"Boogity, boogity, boogity, boys...let's go racing!"

We spent our 4th of July at Watkins Glen International watching the IZOD Indycar Grand Prix...that's right, we went racin'! :) I got an amazing price on tickets through a parent organization I belong to and we decided that Joshua would love it. I think our expectations were a little high though, and this is how Joshua felt about being out in the hot, hot, very hot weather and missing nap time...However, after a little rest in the shade with Nana, some lunch,

and a few surprise fireworks during the national anthem, he seemed to perk back up. The first couple of laps he wasn't quite sure what to think...

but he soon figured out where we were looking and what we were watching for and started to anticipate each lap.We'd hear the cars coming and tell him, "Here they come again, Josh!" and he'd look to the track to see where they were.His favorite place to watch the race from, however, was on top of daddy...and once he was up there, he really started to get into it!He kissed Ben over and over again after each lap (to show his appreciation for Ben holding him up there in the sweltering heat, I'm sure!).

(This one is just because I love the sneaky smile on his face)And just before we left, we took his earmuffs off so he could really hear the cars go by. And that went over really, really well. :)

It was a good day. Maybe not one we'll try to repeat for a few years, but a good day none the less! We all slept really, really well that night...all of us dreaming of the thunder of the engines, I'm sure. :)

Speaking of engines, I'll leave you with one last random picture of our little mechanic working on daddy's motorcycle...He's in a different type of gait trainer now. He got really good in the other gait trainer, but had started throwing his hips forward and leaning backward in it to walk. Since that is not an effective way to learn to walk, we had to go in a different direction. And while this gait trainer may look like a medieval torture device, it is actually much, much better for him. It prevents him from throwing his hips forward or his head back and forces him to focus on using and strengthening his hip flexors to move forward. By the way, a gait trainer is simply a stepping stone for Joshua. He's going to eventually move to a walker (once he can support his own weight and use both arms for weight bearing) or maybe even just arm crutches!

He's gotten so good in this gait trainer, in fact, that he is almost completely independent in it! He can go forward, back, turn and basically make his way anywhere he wants to go. And he LOVES the freedom. So we put him in it and leave him alone and in a little while, he's found something new to get into! It's so exciting to see him get into "trouble". :) He loves to open cupboards and pull things off the shelves...so we've really had to start baby proofing! Yesterday when he opened my china cabinet, Ben and I quickly rearranged a few things (glass up high...check. Bibs and towels on lower shelves for Josh to make a mess with...check!) and then gave each other a big high five. :) Hopefully I'll get some video of him in action soon...we're working on buying a video camera...so that we can really show you what he's up to!