new gear

Ah, the pleasure we can have in simple things.

Maia leads the way for me in this. Her pure delight in a new song, a cheery 'hello', a new discovery, is one of the great pleasures of being around a small person.

Yesterday, we spent the day together doing something we rarely do: shopping for something other than food. We picked out a backpack for her, as we've been asked to have one for nursery school. (By the way, why does it seem impossible to find a backpack without some kids TV star branded all over it? After eliminating Barbie, Dora, Shrek, Thomas and the Backyardigans (who did get some consideration), we settled on Max and Ruby -- two rabbits I'd never heard of. Almost just an ordinary backpack!)

Well, not only did she don that little backpack in the store, but at the checkout the cashier seemed to 'get it' and pulled the tags off so it didn't even need to slip it off her back. She has worn it ever since... well, barring short stints in the car seat, high chair and bed. Though she would have worn it then too had I let her.

This video will give you a glimpse into her excitement right before bed...




(Disclaimer: Now before you go thinking our daughter runs wild, we do let her jump on the chair, but we don't let her say "no" to us... we do have boundaries!)

And today was also the first day that Maia tried out her new helmet. (It came with matching knee and elbow pads for later -- how cute!) She was so delighted to finally get to wear her new gear when we took our first family bike ride out with Tim pulling Maia in the bike trailer we were given for her birthday. Great family fun. Why haven't we done that before now? Here's to more fairweather biking days this fall....