ITS [almost] OUTTTAAAA HEEERREE!

Last night was the 3rd game of Carson's first t-ball season. So far, its been adorable. Lots of reminders for the kids to pay attention. And we find that dirt-play really can be time consuming.

In our League we play 3 innings (with an optional 4th or 5th if time remains.) Each inning, everyone hits through the line-up and there are no official outs. The final "up" of the inning is a "grand slam", so everyone runs home.

Last night was a thrill. Carson was last in the line-up, so a guaranteed grand-slam the 1st and 3rd innings. The 2nd inning, he batted 2nd. The 1st and 2nd innings he had decent hits. Both straight out towards the pitcher and 2nd base. Carson was looking good.

And then the 3rd inning. Another cute inning from the players. But the dugout coach miscounted and announced the next to last player as the last player. While the head coach never heard this and never made the announcement that the kids should all run home, the 1st base coach did here "last hitter" and told all the kids to run. And while the kids are all running in, Carson is getting ready to bat. And I'm yelling from the side "no! there's one more player!" Because the last thing I needed was a 5 year old full of tears because he didn't get his grand slam.

Coach John realized what happened right away and made sure the Diamondbacks (opposing team) remained in the outfield. The dugout coach sat all the kids down on the bench and told them all to "watch and cheer for Carson." And Carson made his way to the plate. With the cheering behind him.

A swing. And a crack. The ball flew beyond 2nd base, bounced and rolled. To. The. Fence. Carson admits he "watched the ball for one second" before he started running. By the time he was at 2nd base, there was a pile-up of 4 Diamondbacks in the outfield. And as he was rounding 3rd, the ball was being thrown in. He did it. An actual t-ball homerun.

And the "crowd" of Rays and their fans went wild.

And the best part? As Carson comes back to the dugout to cheers and high fives, he yells to his teammates, "did you guys see that?!"

Wahoo! My first post on Philly Moms Blog

Kinda proud of this one, I was asked to start writing for another site. Check out my post: To Find Out or Not to Find Out: What will our baby be?

Sleepless in Charlotte

We all know that Wes has an aversion to nighttime sleep. Not just an aversion, he loathes it.

At home we've found ways to let it be. He reads books in his room. We play soft music. As long as he eventually goes to sleep, doesn't wake Carson, and doesn't keep coming up and down the stairs, we kind of look the other way. At times. Other nights its a dead-on fight with him to keep him in his room.

But this week because we're staying at Nana and Pop's house, Wes and Carson are sharing a room. And one would think he would be more courteous about staying up. Not so. Last night Carson slept through a bright room full of lights, car crashes and block towers, songs and stories. Eventually, around midnight, Wes finally fell asleep in Aunt Debbie's bed. Only to kick, push and prod her until she finally put him back in his own bed around 1:30 am.

Today was much more scheduled and I expected less of a night-fight. There might have been no struggle, if not for that darned aversion. So, after about 10 minutes of laying in bed (Carson, of course, is completely passed out) Wes comes out to tell me that he can't sleep and he can't rest. And I respond, "that's okay, Wes. Just lay there with your eyes open."

No less than 10 minutes later Wes comes out to the family room again, only this time he complains: "Mommy, I can't keep my eyes open any more."

Owwwwww!

So, yesterday, we're all sitting at lunch (the boys, Debbie and I drove down to Charlotte for the week). And while the boys were outside hitting baseballs I felt like I suddenly swallowed one of their baseballs.

The baby's head was completely protruding. From my stomach. Right side. It wasn't just a tickle like all the cute, slushy feelings I usually get. No, this was like baby's head was trying to break through my skin. Of course, while I'm oww-ing, everyone has to pat and feel and "awww" over it. Because this baseball sticking out of my stomach causing me pain is just "sooo cute."

By the time Carson came over to feel it, it had pretty much relaxed, realizing that it wasn't going to get out that way. Or now. At all. So, Carson, wanting to feel it, starts pushing. And pinching. And pressing.

Which meant that I was getting pains from the inside and the outside.

Yeah. I have sweet kids.