Catching up

Jack had his first baseball game of the season Saturday. It was on the "big" field where there are adult softball and (for all I know) baseball games; I guess the idea is to give the "Rookie" ball kids, which is what Jack plays, a chance to play on a real field (practices and the rest of his games are at a small field at his elementary school). This one had baselines, manicured grass, dugout-like areas, and an announcer calling out each player's name and number. Pretty cool. As we walked onto the field one of the kids was like, "We play HERE? Wow!" I was saying it too, to myself.

The game before ours ran late, so for 20 minutes the kids ran around and tossed baseballs in the air. There really wasn't enough room to have a practice and it was kind of chaotic with people walking around and wanting to get hotdogs and so forth. But it finally started, and it was great. The announcer (sounded like about an 8-year-old girl) called the names, the kids hit the pitches and ran to first, the fielding was generally poor. It's funny how kids field the ball the right way in practice but have no idea how to get the glove down in an actual game. It's different. I gather that's why in Little League I swung the bat fine in practice and didn't take it off my shoulder in a game the entire season.

Anyway, it was a lot of fun and we even got Jack's bat back, which somebody else had brought home after his first practice. Afterward Jack posed for a picture and he and Kate got to eat ring pops. Forgot to mention, Kate was apparently in great spirits watching the game; on several occasions I heard her calling through the fence. "HI....DADDY.....Hi.....DADDDY....."

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Took Jack out on his bike today. He started up on his own each time, not needing my hand on the seat or his back to get him started. A big step for him. He's still not totally there yet -- easily starting up immediately -- but he gradually gets going and then can cruise along in complete control. Uses the hand brake to stop like a pro, too, which is a big improvement from a few weeks ago, when he was still using his face, knees, and the neighbors' lawns.

At dinner we talked about our favorite parts of the day. Jack said immediately, "Riding my bike!" That made me glad, since I can't see his face when he's riding (I'm running along behind) and wasn't sure if he was smiling happily with the wind in his hair or with teeth clenched in abject terror. I'm guessing it was the former.

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Jack has been calling us Mom and Dad lately. I'm not ready for it.