Assume the Perpendicular

Eleanor with a few of the toys she got for Christmas

When I was pregnant one of the best moments was when we took all of the baby stuff we had been hiding away in the nursery closet and started setting up our house in preparation of her arrival. I absolutely loved living in a place where the baby’s presence was all around. I loved the hooded, polka-dotted baby towels hanging in our bathroom. I loved the bassinet with its clean sheets waiting in our bedroom. I loved the changing table and the diaper pail and the bins of folded burp cloths. I loved the dresser full of soft, not-yet-worn baby clothes and the closet stocked with diapers. In those last days, I spent a lot of time amongst Eleanor’s things, imagining the day when they would be in full use.  

I know some people like to keep their baby’s things confined to one specific area of the house. I know a lot of people dislike the clutter and the chaos, but I love it all. After the baby has gone to bed at night I usually go around and tidy up. It fills my heart with absolute joy when I pick up a toy from the dining room floor that she threw down while I was making dinner.  I love going into the living room and seeing her toys strewn across the floor. I love the crumpled baby sweater on the couch. I love that single tiny sock I find under the chair. I can’t help but smile when I go into the bathroom and dump out the cold water from her little tub and put away her bath toys.

I love the way it is obvious in every room of my house that a baby lives here. I am so happy to be in this phase of my life. I don’t even want to think about the day, indefinitely far in the future, when the living room is free from colorful blocks, my nightstand lacks bedtime books, and the din of annoying Fisher Price products is so longer heard here. I love all of these sweet, simple baby things.