Crafts with a baby - they rarely meet the expectations

I always imagined how life would be with a little one, especially when I was pregnant. 

Of course, like any expectant mother (or father) I focused on all the positives like cuddles, first steps, playing together and crafting together. 

Now the latter of these is what I want to focus on today. 

In my head I pictured giggling child, mucking about with paint and printing perfect hand and feet prints on paper, moving onto potato painting, maybe a little finger painting and leaf prints. All perfectly charming and calm, a nice little bonding and sharing experience. 

Well the thing is, the reality really doesn't live up to the dream. 

At the very least it's an entirely different experience, though not necessarily a bad one, but definitely different, and usually far more stressful, and far less calming and peaceful.

On the day I took these photos, I decided to do some painting with Henry as we were cooped up in the house due to rain (yep rain in June) and I wanted him to contribute to his thank you notes that I was about to send out from his birthday - start as you mean to go on! 

We got some paint out and poured it into a tray for Henry to dip his hands in, and then pressed his hand on the thank you cards. All was doing alright, until I needed to add more paint and it started getting messy, very quickly. Plus, it's easy to forget that he enjoys putting his finger in his mouth and on his face, so the paint quickly went everywhere. Then of course he decided to crawl off. Leaving trails of paint behind him... 

So no, we didn't have the lovely chilled half hour of painting and sensory exploring I imagined. 

But it was absolutely fun. 

And did give me the chance to get our Lion Poncho* out and get some adorable photos of Henry drying off after a quick afternoon bath, which he happily chilled in whilst I mopped the kitchen floor! 

So will I be crafting with my one year old again?
Yes of course, but I'm definitely lowering my expectations of calm, and running a bath beforehand too!

What have your crafting experiences been like?

*PR sample