The Climbingest Boy

So, it's old news that Merrick likes to climb on stuff.  He's been clambering over and on top of things since he could crawl.

You're probably used to seeing him in pictures on the dining table.  

 He's been doing that for awhile.

He just likes to be up high.

 But now he knows how to push the benches to grant him access to wherever his heart desires.

Which allows him to climb onto the counter and eat whatever might be in the fruitbowl.  Unpeeled avocados, unpeeled oranges, every apple I just brought home from the store...

Sitting on the piano bench was ok with me... 

But this, not so much.

 "Oooo, look at all the movies and remotes that are here to throw all over the floor!"

 "And these toys make such satisfying crashes when they hit the wood floor."

 "Those don't need to be hung up."

 "All this stuff on the counter could be easier to reach.  Better empty the medicine cabinet as well."

I've caught him standing both on the arm rest of this chair holding on to the back, and on the computer desk itself trying to reach the printer paper.

I basically have to lock all the doors I can to keep him out, and then never let him out of my sight.  Which is hard, because he really just wants to climb, and if he can't climb, then he really just wants to be held while I'm standing (that's very important).  "Who cares if I'm hungry!  Hold me instead!  Stop cutting that food and pick me up!"

I probably awakened this climbing impulse in him early by putting a rail on his bed that he could easily climb out of.  There just wasn't quite enough clearance to get him in his crib when we put it under Rafe's bed.  Pray for his little toddler brain to catch up to his body soon!