We like to say sometimes that our 3rd child is our wild card. And we mean that in the most loving way possible. But, he is cut from a completely different mold. I'm not sure how much of this is due to birth order and how much is due to personality....it is probably a little of both, but he's teaching me that if I assume one thing, I should expect the opposite.
It was nap time. Outside, the sun was shining deceptively, but the wind was blustery and the temperatures were cold. It was the Monday after a busy weekend and the conditions were perfect for a nap. According to at least one person in the house. And, unfortunately, that person (ME) doesn't have time to take one. The 4-yo complied quite nicely. The 2-yo and 7-mo had plans of their own.
From downstairs, the baby cried on the monitor and I could hear the 2-yo get out of bed. I went upstairs...AGAIN...to find the 2-yo sucking his thumb and rubbing his hair in his doorway. "Why baby cryin'?" he asked, big puppy dog brown eyes staring up at me, as if I held the key to world peace.
"I have no idea...he's just settling himself down to sleep," I said, gently nudging him back to his room, "which is where YOU need to be right now." I tucked him in for the 5th time that afternoon and tiredly walked back downstairs to try...AGAIN...to update our checking account.
I was only sitting for what felt like 90 seconds when suddenly, I heard footsteps run across the hall upstairs. Next, the cries on the monitor got louder and the baby sounded really mad. I just KNEW what had happened...the 2-yo had gone to the baby's room. I took 3 deep breaths and counted to 10 before I made yet another trip upstairs. I stopped at the landing. The baby was now quiet as was the rest of the upstairs. I peeked my head to look at the nursery. Door closed. I sighed a big sigh of relief. I must have been wrong. The 2-yo must have gotten up and then went right back to his bed. Nap time was underway. I congratulated myself as I do every time they are all asleep at once and went back downstairs to once again attempt productivity.
Except I was wrong.
Sitting at my desk, I heard the baby start crying again. I sighed again, folded my arms and put my head down on my desk. Suddenly, he stopped. I looked up and got back to the task at hand.
Then I heard the baby again, yet, this time, he wasn't crying. He was making some excited sounds, but they didn't sound upset anymore. Next, I heard a thumping noise. I thought that he must be kicking the slats of the crib and getting a kick out of himself (no pun intended) as only a 7-mo can. But then, the thumping noises got louder. Too loud for a 7-mo to be producing. The shrieks started sounding like hysterical laughter. I dropped my bank statement and ran back up the stairs. The nursery door was still closed, but the sounds coming from it were getting even louder. I ran through the hall, pushed open the door and there it was. My 2-yo was in the crib with the baby. He was standing in the corner, jumping on the mattress while the baby shrieked with laughter, as he bounced up and down like he was on a trampoline.
Hearing me come through the door, the 2-yo jumped, this time from surprise. As soon as he saw me, he covered his eyes and stood very still. I looked up and thanked the heavens that no one had been injured from 1) the climbing into the crib and 2) the jumping in the crib.
"I can STILL see you," I told him as I scooped him up, trying not to blow up. "While that was very nice to make your brother laugh, please do not EVER, EVER climb in this crib again. Do you hear me?"
The baby saw that the party was leaving his room and he started crying again. I tucked my mischievous 2-yo, who was thoughtful enough in his nap time adventures to close the nursery door so I wouldn't suspect anything, back in his bed and he asked me, sweetly and innocently, for one more hug and kiss. I gave him one and told him once more never to climb in that crib again. Thinking this was the first time this happened, I felt a stern discussion would be all I needed.
Then, I told my 6-yo this story. Before I was even finished, he stopped me, unimpressed. "Yes, mom, I know what happened. You don't have to tell me. He did the same thing on Sunday when you were out running errands and daddy was here." Huh.
My 1st born would have never even thought to attempt something like this. It probably crossed my 2nd born's mind but he wouldn't have dared to try it. But, the 3rd? He not only does it, but closes the door to hide it. Yikes. I don't even want to ponder what the 4th will come up with. Yep, just when I thought I had this whole parenting of a 2-yo gig down pat, this particular 2-yo came along and threw a complete monkey wrench into my game. Well, even an old dog can learn new tricks and one thing is for sure. I will never assume a closed door at nap time means all is well!
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