Whoa,Horsey

So, we finally baby-proofed our bedroom.  This morning the baby gate came down (in a ceremony similar to a grand opening) and Ethan was off to the races.  Inspecting every element of the room,making sure he touched and picked up everything not attached to the wall or too heavy.  He was seriously grinning from ear to ear.  He would leave the room and come back in,just to make sure we weren't playing a cruel joke on him. *giggle* *giggle* He is so used to looking at this room from behind that gate, I think he thought he would never gain access.  Now that he has it, I am not sure he will want to be anywhere else for a while.  I just put him down for his nap.  Let me tell you,he was not happy.  He wanted to be in his new play room.  Chasing Marley under the bed.  Flipping through mama's books. Walking around the bed.  I have a sneaking suspicion that he will slowly start to bring his favorite toys in here one by one and "forget them" so he has a reason to come back.  Or maybe the novelty will wear off and he will forget about this once forbidden kingdom.  He will fall back into his routine of hanging out in the living room and kitchen (and every now & then the nursery".  Who knows with his little mind working a hundred miles an hour.
On another note, he wants to try and walk EVERYWHERE.  Crawling is a last resort these days.  He is so determined.  He has gotten braver and braver.  No more "two steps" and *splat* butt hitting the floor.  No, this ambitious fella looks at something clear across the room and musters up all his courage (you can see it in his face) and slowly begins.  Now, if he starts to wobble, he tries to steady himself in one of two ways.  The most effective way is when he stops and balances himself.  He waits for his body to stop swaying side to side and then slowly begins again.  Sometimes, however, he just does not have time for this method.  So, he opts for method two.  I like to call it the "giddy up".  He, in mid stride, will jump up like he is going to clack his heals together and break into a half run.  While entertaining to watch, this method is so ineffective that I am not sure why he continues to repeat it.  He always falls immediately after the "run" begins.  And he almost always does a face plant when he falls.  But then he is right back up again.  We start the process all over.

*steady*step*step*wobble*GIDDYUP*splat*
*steady*step*step*wobble*GIDDYUP*splat*

I want to explain to him why he should stick with the first method.  Why it is better and  makes more sense.  But I know he would look at me like he does not understand and keep on doing it his way.  I don't think I am ready for that treatment just yet.  I am sure it will be a daily in occurrence in the years to come.  But for right now, I will just let him work it out for himself.  One step at a time.