Biker Chick

I am loving the weather that we have been having. Hardly any snow at all and I live in MinneSNOWta. Gah, sorry, I don't even know why I just typed that. I hate when people call it that. Anyways, let's just say it has been an above average winter and now a *very* early spring.

After hearing that it was going to be 65 and sunny last weekend, I knew we had to go over to the in-law's and grab Madie's bike out of storage.  My mom gave her the bike last year on her 2nd birthday, but she was just too little last summer to be able to ride.  Her legs were a little too short yet and she didn't quite have the leg strength (or coordination?) for all that pedaling. The bike is a real little girl's dream bike though. Pink and blue princess (of course, what isn't?) themed, with streamers, a bell, a basket, a license plate that says "Daddy's Girl" and...wait for it..a dolly bike seat on the back. Oh yes.

So on Sunday, we went and picked up the bike.  When we got it home, Mads raced upstairs to grab her helmet (pink and blue stars and hearts that match the bike, obv) and her baby doll.  I wasn't quite sure how things would go, but she climbed onto the bike and I pushed her down the drive and into the cul-de-sac.  She pushed the peddles forward about a half turn and then would get stuck until I gave her a little push. She did this for all of, oh, 1-2 minutes and then she had the hang of it. Seriously. 15-20 minutes later by the time my mom got there, she was RIDING A BIKE. My 2 year old, looking all little and 2, and at the same time looking all big and awesome on her "big girl" bike! Proud mama!

She had a little trouble every once in awhile on slight uphills when the peddles were stuck in a weird place and hard to get forward momentum going again, but she did SO GREAT. And loved it so much. She was out there for a good 3 hours I am pretty sure.  She found out that if you take corners too sharp and/or fast, the bike tips and it scared her pretty good the first time, but my brave little girl got right back on and that is what matters.  She tipped a couple more times throughout the day, but it bothered her less and less.

A facebook post from my mom that night:

What a blast today helping to teach Madie to ride her bike for the first time! She's awesome. Also, to see her on the computer at two all by herself is unbelievable. What a great Mom, kiddo.

Thanks Mom :)


On Monday, she woke up wanting to ride her bike, but, alas, it was a) raining, and b) daycare/work. I told her she could ride after daycare if it wasn't raining.  On the way to daycare, she again asked Jason if she could ride after daycare and he repeated the"if it isn't raining". She proceeded to tell him that it was ok if it was raining, because she could just wear her froggy rain coat and boots.  Such a thinker.

It was sprinkling a bit, but mostly not, when we got home and so I brought her out for about a half hour or so. She did even better than the day before, zooming around the circle with the neighbor girl.  She fell a couple of times again, but the only thing that upset her about it was that she got her hands dirty.  She was fine once I let her wipe them on my sweatshirt.

She is going to LOVE having that bike this summer.