"Look Mom, 2 wheels!"

Yesterday, on a whim, we decided that Jack's bike was getting too small for him so he and Rich went out on a shopping trip.  Oddly, Rich doesn't think bikes should be reserved for holidays.  He has this philosophy that when a kid is ready for the next size up you should go out then and get it.  I guess I agree with him, but bikes were the "big gift" when we were kids.  I guess if we waited though, Jack would be riding his bike and his knees would be hitting his chin all summer long.  So, they went out yesterday.  After nearly an hour they decided on a blue bike, with "hand brakes!", and "a cool shock".  He MOTORED all over the street, while his little brother tried to keep up on his 4 wheeled bike.  They don't move nearly as fast as the 2 wheelers, so Luke decided he wanted the training wheels off. 

Hmmm... I guess I wasn't prepared for that.  I kept saying "but", but Luke wasn't buying any of my "buts".  So his dad took off the training wheels and within about 30 seconds he was off.  He didn't even look back.  It was as if he never needed them in the first place!  So, I checked training wheels of my list of "things that still prove I have a little one around" and added 

another item to my mental list of "things I will inevitably worry about".  Minute by minute, second by second it is becoming more and more evident that my baby, isn't much of a baby anymore.  

Thankfully he still loves a daily snuggle and this morning on our way to a play date with his friend Lily, he looked at me and said "i don't know what I would do without you mommy".  This is what I always say to him, but it was the first time he has ever said it to me.  After I choked down the lump in my throat, I said "me too, buddy".  It sort of made up for his little bout of independence yesterday :).