"Exploring his Environment" or "Wreaking Destruction"

The broom and vacuum have been my constant companion this past week, thanks to Ezra's uninhibited curiosity about the pantry. A sampling of his adventures:

• Almonds, cashews, raisins, dried apricots. Felix got a knife and opened up bags of the nuts and fruit from Trader Joe's with Ezra and spread them all over the floor throughout the downstairs. I'm talking a sea of almonds, seriously.

• Oats. He loves dry oats, and if I leave the lazy susan cupboard open for 5 seconds when I'm baking, he's after them like a horse. (I know, whose child is this right?) He's gotten into them too many times to count, at least a dozen, sometimes when I'm out of the room, spilling oats all over the kitchen, dining room, and stairs.
• Sugar. Twice now, stuffing handfuls into his mouth, and spilling all over the floor and into the drawers.
• Butter. That was a few weeks ago, but yeah, eating it like a candybar.
• Rice Crispies. Three times yesterday. All over the floor.
• Rice. Raw. Brown. Dry. By the handful.
  
• Salt. From the canister. I don't get it either.
  
• Water. He pushes over a chair and climbs up to the kitchen sink, or onto the toilet and fills up cups and toys with water, drinking some and pouring the rest on the floor.
• Milk. Just once so far, into the dishwasher (while standing on the door). So at least cleanup was pretty easy.
  
• Diaper wipes. Daily. "How fast can I pull 250 wipes out of a box?"
  
• Oil. He tried to drink from the mega jug of canola oil, but that was at the apartment, so no permanent damage done here at least... (And I guess I cleaned it well enough to save the carpet; no fee when we moved out).

I know, you're thinking, where's his mom? And why hasn't she childproofed those cupboards? And what happens to someone who eats butter and drinks oil?

Well, can't a gal put away a load of laundry? And, I have! (I guess I need to do it better though...) And, baby soft skin and awesome thighs--give it a try.

Oh well, at least my floor has been getting swept and washed more. And I still love the little cutie as much as ever...

How could I not?