We have, at various points, called both J and Sam "Monkey Boy." J because he's constantly jumping around from one piece of furniture to another, much the same way that a monkey jumps from tree to tree. Sam, because he screeches in much the same way that monkeys screech to get attention and communicate. But Sam is starting to give us new reasons to call him Monkey Boy and I'm not entirely sure that I like it… he's becoming quite the climber AND he appears to have prehensile toes.
Please pardon the quality of this picture – I didn't have a real camera handy, so Seth snapped a picture with his cell phone, but this morning, Sam was so very, very clingy and desperate to be held. I put him down for just a second so that I could get something, and he couldn't handle the stress. So distressed was he by the abandonment, that he immediately began climbing the gate in an effort to escape his temporary prison. Can you see his little toes wrapped through the holes of the baby gate? We are in big, big trouble. Earlier, he had nearly pushed the entire gate over – that gate is actually one big baby corral around the entire living room and he is so strong and determined that he nearly toppled the entire structure over in an effort to get out and get into Mommy's arms. You can see that he is quite a determined little beast and will not take no or "just a minute, sweetie" for an answer.
I was once told that the trick to being a parent is to be able to see all of our children's attributes as positive qualities, even those that on the surface appear to be negative ones. Stubbornness isn't a negative trait, for example; rather, it will mean that the child will grow up to be a determined individual who will succeed through their ability to stick to their goals even in the face of great obstacles. This will be my Sam. He will be an innovator. He will not be pushed around. He will get the things he needs and wants in life, no matter what obstacles stand in his way.
In the meantime, Mommy needs to be an innovator and find a new way to contain him. But for today, I guess I'll just be holding him a lot.
(For the record, it turned out he was just very, very tired. Once I held him for a while, he let me put clothes on him and put him into his crib. He didn't make a peep and fifteen minutes later when I checked on him, he was snoring gently.)
ChezPerky 
oh boy, you are in for some fun!
I think you need to get a different kind of gate – one with bars instead of those holes. We have a similar corral type thing, but it’s metal bars. Just google Kidco PlayDen and you’ll find it – they sell extensions too, so you can make it bigger.
good luck!
Wow that is impressive!
If you’re thinking you might need a gate that doesn’t let him climb, and doesn’t cost $400, I just got one that I love and would wholeheartedly recommend – the Summer infant sure and secure custom-fit gate. It stretches to 12 feet without having to buy any extension pieces, and you can buy two and make a 7X7 play yard.
the climbing reminds me a lot of ella, she loves to climb. but, that is crazy – i cannot believe he worked his little toes into the holes and climbed up!
I think it is time to re-think the Superyard. Babyproof the house and put up gates with bars like a PP said. They are much harder to climb. I can’t imagine walking babies being happy for too long cooped up in a Superyard anyway. We never used it except around the Christmas tree and baby pool. My house is just babyproofed and there are gates where I don’t want them to go.
I have to second Stephanie. Impressive.
Oh my, you are in trouble! I love spirited, innovative kids – a bit more work for the parents, but not a minute of boredom. And they turn out self assured free thinking adults.
Oh boy… the next year or so is going to be a real challenge!
This was such a sweet post. Just look at that face! He really really wanted to be with you. Awww.
Good luck! We have the same problem right now. Except that our two are LIFTING the superyard at one end where it’s secured between two heavy pieces of furniture. So they’ve figured out that if they can get it up just a bit, it’ll stay wedged and they can crawl underneath the gate and start exploring. Cat food – yum!
We also have the task of babyproofing the entire downstairs on our to-do list for after all the yom tovim. Oh yes, and also speeding up the necessity – both babies are now certified mountain…er…couch climbers. We’re pictuing them going up and over any minute now. And aside from the fall, they’ll then be in non-babyproofed territory.
OH MY! That could add for some crazy times. I also have prehensile toes which REALLY came in handy at the end of my pregnancy when I dropped things! I never thought about how it could someday help me escape lock-up! 🙂
We called my brother “Monkey Feet” for similar reasons. I won’t sugarcoat things – he was constantly climbing things and scaring my mom! Good luck with your little Monkey Boy!
Hilarious (for me – not you)! We had to give up on the non-stair gates and never had a play yard because of this issue. The brutes would either rip them off the walls (even screwed in) or push on them until they fell down. Good luck – climbers are not fun.