she then told me, "Dog," as she pointed to my horse. Well, she was right, it did look a lot like a dog!

I just sat next to her and watched her draw more pictures on the Magna Doodle. She was having a blast! I guess I cannot pack that away for next year's stocking, huh?

The best part...she started drawing straight lines, and she told me who they were after each line was drawn. I cannot remember who she drew first, but it went something like this:

"Dat Mommy. Dat Daddy. Dat Uncle Matt. Dat Aunt Merafifth. Dat Mawee. Dat A-um. Dat Nonnie. Dat Nanny."

Translation: "That Mommy. That Daddy. That Uncle Matt. That Aunt Meredith. That Molly. That Adam. That Nonnie. That Granny."

And, that's it! Those are literally the only people she drew. Sorry Grandmama and Granddaddy! Apparently, you were not on her mind this evening!

But, Kudos go to Uncle Matt! Annabelle must have drawn your picture five times more than anyone else!

It cracked me up to watch and listen to her, and after watching her for 5 or 10 minutes, I finally pulled out the camera and took a few shots. Excuse the outfit...she had just woken up from her nap, and I had changed her into pajamas because we played in puddles earlier in the day, and she was soaked, and then she proceeded to tinkle on her original matching pajama bottoms during naptime because her diaper was completely full! And, I need to wash some toddler clothes!

Here is a picture of her drawing her stick figures (well, somewhat stick, these actually look a little swirlier than the first drawings):

And, here is a picture of her pointing and naming her stick figures. I am fairly sure she was pointing and naming Uncle Matt in this photo.

And, I forgot to mention, but hubby didn't miss out on this one! He had called just as she was starting to draw, so he may not have seen her actions, but he heard everything over the phone. I think he really enjoyed listening to her. I really do have great intentions of keeping this blog up more regularly for the sole purpose of him to see what his sweet (or not so sweet) daughter is doing while he is in Minneapolis for business.