Foiled!

We finally got a baby gate to put at the top of the stairs. We thought it would be easier than blocking with a suitcase/laundry basket tag team and/or running to rescue Ryan anytime we heard 10+ slaps of his hands on the kitchen floor. He usually never gets to the stairs since the dog food dish and lazy susan containing multiple glass bottles and finger-pinching possibilities distracts him before he makes it all the way across the kitchen.  But, in the interest of safety and pure laziness of not wanting to race into the kitchen from other rooms of the house, we installed a baby gate.

The quality of the gate leaves a lot to be desired and I really can't recommend it. It is flimsy, doesn't "lock" into place to the extended width you need and is a pain to latch, requiring both hands and multiple attempts, so we'll see how long until it drives me insane enough to get another one and/or install an actual door at the top of the basement steps, but at least it's keeping little Buddy safe for now!