I wasn't kidding

when I said he was a hurricane.I was uploading pictures to my computer and when I looked down at He Who Was Happily Playing at my Feet this is what I found. To my credit, he wasn't sitting where he is in the picture while making the mess-- his head was right below the chair so his body was pretty much blocking the whole area on the rug where the lotion was being rubbed in. I know that's not a very good excuse, but it's the best I've got. Also, he isn't crying because I had just yelled at/beaten him, I promise. He's mad because I had picked him up to take him to the bathtub and then thought to get my camera and take a picture so I sat him back down. He wanted a bath and he wanted one NOW.

a hurricane in the house

I'm sure anyone with a mobile baby/child can relate. If I got a dime for every time I cleaned up the contents of my cupboards or shelves, I would at least be able to afford the new camera I am coveting (Nikon D90-- a cool $1300.00 is all). Here are just a few illustrations of the daily messes made at our house:

He can get into the fridge and climb. That pretty much speaks for itself, right?

"What, you mean you wanted your swimming suits inside this lovely organizing bin?"

The next two photos illustrate what I have to do in order to get dinner prepared (otherwise he wants me to play with him). I have two options:

#1) open the dishwasher and let him sit on the door and play with knives, or

#2) open the fridge (or let him open it) and get out as many grapes as he wants. I get bonus minutes if I let him throw and smash the grapes. To be honest, he usually gets both the dishwasher and the fridge (I am a sucker, I know, but I kind of like being able to cook dinner).Really child? You need to eat THREE plums at once? In order to achieve maximum juice drool on his shirt and the counter the answer is yes, yes he does.
So much for a freshly bathed, lotioned, and jammied (not really a word) baby ready for bed. Apparently some extra moisturizing was needed.

You'd think that having him actually STRAPPED to his father's body would prevent him from having access to things that would make messes. Nope, not him. A little wall plaster, anyone?This is precisely the reason that I have banned J from tying flies in our house. Those feathers, fur patches, and thread bobbins are too much to resist.

Have I mentioned how much I love this little boy?

It's a lot. A whole lot. Messes and all.

For you baby boy, for you I'll clean up all the days of my life.