Nate's new ride

So you might remember that Santa brought Nate an AmTryke this Christmas. If you're not aware of what an AmTryke is, it's an adaptive tricycle, which they make in different sizes, and an organization called Ambucs will put children on a wish list for these bikes and raise the money to buy them. I first really learned about these bikes at an event last May when some therapists were fitting kids for bikes. I was there for work, but when I saw how cool they were, I got Nate there pronto. And I was a little disappointed that when Nate got on a bike, he wasn't as into it as I was. He sorta thought it was cool, but it seemed like a lot of work. Anyway, so a local group of people, including my boss, worked together to establish a Louisville Ambucs group to fund bikes for all these kids who were fitted for bikes that day. SBAK bought one of those kids a bike right after the fitting, then in late fall, when they had raised some money, they chose one name from a hat to fulfill their wish for a bike. They chose Nate! And just in time for Santa to put it under the tree.

There was this shiny red bike under the tree ... and Nate paid no attention to it whatsoever. I knew I HAD to get a picture of him with the bike to send to the Ambucs people to thank them, but I practically had to wrestle him onto this bike. He said "cheeeeese" long enough for me to take this picture and then immediately started crying. I felt awful! Some little boy who would appreciate the bike could have gotten it instead of him!

Well, because of the weather, we didn't get a chance to try it out until last weekend. He really didn't want to ride the bike until I told him he could go really fast, so he obliged.

Then we got going ...

Scared face

Very unhappy face

But after that, really did a pretty good job of pedaling and almost enjoyed himself a few times. I had the handle bars locked so he could only go straight because I figured, knowing Nate's lack of steering skills with his Big Wheels, steering would be a mess.

Last night we went out and worked on it again, and we had a turnaround! He LOVED it! We went down to the cul de sac, and I unlocked the handlebars and let him go however he wanted. I was trying to keep up with Georgia anyway. Pretty quickly, he got the hang of steering. We even rode down to the cemetary close to our house and Nate biked around the trail. I held on to the push bar most of the time. (Yes, he was in pajama pants, and there was chocolate on his mouth.)

Part of the reason I made sure we went out to practice last night was cause we had an Ambucs event to attend today. They were presenting 19 bikes, and they wanted Nate and his bike to be there as well. When we got out of the truck, I decided rather than holding both kids' hands in the parking lot and trying to push the bike, it would be easier if Nate just rode his bike from the truck into the event. I pushed him with the bar while holding Georgia's hand. You should have seen him riding on in to this party! Everyone loved it! He thought he was the coolest. We asked him if he'd be willing to get off the bike so they could present it to him while they were presenting bikes to the other kids, and he thought that would be fine. ;)

While we waited, the kids colored, did crafts, and got their hands painted.

Georgia is a cookie monster! "Caw-kee! Caw-kee!"

Nate's more of a cake man.

Ha, by Nate's expression you wouldn't guess this is our buddy, Caden.

When it came time to present the bikes, they presented Nate's first. As soon as they said Nate Payne, he got up and ran across the floor in front of everyone by himself and let them help him climb on his bike. When did he get to be such a big kid?

Then he took off riding!

There were people there ready to fit the bike for him, but it was good how it was.

A LOT of kids got bikes.

We went outside to this little track they had set up for kids to try out their bikes, and it was so great because it was flat. I followed Nate around holding onto his push bar for a couple laps before I realized, um, he's got this. I let go, and off he went.

  

Check him out! Riding a bike like a big kid! (If viewing on facebook or email, go here.)

I have to admit that when I first saw these bikes, even though I thought they were really neat, I was sort of hesitant or anxious about it, just like I have been with any kind of equipment we've ever gotten. What is he going to look like riding around the neighborhood on this oversized tricycle while all the other kids are riding normal bikes? But today, when I saw him zooming around this track having the best time ever and getting to do something so typical that every little boy wants to do ... there was only joy. Nate really surprised me today by how independent he was, and if this shiny red bike helps him achieve that, who cares if the bike is different? It's still a bike, and my kid can ride one.