Mr. Yuck!

After breakfast as I was indulging in a little internetting, Jonah crawled over from his own entertainments and pulled himself to standing at my side. I leaned over to pick him up for a cuddle and noticed that he was working something in his mouth. This usually doesn't bother me too much in the kitchen because there is always a Cheerio to be found on the floor (no matter how much I sweep...).

Whatever was in his mouth this time, however, seemed a little tougher than a Cheerio, so in went my finger for the swipe. Out came something black-ish. At first I thought it was the black rubbery stuff you find in--I can't think of what you find it in, but anyway, it wasn't that. As I turned the object around between my fingers, I noticed pencil-thin legs curled around a broad thorax. I screamed and flicked the thing from my fingers. A few seconds and many shudders later I noticed that the boy had more to give. Out came the head. Then a leg. Another leg. And a final leg. Each discovery met with the same appropriate response from me and a wide-eyed curious look from Jonah.

When I was sure his mouth was clear, I realized that now we had bug bits all over the floor, because in my desperation to get them off of my fingers I had flicked and flung and flailed wildly. So out came the vacuum cleaner, and onto the upstairs landing went the boy (he doesn't know how to go down stairs yet, so that kept him contained). I hoovered as thoroughly as I possibly could and set to putting the machine away. Then I noticed the crumpled thorax on on one of Jonah's toys. I picked up the toy, carried it to the trash and flicked the little ex-critter where it could rest in peace.

After all of this, I went to retrieve the boy. He sat grinning at me as I encouraged him to, "Turn around! Come on, turn around and come down!" One little leg extended around and led his little rump to precede him dutifully down the stairs. Hooray! We have a breakthrough here. Perhaps bug bits are brainfood.


By the way: Yes, we are finally in a home!