RE: realistic babyproofing
You don't really need to babyproof until a child is mobile. And babyproofing isn't something you do once and then it's over. It happens in stages. When they start to roll and crawl, you babyproof with gates, lock your cabinets and everything up to about knee level. When they start pulling up, you babyproof to about hip level. :) When they start climbing you babyproof everything in sight!
I would make as large an area as possible "baby safe". This is for YOUR sanity. I have made almost my entire first floor baby safe. I can just put Sarah down and let her roam and I don't have to watch her every second. This is a trememdous relief to me. I can actually cook, wash dishes and not panic when I don't hear her.
HTH,
Beth, mom to older DD (8/01) and younger DD (10/06) and always missing Leah (4/22 - 5/1/05)