Tee-Ball

First Game: Angels vs. Red Sox **Warning** There will be alot of bragging in this post!Tuesday afternoon was doodle's 1st tee-ball game. He woke up that morning and the first words out of his mouth were, "today is a big day! I have my first game." It was hard to judge who was more excited...the boy or the dad.I left work a little early, fetched the boy and hauled it to the field. We only had about 15 minutes to get him into his uniform before game time. He was all dressed and looked so darling carrying his little bat bag to the field. CMW looks exactly like MSW in so many ways....but seeing my son in his baseball uniform, he was the spitting image of his father. MSW was right behind us but I could hear the nervousness in doodle's voice when he asked where daddy was at. He needed him in that moment and I cannot tell you how much it warmed my heart to witness their bond. Daddy is his coach, his motivator and his security when it comes to all things sports.Doodle's team, The Angels, were up to bat first and doodle was the #2 hitter. His first at-bat he hit the ball on his first swing, hesitated a little and then ran safely to first base. He looked for me in the stands and gave me a big smile and thumbs up. MSW made it to the field just before the start and because he is a coach gets to be on the field. You have never seen a prouder man than watching his son's first hit.As the Angels took the field I glanced an evil look at my husband as I realized he put my precious son on the pitcher's mound. Of course, it is tee-ball, but this still means that he was in the direct line of hit balls. First ball was hit, doodle ran to field the ball perfectly and then threw it to first....textbook. He did this every time the ball was hit, never letting a ball get past him and he even tagged a boy out at first. He would pound his little fist into his glove as he anticipated the hit. At one point, he yelled "mommy" from the mound and then blew me a kiss! Be still my beating heart!Second at-bat was a duplicate of the first at-bat and I could see daddy coaching his little boy. Third at-bat, he walked into the batter's box and let loose on the ball. He hit the ball all the way to the fence. The best hit of the game, no doubt! MSW was beaming and mama was cheering. CMW had the biggest smile on his face as he rounded the bases. As he got back to the dug out he told dad, "I was nervous during my first two at-bats but I really hit the hell out of it the third time!" MSW let him bask in his glory and did not even correct his language- though you and I both know where he got that little saying from in the first place!He had the time of his life and still has not stopped talking about the game. MSW was so pumped too that I could not sleep the night after the game because every 30 minutes he would exclaim, "I am just so proud of him, he did so good, he is going to be a ball player!" Finally at 1 am I asked him to go to bed :)We have been so cautious not to lead him into having to like baseball. MSW played college and minor league baseball and I am very careful to teach him that he is not expected to follow the same path if that is not what he wants or where his talent is at. That is why we first had him play soccer. However, after Tuesday's game it is very clear that he has inherited his father's love and talent for the game. Who knows how long it will last but I do know that we are absolutely loving it right now! I have been watching MSW play since he was an 8 year old little leaguer through Chicago Cubs Minor League games and I loved every minute of it. I cannot tell you how many memories it brings back to see him on the field again (of course, in a different role) and to watch him now share that love with his son. It is some good, good stuff!So you will find me in the stands @ McCallister Park Little League twice a week with my camera, video camera and most likely some treat from their awesome concession stand! I am a concession stand junkie- nothing I love more than those nachos and pickles and popcorn...especially these days (wink!)