- The bright red and blue flashing lights on daddy’s computer (drag away from computer and redirect with a toy).
- The cord under the table (and now BEHIND the fan AND the playpen) that the fan, lamp, cell phone chargers and night light are plugged into (drag away from cord and explain how cords are dangerous, for the 600th time and redirect with a toy).
- The bottom drawers in mommy’s desk (close drawer and prop foot against).
- The bathroom (obvious, close door, drag back to LR and redirect with toy).
- Anything non-edible that ‘seems’ edible on the floor (that’s icky, and it’s NOT food, don’t eat that, throw item away and vow to vacuum, fail to do so for another week, minimum, redirect with toy).
- The tv, even if it’s not on, she can see her reflection (DA,RWT).
- Mommy’s hair (see #5).
- Water bottles, especially empty ones (oh hell, make sure the lid is on tight and let her have it).
- The remote control (denied, repeatedly, RWT).
- Mommy or daddy talking on the cell phone (hide in other room).
- The laptop, especially if mommy is trying to get some peace and quiet once daddy is home, she MUST! MUST! see what mommy is doing (redirect for the 15th time and scowl at husband).
- Her hairbrush (chomp away 🙂 )
- The bottle of lotion (wave away, retrieve when dropped.)
Notice that basically none of these things she likes include toys. She does kind of like some of her toys, but I actually spend 99% of the time she is not sleeping dragging her away from #s 1-5. Sometimes, I admit I give up and turn on the tv. Usually, it’s game show network, so it doesn’t make her stare at it, but she is entranced for seconds by a flashing light or clapping audience, and then sits and plays with her own toys for a while. If it’s particularly interesting to her, I turn it off or turn on the music channel, which goes to a simple bouncy directv logo after about 5 minutes. Then, she tries to eat THAT. Good lord. Yesterday, I had Matthew bring in the playpen. I put her in it this morning for a good 20 minutes to play. She didn’t even realize I had come back into the room from washing my hands and getting a drink, thereby allowing me to read a good 15 pages of a book, and actually rest my weary body, before chasing her again. By bring in the playpen, I mean I have never used it before. Her smaller ‘captures’ I hardly used before anyway, unless she was super fussy (swing, anyone?) and for the last 3 months, she has been at least partially mobile and I have chased after her every 2 minutes that she was not sleeping or trapped in her high chair eating. I should have lost 20 pounds with all the moving around I’m doing. Apparently, my scale doesn’t agree.
Oh my ,Jill. This reminds me of college years when I worked as a mother’s helper. Bobby at the Terrible Twos in one day got under the kitchen sink and almost poisoned himself, got in driveway sealer, and tormented the family dog enough to goad him into biting Bobby. Either I or his mother had to have an eye on him at all times. Oh, another trick–we had to push his crib into the far corner of his room because in the morning he would wake up and start bouncing it. Only stopped when he could reach the door knob, open the door and call for me to rescue him so we could eat cereal together. Hang in there and maybe try to grow another arm!
Your little one is growing fast. She must keep you very busy. (I came to visit your Fun Monday post, but you have moved on…well it is Thursday.)