Basket Case and a Bike

Hey! I know I've been slacking, but we are busybusybusy. I'm still absorbed with trying to figure out what the heck to do for work, and we're getting more serious about selling our house (getting it ready for showing will be a MONUMENTAL task, indeed). More on that later, I'm sure.

Bean is doing well, teething on and off, growing, eating, exploring. He's not QUITE walking yet, but there have been a few steps. Usually it's a few steps and then a lunge, but he's getting pretty good balance just standing up.I'll try to post a few pictures. The camera was full, then I downloaded everything at home, now I'm at work, finishing up with a second pumping for more milk. Multitasking, momma style, eh.

But here's a few of him discovering baskets; not really a basket case! Very cute, eh?




I also have some fun news of my OWN: I got brave and bought a new bike! Yep, brand new, just for me. Just saying those words feels fun; I'm not sure why it brings out the kid in me. It feels somewhat extravagant, but I've been thinking about it since last summer, and finally just got it together to go look at bikes, find one that fits, and manage to get it ordered and purchased, Bean on hip for some of that. Being a busy working mom, I've only gotten to ride it a couple times for a few minutes so far, but it makes me happy, and hopefully will get me out for exercise a bit more often.




And Bean will soon be able to ride along; we've also made the leap and ordered a Chariot; a super extravagance for us, really. But it will be a good investment in getting around without a car (we're down to one car right now). Someday sooner than later we hope to live within bikeable distance of the Lake, and this will be great. It will also be a jogging stroller; Bean is actually outgrowing our current nice stroller. Friends who have this system (even can use it for XC skiing!) swear by it, and are still using it with their 4 year old. So, also a good investment, with resale value, I'm told!

Whew. I NEVER buy new gear; I always buy used cars, I have a funky ugly used kayak, my lifejacket clashes with the boat because I bought it used, even my wetsuit is used (ewww). I don't buy new clothes or books, even, that often. But to get a bike that FITS me, and is my first choice is fun, and I feel like it's a good investment. This bike is a good fit for our bumpy gravel roads; shocks! Amazing! Such technology didn't exist the last time I looked at bikes, seriously.

I've never been THAT into biking, but that's perhaps because of my checkered bike-owning past. My current bike was purchased for $50 about 15 years ago. It's rusty, and the brakes don't completely let off (and I've been told they are unfixable). The last and only other bike I have purchased new (when I was 19!) was way too big for me; I ended up giving it to my Dad. Other bikes before that included a neighbor's purple super-heavy 10 speed Schwinn and an uncle's banana seat bike without brakes. That made learning to ride interesting!

But this is MY bike, and I hope to have many good riding times with it and my family. Back to our regularly scheduled crazy schedule...