One step behind

I'm a person who likes to feel in control. I have schedules and plans and I like my children to have schedules and rules. Sure, little kids can get into trouble and mischief, but I've never had problems with crazy toddlers causing destruction at every turn.

That has changed with the the twin masterminds.

Over the past few weeks, I have begun to feel like the twins are running this house—not the parents. They've started to work really well together at being naughty. A2 is taller, so he'll open doors that N can't. And N will get fantastic ideas to go do something, like say, climb up on the bathroom counter and "brush" their teeth, maybe with their toothbrushes and maybe with other people's toothbrushes. And maybe using hot water and splashing it all over the bathroom.

Last week, they learned how to climb over the gate on the basement steps. Yes, it's amazing that it lasted this long, but I was really, really sad about it. When they were in the basement, I knew they were safe and the house was safe. Now, that's gone.

So, I lock all the bedrooms and I've turned on the door alarm so I know if they try to leave the house. And I keep finding new places to hide my huge diaper bag and purse so that they won't find gum and lipstick and any other treasures in there.

On Saturday, while I suffered all day with strange stomach pains that kept me curled up in a ball on my bed, the twins did some exploring. Since all the bedroom doors were locked, they had some fun in their dad's office and also learned how to open the fridge. They took out ham, yogurt, and even cracked some eggs on the brand-new rug in our piano room.

I told my husband that I feel like I'm always one step behind these people.

Don't they look so innocent?