Evidence We Are Not Alone

Did you think this post would be about aliens?  Or God? 



It's not about either of those. 



There is evidence everywhere that Daniel and I are not alone.  Our toddler and (now proficient) walker leave telltale signs of their presence in every room of the house. 



It is all at once exasperating and endearing, surprising and expected. 



Lucy has taken it upon herself to unwrap every roll of toilet paper that has entered the house (we purchase in bulk on Amazon.com) and stack it up in each bathroom.  This means there are now 14 rolls of toilet paper (some partially unraveled) on display in the guest bathroom. 



While I was preparing dinner yesterday, Elliot brought me a roll of mostly-used-up toilet paper and signed please, looking intently at the fridge.  He did this almost urgently until I opened the fridge, and then he handed me the roll.  I was unsure, but following his intent gaze, I tried putting the mostly empty roll into the fridge.  His face showed a mix of relief and satisfaction, and he toddled away happily.



Lucy has taken to gathering big handfuls of dried leaves from the driveway and bringing them in to be fuel for the fire.  This means that there is always a long trail of leaves from the garage into the living room...

 

...not to mention an enormous pile of dried leaves in the fireplace when it happens to be in the 60's for several days in a row and is therefore too warm for a fire.



Lucy and Elliot both seem to believe that plastic play food must be stored in plastic food storage bags.  I'm sure this belief comes from observing us putting away leftovers or bagging produce in the grocery store.  But whatever the origin of the belief--there are ridiculous sandwich and quart and gallon-sized plastic bags of play food all over the house.  Stashed away in the corners of our bathroom (ours, not theirs), in play purses, under the slide, under my desk, inside toys' compartments, in the kitchen drawers, and especially in the garage. 
 

I think it must have made a very strong impression on Lucy that I stored some party foods (for Elliot's birthday) in the garage for a few days before the event.  Cupcakes, most particularly, were kept chilled in the garage (covered by plastic and dish towels) because I had no room in the fridge, and it was in the 30's-40's the few days before the party.  Lucy's favorite way to "put away" the play food is to stick it in a bowl, cover it with a (clean) dish towel from the kitchen, and set it precisely in the middle of the garage. 



Years and years from now, it will be the two of us again--Daniel and me.  The house will stay tidy (well, tidier, anyways).  Everything will stay where we put it.  And I think it will feel quiet.  And thinking of that helps me feel grateful for the bizarre misplacement of random items--because of what it represents.  Chaos in our lives, in the form of two very precious little people.  And soon to be three.