Welcome to Dodgertown......

This past Saturday, we took Matthew to his Little League tryouts. He was drafted by the Dodgers! When we looked up the Dodgers on the internet-to see what their uniform looked like, on their website they had WELCOME TO DODGERTOWN-apparently Matthew thought that was really cool and started saying he lived in LA Dodgertown-forget little league he is going straight to the big leagues. Fast forward to tonight when he had his first practice. There are about 12 very excited boys on this team and when we got there the coach divided the boy into 3 groups (working on swing or cage work as a certain good lookin' coach says, fielding and actual batting practice). After all the boys had finished with everything, they gathered at home plate and started running. Why is this important you ask-well Matthew starts out running really good but when he rounds third base he decides it will be a "super duper rally ooper" cool thing to belly-flop, oh I mean slide into home plate. I know those pants will never be the same but I have to admit it really was cute. When he got up he asked his coach, that was so cool can we run again. WOW, that is something you will not hear his sister say. Off they went again followed by a run down the first baseline to the foul post across the outfield to other foul post and up the third base line. There were 12 Dodgers dragging up the third base line. I have to admit to you that I LOVE being a ballpark mom and am thanking God that he likes it as well.

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.
-Ecclesiastes 3:1

Wordless Wednesday

Baseball season and Flip-Flops

Today Shelby Academy won the 1A State Basketball Championship-Congrats to the Raiders. I have to admit the main reason I am so excited is because now we can BRING ON BASEBALL! Baseball is my favorite season. For those of you who know me know that I am married to not only a baseball coach but an all around sports FANATIC! He doesn't just enjoy participating and watching sports, it is his PASSION(especailly his beloved Cubbies). This is one of the many things I love about him. The thing is sports is not really my passion. Have you ever heard love comes softly, well the love of sports snuck up on me. Now don't get me wrong, I really do enjoy sports especially baseball. I love the entire season. I love watching it on television, sitting out at the ballpark in my flip flops on sunny days, watching my man do his thing on the field, seeing Mark sharing the love of the game with our son, oh I could go and on. Baseball season starts at our house on February 24th. On this date we will begin our journey to get to the State Championship for the 5th straight year and I will become a baseball widow, the thing is I really don't mind as a matter of fact I am excited about it. So Bring on Baseball Season and Go Raiders!!!!!!!!

Wordless Wednesday

Haircuts and Shopping

On my last post I said that it was my Angels birthday. Well, the celebration has ended and we have partied till we dropped. We had a GREAT time (although two parties in one day was A LOT)and ate cake till....well, we all felt really loved. Now a week had passed and on Saturday I looked at Matthew and decided he needed a haircut some kinda bad. So,I did what any Mom would do with a little boy who needs a haircut but can't sit still long enough to get it. I made his daddy do it and Gracie and I went shopping with my mom. Mark did protest but reluctantly agreed to take him. About an hour into shopping (with a very opinionated 5 year old and a Meme who thinks this so cute) my cell phone rings and Mark quickly said someone wants to talk to you:

Matthew (sobbing uncontrollably): Momma, I got my hair (sob!sob!)cut too short and I HATE IT! (sob!sob!)
Momma (chuckling): Matthew I bet it looks really handsome.
Matthew(sobbing really loud): I HATE IT!(sob!sob!) The lady cut it really short (sob!)and I want my Angels hat.(sob!sob!)

CLICK-phone hangs up.

I figured I needed to get home but Mark said they were fine and finish shopping. So that is what we did. Shopping with Gracie is another story all in itself. She is getting to that age where she wants to pick out her own clothes. She and her Momma do NOT see eye to eye on what is appropriate for a 5 year old girl. She wants sassy and wild and I want pretty and sweet. Anyway, back on track-when we got home and I saw Matthew, the new haircut was short and did take some getting used to but it made him look very grown up. After a LOT of reassuring that he looked very handsome, I got the smile that I love.

Fast forward to today, we were jumping on the trampoline and I commented on my bald boy. He stopped jumping and looked (very seriously) at me and said," Momma, you said I was the most handsome boy you had ever seen." That took a good bit of backtracking. To be honest, it never really occurred to me that Matthew was so sensitive about his hair. I really thought he didn't or wouldn't care either way. Boy, was I wrong. Lesson learned.

Birthday Memories

Today is Matthew and Gracie's 5th Birthday and a day for celebration. I can't believe how fast the time has gone. When I think back to day and I found out I was pregnant, and the moment my life changed forever, I remember how excited Mark and I were and how blessed we felt. Then we found out (at nine weeks) it was twins and I knew at that moment that the Lord had given me my first miracle. I had a very uneventful pregnancy until my 35th week, due to high blood pressure, I was put on bed rest. It last 1 day (that's right ONE day) and I spent most of that day trying to figure out how I was going to get to Wal-Mart to get last minute things finished before the babies were born (snaps to all those bed rest mommas,you amaze me).

Now, I had a failed induction, what that means is the kids were born by c-section. When the doctor told us this and explained it all, I thought my sweet husband (who does not do blood, needles or hospitals ver well) was going to pass out before we ever left the hospital room. I remember looking over and seeing his eyes closed and head bowed. To this day he will not tell me what he was praying, only that his prayers were answered. When I heard Matthew's sweet cry at 8:27am, well it is a moment that still there are no words to describe, and then when I heard Gracie's cry at 8:28am, another overwhelming moment. We had been divinely favored.

Matthew is my first born and all boy. He is rough, tough and looks just like his handsome daddy. He loves the color blue, Thomas the train and loves to talk. He has a kind and loving heart, just don't ask him to share the ball (every boy has his limits). Matthew questions EVERYTHING and believes completely that he knows more than you. Also, his momma and daddy love him more that he can ever understand.
Gracie is the baby. She is all sassy girl. She is kind and compassionate and loves all animals, great and small. She spent 5 days in the NICU and I cried those 5 days fearing that should would have lasting effects from not being with us. She is a snuggler and hugger and I know the Lord did that because He love me so much. She cares other people's feelings. She loves all things pink and sparkly. Also, her momma and daddy love her more than she will ever know.

These two precious children make me strive to be a better person and showed me how to love unconditionally. My life is forever changed and I am a better person because of it. Happy Birthday Matthew and Gracie, I know God has special plans for you both.

Wordless Wednesday