This is a post about keeping up with the toddler -- about strapping him in or keeping him out.
I have said this before, and I will say it again, but Gavin is equal parts delightful and exasperating.
Today, the delightful comes in the form of wearing a coat and beanie around the house while pulling behind him a suitcase full of toys. And employing his new vocabulary by talking to my friend on the phone. And asking me to "kiss it" when he conks his head on the edge of the counter (he's the perfectly awful height for forehead bruises these days).
Today, the exasperating comes in the form of playing in the bathroom sink, Lexi's crib, and most especially the refrigerator. Last week Garry bought some fabulous locks for the pantry. They are the perfect solution for the bi-fold doors, the perfect way to keep Gavin out of the goldfish crackers and the flour and the granola bars. I love them, I love them, I love them.
Have I mentioned that I love them?
I also love the new high chair in our house -- the first high chair we've owned, which we purchased for Wild Child #3. This high chair is akin to Fort Knox. It keeps Gavin IN. He can't get out. Meal times are more peaceful. He doesn't throw his tray of food across the room. And it comes in handy when I need a shower or want to sweep the floor. IN is a good thing.
But I digress.
Because pantry locks have kept Gavin out of the pantry, he has been on the hunt for new forms of mischief. Today he has remembered the refrigerator. It's a treasure trove of naughtiness-in-the-making -- bags of grapes and other fresh produce, eggs, condiments, milk, and leftovers. Gavin knows he can't just walk up to the fridge while I'm in the room. So he waits. The second I move to switch the laundry or make a bed or change a (smaller) diaper or answer the phone, he's in the fridge. Last time I used the bathroom I came out to find three bottles of salad dressing, BBQ sauce, and mustard on the kitchen table. I found a tomato and apple on the floor, one bite taken from each.
Enough!
In the absence of a better solution, I have resorted to creativity born of desperation.
This is a belt, folks.
And it works.
And Gavin is not happy.
(But I am.)
9 comments:
I think it's worth pointing out the "child proof" lock below the belt. The one that is no match for our burly 22-month old. He is so strong he powers right through it, thus the belt. Love you bud!
Oh, and the heavy winter coat....it's snowing outside today!!!
Such a tough life for Gavin.
Oh to see the world and understand it from his eyes...and if only he could see the world and understand it from your eyes, right? Hey, at least he didn't dump and mix the salad dressing, BBQ sauce, and mustard together on the floor. Right?
Hahahaha! Foiled again. I have little sympathy for you, Gavin. I admire you tenacity and ope it will serve you well in years to come, but for now, I'm definitely on your mom's side. :)
ok, i'm coming out of lurkdom for this post. i think your gavin and my two boys must have been cut from the same cloth. at this point we have a chain on the pantry door, latches on all the cabinets, and a bungee cord around the fridge to keep the busy little guys out. i enjoy your blog. i love how you write and it's fun to see what craziness gary's kids get into.
The picture of the fridge handle made me laugh! Maybe I should try the belt because we have the same child lock on our fridge with no success. In fact our lock is open now, I don't know why we haven't taken it off.
Oh Gavin, you are adorable but busy. I'm glad your parents found a solution for the doors, so on to other things. So sorry! Maybe someday you'll be big enough to have no restraints. I love you!
I love reading about your toddler adventures. Reminds me so much of when mine, especially JD, were toddlers. It's fun hearing that others had children like mine.
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