Big Boy Bed: Part Two

About a month ago we decided to move Sammy into a big boy bed since he was climbing out of his crib. The whole transition went very smoothly and having Sammy out of a crib has not been as terrifying as I thought it would be. But it definitely has been interesting and quite loud.

Sammy is very good about staying in his room during naptime and at night, but the problem is he tends to get in trouble while in his room. He has probably done every possible thing you can do in his room. He jumps around on his bed, chair and any item/toy possible and his room is right above the pot rack in the kitchen so when he jumps around he rattles the pots and pans. He used to like to lie in front of his door and pound the door with his feet, but I quickly put a stop to that. He yells, sings and talks. I often hear him by the door yelling 'Is anyone there?'. He especially likes to sit in his closet doing something I probably do not want to know and slams the closet door repeatedly . He likes to pull the stuffing out of his pillow and put little balls of fuzz in different places. One day I left a foam sword in his room (bad, bad idea) and when I went to wake him bite sized pieces of foam were scattered all over his room and all that was left of his sword was a handle.

The funniest thing that has happened was the time I went in his room and found him asleep under his bed, and the most maddening moment was when I discovered he had ripped a couple of his books. There was even an event that involved a Lego up the nose, but I will leave that up to Dan to write about.

So Sammy's room is slowly becoming quite empty as things are being removed for safety's sake. We now have a rocking horse, two toy storage bins, a trash can and some toys in our hallway. At this rate all Sammy will have left in his room is a mattress by his birthday.

Hopefully Sammy will adjust to his new found freedom and I won't have to wonder what surprise awaits me each time I open Sammy's door. Although this is Sammy we are talking about. Trouble I tell you, just plain trouble.

The End of Innocence

You would think that going to the zoo with family would be one of the pure things left in life. Fun, laughter, just a happy day. Well, that is what I thought, but no more. It all has ended, it will never be the same.

I was standing watching my niece Leina. She is a joy to watch, enthralled by the animals, just enjoying the moment. Little did I know that at that very moment she was being stalked. Down she bent to get a closer look at one of God's amazing creatures, when she was grabbed. Grabbed from behind by this, this, ANIMAL. There was a pause from her. Her panic was not instant, but when it started it did not stop. There was no pause in me. I leaped to her defense instantaneously. I knew that seconds counted.

My counter attack was two pronged, first protect Leina at all costs. I grabbed her and was in an immediate battle for possession. I had a hold of her with my arms, and then decided that the best defense was a good offense. Kick? Punch? What would be most damaging to this assailant, this BEAST. I decided that I could pry little innocent Leina from the clutches of this attacker, secure her safety and then deal with the animal once she was safe. I pulled, I strained, I tugged. Finally she was free. Relief, joy, and exhaustion was balanced by Leina's panic, still manifesting itself in blood curdling screams. I knew the screams would pass, because she was safe now.

The attacker, the ANIMAL, what became of him? Well, that goat continued to just sit there in the dust. The keeper came by and said to keep your eye on him, he likes to grab clothes and chew. Lesson learned for little Leina, innocence lost, she will never trust a goat again. And to you vile attacker. I will have my eye on you when we go back to the petting zoo. Never again will I allow you to so wantonly attack the children. I will defend the kids till my last breath.