Run away baby!

In High School I didn't understand babies. I couldn't hold them right. They cried, I panicked. Now that I have two babies of my own, I've learned a few things. NOT MUCH! But I have learned a bit. I have learned that my 14 month old is a lot smarter than I thought he could be. This doesn't mean I think he's stupid, I just thought that he was mentally incapable of certain thought processes at his young age.

For instance, I thought he wouldn't do this.

You saw the pictures of us at Kangaroo Zoo. Very fun and VERY tiring! Ethan after about an hour decided that he was finished with this whole business of bouncing around and as a result he was placed in the 2 and under play pen. They had a few things to play with in there, a tunnel, bean bags, those things you see at doctor's offices all the time and a few stools for parents to sit on. All in all, a pretty safe place for him to romp without my constant attention.

I turned to watch Ayden and talk to my in-laws while I listened to Ethan play. All of the sudden out of the corner of my eye I see Ethan sprinting across the floor away from me, laughing insanely! (How did the little bugger get out!?) He realized that I saw him once I stood up to chase him down and started laughing more. I swooped him up and was blessed with an even greater explosion of laughter. He was so proud of himself for getting out of the playpen without me noticing and getting halfway across the floor before I caught him.

I couldn't believe he'd be so sneaky! I didn't even know he was behind me until he couldn't hold it in any longer and started to giggle.

He was set back in the playpen and this time I watched him. As soon as he was set down he sprinted to the corner of the playpen where a green stool was placed and climbed his little self up on the stool and then onto the frame of the playpen and over again. He started to run again- which I have to add is so funny to watch because his legs are so small! He usually tucks his shoulders up and lowers his head as well. The whole picture is too cute not to enjoy!

I grabbed him again and this time moved the stool into the center of the playpen, feeling satisfied that the problem was fixed now that it was too far away for him to climb onto and then get out. Aaaand yes, I was wrong. :) He assessed the stool, struggled to pick it up and then moved it yet again to the corner of the playpen! (The little stinker!) I playfully yelled, "Ethan! What are you doing??!"

Hearing my voice, he again started to hysterically laugh and began his frenzied climb to freedom. He was much too clever for his holding cell. This time I let the prisoner free and just chased him around the floor.

Sneaky, sneaky baby.