Perfect Ten

It’s that time of month again.  My boy is now Ten Months old as of yesterday.  He’s had a big month.

No status reports on measurements, but I’m sure he’s gotta be at least 20lbs by now.  We’ve been trying to fatten this boy up so he gets out of the 28 percentile in weight. 

He’s now eating four meals a day.  And he’s finally started eating finger foods successfully.  He enjoys Gerber’s Puffs now and knows immediately what to do with them.  Before, he hesitated but now he picks them up and puts them right into his mouth.  And it used to get messy as he would push bits out of his mouth as he chewed but he’s gotten better about keeping it all in his mouth.

 

We’ve also given him some Gerber’s Yogurt bites too and those are still messy, and sticky.  But he likes those too.  That’s about all so far for finger foods though.  I’ve tried some diced apples but he doesn’t bother with those yet.  Won’t even touch ‘em.  Hopefully that will be a triumph this next month.

He’s been walking around like crazy, assisted of course.  He’s scaling all the furniture and walls to get from room to room.  He enjoys his “Dino” walker that my parents have at their place.  And we decided to get him this “Cars” themed ride-along/walker for our place too.  We thought about getting it for his first birthday but I couldn’t resist giving it to him right away.

Now, a few words from Lucas!

Milestones

This month I’ve gotten much faster crawling around and walking along the walls.  I’ve even surprised the cats a few times by sneaking up on them.

I went to my first baseball game this month!  And I was such a big boy by staying awake the whole game.  I had a great time cheering on the team and flirting with all the ladies.

And I sure missed Dada a bunch this month.  He was gone away for work for a total of 14 days.  But Mama and I were able to get by without burning the house down.

And now, I’m working on more teeth.  I’m having trouble sleeping at night because my top teeth are working their way through.  So by next month I should have a whole new smile!

Running with the Bulls

We had been wanting to go to a baseball game all Summer and finally got around to it.  So Lucas saw his first baseball game!  We went to see the Minor League Durham Bulls.

Highlights from the Game:

Waiting until the last minute to go and get tickets - and getting tickets in the last section they had available {SOLD OUT}.  Crappy tickets in Right field.

Enjoying a 24oz beer.

Squeezing into our itty bitty seats, with neighbors.  {Fortunately no one too large was next to us.}

Two Home Runs {with one RBI} in the second inning.

Enjoying a Pretzel with cheese!!!!

Adoring Lucas in his baseball outfit.

Tripping up the step while holding Lucas.  I was trying to stay to my side {right} while others came down and apparently the step didn't extend as far as I thought.  Down I went on my legs to break my fall.  I'm scraped up and bruised a bit on one knee and one shin, but I know you really just care about how Lucas is...  He's OKAY!  :)

Watching the visiting team take the lead with a ridiculous number of runs in the fifth inning...

Taking this cute photo and tweeting it to @DurhamBulls #BullsFanPhotos in hopes that it would end up on their digital board. {If it did make it up there it was after we left.}

Enjoying a strawberry sno-cone.  {Eh, by the time I got to the flavored ice that was near the bottom my mouth was way too cold to even taste the flavor.}

Having to sit through another four innings without taking back the lead.

Watching the mascot, Wool E. Bull, run out during a break with a line of young kids following him also dressed as little bulls!!  HOW CUTE!!


Hard to see, I know.  But little kids dressed up as little Bull Mascots!


Lucas staying awake the ENTIRE game.  Not one nap!

Watching my son flirt with the young ladies around us, and watching their ovaries itch at the sight of him.  :)

Losing to the visiting team.  But I hear they won the Sunday game.

Stopping in the gift shop as we left and getting Lucas an infant baseball cap!  Still a bit big but he should be able to wear it next season.

Spending some family time together. :)

J.O.

We were headed back from our weekend trip, just a few miles to go and we'd be home. 

Both my cell phone and Hubby's both sounded with a text.  Hubby was driving so I got to mine first.

Just to let u know   jim died in a motorcycle accident last night

???!!!

I read it again - out loud to Hubby.

???!!!

What???

He was riding home last night and went off the road close to his house and was pinned underneath   he was dead on the scene   i just wanted 2 let you guys know ... i just found out about an hour ago

The text came from a friend of ours in Wisconsin.  The text was about another friend of ours.

Hubby and I were in disbelief.

As soon as I got home I tried to look up online in the Fond du Lac news about anything on the accident.  I couldn't find anything.

This morning I checked again and finally found the article.  Only it didn't identify any names.

At work I did another search and they had finally released a revised article, releasing the identity of the man in the accident.

Yes.  It was in fact Jim.

Now, it's real.

We met Jim when me moved to Fond du Lac.  Hubby had visited the local race track and made some friends and one of them invited him to be on their bar's pool team.  Jim and his dad was on that team.  Eventually Hubby had joined both the Sunday night and Wednesday night teams.  And when Summer came they all played in the softball league too.  I regularly attended as a spectator until eventually I joined my own bar sports team for Darts.

Jim was a stubborn and angry young man.  By that I mean, that their pool team would never win the Sportsmanship Awards at the end of each season.  Jim was very competitive and whenever he would mess up a play he would often either slam his stick to the floor or toss his hat across the room and loudly mutter a few expletives while at it.

That was Jim.

Eventually he met Sarah.  And he calmed down significantly.  She was great for him.

Jim was an avid biker.  I remember before we left Wisconsin he borrowed Hubby's old Suburban.  He and some of his biker buddies were traveling to South Dakota for their "bike week" and they were going to pull all their bikes on an open trailer.  I remember how as beat up as that Suburban was it still managed to have no problems, but the trailer was actually the problem and actually blew out a tire instead.

Eventually we moved back to North Carolina.  We visited a few times when we could.  We were fortunate to travel back to Jim and Sarah's wedding two years ago.  Two years ago next month.  I feel awful for Sarah.  They were both so young and just starting their life together.  It makes you think about the little things, and making sure you "don't go to bed angry" or make sure to always say you love them when you say your usual goodbyes just to go to work each day.

I wish we could have gone back up to Wisconsin again this past year.  We had planned to do so last August, but I was 7-8 months pregnant, not feeling up to it, and I wasn't working at the time so money was tight.

Jim and our other friend, Shooter, had previously talked about coming down this way, possibly to Myrtle Beach's "bike week" and coming to visit us on the way.  I wish they had been able to.

Now I regret that we won't be able to make it up for Jim's funeral.  We enjoyed the time we had with him.  He made our lives all the better during our tour in Wisconsin.

At Curtis' Going Away party, 2008

The Wednesday night Pool team

A Special Olympian

http://www.sonc.net/

This weekend I attended North Carolina's Special Olympics Summer Games for the second year in a row.  Specifically, the "Athletics" events which is the Track & Field sporting competition.  There are many many more programs during the three day event, as well as throughout the year.  It was hosted by the Ravencroft School, a private {and very very nice} school for K-12.  Hubby says he would love for Lucas to go there.

Last year I was in the middle of my pregnancy with Lucas -- and it was super hot and humid.  This year, Lucas got to see his Uncle Gary in action!  The morning started out cool and cloudy; I actually had to change into my long jeans from my shorts.

But eventually the sun peaked out more and the clouds cleared.  It ended up being a very warm day indeed.

Gary competed {and was awarded} in the following categories.

Running Long Jump -- GOLD!!  {First Place}

Shot Put -- WHITE RIBBON  {Fourth Place}

200m Dash -- ORANGE RIBBON  {Seventh Place}

Way to go Gary!!

His first event was the Running Long Jump where he competed with two other athletes.  They had their practice jumps and then competed.

GOLD!!

Gary's second event was Shot Put.  He competed against three other athletes this time.  The first place athlete threw it really far! 

Gary was awarded the fourth place ribbon. And he had to show it off to his nephew, Lucas.

There was several hours until Gary's final event, the 200 meter Dash.  I took advantage throughout the day to also try out my photography skills {okay, I try, I really do}.

Payton following Granddaddy.  I wish I had the software to make this into a silhouette!

We were both very very tired.  At least he got a nap.

The first set of track events {100m} getting ready.

Sheetz was there giving out FREE fruit smoothies!!  This one tasted like raspberry and was awesome.

Testing the big zoom lens.  :)  This was across the field.

Then Hubby and I went off to find some place to cool off, sit down and eat some lunch.  We ended up going down the street from the school and eating at a local restaurant, the Tribeca Tavern.  Hubby and I just gobbled down some pizza and wings {made from North Carolina Agriculture products} and tried some local brew, Mash House Red and Blond.

Then we headed back to the school with plenty of time for Gary's last event at the track.  Hubby walked Gary over to the staging area when it was time to gather for the 200m Dash.  Gary was lined up in the 4th row against six other athletes in his event -- that's twice the competition than his other two events.  The gun went off and they were running!

It didn't take long for Gary to take the lead!  With starting in the fourth row he caught up to everyone quickly, before 100m even.  He ran so hard though that about two-thirds way down the track his legs gave out and he fell.  But he got back up and finished the race. 

Unfortunately he ended up finishing last because of the ground he lost.  He was very upset that he fell.  But I just kept telling him that he ran as hard as he could -- that now he can learn for next year that he needs to pace himself and he could easily win.  He did an awesome job, and took the orange ribbon for 7th place.

My MIL walked with Gary toward the award tent and the rest of us made our way around the track to meet up with them.  Quite the ending to the day!  Gary took one medal and two ribbons throughout the day -- quite an accomplishment. 

I hope he sticks with the 200m Dash because I really think he can medal next year.  And next year is the qualifiers for Nationals which will be exciting if he gets to go to that again.  {He made it to the last one in Nebraska.}

Keep it up Gary!  Next up is the Winter Olympics.  Although I probably won't make it to your skiing event because I really don't like winter sports.  :)  Too cold.  Ah, maybe we'll try anyway...

Softball Patron

So some friends of mine have kids.  Wow!  No kidding.  :)

They are much older than my little Lucas.  The eldest, Kat, is on a softball league this Spring and they are about halfway through their season already.  They are struggling and haven't won a game yet.  :(

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I wanted to help out and get them motivated as well as cheer them up.  I also wanted to increase support from the families.  I decided to get them these cute little softball cinch bags I found online.  They shipped out super fast and the owner, Michelle, was great to work with.

I didn't let my friends know that I was getting these so it was a big surprise when they arrived at their house.  Hehe.  So now I've deemed myself a Patron for the Clover SWAT (Softball With AtiTude) 10U Girls Softball Team.

Unfortunately I don't live nearby so I couldn't really get to the games and support them that way.  So this was the best thing I could think of.  But then I had a cancellation in my weekend plans and was able to make it to their game this past Saturday!

I brought along my Mom (Nana) and Lucas, and I  brought his little baseball rattle to cheer on the girls.  He didn't care about the rattle so much, but he was looking around constantly and people-watching.  Nana said he just couldn't get enough.  He had a blast.  And to think he'll be doing this in a few years too!

I also took a ton of photos, 633 to be exact!  (A few dozen or so of Lucas.)  You can see them on their Facebook page if you're interested.  But here are some more collages to sample.  Including one of Lucas and I playing in the park.  :)

{I have to say that when I found this Grid feature in Picasa I've been having way too much fun with it, as you can probably tell from my recent posts.}