Oh my. Well, that is something to consider!!
I found a balance bike at a resale shop last summer, and I was sure GD would like it. So far, she wants nothing to do with it, much to my surprise. I think she might like a scooter, though, so I’ve been watching for one.
I was going to gift GD (who turned 3 at the end of December) a balance bike. We’re driving out to see GD and her parents at the end of the month and taking other furniture for her room. I came across this article that rates the various bikes. Has anyone purchased one of the bikes that are rated here? Good? Bad?
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So many kids seems to thrive with balance bikes. And then there’s my GD, who was never comfortable with it, and mostly kept to her scooter, but is a whiz peddling on her two-wheeler now at five years old. You just never know what will click.
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GD got a balance bike for Xmas. She is complaining that it doesn’t have pedals.
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@Bromfield2 ~ My GS just turned 7 and was gifted another (his fourth!) bike. He started on wheels at age 3 using a scooter and a Strider balance bike. He transitioned to a WOOM 3 bike and was riding really well at 4. These bikes are so light and easy to ride. They are also expensive, but we think they are worth it. He graduated to the WOOM 4 and rode that the years he was 5 and 6. I think he will stay with that this spring and ride to his new bike, WOOM 5, in a few months.
GD loves the scooter and started riding it at 18 months. She works hard to keep up with her brother! She was not a big fan of the Strider balance bike but has a WOOM 2 that we took the pedals off and she is practicing balancing with that now. We’ll put the pedals on and I am sure she’ll be riding soon. She’ll be 5 in a few months.
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I bought a Strider balance bike. It seems sturdy and well balanced.
My S learned to ride a regular bike when he was 3. All the kids were riding bikes around our cul de sac & he told me to take his training wheels off. I did it, thinking that I would have to put them right back on … but the kid just started pedaling & never had an issue!
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Things turn on a dime. YDS and wife are going to Cancun for a wedding, flying out Wed., Uber-ing to Reagan, and back on Sunday coming into Dulles. So they had arranged with other grandma to come up and stay with DGD. Sadly, DIL’s granddad who lives with her mom and dad, has mesothelioma and is on oxygen anyway and the poor man has Covid and is in the hospital. ! 
He’s struggling. His name is Nick. If you are so inclined, please send up a quick prayer or healing thought for Nick. Thank you.
So, this means I get the babysitting gig instead. So fun. She’s in all day Montessori school Wed. and Thurs., and off Friday. The kids will be home Sunday, flying into Dulles so I think we’ll drive out to get them. That will thrill her. It’ll be fun.
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@VaBluebird ~ Praying for Nick, for his entire family. 
I hope you have a wonderful week/weekend with your GD.
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Truer words were never spoken. I’ve given up trying to forecast.
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So sorry about Nick and will send healing thoughts.
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I’ve been looking at a Guardian bike, and think I recall that their small bikes can be set up without pedals. The company’s warranty policy looks pretty good and I appreciate the sizing information.
Over the Chinese New Year, I said to D1 and her H that it’s a great year to have a baby - year of the dragon. They both gave me a blank stare. In the last year or so I have asked them if they would have a second and every time it has been a no.
They FaceTime me today to let me know that they are expecting and the baby is 11 weeks. I was speechless because it was so unexpected. D1 said she has never seen me speechless before.
The pregnancy was unexpected and they are still processing it, so they do not want to tell people yet. They are not ready to hear all the congratulatory remarks yet.
D1 felt sick through out her first pregnancy and had a very hard birth. She wasn’t planning to have a second child.
But I am over the moon, except I have no one to tell this too, except my CC friends.
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This is wonderful news for your family! I like that your D and SIL are taking the they need to get used to the surprise news. Baby will be loved! 
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@oldfort congratulations to your family. I can understand your D and SIL taking to to process especially if you have been feeling sick during the beginning of a pregnancy.
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I have one of those whom I adore.
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Thanksgiving 2018, at the dinner toast, DD1 made a comment about planning to have a baby in 2019 (their first child was born May 2018) - I was trying to process does it mean they are going to try or DD1 is already pregnant. DD2 already knew. Everyone was quiet, and I asked “does this mean you already are expecting?” and then we were able to say “Congratulations”. GS1 is 14 months behind GD1. They face-timed us when they announced their first pregnancy.
We have never encouraged the pregnancies - and I actually had a lunch with DD1 before marriage to encourage her to have a few years with her DH before children, but they obviously felt differently. The other grandparents, who had 2 sons, are all encouraging on many grandchildren - despite the fact that their health issues have them had rare visits, nor been able to provide much grandparenting support. DD1/SIL have 4 children now, 2 girls and 2 boys, with the youngest (a girl) 8 months old.
Congratulations to all and fingers crossed everyone will stay healthy!
Best things in life are not planned. 
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@oldfort 
Congratulations! Babies are a blessing!
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My daughters are 4.5 year apart. I really wasn’t prepared to have another child after D1 until she was older. D1 really turned my world upside down. I also wondered if I could love another child as much. But I fell in love with D2 as soon as she arrived. She was a very easy baby probably because I was a lot more relaxed. I cherished every moment with her because I knew it was going to be my last hurrah.
I know D1 will be happy when the baby arrives. They are renovating their apartment in preparation for the baby. They will need to get a new nanny this summer because their current one is retiring. GD got into a very good preschool, so that’s a relieve to them. They may get a night nurse to help out. It’s a lot to plan out. I told them that inwould help out any way I can.
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