The Land of "Why"

We have entered the land of "Why?" and there's no sign we'll be returning anytime soon.

Here's what www.babycenter.com has to say about why kids ask get into this habit:

Your child's inquisitiveness is a signal that his mind is expanding quickly, and that he's curious about the world. He's starting to understand the concept of cause and effect — that there's a reason for almost everything. It's also a way for him to engage you in conversation, and keep you talking. If you get tired of the constant whys, don't simply fall back on "that's just the way it is." Instead, try to deflect them by asking him what she thinks. His answer may amuse you, but try not to laugh — his mind is really working in amazing ways as he puts together what information he has about the world with a toddler's fertile imagination.

Ethan just started this phase, asking, "Why?" at every turn and then asking again after you've given him an answer--each time with a little hand gesture, palms up, shrugging. Tonight it was like this:

R: "We're going to wait here at the table until Mommy is done eating."
E: "Why?"
R: "Because we're being polite."
E: "Why?"
R: "Because Mommy is part of our family."
E: "Why?"
R: "Because Daddy married her."
E: "Why?"
R: "Because he loves her."
E: "Why?"

As you can see, it went on for a while. Later on tonight I got caught in a circle about why the bird uses straw for its nest and (after explaining that those weren't drinking straws) we got into why grass turns yellow in the winter. I sort of like this phase. (I say that now.)