Gravity and Babies

It seems that Henry has given up on ever getting teeth--who needs 'em anyway? Teeth are for squares!--and is instead focusing on learn to walk, and climb, and leap. all. at. once.

Example: Henry is learning to walk, but he's at the awkward fumbling stage where his movements are shaky and short (like a baby giraffe). Wednesday he decided to give sprinting a try, and sprinted from our ottoman pillow to the couch. Three whole steps--a new record. Of course, it's all fun and games until you hit the hard side of the couch at your full baby-speed.

My little bundle of energy seriously lives for the adventure that comes from being "tossed" in the air (false throws only, people. I've put far too much into this child to carelessly break him), held upside down, and spun in circles. But even that is not enough. Henry takes matter into his own hands whenever he can by climbing up onto things, and then hurdling himself off of them.

This is so nerve wracking for me, and I can almost hear the mothers of Henry's future friends saying, "If Henry Monette jumps off a cliff, does that mean you will too?" Not to make a point, the way my mother used the cliche, but rather as a valid question caused by genuine concern.

I've talked to a number of other parents, who all report that their ten-month-olds exhibit the same behavior. This does not make me feel better. I have this paranoid worry that other parents think I am exaggerating about Henry's adventurous tendencies, and so telling me that their baby is "the same" doesn't mean much. I'm not just a biased parent. This is based on chasing my babbling son around Sunday School while he walks enthusiastically about the room by grabbing the backs of chairs, and more often than not using the backsides of other class members to pull himself up. Meanwhile, the supposedly equally crazy child is sitting quietly on his blanket playing with a board book... for an hour. This makes me wonder: which one of us is actually exaggerating?

I catch my tiny adrenaline junkie in mid-air at least once per day, but usually more like three times. It is amazing! Yesterday he learned how to climb onto the couch without getting a boost from a pillow, or box, or toy. We're already down to just his little, mighty muscles pulling him up. My biceps are getting pretty strong as well, but I'm starting to worry. Will my Love Bug ever understand the consequences of gravity?

Maybe not...but probably...eventually. It is possible that he will mellow out in a few years. It is also possible that he will be in a five point harness every time we go out until he turns ten. In any case, he has got the independence thing down, so that's something--teeth or no teeth.

*If you have, or have had an adrenaline junkie baby please comment. I promise I won't assume you're exaggerating!*