Not Just a Carousel Ride...

It all goes back to a single photo of Dylan when he was 6 months old and we went to the Westmoreland Co. Fair. It is one of my (12) favorite pictures of him in his first year of life. There are also a few places where I like to retake a pictures year after to year as a means to track how fast they grow and change. The carousel has turned into this place for me with Dylan. 2008 Westmoreland Co. Fair

So each year I corral him on to the carousel at the Fair and try to get a "good one." At the 2009 Westmoreland Co. Fair, it worked pretty well. Not a favorite, but a great demonstration on what a difference a year makes. He had fun and was proud of himself for riding alone (mostly).

I didn't even post the 2010 picture - cooperate child! Please look at Daddy, please smile, for Mommy? This is the BEST one. I-am-a-zombie-and you-will-never-see-a-smile-or-acknowledgement-from-me kid!

I try to go with the flow, but I admitted always have ulterior motives. Arriving at the Fair this year, I wanted the 2011 picture. I had to BEG my 3 and a half year to ride the carousel. Standing in line I figured I was doomed and started to talk myself into the horrible truth. He's too big. He will not cooperate. He has moved on, and so should I!

So, what does he do? The stinker gives me a great picture (despite being dark and not the best do to the use of my cellphone camera - tahnks to leaving the camera SD card at home...)!

Thank you Dylan for indulging your mother! Thank you for showing me how big you are and how much you've changed. Thank you for still riding the carousel with (for) me. I love you Bubby.

Wheels

Dylan is obsessed with anything with wheels, specifically two wheels. He has been riding a tricycle since last August and a two wheeler with training wheels since October.

He is also a terror in his power.wheels at Gammie and Papa's house. The driving has improved as long as his eyes are pointed in the direction he is driving.

He desperately wants to ride a dirt bike or motorcycle. It began very early - 2nd bday party - and this hot.wheel was a Christmas present. He has discovered, through feedback from his parents and grandparents that he must ride a bike with peddles and without training wheels in order to progress to his dream.

We have been riding rails to trails as a family since last summer. Pete has been hauling Dylan around in a kid's bike seat since then.

Dylan has been riding his two wheeler with training wheels since the driveway cleared from snow in April. Loves it. He has also been happily riding with the family on Daddy's bike in the seast on the trails but the seat has become too much. He is within a few pounds of the weight limit. So, we moved on. Trail-a-bike. Pete got it of craigs.list just before beach vacation and they broke it in good! Pete thinks that he rode, with Dylan, about ~25 miles during the week.


The only other thing that has been happening - just before vacation - was that Dylan started riding the two wheel scooter. I'm still looking for a picture - think Pete has one? But he mastered that as well.

So right after vacation - literally the next day - Dylan started riding his two wheeler with no training wheels. About 15 minutes in the driveway with Pete and here he is!