Octopus Wrangling

So I keep counting my daughter's limbs because I'm convinced she has more than four. I keep telling Mike that changing or bathing her is like "octopus wrangling". I keep thinking that I've managed to put the diaper, wipes, soap, shampoo, clothing, water, washcloth, etc. out of her reach when I'm changing or bathing her and the next thing I know, she has one or more items in her hand. Now... lest you smarties think, well don't leave her even for a second... I'm NOT! I'm sitting right there with her and yet she does a combination of half-flip/roll/reach so quick and the next thing I know one of her tentacles has somehow reached farther than one would think it could when you look at her limbs. I've now taken to using the strap on the changing table and "fencing" her in with my legs on the floor (doesn't always work). It also makes just getting the diaper on a challenge as well... it's like diapering a wriggling baby pig or something.

Holding her, in fact, has now also become Octopus Wrangling. Her "schedule" as far as eating, sleeping, etc. is not totally compatible with ours yet (it's slowly merging), but often she is ready to wind down and be held after her dinner is over and I'm still eating mine. So I often attempt to finish my food with her on my lap... BIG ERROR. Those little hands are grabbing for my placemat, plate, fork, food, cup, etc. I keep pushing them further away on the table figuring, hey my arms are longer than hers, I should be able to reach what I need and have it be far enough away from her. Not so, kids, not so. A baby's arms magically grow as if they were the super-hero Elastic Man. I swear. By the time my food is out of her reach, it's out of my reach too (save the short jokes, friends... I'm aware I'm vertically challenged and thus have short limbs myself). My step-dad, in fact, discovered this little fact on our last trip to California when he attempted to brush his teeth with her in his arms. Man, what I would have done to video tape that little scenario. He said by the time he finished, his face was covered in toothpaste and he's not sure he actually got to his teeth because she kept swiping at his hands, the toothpaste tube and the toothbrush. Elizbeth 1: Family 0.

The good news (ha ha) is that she is also now crawling (sort of). Just like her brother, she has eschewed the traditional crawling method and made up one of her own. But boy does she move! This, on top of her incredible stretching ability, means that the octopus can now reach more off-limit items and they usually consist of her brother's toys, her mother's breast pump,the dogs' chew bones, the dogs' tails, and her father's video game systems. I believe she is now thoroughly bored with her toys and feels that she should be entitled to play with whatever she can reach. I remember this stage with William, but it was easier because the house was smaller, I wasn't wrangling a toddler on top of it and there were no "big kid" toys to watch out for. Poor William is now constantly reminded that smaller legos, star wars action figure's blasters/jetpacks/lightsabers, Batman figures/accessories,etc. are all choking hazards and thus must be kept from Elizabeth's mouth. This is a larger challenge than I had anticipated I must say. The poor dogs just sit there and watch her with defeated looks on their faces. Elizabeth 2: Family 0.

I must say: 1) I'm glad she's not pulling up yet and 2) I'm glad she's not twins. I think in another month or so I'll be totally screwed. Isn't motherhood the best?