My Little Hero

Caleb had to rescue me this morning when Noah closed the little door to our attic crawl space, locking me INSIDE! Talk about instant panic and worst thoughts possible going through my mind! I had both boys up in the attic because my project of the day was to consolidate a bunch of their toys into boxes and then just rotate boxes every couple weeks or so. I had been rotating some of their toys before this, but it was getting hard to remember which toys went where, so today I just put different groups of toys together and so it will be easier to just grab a box and bring it down vs trying to switch lots of different things which seemed to be getting overwhelming and not worth it.
So anyway, I had them upstairs with me so I could gather boxes and do some switching. We don't really ever take Caleb or Noah in the attic since it's just for storage at this point, so whenever I do take them up they love it! We have some of Caleb's bigger toys that are also rotated occasionally up there as well as his new bike, which is still a year or two too big for him, which he is always thrilled to see and sit on! Admist my reorganizing, I remembered I had a big box of books in the crawl space which I also wanted to be part of the toy rotation, so I thought I could quick dash in and grab it before Noah followed me in. So I opened the door, fully knowing he was right next to me, but I seriously had to take 2 steps in, grab the box and get out. BUT I totally forgot that Noah's recent obsession is doors, and in particular....closing doors! So I grabbed the box, turned around and saw the door closing right in my face!
Fortunately Caleb has opened this door before and knew how to open it, so I instantly started calling for him and telling him that I'm stuck and to quickly come let me out! He did get up right away and come immediately over, I think partly he was a little worried too that mommy was stuck inside, but seriously I felt like I was in there for an hour!! I had set up some of our old computer moniters as a "gate" at the top of the steps, but the crawl space I was in was right next to the steps so the only thought going through my head is that Noah is going to fall headfirst down the steps. Although the next 1/2 second I was in there I also started worrying that he would crawl over to the big top of our hutch and pull up on it and it would fall on him (I had just put the stationary bike that is currently unused in front of in to block that very thing from happening...but still...that is basically what happened to my sister at this age with an oak table leaning against the wall sending her to the ER), or he would stick his fingers in one of the uncovered outlets. But praise be to God that Caleb was very quick and by the time the door was opened, Noah was right where I left him and ready to try closing the door again. I will never let that door open unpropped again I can tell you that much!
The crazy thing is that my mom told me the same story happening to my grandma Hertzler when my mom was 2 and how my grandma had to coax her to open the door...and it has always scared me so much to think of being locked in there especially with little ones on the outside. I still can't believe the same exact thing happened to me especially with me knowing that story! Unfortunately I guess it runs in the family! It is a great lesson in remembering God's goodness and care for Caleb and Noah (and me...it was super hot in that crawl space!) and that He will protect them when we can't! I am also so thankful that Caleb is old enough to understand me and that he was so faithfully obedient to my voice! I think, though, that the rest of the afternoon we'll just play downstairs!
This is our attic...those big doors with handles wouldn't have been a problem if I was in there!

Here was the problem....that little door with no way out....and right next to the steps!

Despite our little incident, we (I) did manage to get 6 boxes of toys ready to rotate

This is the present we are giving to Noah in 2 weeks for his 1 year birthday...I'm thinking he's going to love it being that it is a DOOR!