A Bicker, More Child-Proofing, and A Walk....

As you all know by now, I am watching two other little kiddos (Oliver and Lily) -- one to two mornings a week. Oliver is almost 2 1/2 years old, and sweet little Lily is 8 months old. PLUS, Luke is 13 months old. This all makes for interesting mornings when they're all here.

I am amazed at how this one little toy can cause such a bicker. Most of you probably know this toy, and most of you probably have one if you have small children.



It's really a great toy! There are many developmental things worked on with it.



Luke's enjoyed playing with it each day since I bought if for him some months back. Now, 2 1/2 year-old Ollie really enjoys playing with it as well. Though Lily hasn't figured out how to open the "surprises" yet, she does enjoy closing them if somebody opens them for her.

I don't have photos from yesterday morning (that was impossible at the time), but believe me when I say that at one point in time, all three children were trying to play with it.

Oh my....it might just have to be put away when Oliver & Lily are here. We have baskets of toys, but this one toy seems to be the ONE.

*****

All of you who have had or currently do have mobile babies and/or toddlers know what it's like to child-proof your home. You can take all of the "expert" advice: cover outlets, install child-proofing devices on kitchen cupboards, cover doorknobs, etc. etc. etc....

It seems like, however, you do all of that, and then, your child finds something else.

I was WARNED of that before Luke was mobile, but I didn't fully understand it at the time.

In our kitchen, we have this stainless steel shelving unit that we really LOVE! It modernizes (sort of) our out-of-date kitchen decor. It's been great for some extra storage. It's handy and easy to get to.

We bought it shortly after we were married, and we even said then that this will be interesting with children someday.

I don't have a full-blown "before" shot of this shelving unit -- we've child-proofed this several times. But, here is what it looked like this morning.



I've been saying for several weeks now that something will need to be done. Luke keeps trying to get all of the cereal on the second shelf from the bottom. (BTW -- this shelving used to have quite a bit more on it, with all shelves filled. Luke has changed that).

I turn my back for a mere 10 seconds this morning, and Luke once again has knocked some boxes of cereal down. Only this time, cereal has come out. I find Luke eating cereal off of the floor.



GROSS! Now, for those of you who have been in our home, you know I'm not the cleanest and tidiest person around, but I do my best to keep it somewhat sanitary. I mean, we're not gross here in the Friesen Household. We're just not necessarily immaculate.

I also, by having a child, have had to learn to "let up" a bit on keeping Luke always properly cleaned and sanitized. I mean -- he is a BOY, afterall.

So, this afternoon, as he's been napping, I've been searching for the PERFECT place to put cereal. I searched and searched...BUT, I really couldn't find a decent place without reorganizing my entire kitchen (not going to happen now).

SO, I know this is quite a boring end to this part of this blog post, but ultimately, the cereal simply ended up on the top shelf for now....



I told you -- B.O.R.I.N.G. But, I also know that someday sooner than later, Luke will once again find something he shouldn't be getting into. So, we'll once again be doing some more "child-proofing."

So, why spend too much time and effort on something as simple as cereal? Right?

*****

Luke has been taking the "later, but still normal" route on learning to walk. Slowly, but surely, however, he's getting there.

He's now pushing chairs around (by walking with them) on our tile floor in the kitchen (sorry -- I don't have a photo of that).

We've been borrowing this "walker" type toy from our friends, the Smith's. He's always just crawled with it or walked on his knees with it.

Today, however, I once again tried to show him how to walk with it. And, my teaching him FINALLY worked. He's been walking all over the family room/dining room with it -- albeit walking straight into walls and not figuring out what to do from there.



He definitely needs encouragement to do it. If I'm not there encouraging it, he'll go to simply walking with it on his knees.

SOOOOO, Luke is getting there for all of you who keep asking if he's walking yet.