the end is near

Although it's been such a long hot summer, now that the end is approaching it feels like we haven't had enough. So last Saturday we headed out to enjoy another weekend of "Summer Streets," traffic-free ride through the city on Lafayette to Park Avenue all the way up to the park. But we made a late start, and we had only 20 minutes left to enjoy it. They were going to open the streets at 1 pm. "We have to go really fast." I pedaled heading uptown. "Faster! Go faster!" Taiyo chanted in the back seat. We almost made it to the Grand Central, but at 10 minute before one o'clock they already closed the coolest section of the course on the upper level where it's normally inaccessible to bikers. We continued on to the Central Park Zoo and did our usual routine of viewing of penguins and feeding of goats. Despite of heat Taiyo fell asleep in the bike seat on the way back, and of course some motorists told me he was sleeping. "I know," I replied.

Thanks to the hundreds of toy cars I scored on ebay, Taiyo is making a progress on his potty training. This was a tip I got from his pediatrician, to use a reward to encourage potty use. One of the 'present' he got was this little potty car, quite appropriately, which is the most hilarious potty on wheels equipped with a plunger! He used to jump up and down clapping his hands saying "I love it!" every time he got a little reward. Now it's getting a routine to get another toy car after using potty. By the time the supplies run out, I hope he's going to know that he's not going to get a reward after each toilet use.

Today, we almost headed out on bike to Brooklyn's Children's Museum, but I was so glad we didn't since it began to rain when we got out of subway. I had to buy an umbrella a few blocks down, because it began to pour. When we arrived at the museum, my pants were all wet knees down, but my sandals were the most uncomfortable for the first time in the second season. Taiyo spent quality time in the toddler section, then we went 'shopping' at the grocery store, and of course he had to make some fake pizza at the pizzeria. We always love this place with so many cool things to do, and he was totally knocked out when we left although the rain was coming down the hardest on the way back to subway. I was seriously drenched after 15 minute walk, but Taiyo was comfy enough under the rain cover. It was my chance to get wet since we haven't made it to beach or swimming pool this summer.