A Toddler Sized Tour of a Tractor and Love is a Balloon

It was a sunny, cold day in February. Valentine's Day. Love was in the air.  Toddlers were running wild, everywhere...

Adam and I joined the Wahoo mom's group. We've been meaning to join for awhile but nap times didn't line up with the play group time and we had a pretty busy fall. We took the plunge in Late January. February's outing was a toddler sized tour of the local John Deere dealer. Tractors are a common sight here in Wahoo. Its not uncommon to follow a big huge combine all the way down the highway to Omaha!

The kids had a blast! They climbed on the lawn mowers, the mules, the four wheelers, anything with wheels really and pretended to drive themselves around the imaginary fields. Adam was pretty cautious. Pretty cool. Pretty collected. That's Adam. My little cucumber!

I'll confess. I dressed him green plaid KNOWING we'd be around John Deere tractors. I'm that mom. I make no apologies.

The people running the tour were so sweet to the kids. They offered each tot their own bag of popcorn and even went and checked the popper oil for me to make sure it was free of treenuts and peanuts.  They helped the wild beasts climb on and off the brand new equipment and helped lasso them back to the group every time one or more went astray.

Finally, it was time for the biggest tractor of all! THE COMBINE! The guide told each wannabe farmer to hold their mommy's hand as we made our way through the shop. It was a noisy walk to the featured exhibit as the workers were busy repairing and servicing other tractors. The kids were in awe with the sights and sounds and smells.

Finally a big garage door lifted and there she was in all her glory - THE COMBINE! 

The kids took turns climbing up the stairs and into the combine, turning on the lights, honking the horn. This mom was/is too pregnant to even think about navigating the tiny, narrow steps up into the cabin. I'm about as big as a combine. I can't very well take ME plus my loose cannon up there! No worries, said the guide and he and another gal hoisted him up into the cabin where he sat quietly before signing "All Done". He had seen enough.

The kids also took turns standing in a wheel well. They couldn't believe how big those wheels were!

At the end of the tour, the guide brought out these large green air filled balls that seemed to float in the air. The only thing keeping them from floating up to the sky was a ribbon! My cool, calm, collected toddler lost it. He had never seen a ballon before. Let alone held one. He had never tried to eat one before. He had never sat on one. He had never before in all his 17 months experienced a balloon.

Every emotion that ever existed came flying out. He was ecstatic. He was nervous. He was overjoyed. He was disappointed. He was impatient. He was love struck. He was determined.

My little cucumber fought his way through the 2 and 3 year olds who were holding out their hands waiting for the balloon wrangler to tie one on each of their tiny wrists. I watched my cautious child turn into a bear. Clawing his way to the big green balloon. Shoving aside anyone who dare stop him. Finally, he made it and stretched out his tiny hand, waving it frantically. His hand completely stretched out barely reached the elbows of the older kids. But his persistence paid off as he finally emerged from the mob with a Valentine and a big green John Deere balloon tied to his wrist. He chucked the Valentine in my bag and danced around the store with his balloon, his new best friend.

The next day, the boy who only says "Addy" and "Duck" decided to add "Balloon" to his vocabulary. Not sure when we'll get to hear mama or dada... but we are proud nonetheless that he has made his 3rd word a 2 syllable one.