Wheeling and Jumping

These next few posts are going to take a few steps forward and 5 steps back then 3 steps forward and 2 steps back...I'm going to be jumping through time.  Forgive me.

Last post was on Holland's birth which was 15 months ago, so this post I want to introduce you to the current, hip, cute Holland of today.

Last week he went for his first bike ride!

I'm hoping you focus on the supercuteness going on here and not the fact that we have a tiled garage.  VERY practical.

Yes he grabs at everything...it is part of his charm.  He also gives fabulous hugs.

And, they are off!  Aren't those beautiful trees?  I was a little worried at first as his head was kind of bobbing.  I predicted his neck would be sore.  The Daddy report is that he blabbed and talked and hugged from behind UNTIL he fell asleep.  I guess the lull of cobblestones will do that to you.

Jumping back...

When we first moved to the Netherland's (our last location - we are in Bremen, Germany right now) we purchased bikes for everyone.  Afterall, the Netherland's is known for their bikes!  We wanted to be a part of it all.

The first chore after we picked up our shiny new bikes, was to learn how to ride them!

So we crossed our canal and then the street and another canal and went to the parking lot across the street.  Convenient.  See our ducks?  They were out that day.

Everyone got coached by Daddy.  Parker had it pretty easy as his training wheels were left on, but he still needed to practice and figure it all out.

There were a few slips...

AND THEN....there was the spill.  Angelina went head first into the canal (or ditch).  Good thing David has big arms.  He scooped her out with one and the bike out with the other.  She was fine.

Her pride was a little hurt.  And of course, after we had determined that she wasn't hurt, I took a quick succession of photos.  I laugh every time I look at them.  Maybe I'm sick.  But just give it a try.  Look at them properly...you have to look at them quickly one after the other.  You'll have to tell me if you find it as funny as me.  She was soo mad I was taking her picture and laughing.

Her shiny new bike was covered in muck.  This session was over.

Interesting fact about bedrest during pregnancy:  your body gets weak and your muscles disappear while your baby grows stronger faster than your muscles.  And you have to decide...do I work out so I get some strength back to make handling baby easier?  If I do, then my arms are even more tired.  And that doesn't make holding him any easier.  Or do I save up as much of my energy for holding him?  It's a catch 22.  Anyone who has ever been on bedrest is probably screaming "I KNOW!!!!!!" right now.

Coincidentally, I haven't really ridden my bike in a long time.  I finally took her out for a spin this past week.  David and I were going to a lunch date down the road.

I got tired really fast.  Then we jumped a curb from the road to the sidewalk...well, David jumped the curb.  I hit the pavement.  No lie.  It was crazy.  My knee was bashed.  Worse than that was my pride.  

I'm so glad Angelina wasn't around.  I'm sure she would have whipped out a camera and documented it all whilst she openly laughed at me.  I would have deserved it.

David was so worried.  I was so embarrassed.  And tired.  15 months later, and I STILL don't have back my energy and strength...or coordination.  But mostly I was afraid to look at my knee...

I would have actually cried if I had ripped my jeans.

Luckily, I didn't.

Phew.  Dodged that bullet.  They were stained, but not ripped. All was good.

So, in this post we've wheeled and jumped back in time, forward in time, into a canal and onto the pavement.

Crash, Bam, Boom!

That's life.