Sunday, December 21, 2008

Two More Events Recorded For Posterity

One: Shortly after midnight last night, JJ awoke screaming. I went into his room to check on him and re-tucked him in, making sure both Elmo and (Curious) George were available for snuggling. After turning on his sleepy music CD, I returned to bed. Very shortly thereafter, JJ was crying again. Hoping that it would just take him a few minutes to calm down, I remained in my bed listening. After about five minutes, something changed. The crying seemed to be getting... closer. I rolled over in bed and found JJ coming through my door. For the first time ever, he climbed out of his crib. I'm not sure how he did it, especially since I didn't hear a thud. Apparently, angry determination works for him.

Two: JJ is enthralled with our Christmas tree. He loves taking off the ornaments and examining them closely. Of course, he then just leaves them in a pile on the floor, so I find myself redecorating often. Anyway, there is one particular ornament that he has been eyeing for quite some time now - a Hallmark motorcycle that was given to John by an old friend of mine. I placed this motorcycle just out of JJ's reach, and have, on more than one occasion, told him that he can look at that one, but not touch it. Tonight however, the temptation just got to be too much. JJ moved his stool (that he has recently learned is mobil) to the tree and was just able to reach his prize. Unfortunately, he still has not mastered the concept of lifting the ornament off of the branch, so he just pulled down - and eventually out - with all of his little might. And as it turns out, his little might is enough to bring a seven-foot, fully loaded Christmas tree toppling right over. Had it not been for my cat-like (uncharacteristically not sarcastic here) reflexes, which assisted me in catching the tree just in time, we'd still be digging the little guy out of pine and tinsel.

8 comments:

Casey said...

Wow!

1. I climbed out of my crib when I was about his age...maybe a bit smaller...and in my typical klutzy fashion, broke my collarbone!

2. My aunt always kept her Christmas tree in her playpen when her kids were little. Our kids never pulled it over, but my cats would climb it every year and knock it over. Glass bulbs and hard wood floors make for a BAD combination!!

I hope your family has a wonderful Christmas!! You aren't by any chance coming to "The City of Fountains," (not Rome) are you?

Heidi said...

The first time I climbed out of my crib, I apparently toddled into my parents' bedroom with a proud look on my face and said to my mother: "I'm here! Aren't you happy?"

I assume that my mom was anything but happy, but at least she loves to tell that story.

Merry Christmas!

Kat's Credence said...

Oh, no, another little dare devil!

Kelly Hill said...

My little overly-active boy who is six now started crawling out of his crib before he turned one. No joke. I was ADAMANT that he would stay on occasion, especially through the night, so we purchased a mesh crib tent. It took him approximately one week to figure out the zipper by reaching up through the rungs and outside the crib and then zipping it backward... ARGH!!!!... and then I started safety-pinning the zipper shut. I might add that I enjoyed (?) some pretty incredible guilt, wondering if in the event of a fire I could undo the safety pin in time.... so I practiced doing it quickly. Wow, this is a long story. Sorry.

This is the child who scaled my cupboards and dishwasher and stove with his sticky little monkey toes to get on top of my counters and play with knives and faucets....

He's going to be the death of me, I just know it.

I've heard of people turning the crib upside down and have the child sleep under it. That seems more cruel. : )

Good luck to you. The fun is just beginning, my friend.

Michelle said...

Wow Marly, good thing you were standing there! He is a whirlwind like my three!

Stephenie said...

Im really waiting on this moment to happen with Kate. She too is just that adamant about things sometimes. So ornaments I really dont want her to get I have put way up high and I dont even *think* she notices them and then all the rest are at her level and fortunately she has figured out how to put them back on the tree. Most of them go back on and the rest are in the playroom kitchen being boiled or frozen.

Marly said...

Oh, yes, I can definitely see that JJ is going to make sure I never get too comfortable!

Casey, I can't even tell you how much I long to get back, but alas, the folks will be coming to see us again this year. I WILL be going back at the end of March for Karl's wedding though - the day after my birthday. We must make time.

Nikki said...

Ah perhaps my nephew will be an engineer. Either that or a stunt pilot. Who knows. I just know that I love it that my baby brother seems to have a son just like he was. Good luck my sister!!!!