Laundry with Max

Laundry is just one of those tasks that is never-ending. You just can't check it off the list and be done with it. It seems there is always a load I could be washing, drying, folding or putting away. For instance, right now, I have clean clothes folded in my room ready to be put on hangers and in drawers. I have two loads of clean clothes folded and sitting on top of the dryer. And, I am sure, if I went and checked our laundry baskets I would have enough to start yet another load. Whew, I am tired just thinking about all this laundry. And we are only a family of 3 right now! [Geesh, wouldn't it be nice if a laundry fairy visited our houses? Poof...and you have clean clothes.]

Well, with Max, laundry is all about timing and multi-tasking. I switch and fold laundry while he is napping, or in his exersaucer, or playing on the floor. And on that rare day [ok, not so rare lately] he wants me to carry him around everywhere, he comes to the laundry room with me.  

It used to be a breeze. I could lay him down and he wouldn't [or should I say couldn't] move. He was forced to watch me put laundry in the washer/dryer and fold. Just like so:

Then, he figured out how to roll so I had to stop laying him on top of the dryer [for fear he would roll right off] and the floor didn't seem like a good idea either [for fear he would slam his head on the ceramic tile]. So, the Bumbo seat seemed liked the perfect solution. That is until he figured out how to get out of the Bumbo.  

[in this particular photo he launched himself out of the Bumbo seat about 30 seconds after I snapped this picture]

Ok, Mister Max. What next? 

Today I spent hours doing laundry [ok, it felt like hours] so I needed to come up with a new idea of how to entertain Max in the laundry room. 

In the past week he has mastered sitting up by himself. But, on occasion, still has a sideways [kind of in slow-motion] tumble. So I don't think he is ready to sit on the ceramic tile yet.

So, I came up with a brilliant plan. Sit him in the big laundry basket. He seemed happy with the idea, so I started working away. I was facing the dryer, folding clothes. Max was behind me playing in the basket. Then, I heard him moving and grunting. I turned around to see what the commotion was about. 

He PULLED HIMSELF TO A STANDING POSITION [more than once I might add!!] in the laundry basket. This is no joke. Is this supposed to happen at only 7 months? He used his strong lil' biceps and wedged his feet into the corner of the basket and was literally standing up [and the basket was teetering forward!!].  Oh my. I couldn't steady the laundry basket and take a photo at the same time, so I got his expression soon after he plopped back down on his bottom. He looks pretty pleased with himself doesn't he?

So, the next phase is crawling [which I reckon will be soon]. Then, I can at least shut the laundry door and let him crawl around on the floor. I won't have to worry about any tumbles or falls.  

Am I really saying out loud that I want him to start crawling? Oh my. I think I am. Then, I am really going be on the go, chasing the man around, making sure all areas are baby-proofed...

Oh. My.