Yesterday, my mom's group planned an outing to go to the local fire station. I figured that this would be a fun outing for Brady because what boy doesn't love a firetruck? When we got there, they had us in a room and showed all the kids the equipment that they put on to go into a fire. One of the firemen put on each piece while the other fireman explained why they wear each piece. They even let the equipment make the sounds it would make to alert them that their compressed air was running low. Brady was a little freaked out by the sound. Once the fireman was completely dressed, he got down on the floor to show the kids how to crawl in their home if there was ever a fire. He then encouraged the kids to touch his equipment while he was down on their level. I tried to set Brady down, but he was freaked out because he couldn't see the man's face anymore. Every time I asked if he wanted to touch him, he started to cry. He was happy when the fireman took off his mask and started to take off the rest of the equipment. He said that dry it weighs about 50lbs and when wet, can reach 80lbs.
We then went into the small museum they have at the firehouse. The kids weren't allowed to touch anything, so I knew it was going to be hard keeping a hold on Brady. They had all kinds of old firetrucks and even had mirrors on the ceiling so you could see into the trucks. Brady was fond of the ceilings because he could wave to himself. Pictured below was Brady's favorite old firetruck. Can you guess why? Yep, it's because of the puppy ;) This firetruck was the oldest they had and was from 1880 and was originally pulled by horses. The fireman told us that they had dalmatians with them because all kind of dogs would chase the wagon and the "fire dogs" were used to help keep other dogs away.
We then got to go out to the current trucks and the kids got to climb inside. Brady has a hard time waiting and was very impatient to get inside. When he did, he was in heaven. He was walking around, playing with everything. He was the only kid who almost climbed into the front seat and one of the firemen had to retrieve him. Only my kid ;)
When he got down from the truck, he became very interested in the poles that the firemen occasionally use to get down from the second floor quickly. He tried climbing up it when he saw the older kids doing it. I lifted him up once and showed him how they slide down. Then both of the firemen with us went up and showed the kids how they do it all the way at the top.
The last thing was a little animated fireman movie. Brady was more interested in the blinds on the windows. The firemen told us that they work 24 hour shifts and after 3 shifts (MWF), then they get 4 straight days off. Not a bad deal. They kept telling us where we should stand if they got a call and that they're always prepared. As we were watching the movie, the did get a call and one of the firemen with us had to leave. He said that the most they've ever had in a 24 hour shift was 98 calls! That's crazy, even when you consider they take EMS calls. When we left, Brady got a plastic fireman hat and he LOVED it.
Since we left the Mets game in Atlanta early, we thought it would be a good idea to check out the Mall of Georgia on the way home. It's about 45 minutes outside of Atlanta and an hour from where we live. It's the largest mall in Georgia, and although it was impressive in size, it had nothing on the Somerset Collection mall in Troy, MI, which extends to both sides of the highway through a walkway.
We walked inside and happened to be right in the center of all the children's stores and Old Navy, of course. I went into Old Navy (the largest one I've ever seen) and picked up a few items for fall. We then headed to the Disney Store, which had me really excited because they've recently decided to close half of the stores in existence, so they're harder to find. It's getting closer to Halloween, so they had all the costumes out. Brady was Winnie the Pooh for Halloween last year (we bought the costume before he was born), so we were very disappointed when we went in last year and they didn't have any good costumes. Brady already has his costume for this year, but I'm always on the lookout. We saw pirate costumes and they had a Jack Sparrow wig, so we thought it would be funny to put on Brady. He wasn't so amused (see pictures below). We did get him 2 shirts, a pant and shirt set, and a 3T costume that may or may not fit him next year. We send out Halloween picture cards each year, so we keep costumes a secret until those are sent out, so you will all have to wait until he fits into it to find out what it is ;) They were running a sale on stuffed animals (BOGO free), which is an amazing deal. I was instantly drawn to a stuffed Lightning McQueen because we are doing a Cars theme for Brady's birthday. The problem then came to pick another to get for free. Brady is in LOVE with puppies and has several stuffed ones, including Tramp from Nana Tramposch (get it?) ;) I spotted a stuffed Bolt and knew that was the one. Brady took a liking to him immediately and didn't want to give him up for the woman to check us out. He kept him with him in the stroller while we checked out the rest of the mall (pictured at the top).
I am a Pittsburgh girl, through and through, but there is one area of sports where I defect. I am not a Pirates baseball fan and proud of it. They are in the middle of their record-breaking 19th straight losing season (as long as my baby brother has been alive). My dad is from Queens and when it comes to New York, baseball is THE sport. That being said, I was raised a Mets fan and that has never changed my whole life. Pictured below is me before I was a year old in my walked cheering on my Mets. I remember going to my first Mets game at Three Rivers Stadium. It was a double header and we had amazing seats right behind home plate where my favorite Mets player, Mike Piazza, was the catcher.
I try to make it to about one Mets game a year, although I've never seen a game at Shea Stadium or new Citi Field. Until today, I had always seen them play the Pirates in Pittsburgh. The Pirates are always pulling stunts to put fans in the seats because they are trying to pay off the new stadium they built for a losing team. I remember seeing the one time and the stadium was packed because they were having a concert and fireworks after the game. The Pirates left the field and went to their locker rooms, while the entire Mets team stood in the dugout and watched the whole thing because in New York they don't need to do something like that to fill the stadium.
Last year was supposed to be Brady's first Mets game, but he came down with a cold the day before the game and it was the forecast called for rain. That meant he stayed home with my parents, while I went with my friend, Dunny. I was very glad I didn't take him to that game because it poured, the game ended up getting delayed, and when we were leaving, I slipped on the polished concreted and landed flat. I shudder to think what would have happened if I had fallen with Brady in my arms.
This year, we live less than two hours from Atlanta, home of the Braves, who are one of two major divisional rivals for the Mets, so they play each other 6 times a year. We got to Turner Field right before the first pitch, grabbed some lunch, and took our seats. We hadn't taken Brady to a sports event since the Pens game in early April, so we weren't sure what to expect from him. I don't think we expected him to get restless so quickly. He lasted one, count it, one full inning. At this point, Andy decided to take him for a walk. He called me at the bottom of the 3rd inning and said there was a Cartoon Network play place for kids near the outfield and I should come check it out. I walked down there and Brady was having a blast. He was getting tired so we watched a little of the game from the outfield balcony. We left at the top of the 5th inning, when the game was tied 4-4. The Mets went on the win the game 7-5. For the Mets it doesn't mean much since they are out of the playoffs race, but they put a dent in the chances for the Braves to make the playoffs as a wild card.
Brady wanted to climb the giant baseball and got very upset when he realized that he couldn't.
Brady LOVES his Winnie the Pooh arm chair that he got for his birthday. Initially we kept it against a wall because when we brought it into the open space, he would stand on it and almost tip it over. He's now old enough to know not to try and tip it and actually spends more time paying attention to the shows on TV, so we moved it so he could sit and watch. He doesn't spend a lot of time in the chair, but will spend a total of 30 minutes throughout the day sitting in his chair. He used to stand in front of the TV and watch, so that's what prompted us to move it.
Brady has taken a liking to taking a shower with Andy since he can't bear to be separated from him whenever he's home. We first had to take him in the shower in March when we traveled to Detroit because the hotel we stayed in didn't have a tub. He hated it then, but has grown to love them. Right after he's all washed up, Andy puts on his hooded towel and sets him loose. I can usually hear him coming. He'll come running into the living room with just the towel hanging on his head and sometimes likes to run and jump on the couches or play with toys. He has a great time running from us when we try to chase him to get him dressed. Everything's a game to him. On one particular day, he got onto his Pooh Bear car and started to ride. He couldn't leave his snacks behind, so he strategically placed them in his lap to cover himself up while he rode around. What a silly kid!
We walk through the laundry room from the garage into the house every single day and every day, Brady puts the front half of his body into the washer and spins it. I tease him that one day I'm going to put him in and he'll go for a ride and one day I followed through on that promise. For a few seconds, he didn't know what to think because it was trying to spin underneath him (it wasn't turned on). He had to hold onto the outside to stay upright. He then decided he didn't like it very much and freaked out. He still tries to put his front half in when we pass it sometimes but when I mention putting him in, he definitely runs away ;)
