Mowing with baby--ideas?

Okay, so mowing our large yard (takes about 2 1/2 hrs) is my responsibility. My DH works sun up to sun down 7 days a week (self employed construction). So, it falls on my shoulders, which I've never minded and actually pretty much enjoy. Put my head phones on with MP3 player and go to town. We have a zero-turn, very nice riding mower.

So...my one and only will be about 6 months when it's time to start mowing, which I do once a week. Just wondering what you gals have done with your babies when you mow. Did you/would you put him in a play pen outside in the shade with some sunscreen and bug protection. Or put some ear and eye protection on him and let him ride along? Or something else all together? 

Just wondering what has worked for others, or what you'd do...If I had family in town, I'd probably just take him there for the time I was mowing, but I don't. Don't really want to hire a sitter either--just as well hire someone to mow the yard....

Thanks in advance. I always get good advice/ideas from everyone!
Kina

Could you do it on the weekend when your hubby or another relative could keep an eye on the baby?  Otherwise, do you have a good baby monitor that you could take along and use to mow while the baby is taking one of his naps?  Could you break up the mowing into 2 days and again use the baby monitor while he is napping?  Otherwise, if you can bet the proper ear and eye protection for him, I would suggest putting him in a sling/carrier and taking him with you.....

meant to type get not bet.....LOL

Yes. Please don't let him sit on your lap while mowing. I hear horror storries about accidents like that all the time. It's hard to focus on 2 things like that at once.
If you do not have a relative willing to come supervise him for a couple hours a week...then please look into a babysitter. I called the professors at the local college and asked referrences for students who were studying early childhood education. I got a few really great girls who I still keep in touch with and who were great with my daughter. They looked at it as a chance to get more experience with children and their careers, and I felt I could trust them since that is what they were studying.
Maybe if you find someone you can schedule a standing appt with them weekly. I'm sure if you offer like $15 for 2.5 hours of their time, they will be very interested. Gas and makeup money, lol.

Personally, what I would do is get everything ready (such as gas in the mower/get set up etc...) with him up. Then go in and lay him down for his afternoon nap on a Sat. or Sun and go to town mowing.  Keep the baby monitor outside handy.  Every 15 -30 minutes or so, I would shut the mower off  or at least walk away from the mower so you can hear the monitor and listen for him.  I know my little ones, by that time, they were taking pretty substantial afternoon naps.  They would easily take a 2-3 hour nap in the afternoon.   

You should be able to get the mowing done in the time he naps if you are talking 2 1/2 hours.  If he should wake up in the last 1/2 hour or so before you are done, then you could bring him our and put him in the play pen with some toys in the shade FAR AWAY from possible spitting grass/debris and let you finish up the last 15-30 minutes.  He would probably tolerate that plus he wouldn't get too hot. 

Debbie