Chaos, Paint, and a Toddler on the Move

So, I decided to paint the kitchen this weekend. Because clearly, between work, a baby who just started walking, and a house that currently looks like a small natural disaster hit it, that was the logical next step.

The project started optimistically—coffee in hand, paint tray ready, playlist queued up. It was going to be one of those productive, “look at me being a functioning adult” kind of days. And then Phoebe… started walking. Like, really walking.

One minute she was wobbling between the couch and the coffee table, and the next, she was on a full-scale expedition through every drawer, cabinet, and mildly dangerous surface in the house. I swear I turned around for two seconds, and she was proudly holding a paintbrush like she was ready to join the renovation team. Which would be cute if I wasn’t 98% sure she was going to paint the dog.

Now, every time I turn my back, it’s a race—me versus the tiny chaos gremlin. Paint roller in one hand, baby wipes in the other, trying to keep her from “helping” while also not tripping over a pile of Halloween decorations I swore I’d put up two weeks ago.

Speaking of Halloween… somehow, between finishing the kitchen and cleaning the house that currently looks like a paint store exploded, I need to dig out the bins of pumpkins, skeletons, and fake cobwebs. I keep telling myself it’s festive clutter, not just… clutter.

Anyway, the kitchen is half-painted, Phoebe has claimed a plastic cauldron as her new toy, and I’m fairly certain I stepped in paint and crushed candy corn.We’re thriving. Sort of.

Confidently winging it—powered by chaos and caffeine.