Too Smart For His Own Good
Ben can open doors. I think I mentioned that before. So I bought those nifty door handle covers that only "adults" can figure out, right? Wrong! Ben is persistent, almost to a fault. But as a toddler the fact that he has outsmarted most any attempt at baby-proofing is really annoying! Alas, he will grow out of it and I will appreciate his determination, but in the meantime it will mean lots of patience. And hopefully not too many time-outs! :)
Oh, and this is just a quick picture I took of him tonight before my camera died of him in his size 3T pajamas! And he will carry around at least 2 pacifiers at a time if they're available. I'm beginning to think that breaking him of his pacifier is going to be harder than I think it will be!
Goodness! I think your problem is that you don't have very many doors, so when you close off one, you're closing off 1/4th of the house and that probably makes him mad.
I just found out that Abby can open doors too, but she's only done it once that I know of. I think I'm still able to distract her so she doesn't care what's behind the closed door, but I know that won't last very long. Distraction doesn't work with the climbing thing anymore...sigh.
Oh, and the pacifier thing. Abby has been more into hers lately too. Have you tried hiding them during the day, or does he ask for them?
I think, actually, that it might be a large number of doors for such a small space so there are DOORS! EVERYWHERE! I mean, counting them up we have 8 that he has access to, not including our bathroom door because the gate is in our room. It's funny. And he knows the pantry is where snacks are and the water heater closet has BROOMS! and MOPS! FUN!
We're working on the pacifier thing. He goes "Aaaahhhh" everytime he sees one. We've been trying to just give it to him at naptime and bedtime, but, of course, it doesn't always work out that way!
I have these extra flappy-things to put on the top of the door, if you want them, you can have them. We have one on our back door to keep Bella from outside and into the pool. Anyways...they are up high, so unless he learns how to maneuver chairs around...should keep the doors shut!
The thing with that is that he has been moving chairs for the past 6 months or so... Not to climb onto or to get to things yet, but that will happen as soon as he needs it to. He is smarter than he looks in this picture promise.
The only upside of these days is that someday you'll get to tell him these stories when he has a little darling of his own. I'm sure John's parents are enjoying their little payback blessings!
By the way, Mandie gave up her pacifier at around 2 when we were on vacation to Utah and we couldn't find "her" kind after she lost hers. She refused to put the wrong kind in her mouth at all, and by the time we got back home she was over it. So, whenever y'all are ready to get rid of them, just buy a different kind and maybe you'll be lucky!