Batter Up!

Tee ball is in full swing...literally. We spend at least one night/day (and sometimes two) at the ball field each week. Jack seems to enjoy it, and that's all I really care about. The highlight is often snack time, but who can blame him? Sam is hit or miss (no pun intended) at the ball park. Sometimes he's content to enjoy a tootsie pop or play with a car. Other times, he's on a running rampage making mad dashes for the playground or trying to join daddy and bubba on the field. Tonight a caterpillar was our saving grace in the final inning. Never thought I'd wish for more bugs, but whatever it takes. One game in particular, after I had to leave for a meeting, Sam began yelling loudly from behind the fence, "I love you, dad!" "Dad, I love you!" "I love you, bubba!" "Daddy, I love you!" Apparently, it was so loud both teams were giggling. Every now and then Josh would respond with, "I love you too, buddy." Here's to hoping he's always that bold when sharing his heart.

So excited...he got the ball!

Rounding first.

Slugger.

Headed home after some instruction from daddy.

Pirate t-ball...catch the fever!

He sure loves this fun & sweet cousin.

Snap it quick!

Fielding another one!

Friday Night Fun

Our weekend got off to a fun start at the Gwinnett Braves game Friday night. We drove through a rain storm and wondered if the game might be delayed or even cancelled, but the skies cleared. We were glad to have some of Jack's favorite pals there, Gracie & Andrew. Lucky for mommy, sweet Gracie loves Sam and helped keep him corralled.

Jack was in heaven as the cotton candy and Sprite was free flowing as we again had the opportunity to enjoy the game in the greatest of comfort. Here's a few of the highlights:

Cotton Candy & Soda Pop...what more could you ask for?

Sam savoring a sucker

A big squeeze from Chopper

Sam gets a closer look with some help from Gracie

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

On Memorial Day, we were thrilled to have Josh at home...especially since he had worked on Saturday and Sunday. We enjoyed spending our morning swimming with some friends. Jack loves the pool. Sam enjoys it, but really prefers to get in and out and explore all the surroundings.

Later that day, we all went shopping in Buford. The crowds were out for sure, but Jack still got to enjoy several trips on the escalators (his favorite part of any trip to the mall). Eventually, Josh had to head back home for his Monday evening shift, and the boys and I headed to my brother and sister-in-law's house nearby for a cook-out with Mema & Pop. The highlight of a stop at Uncle John & Aunt Lisa's is always fun with their playful and energetic dog, Molly.

After lots of fun and food, we all headed to the Gwinnett Braves game. Jack particularly enjoyed the inflatables and popcorn. Sam enjoyed the freedom to roam as we elected to sit on the outfield lawn. We can't wait to go back with Josh in our party...especially since chasing Sam gets exhausting :)

Play Ball

Sunday afternoon we had the wonderful opportunity to take Jack & Sam to the Gwinnett Braves game. Thanks to a kind invitation, we were able to enjoy the game in the shade and cool air. It was the perfect setting to take in a game with two small children in tow. Jack was in heaven with his popcorn and baseball cap. He also enjoyed greeting Chopper. The suite was the perfect spot for Sam to snooze and then relax while eating.

The G. Braves didn't pull out a victory, but we had a great time. We took Jack to 3 Atlanta Braves games last year, which he enjoyed. After this outing, I'm thinking it's going to be a rude awakening when he has to endure his next game back among the cheap* seats again! :)

*I use the term relatively, since we actually paid nothing for the really great seats/experience and there are not many tickets to any baseball game that are actually cheap.

To Blog or Nap...that is the Question

I must admit that lately the nap has won out folks. I could definitely use Jack's naptime to catch you all up, but the last few days I've just found myself too worn out to put in the effort to actually form some sentences and post new pictures ! Anyway, things are going pretty well around here, except for my fatigue. I'm pretty tired in the late afternoons, which is probably when the late night/early morning feedings have caught up to me. My mornings (a term I use loosely to describe the hours between 9 am - 12 noon) are when I have the most energy. Anyway, I'm optimistic we'll be on a tighter schedule soon and the late night/early morning feedings won't be forever.

Jack is still in love with his little brother, although he makes it known he'd rather be held by mommy. He'll say, "baby bed" or "baby down," which both roughly translate to "ditch Sam and hold me!" The worst part is he usually says this while Sam is nursing. We've been overwhelmed by the amount of support and help we've received from our friends who have brought meals over the last week. It has been so helpful to not have to worry over dinner, especially since the 5:00 hour can be Jack's neediest time of the day.

Friday night we gave Sam his first bath at home. He wasn't a big fan of the sponge bath. He did enjoy the shampoo though. It was as if he were at the spa. Here's big brother trying to calm Sam down as he cried through most of the bath.

On Saturday, we went to Athens to visit our favorite photographer. Sam cooperated pretty well during his first photo shoot and Jack played his part pretty well...thanks to some small bribes (Granola Bites). Sue Ann has a sneak peek up on her blog. We had lunch with my parents and sister and then all went to the Georgia men's basketball game. Jack was in heaven. Despite refusing to take a nap at my parents' house before the game, he was a champ. The dippin' dots & popcorn might have helped. Sam slept through the entire hoopla. It was an exhausting day, but so worth it because we got some great photos of Sam, and it was pure joy to see how much Jack enjoyed himself at the game.

Basketball Diaries

So, Jack & I headed down to Athens yesterday to take in a UGA women's basketball game with Mema. Jack loves reading his Hairy Dawg book, so we were pretty sure he would enjoy the hoopla and fun that comes along with a college game. Since taking him to a football game is still a little risky...not sure anyone would really enjoy themselves, we opted for the basketball court. We had a great time. They gave away Santa hats, which Jack insisted on wearing right away (despite the fact that it was way too big!) He kept his eyes on Spike (the inflatable volleyball mascot) a.k.a. "BIG Dawg" and of course recognized Hairy Dawg. He had his picture made with both and shared high fives with both Dawg celebrities. He seemed to have a great time. We sat right next to the pep band, so each and every timeout was like an audition for "So You Think You Can Dance." Below is a video of Jack bopping to the beat and yelling "Go Dawgs!"

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Okay so they weren't in the pennant race and had no chance of reaching the playoffs, but we had tickets to the final Braves game of the season on Sunday. It was a great day to be at the ballpark. It was a bit overcast, not too cool, not hot at all (unlike the HOT day of football the day before). We did endure a couple of sprinkles of rain a few times, but nothing a baseball hat didn't take care of. Jack seemed to enjoy himself. There was plenty of room around us (not as crowded as the Braves v. Yankees game we took in earlier this year). He got his first Braves hat (big enough to grow with him) and loved the peanuts and cracker jacks. We stayed for 9 innings of fun, but left before the "free baseball" began. Jack had grown a little weary of the game by then.

In order to make it in time for the game, we left church early and hurried home to change clothes. For some reason, Jack decided to grab his burger king crown on the way out to the car and wore it all the way to the stadium. He even managed a one-hour nap with his crown perfectly in place. In fact, he was a little miffed when we made him leave it in the car to head into the game.

Tomorrow afternoon is my 20-week ultrasound. If all goes well, we should be able to tell if Jack is welcoming a little brother or sister. We'll share the news as quickly as we can; after calling all the VIPs...lol!

Park-ing

**Updated to include photos...gasp!

I know it's been a while, but instead of apologizing or telling you how crazy life has been (because seriously, who's life isn't crazy, right?), I thought I'd just cut to the chase and tell you what we've been up to the last two weeks, yes...two weeks worth of fun!! The main theme was definitely "park"-ing, as in multiple trips to Pitts Park, a trip to the ball park and a couple of trips to the Splash Park.

Like most 19-month-olds, Jack loves to explore and is often a bundle of energy. We try to focus that energy somewhere, so we've been meeting friends at the park in the mornings a couple of days a week. If we go early enough we miss the unbearable heat, and usually have plenty of time to get a few other things done before lunch too. On really good days, we end our morning out with lunch with Josh before heading home for a great nap!

Last Tuesday, we headed to Atlanta to watch the Braves take on the Yankees. It was a great game, and Jack did really well. We made it 7 1/2 innings. He might have made it a bit longer, but we didn't want to risk meltdown. It was the only game in the series that the Braves won, so we couldn't have picked a better one. You may remember we took in a game a few weeks back with some friends from Charleston. They were so sweet to share their peanuts during the game with Jack. So, naturally, this time he was puzzled that the fans behind us (and in front of us) weren't just giving him their peanuts! That boy loves some roasted peanuts.

Twice in the last two weeks Jack and I have joined friends at the Splash Park in Gainesville. It's a short drive and a great value...$4. Jack doesn't LOVE all the excitement and is actually quite cautious, but he seems to enjoy it. It's also a great excuse to have Chick-fil-A for lunch...even if we do have to go through the drive-thru because of our passed out children. Note to mothers: splash zone will exhaust your child and hopefully get you a good nap!!

I'll be back to post some pictures soon and fill you in on what else we've got going on. Here's a teaser (just like the scenes from next week's episodes on your favorite shows): Josh starts farming, becomes a preacher and flees the country...I know, you're dying inside!

Whew...it's over!

Yes, the inaugural Kitchens that Cook is officially over. Could you hear my deep sigh of relief on Saturday around 6:30? I would have liked to have seen a little more traffic, but for the first time holding the event and the fact that it was a holiday weekend, we were not disappointed. I don't know the final numbers, but we raised about $5,000. Josh enjoyed cooking & filming with Kathy. We heard lots of positive feedback, and we're hoping it can become an annual event.

I was thankful to have my mom come up and watch Jack for us most of the day on Saturday. Dad was able to join us for dinner. He brought Jack a harmonica, which he enjoyed playing. After cleaning up the depot, putting in an appearance at the after-party, I was ready to crash...but managed to stumble into El Campesino with the rest of the family for dinner.

Sunday morning we packed up the cooler and headed to Atlanta for the Braves game with the Walshs, who live in Charleston. Mike went to med school with Josh, and he and his wife were in Atlanta for a wedding. Since this week is Mike's 30th, we met them at the Varsity for lunch and joined them at the ballpark. I just knew our day would be spoiled by rain, but it was a great day! We actually took Jack to one of the faux-Varsity locations before one of the Thrashers games last year, but this was his first trip to one of the official greasy Vs! He was a big fan of the frosted orange, but who wouldn't be?? The big crowd and loud "what'll ya haves" seemed to intimidate him a bit at first, but he settled in quick and enjoyed a naked dog and his first FO.

Liz bought a big group of seats together and we actually ended up being in the shade and having a great view of the field. Because of the steep seats, Jack couldn't really walk around though. He grew a little restless a few times, but managed to make it through the whole game with the help of frequent paci breaks, a giant chocolate chip cookie, dancing to the loud music, peanuts and of course...a coke!



Today we joined some friends for a Memorial Day cookout with ribs and all the fixings. I'm having trouble keeping straight what day it is since Josh was home today and we missed church yesterday. Anyway, it has been a busy, long weekend, and I'm so thankful that the rain showers seemed to cooperate with our schedule.

Busy Beach Bums

Not sure anyone has ever used the words busy and beach bums in the same sentence, but that's what I feel like we have been for the last several days. Last Tuesday afternoon we left town and headed to St. Simons Island for a few days of relaxation. Jack did okay the first couple of hours in the car, but the last couple of hours was pretty rough! Here's a picture of him enjoying a pickle while Josh and I eat a quick dinner during our road trip. He loves pickles!

We got in and got settled just in time to watch the women's olympics gymnastics coverage to begin. The next morning we set out for a hearty breakfast and had heard some good things about the Fourth of May Cafe in the village. It was great. I had blueberry pancakes. Josh had eggs, sausage and home fries. Jack tried his first grapefruit. It was pretty comical. The day was pretty rainy and cloudy. So, after some driving around, we headed to the pool. As always, Jack enjoyed his swim. Before long another downpour arrived. So, we all did some napping, reading and more olympics viewing. Dinner was at Barbara Jean's, which has the best crab cakes ever! It was growing dark once we got back to our condo, but not raining so we took Jack down to see the ocean real quick. It was neat, and his hair was blowing everywhere!

Thursday was still a bit overcast, but decided to introduce Jack to the beach. We started him out in the wet sand then moved him close enough to have a bit of water rise around him. He explored the sand extensively, which included tasting it. He was a little unsure about the ocean and wet sand. Later he tried some drier sand, which still didn't taste all that great. He did enjoy playing with his ball on the beach. In fact, later when we went and had some family pictures made he got pretty cranky since his afternoon nap was so short (I just had to go to the Bailey Boys store!). Anyway, the ball was the only thing that cheered him up. You can look at the whole mess of photos from our sitting (but, I'll warn you there are a quite a few!) Needless to say, the ball appears in several photos. Later at dinner, Jack wailed through our entire meal...not a happy boy!

Friday was our final full day at the beach before heading home and it was great! We started by renting bikes in the morning and touring the south end of the island. We biked to the lighthouse, village and Avenue of Oaks. It was great fun, although Jack didn't enjoy getting in and out of the seat on the bike. He didn't mind the ride too much...in fact on the way back to our condo he fell asleep on the bike. I'm not sure how this was even remotely comfortable.

Later we headed back to the beach for our final afternoon. The sun was finally out, but the breeze kept us comfortable. Jack just played with his ball most of the time, but did enjoy watching Josh chase a crab. We went to Chelsea for dinner. They consider themselves casual gourmet, and Josh and I agreed. It was comfortable casual dress (the waiters even wore shorts), but the food was 4-star. Josh tried the crab and/or shrimp bisque just about everywhere we dined and this was the best of the week! He had mahi mahi and I had salmon. It was fantastic...even our salads were great! It was a perfect way to end our trip! On Saturday we got up early and traveled back. Jack did a little better on the trip back. We got back in time to get started on the mound of laundry and get Jack off island time!

Take me out to the ballgame

Sunday was Jack's first outing to the big ballpark. To celebrate my big brother's birthday with all the family, my sister-in-law suggested we all go to a Braves game. Since they weren't playing in town last weekend, we went this weekend. Despite the scorching heat, it was great fun. Jack did pretty well for the first half of the game, then mom took him into the shade for a few innings. He was a trooper.

It was fun to have the whole clan together. Here's a picture of us all, just before the end of the game, which the Braves won 5-0 over the Brewers.

Again, sorry for the links...couldn't post photos through Blogger.