Chip's Accomplice

I know, I know-- I'm slacking off on my New Year's blog resolution already, and it's only February! And slacking off is a slippery slope, so this is my attempt to drag my self back up to the edge of the precipice.

About a week ago while I was doing my hair, I heard a big crash from upstairs. Ty was the only other person at home, so I went sprinting for the stairs, holding my breath for the big scream that was sure to follow such a big crash. As I reached the stairs, however, what I heard was not screaming but some crazy giggling. The surprise brought me screeching to a halt. I listened, and there was more giggling. I was relieved, and I was just about to go back to doing my hair when I decided that a crash that loud was worth investigating, whether Ty was okay or not.

I found Ty in Benjamin's room standing in the bottom dresser drawer which he had used to gain access to the top of the dresser. Chip's cage was on it's side and the lid was on the floor. Hamster bedding was spilling everywhere-- all over the dresser, all over Benjamin's clothes inside the open drawer, and all over the floor. Chip was standing at the edge of his toppled cage trying to decide if it was safe to make a run for it with a giggling two-year old staring at him only inches away.

Fortunately, this story ends well. I was able to catch Chip before he made his great escape, and after a lot of washing of clothes and vacuuming, Benjamin's room was restored to its normal somewhat-clean state. Ty has been banned from watching the Free Willy movies but seems to be taking it in stride. His energies have apparently been redirected to freeing himself as he has mastered the ancient art of crib-climbing-without-hurting-oneself. After throwing his door open the first time and shouting, "Hi!", he has also learned the art of stealth and will now quietly leave his room, close the door, and sneak into Jacob's room and try to watch shows with him during nap time. After trying to convince him to stay in his crib unsuccessfully, yesterday I pulled out the big guns: a pack 'n play with a crib tent on top. He's pretty mad about this new development, and we'll see how long it takes him to respond now that the gauntlet has been thrown down!