Unplanned Harmony - Elizabeth Olsen

22: Baby Proofing

Elizabeth watched from the living room as Ella wiggled on her stomach, her tiny hands reaching forward, pulling at the plush carpet like it was the only thing anchoring her to the earth. Ella's determination was palpable, her little grunts of effort punctuating the quiet afternoon. Elizabeth felt a mix of pride and fear; her baby girl was growing up, inch by inch, right before her eyes.

"Robbie, come here!" Elizabeth called, trying to keep her voice steady so as not to startle Ella. Robbie appeared in the doorway, a guitar pick still tucked between his fingers. He was supposed to be rehearsing for his band's next gig, but he couldn't resist the pull of Ella's milestones.

"What's up?" Robbie asked, moving beside Elizabeth, who was now kneeling on the floor, her eyes glued to Ella.

"She's doing it. She's really doing it," Elizabeth whispered, her voice filled with awe. Ella's movements were uncoordinated and wobbly, but there was no denying it: she was crawling.

Robbie dropped to his knees, his face breaking into a wide grin. "Look at you, Ella! You're a little explorer, aren't you?" he cooed, clapping his hands softly. Ella looked up, her eyes meeting her dad's, and let out a high-pitched squeal of delight. She pushed forward, gaining momentum, and suddenly the world seemed a lot bigger and full of new possibilities.

"She's unstoppable now," Elizabeth said, her tone a mix of excitement and trepidation.

Robbie nodded, his expression shifting from joy to a mild look of concern. "Yeah, and so is the danger. We've got to start baby-proofing everything."

The Great Baby Proofing Mission

The following weekend, Elizabeth and Robbie embarked on what they would later jokingly refer to as "The Great Baby Proofing Mission." Their once-tranquil home, filled with carefully curated furniture, music memorabilia, and Elizabeth's collection of vintage books, was about to undergo a radical transformation.

Elizabeth sat at the kitchen table, armed with a checklist she'd found online: corner guards, outlet covers, cabinet locks, baby gates. Robbie stood in the living room, staring at the array of items they had ordered. He picked up a box of outlet covers and held them up. "I never thought these would be the most exciting purchase of my life."

Elizabeth laughed, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "I know. Our lives have really changed, huh?"

Robbie glanced around the room. The cozy apartment that once served as their peaceful oasis now felt like a minefield of potential hazards. "We've got to make sure she's safe, Liz. She's on the move, and she's faster than I thought she'd be."

The couple spent the entire morning working together, Robbie adjusting cabinet locks while Elizabeth meticulously attached foam corner guards to every table in sight. Ella watched from her playpen, fascinated by the activity around her. Occasionally, she would babble excitedly, as if she were giving instructions.

"Ella, we're doing all of this for you, little one," Robbie said, smiling over at her. Ella responded with a giggle, bouncing slightly on her knees.

They set up a baby gate at the top of the stairs, another at the kitchen entrance, and carefully rearranged the living room to make it a safe play zone. Gone were the small decorative items and fragile knick-knacks that once adorned the coffee table; they were now replaced with soft, colorful toys and a padded play mat.

Elizabeth took a step back and surveyed the room. It looked different—simpler, more chaotic in a way—but it was perfect. "We did it," she said, wiping her brow. "Our home is officially Ella-proof."

New Challenges

Just as they were finishing up, Elizabeth noticed Ella eyeing the baby gate. Her tiny fingers wrapped around the bars, and she pulled herself up, wobbling slightly but holding firm. Elizabeth's heart fluttered. "Robbie, look at this."

Robbie turned, catching sight of Ella's first attempts at standing. His mouth dropped open in surprise. "Whoa, you're going straight from crawling to climbing, huh?"

Ella looked back at them with a mischievous grin, her eyes sparkling with the thrill of her newfound mobility. Elizabeth couldn't help but smile, but she felt a pang of anxiety too. With each new skill, Ella was growing up faster than they had ever anticipated. She was no longer the tiny newborn who relied on them for every little thing; she was becoming her own person, full of curiosity and determination.

"She's going to be walking before we know it," Elizabeth said, her voice tinged with a mix of joy and nostalgia.

Robbie nodded, slipping his arm around Elizabeth's shoulders. "We'll keep up. Somehow."

That evening, Elizabeth lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, her mind racing with thoughts about Ella's future. She remembered her own childhood—carefree, running around the yard, her mother watching from the porch. Would Ella remember these early moments? Would she know how much love and effort they put into making sure she was safe?

She turned to Robbie, who was already half-asleep, his hand resting gently on her back. "Do you think we're doing enough?"

Robbie opened his eyes, blinking sleepily. "Of course we are. We're doing more than enough, Liz. She's happy, she's healthy, and she's got two parents who love her more than anything. That's what matters."

Elizabeth nodded, feeling reassured by his words. But as she drifted off to sleep, she knew that this was just the beginning. The crawling, the climbing, the baby-proofing—it was all part of the beautiful, messy journey of raising Ella Grace.

Everyday Adventures

The next few weeks were a whirlwind of activity. Ella's crawling turned into scooting, and soon she was zooming across the floor with impressive speed. Elizabeth and Robbie took turns watching her every move, their eyes trained on her like hawks, ready to swoop in if danger lurked.

Ella, however, was fearless. She pulled herself up on furniture, knocked over toy bins, and explored every nook and cranny of the house. The baby gates became her favorite challenge. She would press her face against the bars, peering through like a little prisoner planning her escape.

One afternoon, Elizabeth was in the kitchen, preparing lunch, when she heard a familiar giggle. She turned around and found Ella halfway up the staircase, her tiny hands gripping the railing. Elizabeth's heart leaped into her throat. "Robbie!"

Robbie rushed over, his face pale. "Oh my—how did she get up there so fast?"

Elizabeth quickly scooped Ella into her arms, holding her close. Ella just laughed, delighted with her little adventure, blissfully unaware of the panic she had caused. Elizabeth's heart pounded, but she couldn't help but smile. "You're going to give us gray hair before our time, little miss."

Robbie rubbed his forehead, shaking his head with a mix of exasperation and amusement. "I think we need a second gate. One at the bottom, too."

The couple shared a look, both amused and overwhelmed by the reality of parenting a baby who was no longer content to stay in one place. But there was something beautiful about it, too—watching Ella's world expand, seeing her curiosity unfold.

A New Phase Begins

As the days passed, Elizabeth and Robbie adjusted to their new normal. Baby-proofing was no longer a one-time event but an ongoing process. Each day brought new challenges, new discoveries, and new ways to keep Ella safe. But through it all, the joy of watching her grow overshadowed every worry.

One evening, as they sat on the floor of the living room, Ella crawled over to Robbie, pulling herself up and resting her head against his knee. Robbie looked down, his eyes softening. He reached out, running a hand through her fine, wispy hair. "You're getting so big, Ella Grace."

Elizabeth watched them, her heart full. The crawling phase would soon give way to walking, then running, and a whole new set of challenges. But for now, in this moment, they were together, learning and growing as a family.

Ella looked up at her parents, her big brown eyes filled with trust and love. She was safe. She was home. And for Elizabeth and Robbie, that was all that mattered.