The Chimpette

Josh has a wonderful childhood nickname that his dad still uses whenever he talks to him - "Chimp." This nickname originated from an episode that occurred when he was just a toddler. In his family's house, an elegant staircase ascends from their living room to the second floor, with a railing along the outside edge of the stairs. One day, Josh's mom walked into the living room and discovered Josh hanging from the outside of the railing, up near the living room ceiling. He had climbed all the way up the outside of the staircase. As their house is an older house, the ceilings are easily ten feet high. Needless to say, Josh's mom panicked but quickly got him down.

Becca, our fearless little daredevil, is becoming known as the "Chimpette." After she broke her skull last summer, I thought she might learn to be somewhat afraid of climbing or falling. Instead, she remains a risk taker, eager to prove that she can do anything her older siblings can do.

Earlier this month, we had a picnic in the park in New York to celebrate Josh's dad's 60th birthday. We set up near the playground and socialized while the kids played with their cousins. As I talked with my sister-in-law, I heard Becca yell, "Mama, watch what I can do!" I looked up to see Becca, hanging from the monkey bars, swinging her feet and asking me to help her get down.

Now, we have a Little Tykes playset in our yard that we purchased from a friend.

Becca loves it! Initially, she wanted me to help her on the taller slide, because the first time she tried it, she flew off the bottom a little too quickly for her comfort. Once she figured out how to slow herself down a bit, it is the only slide she uses. Now, half the time, she stops herself and leaps off the bottom.

Did I mention that she also swings at the top a few times before she slides down, too?

Additionally, she does not just climb through the tunnel - she climbs on top of the tunnel and up the back of the playset to get to the slide. Who needs the ladder, right? That's what slides are for...

Ah, little Chimpette... I fear that we will be good friends with our local ER before you are grown and out of the house!