Motherhood Personal Posts

Things I Forgot About Having a Newly Mobile Child

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My 10 month old has been “scooting” for a while, but now he is crawling (fast!!), climbing, and pulling himself up. My first 2 children were 4 years, 3 1/2 months apart, and while 2 & 3 were only 2 1/2 years apart, I had forgotten all the “fun” stuff that a newly mobile child brings.

I swear it’s getting to be more and more of an adventure with each child. With my first, I didn’t have to worry about other kids leaving gates or doors open, slamming doors on tiny fingers, tracking grass, leaves (delicious, delicious leaves) and tiny choking hazards everywhere…

I sweep at least twice per day, and vacuum every to every-other day. Yet, my son will find the one piece of dirt (or dried up food) I’ve missed, and right into the old pie-hole it goes. My first child didn’t put anything in her mouth (not even pacis) and my second hardly did it at all. Naturally, anything my third child sees/touches goes directly into his mouth. He has gotten several tastes of guinea pig treats, along with other assorted not-really-food-items. (The fact that I sigh and throw the item away w/baby #3 vs. freaking out w/ baby #1 is a whole other post, LOL.)

When I sweep, it’s like an Olympic event trying to sweep my dirt pile faster than he can crawl! (Like curling maybe? Ha ha.) Same with opening the fridge, pantry or a cabinet. If he gets to it while it’s open, I get to put every single item away after tornado baby is finished.

With having a husband and 2 older kids, I already have to pick up dishes, trash, dirty socks, toys etc. multiple times per day, but now I have to get used to picking up every.single.toy.we.own 50 times a day again too! Same with our low cabinet that holds the plastic dishes (which is a great source of entertainment, hee hee.) I keep having to explain to my 7-year old that if she doesn’t want her brother to get into something, it needs to be up out of his reach!

neat seek and destroy

While it is nice to get a slight break from constantly having to hold him, boy is it difficult to get anything as simple as emptying the dishwasher done! I find myself putting him in his chair for a quick snack just to get him out from under my feet!

climbing

I have a little daredevil on my hands (as many kids are.) He loves to pull himself up and climb (like when he climbed in the cabinet to reach the plastic dishes in the back!) but he doesn’t quite have the ability to sit himself down gently, or keep himself from tumbling over.

This is nothing new; I’ve “been there, done that” but wow, how quickly these fun things leave my mind! Ha ha!! Life is an adventure, that’s for sure! 😉 I love it, it is so fun watching your child explore and learn new things. I am trying to really enjoy this since he will likely be my last.


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Maria
Maria is an aspiring "fit mom" of 3 children, writing about cloth diapers, going green, and her life as a single mom. Maria works with many companies within the cloth diaper industry and beyond, providing social media management, product development, and other services.
5 Comments
  • October 24, 2012 at 4:38 pm
    Reply

    Wow! Everything I miss by not having internet access at home and rarely at the library. A very belated Congratulations on your little one!

  • Katie S
    October 24, 2012 at 3:59 pm
    Reply

    He looks sooo pleased with himself. Haha! I have an almost 4 year-old and a 3 month old. I’m already not looking forward to my 2nd learning to crawl because my older son has so many teeny tiny toys!! Ugh. It’s hard enough right now to keep up with housework and it’s only going to get worse when I have a crawler to worry about!

  • October 24, 2012 at 11:47 am
    Reply

    yup my 2nd baby is much more adventurous and plays in cabinets, which my other one didn’t ever do. I’ve even caught her standing on our little kid chairs, right before my heart skips 10 beats and a cuss word escapes as I run across the room. She definitely attempts to eat off the floor more, too. more so in the kitchen than anywhere else, but still…I feel you!

  • October 24, 2012 at 11:20 am
    Reply

    I know exactly how you feel! My son is 11 months, and he started walking a month ago. His crawling stage was only a couple of short weeks. I can’t keep up with keeping the floor clean! All the crumbs from my 4 year old end up in his mouth before I can get to them, hehe 🙂 Also coaching his sister to keep everything up high if she doesn’t want it taken apart!

  • October 24, 2012 at 9:14 am
    Reply

    Even at 12 months, I have to stick my son in his activity bouncer if I need go switch the laundry or take a 2 minute shower. It keeps him occupied enough that he doesn’t realize I’m gone. We have a baby gate at the bottom of the steps, but he’ll stand on the bottom step and has fallen off several times (onto carpet!). He’s walking now, which opens up a whole new list of things he can get into!

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