Rearranging furniture with a 14-month-old: A play-by-play scenario
First step: Decide to do it, and don't look back. Enough putting it off; I don't want to throw it onto Ken when he gets home from work, and I am physically able to move the furniture myself....so, why not?
Step two: Draw out plans. Scratch them, draw them again. Admit that drawing out plans never actually helps; I usually have to move the furniture around two or three different ways anyway before I settle on an arrangement.
Step three: Start moving small things into the hallway. Gardner thinks it's a party; he begins to run through the objects like an obstacle course, laughing....cats darting in and out between his little legs, too, freaked out.
Step four: Get the dustbuster and windex. Start to vacuum behind where things used to be, and see Gardner running straight for me, laughing hysterically, thinking the dustbuster is the year's newest toy.
Step five: Wipe down baseboards with windex. Turn around to see Gardner pulling out wipes from his wipes warmer one by one.
Step six: Clean up wipes. Turn around to see Gardner running in a haphazard manner, dustbuster in hand, chasing a scared cat around his room. Wrestle it out of his hand, cleverly switching bait, giving him a stuffed bear. He cries for just a second, then runs directly towards the bookshelf.
Step seven: Move the changing table. Plug wipes warmer back in, and turn around to clean up the 206 books Gardner has pulled off of the bookshelf in those 37 seconds I had my head turned.
Step eight: Move the dresser. Gardner opens and closes dresser drawers as I walk, pulling out towels and sheets.
Step nine: Move the crib. Find two big-eyed cats under the crib, and watch Gardner run after them, giggling. Gardner runs back to "help me push" the crib.
Step ten: Move the crib again, this time angled. Nope. Not as good. Move crib back to original position. Suddenly realize it's too quiet. Turn around to see no sign of Gardner.
Step eleven: Suddenly hear the vacuum cleaner start up. Gardner had accidently pushed the "on" button while fiddling with the attachments. He jumps up, eyes like saucers, and runs straight into my open arms.
Step twelve: As long as it's already on, decide to vacuum entire floor. Dart vacuum around Gardner's legs, as he runs around and laughs.
Step thirteen: Persuade Gardner to help me put all the toys in the toybox just for a minute so I can see the "finished product." He protests, but in just a second, I've seen all I need to see, and I open the toybox again.
Step fourteen: Collapse into the floor and help Gardner pull out all his toys, then laugh as he climbs into the toybox itself. Worry for a second whether or not he'll nap or sleep at night in his newly changed room. Then banish the thought....he has never had a problem sleeping! (And he did....very well. So did I.)
Step two: Draw out plans. Scratch them, draw them again. Admit that drawing out plans never actually helps; I usually have to move the furniture around two or three different ways anyway before I settle on an arrangement.
Step three: Start moving small things into the hallway. Gardner thinks it's a party; he begins to run through the objects like an obstacle course, laughing....cats darting in and out between his little legs, too, freaked out.
Step four: Get the dustbuster and windex. Start to vacuum behind where things used to be, and see Gardner running straight for me, laughing hysterically, thinking the dustbuster is the year's newest toy.
Step five: Wipe down baseboards with windex. Turn around to see Gardner pulling out wipes from his wipes warmer one by one.
Step six: Clean up wipes. Turn around to see Gardner running in a haphazard manner, dustbuster in hand, chasing a scared cat around his room. Wrestle it out of his hand, cleverly switching bait, giving him a stuffed bear. He cries for just a second, then runs directly towards the bookshelf.
Step seven: Move the changing table. Plug wipes warmer back in, and turn around to clean up the 206 books Gardner has pulled off of the bookshelf in those 37 seconds I had my head turned.
Step eight: Move the dresser. Gardner opens and closes dresser drawers as I walk, pulling out towels and sheets.
Step nine: Move the crib. Find two big-eyed cats under the crib, and watch Gardner run after them, giggling. Gardner runs back to "help me push" the crib.
Step ten: Move the crib again, this time angled. Nope. Not as good. Move crib back to original position. Suddenly realize it's too quiet. Turn around to see no sign of Gardner.
Step eleven: Suddenly hear the vacuum cleaner start up. Gardner had accidently pushed the "on" button while fiddling with the attachments. He jumps up, eyes like saucers, and runs straight into my open arms.
Step twelve: As long as it's already on, decide to vacuum entire floor. Dart vacuum around Gardner's legs, as he runs around and laughs.
Step thirteen: Persuade Gardner to help me put all the toys in the toybox just for a minute so I can see the "finished product." He protests, but in just a second, I've seen all I need to see, and I open the toybox again.
Step fourteen: Collapse into the floor and help Gardner pull out all his toys, then laugh as he climbs into the toybox itself. Worry for a second whether or not he'll nap or sleep at night in his newly changed room. Then banish the thought....he has never had a problem sleeping! (And he did....very well. So did I.)
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