Project 52: gender roles?

I learned that at a very young age, without instruction, boys naturally know what guns are for and how to use them....it was hilarious watching my young first-born son turn just about anything into a "boom-boom" and when he got a toy laser gun for his 2nd birthday, well, he knew just what to do!

Now that I have a daughter, I am seeing the same thing happen...but with dolls.

Now, let's remember.....she's not even a year old yet. And yet her "mothering" skills are obvious to me. We've had this doll in the house for over 3 years....and it's got played with the most in just the last couple of months. Heidi holds it and carries it around and gives it lovings.....just the other day, I watched her pick "him" (Liam decided he was a boy) up and gently rub her hand on his head. It was a sweet moment and my heart melted. So cute.

Anyway, I'll stop blabbering away about how gender roles are so obvious here at my house (and so natural too, I do nothing to promote it, which makes it all the funnier to see it happen) and show you this weeks picture:

Okay, now for something completely different.....

David did this same thing about a day after we got the table. What is it about active, mobile almost one year olds that makes them HAVE to climb things?!? It is so scary! We have had to put up an elaborate gate system which we borrowed from my in-laws to keep her away from the table, because this is what she does EVERY SINGLE TIME she gets near enough to do it. She thinks being up on the table is the coolest thing in the world.

Project 52: Glimpses Into Motherhood