A morning trip to the store for a helmet and some knee and elbow pads kicked off our weekend. The anticipation was nearly too much to bear for Annabelle, but eventually the training wheels were finally installed and she was suited up to go! She was unusually cautious and took her time getting comfortable...
Every street corner offered pause to dismount, grab hands, and cross the street together. Notice the flip flops? The sun is nice and warm on a January day in California!
Picking up speed :: Dave and I laughed at first at the idea of buying knee and elbow pads and gloves for Annabelle to wear along with her training wheels. I mean, really, we got skinned up falling off our bikes and we're fine, right? I don't think I even owned a helmet until I was sixteen! But it took us about two seconds to realize every scar that still shows on our bodies are all because of bike falls. But most importantly:: gear offers a very important fashion accessory to the activity at hand!
Soon we were both having to run to keep up with Annabelle. Annabelle :: I can feel the wind! I can feel the wind flying through my helmet!
But she had not yet learned the art of stopping quickly. As she approached the corner she could not apply enough pressure to the brakes... the bike came to a halt only about a half inch from the edge of the curb. It scared Annabelle to death. She quickly dismounted and came to me for a hug.
She spent far more time getting off the bike and crossing the streets than actually riding. There are a LOT of street corners in our little neighborhood.
Annabelle :: Dad! Dad! Listen!! Do you hear the birds!?!
Dave :: Yes!
Annabelle :: They're saying, "Good! Good! Good job! Keep going! Go! Good!"
Another crossing. See the red reflectors on the back of her helmet? She kept asking me if they were flashing when she peddled. And then she would peddle faster...Annabelle :: And now? Are they flashing now? Are they flashing FASTER? Flash! Flash!
Here, before she got back on her bike, I asked, "Annabelle show me how much you like riding your bike!" This look says, "I'm awesome. This is awesome. I have it all under control. Don't bother me. I own this."
During Annabelle's infancy I spent a lot of time dreaming of this day. To me, especially when Annabelle was nursing every two hours around the clock and I was home alone a lot of the time, I believed that the day she rode a bike would be the day I got my freedom back. Of course, it is not quite that simple and I had long forgotten that dream in the years in between. But today I felt a change as I walked and ran next to Annabelle - the switch from pushing her in a stroller to chasing her on a bike was a very big deal. There is so much possibility that opens up just because of a bicycle!
Tonight at bed time Annabelle was nearly asleep and then suddenly:Annabelle :: Dad!!
Dave :: (waking up from having dozed off next to her) Uhh. Yes?
Annabelle :: Can I wear my helmet and my knee pads and my elbow pads and my gloves tomorrow and ride my bike?
Dave :: Yes.
Annabelle :: (closed her eyes and was almost immediately asleep)
This life is like the best bike ride ever.
