I saw it coming but didn't pay attention to my own instinct - trying not to be such a worryer.
I was in Spencer's room, changing the sheets and he was all cute in just his diapers, toddling between his room and the guest room. I checked to see what he was up to and stepped out into the hallway to see him standing at the top of the stairs looking down. I said to him, "You sit down if you're going down. You know how." He seems to always listen when I say that, or turn around and just start getting into position to go down the stairs. This time he turned around all smiley face and went back into the guest room...
I turned to the crib and just got started pulling up the bedskirt when I heard the worst noise I have ever heard in my life: The thundering thuds of my son falling down the stairs. I was out the door and down the stairs as he began to stand up at the bottom, screaming. My brains scrambled in panic as I watched my little boy go through pain, shock and fear all at once.
Immediately I began to check him out and screamed to Guy to come. He came in and picked Spencer up and held him gently. He'd bitten his tongue or lip so there was a little blood on his tongue and was moving his right arm gingerly, but other than that, he seemed ok.
My next instinct was to run to the kitchen to get ice. Why is that? What good is that going to do for a little guy who would just as soon throw it at the dog? Guy took him out to the tractor and sat with him on it. Then he took him inside after some calm settled, and sat with him in front of a picture and part of the alphabet painting I did. I got water and ice cream and we coaxed him back to normal, with some residual sniffles and whines over his sore mouth. He was pretty much back to normal after a little while and went to bed like a little angel.
All fun and jokes aside:
PLEASE put the safety gates up if you haven't already. Even if they're getting really good at the stairs, it doesn't matter. You NEVER EVER EVER want to hear what I heard or see your child freaked out like that. It is the worst. I couldn't even look at the stairs right for an hour. I hated them and myself for not being on top of him to keep him safe.
And that's the deal, folks. You can't always keep them safe, but you can do as much as you can and make sure they know you love them too.
Damn, I love that little boy.
