Friday, May 15, 2009

Echoing baby cries

We have a couple of fantastic storage ottomans. Take off the top, and you'll find a bunch of toys. We use these to make the living room (our main play area) look halfway-presentable, when necessary.

Every so often, however, I'm busy, letting the kids play, and I hear a distinct sound. It's Zoodle's frustrated cry, and it's echoing, like he's in a very confined space. And I go into the living room, knowing this is probably what I'll find:

Photobucket

You see, that storage ottoman is fantastic when it's 100% full, or even 50%, or 25%. But as Zoodle removes more and more toys, he leans further and further in, and eventually gets stuck with his little feet off the floor and his head in the toy bin. This photo was one of his lucky times; he has one hand out for steadiness. Sometimes both hands are on the inside, and he's hanging only by his little gut, a human teeter totter. Of course, I quickly move him (well, except that one time I couldn't stop myself from grabbing the camera for a quick pic first.)

I can imagine this is very scary for him. He's stuck with his head in a dark space, not knowing quite how to maneuver his way back to into the bright room. How frightening!

But let's be honest--any pity I might feel for the poor kid is entirely drowned out by my terribly unmerciful giggles.

11 comments:

beckiwithani said...

Very funny! Isn't amazing how many times it has to happen before they finally learn? Or maybe they never learn, and they just ge so physically big that it doesn't happen anymore.

Molly is in a similar stage right now with a beach ball. She gets on her belly over the ball and rolls back and forth ... until it rolls to far, depositing her (nose-first) onto the floor. The giggles magically turn into screams.

And then she does it again a day or two later.

Heather said...

:o) - My first thought seeing the photo was...I'd do it too (take the photo so quickly, then rescue...). Hope you didn't need to search out your camera.

:o) - pitifully giggling, I am.

Kara said...

LOL! Lizzy just did this exact same thing for the first time yesterday. I doubt the lesson was learned and I'll be fishing her out many times from now on!

Teresa C. said...

How cute! I think it's so funny that you thought to take a picture first.

BTW, where did you buy the storage ottoman? I could use one of those!

Call Me Cate said...

Aww, poor Zoodle. My brother and sister are 5 and 7 years younger than me and I remember the day I could hear my sister crying/screaming in a way I had never heard before. That "confined space" echo was quite prevalent. Seems she had done something similar to Zoodle only in his big brotherly attempt to "help", my brother had finished off the job, tipping her completely into the toy box. And then closed the lid so he wouldn't get in trouble.

Unknown said...

Too cute!! You think that they would learn sooner or later NOT to do that....but they usually don't...and sometimes it's a good thing because it comes at one of those moments when you could really use a laugh!! My youngest son traps himself in our pantry several times a week. It's fine for about the first 10 seconds and then he realizes he can't turn the handle to get out!! Your blog often makes me chuckle...you have an awesome way of looking at things!

Beki - TheRustedChain said...

HeeHee! That's so cute!

caryn said...

So funny. I"m so glad I'm not the only one who runs for the camera at times like this.

Our Scoop said...

Cute! I never think of the camera at these times but these are good memories too. Then they can't say "I never did that mom!" Add it to your "to show potential marriage candidates" box.

Michelle Brunner said...

haha...so adorable! He is so funny:)

Sandra said...

What a cute picture ... that will probably make him cringe when you display it in a collage of pictures at his high school graduation party! :)