Water Wheel

Gracie has made-up a new game to play in the bathtub - - a new game with a toy that has been in her tub for years... long before Preston was born! She did this over a month ago for the first time and I haven't seen her do it since... until Friday night. For every bath since then, she has played it. It's not something I encouraged, as I just wanted to wait and see if she'd do it again.

The Game: She removes the top part of the toy (the water reservoir), takes her index finger and spins the water wheel really hard and then stops it. Whatever color is on top, she quickly signs it and then spins again.

She will do this for about 10 minutes. I never interrupt - - only quietly watch in utter fascination. Interestingly enough, the water wheel is the only toy that she doesn't throw out of the tub! All of the others that float around her feet and where she can splash with her hands must be discarded... an obsession she's had for a very long time. Since her "toy removal" regimen is such a good core strength builder, I don't discourage her need to toss everything over the side! She picks most items up with her toes (her big toes work much like opposable thumbs!) and does a toe-toucher sit-up to grab the item with her hands and then does a lateral half sit-up to throw it over the side.
(I am ashamed to say that I DO NOT bear the core strength to imitate this series of maneuvers! She may lack balance and strength in many areas, but she has abs of steel!)